Florida friendly: Regrow the Loop 2025
City approves first drive-thru coffee shop
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the commission voted 4-1 to approve a redevelopment plan that would allow for the construction of an Ellianos Coffee location at the former WinnDixie Parking lot.
JARLEENE
ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Ormond Beach’s first drive-thru only coffee shop has earned a thumbs up from the City Commission.
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the commission voted 4-1 to approve a redevelopment plan that would allow for the construction of an Ellianos Coffee location at the former Winn-Dixie Parking lot. The plan had arrived to the commission with a 3-1 recommendation of denial by the Ormond Beach Planning Board, due to traffic concerns. But, seeing as the property owner is seeking two waivers — one concerning improving landscaping buffers in the overall parking lot and another to reduce vehicle stacking requirements by one car on each of its drive-thru lanes — and the coffee shop is an allowed use in the current zoning district, the majority of commissioners saw no issue with the proposal.
“I think this is a great project,”
Commissioner Travis Sargent said. “These two special exceptions, I think, are a no-brainer.”
Commissioner Kristin Deaton
agreed, adding that drive-thru coffee shops are popping up all over the country and that she’s pleased Ormond Beach is hopping on the trend.
“I read the minutes from the Planning Board meeting and their potential concerns — I understand them,” she said. “... I do not believe that a small coffee shop of this magnitude will greatly affect the traffic patterns on Granada.”
When the Ellianos Coffee proposal reached the Planning Board last November, members worried that it would worsen traffic conditions on Granada Boulevard at peak travel times. City Planning Director Steven Spraker noted that no vehicle drivethru access will be permitted from West Granada Boulevard.
Ellianos Coffee, to span 800 square feet, will be located next to the existing Taco Bell. An Aldi is set to replace the former Winn-Dixie store.
Project engineer Christopher Gmuer said Ellianos Coffee has been very successful is revitalizing shopping centers. Only one commissioner voted against the project. Commissioner
Harold Briley said he shared the Planning Board’s concerns regarding traffic flow, as the parking lot had previous stacking problems.
“I think it’s busy,” he said. “You’re going to have traffic backing up in these parking spots, and people can’t back out of the parking spots in the plaza.”
Sargent said he frequented the Starbucks on West Granada Boulevard recently, and there were no people parking at the Aldi next door as the coffee chain was experiencing a rush hour. He expects the same here — that an Aldi won’t generate a significant amount of traffic during a morning rush hour, and during the times people would frequent the store, the rush at the coffee shop would have dropped off.
A second proposal for a drive-thru coffee shop will arrive befoe the commission soon. Dan Sundell, of SunBros Cafe in Flagler Beach, seeks to demolish the existing building at 14 S. Yonge St. and construct a drive-thru coffee shop. The proposal will come before the City Commission with a 6-0 recommendation to approve by the Planning Board.
Short-term rental occupancy to be capped at 10
The City Council voted unanimously. Next step: enforcement.
BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER
How many vacationers should be allowed to stay in a shortterm rental home in a residential neighborhood? Should toddlers count?
The Palm Coast City Council ruled unanimously on Jan. 7 that the maximum occupants should be 10, not counting children up to 3 years old. In the rare situation when the homeowner resides in the home at the same time as the vacationers, the homeowners will count against the maximum number.
That decision, along with several other changes, governs the approximately 300 short-term rental properties in the city limits, effective March 3, 2025. The issue has been debated by City Council since before September, and the Jan. 7 vote was the second and final reading.
It was a victory for many in the C section of Palm Coast, including the Canal Community Coalition, although at least one resident, Roger Cressey, still believes that the ordinance falls short in enforcement; many penalties are preceded by a warning period.
“Enforcement is still geared for normal rentals,” he said before the meeting. “These guys are only there for 2-3 days, and enforcement isn’t quick enough.”
Palm Coast Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo told the City Council that enforcement efforts will include hiring an
baro, but Mayor Mike Norris and City Council members Ty Miller and Theresa Pontieri voted against that amendment, saying that no matter what, the number of residents in a home should never exceed 10, other than toddlers.
“The whole issue is the number of people,” Norris said. “Your income isn’t relevant in this argument. The quality of life is relevant.”
Cressey agreed: “It’s our property, and when someone starts to talk about somebody else making money in a residential property, it gets my ire up.” He also said he wanted to end his comment on a positive tone and thanked the City Council and staff for their efforts.
Pontieri said she met with the Davidsons as well.
City to replace, repair several playgrounds
Among the planned projects is Magic Forest Playground, which will take six weeks to repair once work begins.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
The city of Ormond Beach is looking to replace or repair three playgrounds this year.
Romano suffered significant damage, I think from Hurricane Milton ... with the sand blowing up against it,” Shanahan said.
Mayor Jason Leslie noted the replacement was needed, as he spotted duct tape on some portions of the playground, which is closed to the public at this time.
“I think it’s a really good idea to do this now,” Leslie said.
The playground is about 12 years old.
additional code enforcement officer. The new officer would not be assigned only to shortterm rental enforcement; rather, all officers would handle complaints within their own zones.
Short-term rentals will be required now to pay $375 annually to register, plus $75 annually for an inspection. Total revenue should be $120,000, DeLorenzo said, which is expected to about match the city’s expenses for enforcement.
Short-term rentals constitute an important quality of life issue for many residents who spoke at the Jan. 7 meeting. On one hand, as City Council members Charles Gambaro and Ray Stevens pointed out, are the homeowners, such as Joel and Kathy Davidson, who are trying to earn money by using their properties as short-term rentals. Both Davidsons spoke during the meeting, saying they rent out
five rooms in their home and still sleep in the home while vacationers are in town. As a results of that unique situation, they wanted an exception to the maximum number of occupants. Their business would be harmed by the new rules, and, unlike absentee owners, they are motivated to not cause any problems.
“This is our neighborhood,” Joel Davidson said. “These are our neighbors and friends. … We want them to like us.”
He said they haven’t had any complaints in the past the nine years in their “dinky bubble,” even though they have had about 10,000 visitors in that time.
Gambaro argued that homeowners like the Davidsons should be exempt from the occupancy limit of 10.
“I’m trying to strike a balance with the business community,” Gambaro said. “These folks have been operating in good faith.” Stevens sided with Gam -
“I was transparent with them, that 18 people is never going to be OK,” she said. “I don’t care if you live there or don’t live there. I understand their position, but at the end of the day, it’s a residential neighborhood. If you want a bed and breakfast or to operate something else, we have different zoning for that.”
Still, Pontieri suggested that she could be open to further exceptions, during Bike Week, for example, to encourage tourism dollars coming into the community.
Norris brought personal experience to his vote: He lived behind a vacation rental himself and called the Sheriff’s Office twice in one weekend because of his own concerns.
He sided with the neighbors.“Their lives are being altered — completely unacceptable,” Norris said.
Email Brian McMillan at brian@observerlocalnews. com.
City Manager Joyce Shanahan reported to the commission on Tuesday, Jan. 7, that staff has determined the playground at Andy Romano Beachfront Park needs to be replaced after sustaining hurricane damage last year, and that the city would like to do it in tandem with the repairs of the park’s seawall, a project for which the city recently received a $2.1 million bid; that project, which is coming in under budget, will come before the commission for approval on Feb. 4.
“The structure at Andy
The city is also planning to replace the playground at Fire Station 91, as well as repair the Magic Forest Playground at Nova Community Park, which also sustained significant hurricane damage. The city hopes that repair project will begin within two weeks; the repair will take six weeks to complete.
City Commissioner Kristin Deaton said the repair will be completed by the same company who originally constructed the playground.
“I’m excited to see that back up,” she said.
55 years of service: Flagler County Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston retires
Johnston’s gifts included a permanent plaque in the Government Services Building and gifts from the governor and Florida attorney general.
BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Flagler County Tax Collector
Suzanne Johnston received several gifts during her retirement ceremony Friday, Jan. 3, at the Government Services Building. The ceremony celebrated Johnson’s 55 years in public service.
Most of the gifts she could take home. One she could not, which is just as well, incoming Tax Collector Shelly Edmonson said, because it is a plaque.
“She’s not really fond about getting a plaque that has her name on it,” said Edmonson, who officiated the ceremony. “She’s like, ‘What am I going to do with it?’ So, I assured her that she was not getting a plaque to take home. It’s a plaque that will be displayed inside this building forever.”
The large metal plate shows a photo of Johnston next to an inscription that reads: “In grateful recognition of Honorable Suzanne Johnston. Honoring 55 years of public service to the residents of Flagler County. Her outstanding leadership, commitment to excellence and endless contributions have broadened the path for those who walk behind her. Thank you for your dedication to Flagler County. Serving the citizens of Flagler County from 1970 to 2025. Appointed Flagler County Property Appraiser in 1981 and elected Flagler County Tax Collector from 2005 to 2025.”
“And at the very end, underneath her name,” Edmonson added, “it says, ‘She made a difference.’ Because she really did.” Flagler County officials took turns honoring Johnston.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly was unable to attend but appeared in a video in which he congratulated Johnston on her retirement and made a request. He said Johnston had “repossessed” the gun of Flagler County’s first sheriff, E.W. Johnston,
will be receiving gifts from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody, Edmonson said. With the help of former Flagler County Commissioner Joe Mullins, Edmonson said, Johnston, a lifelong Republican, received a “Make America Great Again” hat along with a novelty photo of PresidentElect Donald Trump with a note that reads, “Suzanne, thank you for your loyalty and support. Together we will make America great again.”
Johnston’s daughter, former Flagler Beach Mayor Suzy Johnston, related the story of how her mother joined the tax collector’s office 55 years ago.
Her parents were returning from their honeymoon and stopped at the old post office in Bunnell, Suzy Johnston said.
the grandfather of Suzanne Johnston’s husband, Albert Johnson Jr. Staly said the gun “would look really good” in the museum at The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center on E.W. Johnston Drive in Bunnell. In return, he noted that Suzanne Johnston had mentioned that in retirement she might want to help out the FCSO in solving cold cases. So FCSO Chief of Staff Mark Strobridge swore her in as an honorary deputy.
Her staff gave her a goodie basket. With the assistance of Flagler County Republican Executive Committee Board Chair Perry Mitrano, Johnston
“My dad went in to check the mail and my mom was sitting in the car and she heard (a tap) on the window. It was (Tax Assessor) Don Moore. My mom rolled down the window and he said, ‘Well, I spoke to your husband inside and you’re starting to work on Monday.’”
She has been there ever since. In 1981, then-Gov. Bob Graham appointed Johnston to finish the property appraiser’s term for a year. In 2004, when Suzette Pellicer retired as tax collector, Johnston ran for the office, winning handily in both the Republican primary and the general election. That was her only contested election. She was reelected, unchallenged, four times.
Edmonson praised Johnston for always making sure that residents are treated with respect and making sure customer service is the office’s No. 1 priority.
Flagler County Attorney Al Hadeed told Johnston, “It’s not just that you’re a good tax collector. You are. … What you’re leaving behind is not your past accomplishments, it’s what you’ve created for the future, for the next 50 years. The Tax Collector’s office is going to run smoothly with great ethics, with great respect for citizens and with great efficiency, because you taught your people, not just by rote, but by example, and you let them participate. You put them in leadership positions (so they) will serve Flagler County for a long time.”
Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance and former Commissioner George Hanns also praised Johnston’s accomplishments.
Michelle Morgan, the chief deputy at the Flagler County Property Appraiser’s Office, thanked Johnston for getting her a job in the Property Appraiser’s Office 23 years ago simply because Johnston overheard a conversation.
“They can say all they want about me,” Johnston said. “But it’s not me. I’m not the one out there helping the public. It is my staff. And I cannot do the job by myself. I hired the smartest people I can, the nicest people I can.”
Email Brent Woronoff at brent@ observerlocalnews.com.
She’s not really fond about getting a plaque that has her name on it. ... So, I assured her that she was not getting a plaque to take home. It’s a plaque that will be displayed inside this building forever.
SHELLY EDMONSON, incoming Flagler County Tax Collector
SHELLY EDMONSON SWORN IS AS FLAGLER COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR
Shelly Edmonson was sworn is as Flagler County Tax Collector on Tuesday, Jan. 7, in the Government Services Building’s board chambers. Flagler County Judge Andrea Totten administered the oath of office. Edmonson takes over for Suzanne Johnston, who had been the county’s Tax Collector since 2005. Johnston retired after serving the county for 55 years.
Edmonson had been the Tax Collector Office’s operations manager. She has worked in Flagler County government for 16 years.
Regrow the Loop 2025 initiative to begin Thursday in Ormond Beach
This year’s five-month program will be led by the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail organization.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
After a successful pilot program last year, Regrow the Loop 2025 is officially underway. The initiative — aimed at restoring and enhancing the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail through education on invasive plant species and promotion of native vegetation and sustainable environmental practices — was launched by Volusia County in June 2023. Over 500 people participated in 21 Regrow the Loop events in a 12-month period, with 123 trees planted on both public and private land. This year’s five-month program will be led by the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail with the support of
the Florida Native Plant Society’s Pawpaw Chapter, Halifax River Audubon, Dream Green Volusia, Tomoka State Park, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, as well as Volusia County and the city of Ormond Beach.
It will pick up where the pilot left off, said Nancy Galdo, vice chair of the OSLT.
“Our goals are very, very much the same,” Galdo said. “Promoting more natural environment, getting rid of invasive [plants] and people learning about how to do their own native gardening and appreciating all the things in nature that we have here.”
ReGrow the Loop 2025 will feature 27 programs and events, with the first taking place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Ormond Beach Regional Library. Titled “Turf Talks,” Brittany Council-Morton of UF/IFAS Extension will teach the basics of turfgrass care, irrigation, fertilization, weed control and pest management.
The OSLT will also present an
open house on the Regrow the Loop 2025 program from 4:30-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Ormond Beach library.
Over the last few years, the organization has discovered that not many people know much about what the Loop is, Galdo said. The coastal byway is located in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea and includes A1A, North Beach Street, John Anderson Drive and Old Dixie Highway.
“There’s only a few national scenic byways in the whole state, and we have one right here,” Galdo said.
ReGrow the Loop is the brainchild of Ormond Beach resident Alan Burton, who proposed the idea to County Councilman Troy Kent. Initiatives and slogans such as “Save the Loop,” “Defend the Loop” and “Protect the Loop” have been around for decades, but Burton wanted to go beyond that.
He called it “intertemporal biologic coordination”: balancing planting native trees to help bolster the local ecosystem while battling invasive
species, in a way that creates a lasting effect for future generations.
During the pilot program, one resident planted a small live oak on Beach Street in honor of his late wife, Burton said.
“In 20 years, that baby’s going to be beautiful,” Burton said. “But you can’t hardly notice it from the street, so it does take time.”
Burton has been involved in parks and recreation for over 40 years, including previously serving as the bureau chief for recreation for the city of Orlando. During his time on the job, they initiated a nonprofit group to help with their programs.
He envisions something similar for Regrow the Loop, now that the OSLT has taken the reins, and the County Council has expressed interest in expanding the program countywide.
“Regrow the Loop was more of a beta program, and I thought the county did a great job, and the city and the partners were all just magnificent,” Burton said. “I was just really impressed with everybody’s dedication and commitment to our county, our Loop.”
One of the community partners hosting several programs this year is Halifax River Audubon. Ormondby-the-Sea resident and environmental advocate Melissa Lammers, who represents the group in Regrow the Loop 2025, said their goal is to create awareness about how people can be more supportive of nature along the Loop.
“People cherish it and they love it, but they don’t necessarily know how to take care of it,” Lammers said. “So we hope that through our different kinds of outreach — and just from taking people out to see what there is to see along the Loop — that they’ll fall in love enough to continue learning about how to be more supportive to habitat.”
On Saturday, Jan. 11, Halifax River Audubon will be hosting an “Owl
Prowl” from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at Tomoka State Park. Joan Tague will participants on a guided walk of the park aimed at seeing owls in their natural habitat. Tickets cost $20 and benefit both the Halifax River Audubon and the Friends of Tomoka Basin State Parks.
One of the big focuses of this year’s program is native plants, Lammers said. The loss of habitat contributes to the loss of birds and other wildlife. And habitat restoration, Lammers said, begins in everyone’s yards.
“While people are very upset about loss of habitat to development, they oftentimes don’t stop to think that their own home is sitting on habitat that got developed, and that they can actually play a really important role in putting back some of what development took away by converting more of their landscaping to Florida native plants,” Lammers said.
On March 8, Halifax River Audubon will host a four-hour workshop on how to restore natural habitat in your backyard. The “Your Yard Matters” workshop will begin at 10 a.m. at the Anderson-Price Memorial Building.
The city of Ormond Beach is working to redo its landscaping codes to require more native plants, an effort that has been spearheaded by City Commissioner Lori Tolland, who was a regular attendee at Regrow the Loop programs last year, Lammers added.
“That is an amazing outcome of ReGrow the Loop,” she said.
Galdo said he hopes the community supports this year’s initiative as they did the pilot program.
“We’re hoping to take the ball and run with that and keep the community engaged,” Galdo said.
To see a list of this year’s programs, visit https://www.volusia. org/services/community-services/ resource-stewardship/regrow-theloop.stml.
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FLAGLER SCHOOLS Q+A STRONG AND NIEVES
Student-School Board perspective
BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Should teachers stay after school to give extra help, even if they’re not paid for it? Is college right for everyone?
Flagler County Student School Board members for 2024-25 — Jeh-Hanni Strong of Matanzas High School and Dani Nieves of Flagler Palm Coast High School — bring a unique perspective to these questions and others. They spoke to the Observer last month about the opportunity they have as student representatives on the board, leading Teen Town Halls, and how they juggle their school work and many extracurricular activities.
What
Dani Nieves: One thing I will say, which is pretty big in my school is a lot of teachers don’t stay after school because they’re having issues getting paid to stay after school. And it’s affecting a lot of students who did rely on tutoring to help keep their grades up. And personally, in one of my clubs we’re going through some issues finding an adviser, because no teacher wants to stay after school for free, and obviously I can’t blame them for that. Also, sometimes there are issues I’m not aware of that I will hear at the School Board meetings, and I say, wow maybe I need to be more conscious (of the issues).
Jeh-Hanni Strong: For me, it would really be expanding those programs, not just within the high school, but outside after we graduate, I know that there’s a lot of students who feel like after high school, they have to go to college, they have to go to university and they don’t really have that motivation, but you don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate degree to be considered successful in this world. We have a lot of technical programs, not just in Flagler County but around the country, internationally as well. And so I really want those students to be aware that. We do have FTC, we have those technical, those technological programs and certifications that are available, and they are really awesome opportunities. And I would say also, artificial intelligence. I think not just for students, but for teachers it’s been a huge thing, especially this year. When it comes to exams, you kind of need to know your material. But when it comes to study sessions, I do think it’s a beneficial thing. When you can just go on to something and ask what does this mean? How can this help me learn quicker? So something with AI in terms of making it more equitable for both our students and teachers.
can get into would be best for me. So that is something that I really want for myself. So I’m going to have to make sure that I get that done and anything I need to do on my way there.
Jeh-Hanni Strong: Yes, for me my planner is my best friend. I have this planner that I carry around with me and I really kind of write down what I have to do. I am a little bit more old school. I just find that if I write it, it’ll stick in my brain. My hand kind of hurts after but at the end of the day it’s beneficial, and that’s how I make sure that I’m on task and I don’t forget an assignment. But it all comes down to balance. You want to make sure that you achieve those goals and you make sure you want to be as successful as possible. But there also comes a balance. You want to make sure that you have time for yourself. Give yourself some grace, because it’s not the end of the world. Like Dani said, if you want it bad enough, you’re going to get it.
How did you learn about the opportunity of becoming Student School Board members?
What is it like leading the
Dani Nieves: Those are even better than the School Board meetings. It’s really great to hear what the high schoolers have to say.
Jeh-Hanni Strong: I agree, and I think it’s very important to also have that good relationship with the opposing board liaison. I can’t imagine what it would be like if we didn’t get along.
How do you organize the town halls?
Dani Nieves: We usually call about an hour before the Teen Town Hall,figure out what kind of questions we’re going to ask, topics we’re going to go over, so we’re not speaking over each other. We divide up equally. No one is stealing the spotlight.
With school, applying to colleges and all of the extracurricular activities you are both involved in, how have you do you find time for everything?
Dani Nieves: I knew (FPC’s previous) School Board representative (Brendan Wang). He knew that it would be something I’m interested in. Jeh-Hanni Strong: I had learned about being a Student Board representative my sophomore year, but I actually wasn’t in Flagler County at the time. I was a freshman at Seabreeze High School. So when I came over here, the (Matanzas) board liaison two years ago (Isabella Tietje) was on the swim team with me. But it was not until last year when I got a little bit more firsthand account on what it was like to be a board representative, and I was like, yes this is 100% what I want to do, especially because I want to go into politics. This is an amazing opportunity to get that taste of what it’s like to really advocate for the students, and I already had a pretty big voice, not just volume-wise, but with a lot of groups at my high school, and I thought this is a very great role to not only get to the students but to get to those adults, make those changes happen and take that action.
Jeh-Hanni Strong: At the end of the day, these Virtual Teen Town Halls aren’t for us to be like, “This is our time to shine.” This is our time to shine in telling other students what we’re doing and inviting them to speak with other people who are professionals, such as our very first one we had VyStar come and speak to our students. After that, it was FPC’s CmPS (Community Problem Solving) group. Dani Nieves: So it’s really just very educational for our students and those adults who want to participate, too, and those middle schoolers to really get a taste of what it’s like when you enter high school. Each (virtual town hall) will have a different topic, and then within that, Jeh-Hanni and I will kind of expand on what we want to go over.
Both of you seem to be enthusiastic, maybe even more so than some of the recent Student School Board members of the past, to take part in board discussions, offering your opinions.
Dani Nieves: Time management. I have a calendar. I have a planner. I have all of that, and it’s just prioritizing what needs to be done first, and staying on top of that. If you don’t have the motivation to get what you need to get done, if you don’t have goals that you’re setting for yourself, you won’t be able to juggle anything. But if you want your goals in life, like I know what I want for my future and I’m going to make that happen no matter what. I want to be a nuclear engineer in the Navy. And I actually just got awarded a full-ride Navy scholarship to go do that at my college of choice, that’s MIT, where I’ve applied, but I have my top five choices — the best engineering program that I
So far, has it been what you expected?
Dani Nieves: Better than I expected. We spoke on the radio as well. We’ve done some interviews. So definitely a lot of opportunities.
Jeh-Hanni Strong: We’ve been really grateful and lucky to have the opportunity to talk to (School Board member) Dr. Conklin before she retired (in November). So we got the experience (interviewing) her, we got on the radio station, we’ve inducted three new board members. So it’s really been a great experience. Dr. Conklin was on the board for 24 years, and us being the last ones to ever have that experience with her on the board, that’s really been a dream come true.
Jeh-Hanni Strong: What I like to do is look at previous (School Board) videos. And I also get perspective from my principal and other administrators who say this is what we want to do and we’re hoping that you can advocate for us. And one of my things that I was stating when I was being selected was I just want to be an advocate for those students who are afraid to speak up, for those adults who have ideas but can’t necessarily get them across. I’m here to not just sit on the board and just be like, hey I’m here to look pretty. No, I’m here to get things done. And that’s kind of what it is to be a board liaison, in my opinion, to get those things in action and move forward.
Dani Nieves: And even when you’re not speaking, just having someone that knows what’s going on and being able to relay that back to other students at my school is definitely important, so you have to be attentive, because you were picked for this role for a reason and you don’t want to give up and disappoint other students.
Officer sustains ‘significant injuries’
After a crash in Palm Coast, a retired, volunteer officer was directing traffic when he was struck by another vehicle.
BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER
A crash following a crash resulted in Steven Brooks, a member of the Palm Coast Fire Police, being injured on Jan. 7.
The first crash occurred when a motor vehicle struck a motorized scooter at the intersection of Seminole Woods Parkway and Sesame Drive just before 5 p.m.
The Palm Coast Fire Department responders at to the scene.
Brooks, a retired firefighter from Utah, was serving as a volunteer with the
BRIEFS
Ribbon-cutting
set for tennis courts at Palm Coast’s Southern Rec Center
The City of Palm Coast invites residents for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Jan. 13, unveiling the newly finished tennis courts and other enhancements at the Southern Recreation Center.
The ceremony will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. Redefined Food Co. will be open for food and beverage purchases during the ribbon cutting.
On June 18, 2024, the City Council approved a “Growth Grant” agreement with the United States Tennis Association, funding $700,000 to cover the construction of additional tennis courts at the center.
The Southern Recreation Center, 1290 Belle Terre Parkway, has added four clay courts, new efficient LED lighting that will make the facility eligible for nighttime tournaments and the facility’s first show court, an open-air tennis stadium that seats over 140 spectators.
The city continues “progressing towards other facil-
Palm Coast Fire Police, so he began directing traffic away from the scene. As he did so, Brooks was struck by a separate vehicle.
Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill arrived at the scene and happened to take the same path of the vehicle that struck Brooks.
“The sun, at that part of the road, you’re facing due west, and it was kind of a brutal sun time for vision, so that just means you have to be extra cautious,” Berryhill said.
Which is exactly why the Fire Police are there: to protect the first respondiers.
“One of the hallmarks of our Fire Police is to be incredibly visible,” he said. He added: “Our community has a great history of caring about the first responders. They consistently do that. One way they can help is being extra cautious in the road way.”
Brooks has been with the Fire Police for more than two years. He was an assistant
ity amenities including shade structures, water stations and additional parking,” according to a city press release. The Southern Recreation Center is the home of the annual Palm Coast Open, a USTA Pro Circuit event. This year, the center is adding a women’s $35,000 tournament along with the men’s $15,000 tournament. The Palm Coast Open is set to kick off shortly after the ribbon cutting on Jan. 13. the main draw for the women’s tournament is scheduled for Jan. 14-15 with finals on Jan. 18-19. The men’s main draw is set for Jan. 28-29 with finals on Feb. 1-2.
ParkVolusia now in effect, Volusia residents urged to register to avoid fines
Have you registered your vehicles with the county’s ParkVolusia program?
ParkVolusia — the county’s new program that provides complimentary parking in county-owned and operated off-beach lots — started on Jan. 1. Nearly 40,000 accounts had been registered as of Dec. 26. To register a vehicle or find a county-owned and operated off-beach park-
chief at a department in Utah during his career.
“He’s a great guy who just wants to be there and help,” Berryhill said.
The Fire Police has served the community for more than 20 years.
“They’ve been a huge part in helping first responders to stay safe at one of the most dangerous situations they face: when they’re interacting with the public who is on a mission to get by, or around or through.”
The motorized scooter rider was transported to an Advent Health hospital in Palm Coast, indicating he did not need trauma care, Berryhill said.
The incident occurred just before the Palm Coast City Council meeting that night, where Berryhill was scheduled to make a presentation.
Mayor Mike Norris asked the audience: “Please pray for our deputies and firefighters.”
ing lot, visit www.parkvolusia.
org.
Volusia owns and operates over 60 off-beach parking lots, the larger of which will be equipped with automatic license plate readers to verify registrations or daily fee payments. Smaller lots will be monitored through mobile enforcement officers.
Vehicles parked without proper registration or payment will be issued a parking violation on their windshield, or by mail. Fines will be added on top of the $20 daily parking fee.
Daily parking passes can be purchased at all lots by following the instructions on the ParkVolusia signage, which directs users to scan a QR code, or send a text message to the number on the sign. A pass can also be purchased at kiosks in some larger lots.
Annual passes must be purchased online or in person at a ParkVolusia office. The annual passes for nonresidents cost $100.
Need in-person assistance?
The county has two ParkVolusia offices: 2422 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores (open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; call 386-217-0078); and 302 N. Causeway, New Smyrna Beach (open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; call 386-217-0216).
Eight candidates have qualified to run for the special Congressional District 6 race. The primary will be Jan. 28.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Registered Republicans and Democrats in Flagler and Volusia counties will get their first chance to vote for their candidate of choice to represent Congressional District 6 during the primary election on Jan. 28.
Three Republicans and two Democrats are currently vying for seat, to be vacated on Jan. 20 by three-term U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, as he was named by President-elect Donald Trump as his national security advisor. The winner from both parties in the primary election will be on the ballot for the April 1 special general election.
As Florida is a closed primary state, only registered Republicans and Democrats may participate in the primary election.
Congressional District 6 includes all of Flagler and Putnam counties, as well as parts of Volusia, Lake, Marion and St. Johns counties.
The deadline to request your vote-by-mail ballot is Jan. 16. Early voting will take place from Jan. 18-25.
So, who’s running?
REPUBLICANS
Three Republican candidates have filed for the upcoming special election.
Florida Sen. Randy Fine, of Melbourne Beach, filed to run for the congressional seat on Dec. 3, 2024. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from
2016-2024, and was elected to the Florida Senate in the recent 2024 general election, He worked in the gambling industry prior to his political career. Fine is endorsed by Trump, who “needs fighters who will Make America Wealthy Again, Make American Safe Again, and someone who will stand up for Israel. That is why today I’m announcing my candidacy,” Fine wrote on X after announcing his candidacy in late November 2024.
Ehsan Joarder, of Brooksville, filed to run for the seat on Dec. 4, 2024. Joarder is an information technology specialist who was raised in Florida after his parents immigrated from Bangladesh, according to his campaign website.
“I am running for Congress because I am tired of century-old politicians making decisions that compromise our future,” he wrote on his website. “I believe in putting America first, advocating for a balanced budget, supporting term limits, and preserving the American Dream for generations to come.”
Aaron Baker, of Sorrento, filed to run on Dec. 6, 2024. He’s worked on previous political campaigns, including his most recent to support Scott Presler’s Early Vote Action in Pennsylvania, according to his campaign website. Baker wrote that he decided to run for office just before Hurricane Milton made landfall last October.
“Sitting on my couch, I found myself asking, ‘How can an average citizen truly make a difference?’” Baker wrote. “That question ignited a sense of purpose, leading me to reconnect with acquaintances in Pennsylvania and dedicate time on the ground before November 5th.”
DEMOCRATS
Two Democrats are running. George “Ges” Selmont, of Elkton, filed to run on Dec. 5. A businessman, Selmont ran for the Florida House in 2018 to represent Congressional District 4, losing to the Republican. His campaign website comments on the strain on the middle class.
“Hard work used to be enough to succeed, but that is no longer the reality,” Selmont wrote on his campaign website. “I am running for Congress to restore fairness to our economic and judicial systems so that everyone can achieve the American dream.”
Josh Weil, of Orlando, filed to run on Dec. 6, 2024. A single father and public school educator, Weil stated on his campaign website that he was moved to join the race by his children and students, “who deserve to grow into a society where we care about the facts, the planet, and each other.”
“We can’t just sit back and allow them to destroy the last remaining vestiges of what truly makes America great, we must act now by taking on corruption and injustice head-on,” Weil wrote.
CANDIDATES WHO ARE NOT IN THE PRIMARY
Three other candidates will be on the ballot in the special general election in April.
Libertarian Andrew Parrott, of Ocala, filed to run on Dec. 2. Parrott is an entrepreneur who previously worked for 19 years at E-ONE. Randall Terry, who was the Constitution Party’s presidential nominee in 2024, filed to run on Dec. 6. He is a longtime anti-abortion activist. Chuck Sheridan, of Merritt Island, filed to run on Dec. 7 as a write-in. He ran to represent Florida State Senate District 19 last year, losing to Fine.
BRIEFS
Flagler deputy halts fleeing armed bicyclist by striking him with his patrol car
A Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy struck a fleeing bicyclist with his patrol car after the man pulled out a gun on Jan. 4, minutes before midnight, according to an FCSO press release. Michael McDermott, 38, was ejected from the bicycle, causing him to drop the gun. He was then arrested.
Deputy Christopher Murphy was conducting patrols in the W-Section of Palm Coast when he observed the man, later identified as McDermott, on the sidewalk along Pine Lakes Parkway standing next to a bicycle on the ground. Murphy attempted contact
with McDermott, but McDermott picked up the bike and began to ride away. Murphy activated his emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop. McDermott appeared to comply, slowing down enough for Murphy to stop and exit his car, only to then pedal quickly away and turn onto Westminster Drive. Murphy got back into his vehicle and attempted to catch up with McDermott. As Murphy turned onto Westminster Drive, he observed McDermott pulling a gun out of his pants. Fearing that McDermott would engage him with the gun, Murphy struck McDermott with his vehicle then secured McDermott without further incident with the assistance of Deputy Michael Anderson, who had arrived as backup within seconds of the incident. A 9-millimeter Ruger firearm was recovered near McDermott, who was also wearing a
holster for the weapon.
McDermott was arrested for assault or battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding, resisting an officer with violence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was transported to Advent Health Palm Coast Parkway due to a minor injury to his right ankle. After being treated and released, he was taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.
McDermott has an extensive arrest history in Flagler County since 2013 and had been released from the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on Dec. 17 after serving a 90-day sentence for possession of fentanyl.
18-year-old
arrested after crashing into FHP car during chase
An 18-year-old man who was
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900 West Granada Blvd., Ste. 3, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
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COMMERCIAL OFFICE - 386-253-8565
140 S. Atlantic Ave., Suite 202, Ormond Beach, FL 32176 DAYTONA BEACH SHORES OFFICE - 386-766-SOLD (7653) 3118 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118
Stunning 3BR/2BA + office home spanning 2,269 sq ft in Plantation Bay Golf and Country Club. This expertly-maintained, single-family home combines modern elegance with comfort in a private, gated community. Highlights include a spacious open concept design, high ceilings, a luxurious master suite, and gourmet kitchen. #1207395 $430,000. David VanderVoort 305-432-1126.
Million-dollar Atlantic Ocean Views are what you will find in this updated one-of-a-kind 3BR/3.5BA 2,500 square foot three-story Key West Style Beach House. With PLENTY OF ROOM FOR HOSTING OR ENTERTAINING, each of the large bedrooms is on a separate floor level and includes its own ensuite bathroom. #1200283 $949,000. Alex Paslawsky 386-506-7299.
Enjoy ocean views and easy access to the no drive beach in this 2BR/2BA condo unit. Updates include new luxury vinyl flooring, an updated full bath with a walk-in shower and a kitchen featuring granite and stainless. Upstairs is a spacious master bedroom with double closets, a makeup counter or desk area, and a balcony. #1207380 $345,000. Debbie Carter 386-506-1810.
LATITUDE
This beautiful move-in ready 3BR/2BA Nevis home is located in Phase 2A, very close to the fabulous amenity center. Upgrades include beautiful covered and screened extended lanai, tray ceiling, plantation shutters, electric shade blinds, upgraded cabinets, Quartz countertops, and full glass shower in master bath. #1207388 $519,900. Vicki Chappell 904-219-9483.
HUSTONS
This beautifully updated 1940s beach bungalow offers vintage charm and modern convenience, all within walking distance to our beautiful beach and Sun Splash Park! Inside, find two spacious bedrooms, one full bath, convenient indoor laundry, gleaming hardwood floors, and a cozy woodburning fireplace. #1207385 $350,000. Bonnie Karet 386-295-2109.
This beautiful 3BR/2BA farm estate in Pierson sits on a meticulously maintained farm with 25-acres for livestock and a massive barn. Property includes five separate pastures that are fence and cross fenced. Enjoy a perfect balance of peaceful tranquility with easy access to modern conveniences. #1207361 $1,275,000. Mary Maholias 813-601-9531.
being pursued by Florida Highway Patrol for making suicidal threats was arrested on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2024, after he crashed into a trooper’s vehicle.
FHP reports that Dominic Joseph Guerrisi, of Port St. Lucie, was being pursued by a trooper on Interstate I-95 near mile marker 290 in Palm Coast at around 5 p.m. The trooper lost visual of Guerrisi, who was later spotted exiting onto U.S. 1 and traveling south, according to a press release.
FHP continued its pursuit as Guerrisi weaved in and out of traffic in an effort to flee, heading onto Old Kings Road where he drove on the wrong side of the road and crashed into an FHP patrol vehicle occupied by a trooper and an auxiliary trooper, both of whom were transported to the hospital after the crash but have since been released.
Guerrisi was placed under arrest by FHP, with the help of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. He was transported to
COPS CORNER
DEC. 12
WEEDING OUT A SUSPECT
10:03 a.m. — 400 block of Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach
Burglary An Ormond Beach resident called police to report a theft: He believed his marijuana had gone missing.
Police report that as the resident searched his home, he soon discovered other items missing, including $300 in cash, some medication, a gold bracelet and two gold engraved charms. He did, however, find his missing marijuana — it was found in his living room and in another bedroom of his house.
The victim told police he believed the burglar had entered the home through an unlocked back door, according to a police incident report. He suspected an acquaintance had performed the crime, saying he had met her about two months prior on the streets of Daytona. The woman had told him she liked his car, and he brought her to his home to help him clean, the report states.
The woman had been arrested the day before the man called police on attempted burglary charges in Daytona Beach. The victim wished to press charges.
DEC. 28
O CHRISTMAS TREE
3:28 p.m. — 100 block of East Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach
Vandalism Police responded to a local office building after its property manager discovered their Christmas tree had been vandalized.
Police report that the tree appeared to have been intentionally knocked over, which resulted in bent limbs and several ornaments strewn across the floor, some which broke, according to an incident report. The broken ornaments were estimated to have cost about $20.
When the property manager reviewed the security footage, she saw a man punching the Christmas tree and knocking it to the ground, an incident that took place on the previous day in the late afternoon hours. The property manager, the incident report states, conducted her own investigation and discovered the suspect had come from a nearby electronic device repair store in the office building.
The store owner recognized the suspect as a client of his and provided police with contact information.
Police eventually met up with the suspect, a 57-year-old Ormond Beach man, who admitted to punching the Christmas tree out of anger after being unhappy about his visit at the repair store.
The man was placed under
a local hospital for his injuries, and then booked into the Flagler County Jail, where he is held on a $100,000 bond.
“Your Florida Highway Patrol Troopers and FHP Auxiliary Officers are committed to upholding the law in Florida, courageously being in harm’s way while courteously protecting and serving our residents and visitors,” FHP Col. Gary Howze said in the press release. “This service includes holding reckless individuals accountable for their choices that endanger innocent others. We are thankful that none of the law enforcement involved were more seriously injured, and grateful for the invaluable assistance from our telecommunication professionals and fellow law enforcement partners.” Guerrisi was charges with one felony count of aggravated fleeing, two felony counts of battery of a law enforcement officer, and two misdemeanor counts of assault on a law enforcement officer.
arrest for criminal mischief, but released on the scene with a notice to appear in court
JAN. 3
ALCOHOL DETECTED
11:08 p.m. — 1000 block of Palm Coast Parkway, Palm Coast
DUI. A 54-year-old Palm Coast man was arrested after a deputy witnessed him pulled him over for a traffic stop, suspecting he was driving under the influence.
The deputy had witness the man weave in between traffic lanes as well as failing to make complete stops at a traffic light and a stop sign. When the deputy approached the car, he noted the strong smell of alcohol. When asked for his license and registration, the man at first appeared confused and “could not perform these simple tasks,” according to the arrest report. After he provided his license, he was asked to step out of the vehicle.
The man told the deputy that he had been coming from work and was headed home. When asked if he had been drinking, the man said he’d had two beers. He agreed to participate in a series of field sobriety exercises, which he failed.
He was taken to jail.
JAN. 4
DOORS LOCKED
2:41 p.m. — near mile marker 296, Interstate 95, Palm Coast Obstruction without violence. A deputy was on patrol when he noticed a vehicle tailgating another, driving just a few inches of the car’s bumper. The car in front was also tailgating another car. As the deputy prepared to conduct a traffic stop, the first vehicle suddenly exited the roadway and so did the other, both coming to an abrupt stop on the shoulder.
The driver of the first car, a 44-year-old transient man, was seen walking toward the woods as if to urinate, according to the arrest report. The driver of the second car, a 28-year-old Miami woman, also got out of her car. As the deputy approached, he could smell burnt marijuana coming from her car, which the deputy also smelled on the man’s person as he returned. The man provided the deputy with an international driver’s license and asked him to give him a break — he was under probation for driving with a suspended license.
The deputy began investigating the source of the marijuana smell, but the woman had locked the car, causing an alarm to ring out. She refused to hand over the keys to the car, stating that the car was open.
Deputies eventually found 3.8 grams of marijuana in the car as well as drug paraphernalia. They were both arrested.
Koala and Curlew’s travels: Female right whales spotted off Flagler
Koala and Curlew, 16 and 14 years old, respectively, have been traveling together since last November.
JARLEENE ALMENAS
Two North Atlantic right whales were spotted off the coast of Flagler Beach on Sunday, Jan. 5. They are two of the approximately 370 whales left of their species.
The pair — 16-year-old Koala and 14-year-old Curlew — have been traveling together since late November 2024, when they were sighted off South Carolina. It’s not unusual for a pair of female right whales to travel together, said Sara Ellis, senior researcher with the Marineland Right Whale Project, but she wouldn’t say it’s common either. “It’s very interesting to see how closely they travel together, so there’s definitely a social bond between them, but what it means to them? We don’t know,” Ellis said. “But it’s
fascinating.”
It’s also unknown if either Koala or Curlew are pregnant. The waters between Florida and Georgia are the only known calving grounds for this critically endangered species, Ellis said. Pregnant female right whales migrate down here in the winter time, but small numbers of male and non-pregnant right whales do the same.
Typically, right whales are seen in the local waters from December through March, though right whale sightings have been reported as early as late November some years.
Boaters are urged to slow down and be on the lookout for them, as they can often be hard to see. Right whales have no dorsal fin and are slow moving.
The whales’ main threats are being hit by vessels or becoming entangled in fishing gear. Ellis said over 85% of whales show signs of having been entangled. Last year, a calf washed up on Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia, a couple months after being sighted with propeller cuts and injuries to its head, mouth
and lip, according to the Marineland Right Whale Report for 2024.
“Because they’re so critically endangered, every calf that’s born is precious,” Ellis said.
People are instructed to never approach right whales — on the water, on planes or with drones. The legally mandated distance to observe them is 500 yards.
The number of right whales has been on a decline since 2017, with a few years no calves were born at all, Ellis said. But, that decline appears to have leveled off.
“We’re not going to say the population is recovering yet, but we’re cautiously optimistic that they’re going to hold their own right now,” Ellis said.
Whale sightings can be reported by calling the Right Whale Hotline at 1-888-979-4253.
“That allows us to verify that it’s a whale and alert commercial vessels that there are whales in the area, so you’re helping to protect those whales by making that phone call,” Ellis said.
Volusia County Veteran Services director retires
OBSERVER STAFF
Volusia County Veteran Services
Director Bob Watson was recognized upon his retirement on the steps of Veterans Plaza in DeLand on Friday, Jan. 3.
Watson, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served 20 years in the military, worked for the county for seven years. His recognition was attended by city officials and Florida Sen. Tom Wright. Watson also received a quilt from Quilts of Valor, an organization that provides quilts to military service members and veterans.
According to the county, Watson has helped hundreds of veterans
receive military benefits and services throughout his career in Veteran Services.
“I was blessed with a wonderful County Council that were just adamant that they were going to take care of, not just the citizens, but also our veteran in this county,” Watson said in a video press release. “Our county management ... were solidly behind and committed to doing what was necessary to take care of those veterans, which allowed me to present ideas to them which were accepted and we were able to more than double the amount of veterans we’re seeing annually and taking care of.”
BRIEFS
Last call: Volusia County seeks participation in coastal management survey
Volusia County urges all residents, property owners, businesses and visitors to participate in the Coastal Management Survey to share their insights into beach usage and experiences.
As the Jan. 12 deadline nears, participation in this survey will influence the future management and enhancement of local beaches. More than 7,000 individuals have already responded, but each additional voice is important.
This survey is instrumental in understanding public usage and perceptions of the community’s beaches. The insights gained will inform a series of public meetings focused on beach resiliency improvements. Additionally, the data will contribute to developing a second survey, slated for release in the spring or summer, which will explore potential resiliency enhancements. These enhancements will be informed by ongoing research into Volusia’s unique coastal dynamics. Participants who have not yet shared their thoughts can access the survey by visiting www.volusia. org. For individuals requiring assistance, in-person support is available at the Volusia County Beach Safety Headquarters, 515 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.
BUSINESS OBSERVER
Ormond-by-the-Sea residents open new coffee shop
Happy Co. Surf and Coffee opened last week. For Cory and Kila Smith, it was a dream years in the making.
JARLEENE ALMENAS
MANAGING EDITOR
A little cafe with good coffee. Maybe a surf shop.
That was the dream for Ormond-by-the-Sea residents Kila and Cory Smith — and one that grew by 3,000 square feet when they decided to take on redeveloping the former Wells Fargo bank building at 1210 Ocean Shore Blvd. into what is now Happy Co. Surf and Coffee. The husband-and-wife duo opened their new coffee shop on Monday, Dec. 30, and are looking to celebrate their grand opening on Jan. 18.
“It doesn’t feel real,” Kila said. Happy Co. Surf and Coffee has been two years in the making for the Smiths, as that is when they began leasing the former bank building, but Kila had been thinking about opening a coffee shop since
2019. After graduating college, she worked as a barista in a coffee shop, where she was later promoted to general manager. That’s where her love for coffee was sparked.
“Pretty much ever since then, I was like, ‘If they could do it, I can do it,’” Kila said. For Cory, who is a former Marion County firefighter, he used to travel to the west coast of the U.S. a lot for surfing competitions. It was very
common, he said, to see surf shops out there have a little cafe attached to them, and he always thought that was something this area needed.
“There’s a million surf shops, but there’s really no coffee or a place you can get a good smoothie or something healthy after you surf, or before you surf,” Cory said.
“And then when Kila and I met, the conversation came up and I was like, ‘A dream of mine has always been to open a little coffee surf shop.’ She was like, ‘I’m actually in the process of finding a location for a coffee shop.’”
The couple often drove by the former Wells Fargo building, which closed about three years ago. One day, after looking at a different location, they were driving on A1A and Cory joked with Kila that they should look at the bank property.
“I was like, ‘We might as
well just look at it,’” Kila said with a laugh.
And they took on the challenge.
The larger space made it possible for them to add on the surf shop component. Additionally, the Smiths are hoping to turn the old bank vault into an art gallery, where an artist can showcase their work on a monthly basis.
“We had so many suggestions — so many thoughts,” Kila said of the bank vault.
“There’s no Wi-Fi. It’s concrete. The whole room is concrete.”
In addition to coffee drinks (the shop uses Bold Bean Co. roasts), the shop also serves New York bagels, açaí bowls, avocado toast and yogurt parfaits. After their grand opening, the Smiths hope to continue expanding their menu, including offering beer and wine in the future during evening hours.
They hope Happy Co. Surf and Coffee becomes a place where locals hangout, something they said was needed in Ormond-by-the-Sea. As a young family themselves in the neighborhood, they have seen excitement from other families who have come in to the shop in the last week.
“They just have huge smiles,” Cory said. “...Joking around, I told Kila the other day, ‘I almost wish that it was somebody else opening this shop because we would be up here religiously.’ Every day, we’d probably be up here drinking coffee, so it’s just nice to feel like we’re filling that void.”
Happy Co. Surf and Coffee is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
BIZ BUZZ
Ormond Beach accounting firms announce merger
David Holland and Steve Tacinelli, partners in the tax and accounting firm Holland, Tacinelli, CPAs, will merge with Klayer and Associates, Inc., also of Ormond Beach.
Garrett Klayer and his team will relocate their offices to Holland, Tacinelli, CPAs at 700 W. Granada Blvd., according to the merger’s announcement. The move is expected to be completed by Jan.15. The combined firm will be renamed Holland, Tacinelli & Klayer.
Holland, Tacinelli and Klayer are all certified public accountants. Clients of Klayer and Associates will see no disruption for the 2024 tax season.
“We are thrilled to be growing in our ability to serve even more of our neighbors in Volusia and Flagler Counties,” Holland said, This is the third merger for the Holland, Tacinelli firm since its inception as Holland Tax and Accounting in 2012.
Hammock Beach Golf Resort has new food, beverage director
Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa has promoted Woody Mitchell to director of food and beverage, according to a press release.
Mitchell had been the assistant food and beverage director at Hammock Beach. He has more than 20 of experience in the culinary industry.
“Woody is such an asset to the Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa team and we are thrilled he will lead the direction of our food and beverage program,” Managing Director Carlton Grant said. “His hospitality, leadership development, menu engineering, beverage education and excellent communica-
tion skills are exceptional, and we are proud to have him at the helm.”
During the past few years, Mitchell help conceive, design, train and open the Pizzeria, Gelato and Beach Brew venues at Hammock Beach.
“I love this resort, the people and Palm Coast, so I am truly honored to be the food and beverage director and excited for all the ideas we plan to Implement,” Mitchell said.
Chiumento Law promotes Eric Sloan to full-time attorney
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
Flagler Beach house is county’s top seller
Ahouse at 2119 North Central Ave., in Flagler Beach was the top real estate transaction for Dec. 21-27 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The house sold on Dec. 23, for $968,500. Built in 1973, the house is a 3/3 and has a hot tub and 2,642 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $500,000.
ALEXIS MILLER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Condos
A condo at 16 Southbury Court, Unit 16, sold on Dec. 27, for $205,000. Built in 1988, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,098 square feet.
A condo at 900 Canopy Walk Lane, Unit 913, sold on Dec. 27, for $379,000. Built in 2004, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,377 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $359,500.
FLAGLER BEACH
Cedar Island
A house at 605 Shearwood Drive sold on Dec. 27, for $560,000. Built in 1993, the house is a 3/3 and has a boat dock, a boat house and 2,566 square feet.
PALM COAST
Belle Terre
A house at 62 Prince Michael Lane sold on Dec. 27, for $295,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,835 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $190,000.
Cypress Knoll
A house at 29 Edmond sold
on Dec. 27, for $375,000. Built in 1990, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, a fireplace and 1,710 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $225,000.
Indian Trail A house at 44 bird of Paradise Drive sold on Dec. 27, for $285,000. Built in 1997, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,451 square feet. It sold in 2024 for $220,000.
Matanzas Woods A house at 49 Ludlow Lane West sold on Dec. 27, for $300,000. Built in 1996, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, a boat dock and 1,912 square feet.
Not in a subdivision A house at 48 Sea breeze Trail sold on Dec. 27, for $435,990. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,381 square feet.
A house at 76 Raintree Place sold on Dec. 26, for $314,990. Built in 2024, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,552 square feet.
Palm Harbor A house at 45 Cottonwood Court sold on Dec. 27, for $875,000. Built in 1988, the house is a 3/3 and has a fire-
place, a pool, a boat dock and 2,900 square feet. It sold in 2010 for $470,000.
Pine Grove A house at 15 Poppy Lane sold on Dec. 27, for $345,000. Built in 2007, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,058 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $320,000.
A house at 8 Pine Grove Drive sold on Dec. 27, for $282,900. Built in 2023, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,211 square feet.
Sawmill Branch
A house at 24 Summerwood Road north sold on Dec. 27, for $418,990. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,368 square feet.
Seminole Woods
A house at 1305 Ribbon Place sold on Dec. 27, for $414,990. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/2.5 and has 2,511 square feet.
A house at 1 Seoane Court sold on Dec. 27, for $385,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, a fireplace and 1,655 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $190,000.
A house at 5 Seville Orange Path sold on Dec. 27, for $290,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,780 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $257,000.
Toby Tobin, of gotoby.com, contributed to this report.
Breakaway Trails home tops sales list at $910K
Ahouse at 31 Coquina Lake Way in Breakaway Trails was the top real estate transaction for Dec. 14-20, 2024, in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea. The house sold on Dec. 16, for $910,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 4/3 and has a pool, a spa and 4,316 square feet. It last sold in 2006 for $344,000.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
ORMOND BEACH
Castle Manor
The house at 1 Castle Manor Drive sold on Dec. 17, for $320,000. Built in 1980, the house is a 32 and has 1,398 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $243,900.
Cupola at Oceanside
The townhome at 88 N. Halifax Drive sold on Dec. 16, for $895,000. Built in 2024, the townhome is a 3/3.5 and has 2,473 square feet.
Halifax Plantation
The townhome at 3129 Bailey Ann Drive sold on Dec. 18, for $389,900. Built in 2017, the townhome is a 3/2 and has 1,695 square feet. It last sold in 2017 for $239,800.
Hickory Village
20 YEARS OF COMPASSION
The house at 1 Aaron Circle sold on Dec. 17, for $299,900. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,811 square feet. It last sold in May 2024 for $240,000.
The house at 4 Trina Street sold on Dec. 20, for $370,000. Built in 1987, the
house is a 3/2 and has 1,391 square feet. It last sold in April 2024 for $192,000.
Hilldale
The house at 115 Hilldale Ave. sold on Dec. 18, for $612,000. Built in 1973, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,862 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $435,000.
Hunter’s Ridge
The house at 52 Herringbone Way sold on Dec. 20, for $334,000. Built in 2009, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,688 square feet. It last sold in 2011 for $160,000.
Lakes of Pine Run
The house at 309 Sawmill Creek Court sold on Dec. 20, for $348,000. Built in 1996, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,295 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $212,500.
Mamaroneck
The house at 54 Reynolds Ave. sold on Dec. 16, for $269,000. Built in 1955, the house is a 2/1 and has 877 square feet. It last sold in 1996 for $51,500.
Built in 2005, the house is a v4/4 and has an outdoor kitchen and 4,009 square feet. It last sold in 2015 for $485,000.
Ormond Terrace The house at 272 Putnam Ave. sold on Dec. 20, for $800,000. Built in 2013, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a fireplace, a pool and 3,248 square feet. It last sold in 2012 for $130,000.
Rio Vista The house at 702 Cordova Ave. sold on Dec. 16, for $221,000. Built in 1957, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,292 square feet. It last sold in 2015 for $122,500.
The Trails The townhome at 22 Maplewood Trail sold on Dec. 20, for $266,000. Built in 1979, the townhome is a 2/2 and has a fireplace and 1,260 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $245,000.
Tymber Creek The house at 19 Waterford Court sold on Dec. 16, for $316,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,589 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $180,000.
John Adams, of Adams, Cameron and Co. Realtors, contributed to this report.
Florida Veteran Regains Sight With Groundbreaking Lens Technology
AMIT CHOKSHI, M.D.
FLORIDA EYE SPECIALISTS
For many people, vision problems can be a frustrating part of aging. Whether it’s struggling to read the fine print, experiencing blurry sight at night, or relying on glasses more frequently, it’s a problem that affects millions. But 55-year-old Richard Becker, a retired military officer from Melbourne, is living proof that with the right treatment, achieving better vision at any age is possible.
After years of dealing with deteriorating eyesight, Richard finally took the leap and chose to correct his cataracts with the Light Adjustable Lens. I sat down with Richard to discuss what he learned during his experience and how the procedure changed his life
A LONG HISTORY OF VISION
STRUGGLES
Richard’s eye health challenges began more than 30 years ago when he underwent radial keratotomy (RK), a refractive surgery commonly performed at the time to correct nearsightedness. For the next two decades, Richard enjoyed 20/20 vision — even reaching 20/15 at times.
But as he approached his 50s, he began to notice his eyesight deteriorating, starting with his astigmatism. His vision, once perfect, became unpredictable, affecting both his near and distant sight. By the time Richard turned 55, his vision had worsened significantly. His left eye was at 20/60, and he struggled with both near and intermediate sight. “I had been relying on glasses and contacts for several years, but my prescription constantly needed updating, and I had to get new ones every six months — the cost just kept adding up,” Richard said.
THE SEARCH FOR A LASTING SOLUTION
For three years, Richard
researched options, hoping to find a solution that would restore his sight. “I didn’t want to wait for a full cataract to develop,” Richard said. “I knew the outcome would be better if I addressed the issue sooner rather than later.”
This led him to discover the Light Adjustable Lens, a groundbreaking technology that can adjust a patient’s vision post-surgery. After evaluating his medical history and discussing his expectations, we decided the Light Adjustable Lens would be the best option to address his vision issues and achieve the precise correction he needed
THE GAME-CHANGER: LIGHT ADJUSTABLE LENS
The Light Adjustable Lens procedure itself was straightforward. Richard was amazed at how simple and painless the cataract surgery was. “I didn’t feel a thing,” he said. “It was one of the easiest surgeries I’ve ever had.”
What sets the Light Adjustable Lens apart is its unique ability to be adjusted after the initial surgery. This customization allows patients to test different prescriptions until the perfect fit is achieved. For Richard, this technology was a game-changer. Despite the challenges posed by his previous refractive surgery, the Light Adjustable Lens enabled us to fine-tune his vision, eventually improving him from 20/60 to 20/25 — a remarkable outcome.
“I was able to adjust until we found the vision that worked best for me,” said Richard. “The ability to try out different prescriptions was amazing — it was the first time I’d felt in control of my vision.”
LIVING WITHOUT GLASSES AGAIN
As he progressed through his post-op adjustments, Richard found himself enjoying life in
ways he hadn’t been able to for years. Playing tennis and golf without the hassle of glasses or foggy lenses became a reality. “I can see the ball better than ever,” he said. “It’s a huge difference.” Now, Richard only needs reading glasses occasionally — a far cry from the daily struggle of finding the right prescription. The results were more than just visual improvements; they changed his life. He’s now enjoying each day with a new outlook — one that’s clearer and more vibrant than ever.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better experience,” Richard said. “From the moment I walked into Florida Eye Specialists, I knew I was in good hands. The staff treated me like family.”
A NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE
Richard’s journey with the Light Adjustable Lens is a testament to how new technology can change lives. “I didn’t think I had many options left,” he said. “But thanks to the Light Adjustable Lens, I’m able to enjoy things I thought I’d lost.”
Amit Chokshi, M.D., is a board-certified ophthalmologist at Florida Eye Specialists. For more information on Dr. Chokshi and his specialties in treating cataracts, visit FloridaEyeSpecialists.com or call 904-564-2020.
Pace: Serving as fire chief has been fulfilling experience
Pace is stepping down on Feb. 1 after 12 years leading the Flagler Beach Fire Department
ROBERT PACE
FLAGLER BEACH FIRE CHIEF
Serving as the fire chief for the City of Flagler Beach over the past 12 years has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. This role allowed me to be at the forefront of protecting our community and ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents.
Leading a dedicated team of firefighters, I witnessed their unwavering commitment to service, teamwork and professionalism, which continually inspired me. Each day brought new challenges, whether responding to emergencies, implementing innovative fire safety
measures or building relationships with other local agencies. It was a privilege to play such a critical role in safeguarding a city I care so deeply about.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my tenure was fostering strong connections within our community. Flagler Beach is more than a city: it’s a family. Working closely with residents, businesses and local leaders, I saw firsthand the strength and resilience that define our community. From hosting fire safety workshops to participating in local events, I valued every opportunity to engage and educate our citizens. These interactions not only strengthened trust in our department but also reinforced the importance of our mission. Knowing that our work had a tangible impact on people’s lives made every effort worthwhile. I have shared with the
City Commission, the city manager, and fire department staff of my intent to retire, effective Feb. 1, 2025. Reflecting on the past 12 years, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the accomplishments we achieved together. From upgrading equipment and facilities to implementing advanced training programs for our team, the growth of the department has been remarkable. These advancements have not only improved our operational capabilities but also enhanced the safety of our firefighters and the community we serve.
While we have addressed many past challenges, more challenges, as always, will present themselves. The cost of maintaining, training and equipping the Flagler Beach Fire Department is not an inexpensive effort: firefighting vehicles and the associated equipment and tools; per-
sonal protective gear (coats, pants, boots, helmets, gloves, and breathing apparatus); facilities from which to operate, to store equipment, and to house firefighters. Changing regulations related to the health and safety of firefighters are often an unrecognized cost (exposures to physical and mental health consequences). The budget is manageable for a community the size of Flagler Beach, especially with the support of neigh-
boring agencies. The Fire Department is currently fully staffed, maintaining three rotating three-person crews.
Recruiting, training, and retaining new firefighters is another challenge: since professional growth opportunities can be somewhat limited in a small department such as Flagler Beach, it is often other amenities that contribute to keeping firefighters here. Often mentioned are the community quality of life and the camaraderie of fellow firefighters. The current staff of firefighters have been remarkably stable, and that speaks highly of the current political and professional environment in Flagler Beach.
I am sure that other unforeseen challenges will arise, but I have confidence that those challenges can be successfully overcome. Being the fire chief has been more than just a job; it has been an honor and a calling. I will always cherish the memories and lessons learned during this chapter of my life, and I am excited to see how the department continues to thrive in the future.
“If
Publisher Brian McMillan, brian@observerlocalnews.com
Managing Editor Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@observerlocalnews.com
Associate Editor Brent Woronoff,
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Disappointed to see no African Americans in Standing O edition
Dear Editor:
I am a retired deputy managing editor of news & sports at USA Today, where I helped start up the national newspaper in 1982 and worked there for 32 years before retiring. All total, my journalism career spanned 48 years, including eight as reporter and editor at the Gannett-owned Pensacola News-Journal and eight years with the American Bar Association in Washington, D.C. I’ve lived in Palm Coast since 2018.
I enjoy reading The Observer and find it informative on what’s happening in the local communities. However, I was thoroughly disappointed to pick up the January 2, 2025, Palm Coast edition and notice
that not one person of color — or let me be more specific, African American — was included among the newspaper’s Standing O honorees. NOT ONE! And in the same edition were the Flagler County Teachers of the Year honorees. And while I know the newspaper did not select Teachers of the Year, again there was NOT ONE African American among the “best of the best.” The two features packaged together were a punch to the gut. I am keenly aware that in today’s environment, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are met with skepticism and criticism. But in 2025, I find it hard to believe that NOT ONE African American citizen in Palm Coast or African American teacher in Flagler County is making a difference in the community and the classroom, or as your front page column headline read, “ . . . are doing the important work in our
community.”
ROBERT ROBINSON
Palm Coast
Editor’s Note: The Observer doesn’t choose the Standing O’s or the Teachers of the Year, but we noticed the same thing. We agree that it’s ideal to have these honorees more accurately reflect the community. But we also don’t feel it’s appropriate to tell the Standing O recipients that they must choose a person of color next year. And we don’t feel it’s appropriate to tell the school district that they must choose a teacher of color. So this is an issue that society has struggled with for ages, and we wish we had an answer. If you or anyone in the community has a suggestion for what to do, we would be happy to hear it.
Happy New Year from Volusia County?
Dear Editor:
Over development, higher taxes, less services ... And now we have to sheepishly submit sensitive personal data to a third-party management company for the privilege of parking at our oceanfront parks paid for by our taxes and Echo funds? Say it isn’t so! At the in-person registration location, the group working appeared to not have any training to explain and therefore execute their task of uploading residents’ personal data to the “secure” website. Secure being the optimal word. Wasn’t the U.S. Government’s database “secure” when military personnel data was breached? Wasn’t AT&T’s customer database “secure” when millions had sensi-
tive personal data hacked? Sadly over the years, this list is long and technology is not getting better to protect anything. Field of Dreams ... You create it and the thieves will come...It’s a challenge for those with the skills! Add this to a long list of failed experiments.
Disappointed Volusia County Resident!
CECILIA LIST
Ormond Beach
CORRECTION
In the Jan. 2 edition of the Palm Coast Observer, Deb Marinco’s last name was mispelled. Deb Marinco is a Standing O nominee and a volunteer with kids4reel.
YOUR NEIGHBORS
Sweet success
The Mainland marching band grabs three first place trophies in the Sugar Bowl Battle of the Bands and New Year’s Eve parade.
MICHELE MEYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On New Year’s Eve last week, the Mainland High School marching band earned some well-deserved hardware during the Allstate Sugar Bowl festivities, which has been held in New Orleans since 1935.
The Bucs won a first-place trophy in music, first for general effect and placed second overall in their class for the Battle of the Bands field show competition. The percussion section was also awarded a first-place trophy for their performance in the New Year’s Eve parade while the band placed third overall.
Mainland band director Gregory Dukes said he was contacted by Angela Topper, a WorldStrides Performing Tour Specialist, after she watched their presentation at the Florida Bandmasters Association Music Performance Assessments in Altamonte Springs on Nov. 2 last year. The Bucs played four Michael Jackson songs and scored straight superior ratings in visual performance, music, general effect and auxiliary.
Topper invited the band to participate in the Sugar Bowl festivities organized for this year’s football game between the University of Notre Dame and the University of Georgia. Activities included the Battle of the Bands and a Mardi Grasstyled parade. WorldStrides organizes educational travel experiences for students outside the traditional school settings. Part of Topper’s job
YOUR TOWN
Palm Coast service dog, Kissable Katie, wins AKC Award for Canine Excellence
Kissable Katie, the service dog of Palm Coast resident Jill Dempsey, won an American Kennel Club Humane Fund Award for Canine Excellence.
The standard poodle won in the Service Dog category. In its 25th year, the ACE awards celebrate five loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities.
Kissable Katie is a seeing-eye
is to select high school marching bands to perform at major college bowl games and national parades.
Dukes and his assistant director Evan Gilbert accepted the invitation and began to tackle the task of taking approximately 90 students to New Orleans.
“Everyone knows we are in the 32114 area code so the support and the finance in our social-economic status is not as great as some other places,” Dukes said. “So if we were going to take on a task this big, we needed to get moving right away and we did.”
Gilbert is the “logistical type of guy”, he said. His first consideration was how much the trip would cost and how were they going to fund it.
“I needed some more information so I could run some numbers to figure out if the band was really going to New Orleans or not,” he said. “Once we started putting it together, we figured it was doable for our community and our families.”
Dukes’ and Gilbert’s work ethic is complimentary to one another, including midnight and early morning discussions.
“If he (Dukes) has something on his mind, he’ll call or text and we’ll discuss it,” Gilbert said. “With the drill shows and arrangements, it can take me three to four days thinking about how he wants it, how it’s going to fit the band, fit the community and things like that. Once my head gets to and I put the pen to paper, it comes out magic and the band plays it very well. It seems like they know how I want it to be played.”
Dukes graduated from Mainland in 1999 and went on to get a bachelor’s degree in music at Rollins College and a master’s in Educational Leadership at the University of West Florida. He has been Mainland’s band director since 2019. He and Gilbert became
guide dog and medical alert dog who warns Dempsey before an epileptic seizure and helps ease her anxiety. According to a press release, Dempsey couldn’t leave the house for years, afraid that her blindness, anxiety and seizures would cause problems. That all changed with Kissable Katie.
close friends when Gilbert moved to Daytona Beach in 2020. Gilbert graduated from DeLand High School where he played the trumpet, was a drum major and a student conductor. He was part of the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University’s Marching 100 and graduated with a bachelor’s in music education.
Gilbert said that, as his friendship grew with Dukes, Dukes began to realize he could use someone like him to help with the band. Gilbert was officially hired in 2021.
“From there, it just became history,” Gilbert said. “The band became phenomenal with my knowledge, his knowledge, his experiences, with us being from the area and knowing the students and their parents. It just became great.”
Once the logistics were organized, preparations for the trip began and took 11 months. That included fundraising, practicing, performances, parades and mandatory MPAs. Band captain and clarinet player Kyani Garnett said she wanted to be there for her bandmates through the entire process.
“As band captain, my job is to be a leader for the whole band and guide them musically,” she said. “I always want to be the person that people can come to for anything. They ask me about band events and attire but they also ask me about their instruments as individual players. I love the responsibility.”
Gilbert said they wanted to bring the New Orleans style of jazz and musical culture to their performances in Louisiana and taught the students to play songs that included “Sing, Sing, Sing”, “Oh When the Saints Go Marching In” and “Do Whatcha Wanna” .
“We wanted them to say ‘wow, this Florida band is really playing some authentic New Orleans music — New Orleans jazz and Dixieland band music’,” he said.
Junior Javon Estes plays the sousaphone and is a sprinter on the Mainland track team. He switched from the tenor drum and cymbals to the brass section three years ago. He said even though most paradegoers were looking for that Louisiana style, he said he was going to bring his “Florida style.”
“When I found out, I could have run circles around the whole band room,” Estes said. “I was just so
Dempsey is now a civilian Citizen Observer Patrol dispatcher. She also participates in Western reenactments and gunfights, even taking first place in the 2017 Florida State Ladies Champion Cowboy Fast Draw competition with Kissable Katie by her side. They both volunteer to help with service dog groups for veterans and first responders who need service dogs. Kissable Katie has given Dempsey the confidence to live her life to the fullest. The winners of the ACE awards were featured in a television special broadcast on ESPN2 on Dec. 15.
Master Gardener
Volunteers have a demonstration plot The Flagler County Master Gardener
happy we got invited. Most of all, I’m so thankful and appreciative of all my friends in the band and also the directors. I definitely think we are the best because of the directors. Being superior isn’t just a name, it’s actually something that we do. We try to maintain our standards of being a superior band.”
Dukes said his students already have a lot of challenges including maintaining high academic standards, graduation requirements and additional performances. He said even when they are given another goal to reach, they strive to attain it— the kids are the driving force behind what they do.
“They are very intelligent and very talented,” he said. “We just want to expose them to the world. They are a very rambunctious group of students. They have to be moving. They’re likely the ADHD of bands.”
Leading the band are head drum major Karmen Williams and fellow drum major Cameron Wilcox.
Williams became the clarinet section leader her junior year and head drum major her senior year. This is Wilcox’s first year as a drum major and has been playing the trombone since sixth grade. They both bring a different style to leading the band— Williams said she is energized and Wilcox said he is calm and cool.
“I’m really proud of this band— we’ve been through a lot,” Wilcox said. “I love everybody in this band.”
Williams currently has a 3.9 weighted GPA and is dual enrolled at Daytona State College. She hopes to graduate with an associates degree before going to the FAMU College of Law. She helps her mother take care of her nine siblings and works at Sunelli to contribute to the family finances. She said people like her would not have had the opportunity to go to New Orleans if she were not involved with the band.
“I was shocked when I found out we were going,” Williams said. “Now I know where music can take me—music can take me outside of where I go. It’s a bittersweet moment because it’s my last year. Now I’m going out with a bang in New Orleans.”
Volunteers have a demonstration plot at the Southern Recreation Center community garden to guide residents on which plants are best to grow this season. The plot has a selection of coolseason plants that includes lettuce, collard greens, strawberries and carrots. Additionally, the plot is filled with plants that attract beneficial insects that help control harmful pests.
For any questions about what to grow this season or in the spring or regarding your indoor plants, email The Flagler County Master Gardener Volunteers at mgardener@flaglercounty.gov or call 386-467-7464 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Flagler County Master Gardener Volunteers also teach classes at the Palm Coast Community Cen-
“I definitely think we are the best because of the directors. Being superior isn’t just a name, it’s actually something that we do. We try to maintain our standards of being a superior band.”
JAVON ESTES, Mainland band
ter. This month, they will be covering easy to grow Indoor and outdoor plants. Registration is required. Call 386-986-2323 to reserve a spot.
The Master Gardener Volunteers will also be teaching a Backyard Roses class at the UF/IFAS Extension Flagler County Office. Each participant who registers will have the opportunity to receive a Nelson’s rose. These roses are celebrated for their stunning beauty, rich fragrance, and unique character. Known for their longevity, these roses can flourish for 15 to 20 years or more. If you’re interested, please visit 2025FlaglerRoses.eventbrite. com or call 386-437-7464.
LOCAL EVENTS
SOCIETY
When: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Where: Ormond Beach Regional Public Library Auditorium, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach
Details: Attend this presentation by Beth Stephenson on the application of WikiTree to genealogy research.
ART OF HEALING
WORKSHOP
WHEN: 2-3:30 P.M.
Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach
Details: Attend this art workshop where projects focus on self-expression, growth, and relaxation, often with a meditative component. Open to anyone 16 and up. Free admission. Registration required.
TANGO APASIONADO
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, 5500 S.R. 100, Palm Coast
Details: PointeTango is a unique dance company directed by choreographer and dancer, Alexander Richardson and created with lead dancer Erin Scott-Kafada. PointeTango combines Argentine tango with the precision of classical ballet. Tickets start at $54. Visit flaglerauditorium.org.
FRIDAY, JAN. 10
STARRY, STARRY NIGHT
When: 5-8 p.m.
Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach
Details: Stroll Ormond’s beachside cultural district and visit OMAM to see current exhibits and enjoy music and light refreshments. Other stops include The Casements and Ormond Beach Historical Society’s MacDonald House. Free event.
SATURDAY, JAN. 11
INTRODUCTION TO WET FELTING
When: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach
Details: Learn the basics of wet felting and create a wall hanging embellished with yarns, silk, bamboo and more under the instruction of Liz Canali. Class costs $70 for museum members, $80 for non-members. Register at ormondartmuseum.org/ classes-programs.
THE ISAACS
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, 5500 S.R. 100, Palm Coast
Details: See award-winning group “The Isaacs,” who recently toured with country superstar Reba McEntire and are currently writing for their next album project. The vocalists, instrumentalists and songwriters are known
for their ability to bridge and blend genres, and their sound has led to invites from high-profile contemporaries including Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss and more. Tickets start at $64. Visit flaglerauditorium.org.
SUNDAY, JAN. 12
SALTY GRASS BAND PERFORMANCE
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Ormond Beach
Regional Public Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach
Details: See the Salty Grass Band, a local favorite known for their traditional bluegrass, Americana standards and gospel music. Sponsored by the Friends of the Ormond Beach Library, this free program is open to the public.
TUESDAY, JAN. 14
WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP
When: 10 a.m.
Where: Ocean Art Gallery, 197 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach
Details: Paint along with award winning watercolor artist Stewart Jones. All supplies are included in the $75 class fee and no drawing is required. Class is limited to six students. Call 386-317-9400 to reserve a seat.
NUTRITION TIPS FOR SENIORS
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Ormond Beach Regional Public Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach
Details: Learn nutrition tips for older adults from Carrie Johnson, health educator with the Florida Department of Health Volusia County. Free program. Registration not required.
THURSDAY, JAN. 16
THIRD THURSDAY DOCENT TOUR
When: 11 a.m. to noon
Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach Details: This one-hour tour includes select pieces from OMAM’s Malcolm Fraser Permanent Collection, the John Wilton installation in the stairway gallery, a walk through the gardens to learn more about the Military Tributes, and a tour of the historic Emmons Cottage. No advanced registration is required; meet inside the museum’s reception gallery by 11 am. Free for all museum members and veterans; $2 for non-members.
ORMOND BEACH AREA
DEMOCRATIC CLUB MEETING
When: 6:30-8:15 p.m.
Where: 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach
Details: The January meeting of the Ormond Beach Area Democratic Club will be held on Thursday, January 16. Activities will be planned for the District 6 U.S. House Representative special primary election on Jan. 28 and special general election on April 1. Like-minded guests are welcome to attend. Visit ormondbeachdems.org.
FRIDAY, JAN. 17
ORMOND BEACH
ARBOR DAY
When: 10 a.m.
Where: Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center, 601 Division Ave., Ormond
Beach
Details: Join the EDC for a tree planting ceremony, followed by crafts and refreshments. Activity recommended for ages 4-12. Space is limited. Call 386-615-7081 to reserve a spot.
FUSED GLASS LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP
When: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach
Details: Create your vision of a landscape using a glass base and a variety of colored glass pieces. The instructor, Dušana Souchek, will provide examples and demonstrations; no experience is necessary, and all supplies are included. Workshop costs $65 for museum members and $75 for non-members. Register at ormondartmuseum. org/classes-programs.
CRYSTAL GAYLE
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, 5500 S.R. 100, Palm Coast Details: Grammy-winning Crystal Gayle has had 20 No. 1 country singles, including her signature song, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” She was awarded “Female Vocalist of the Year” in 1977 and 1978 by the Country Music Association Awards. The Academy of Country Music gave her the same award in 1976, 1977 and 1979. In 2008, Crystal was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. Tickets start at $64. Visit flaglerauditorium.org.
SATURDAY, JAN. 18
HONEYBEE BUZZ: HEROES OF OUR PLANET, MAKING HONEY HAPPEN
When: 10-11 a.m.
Where: Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area, 3100 S. Oceanshore Blvd.
Flagler Beach
Details: Join beekeepers for an educational program about how important honeybees are, Florida native “bee friendly” plants and what is involved in raising honeybees andharvesting the honey. Park entrance fee applies.
MLK PARADE
When: Noon
Where: George W. Carver Community Center, located at 201 E. Drain St., Bunnell
Details: Celebrate Martin Luther King with this “Motor March” parade, to begin at noon from the historic George W. Carver Community Center. The march will venture north onto U.S. Highway 1 to 100 East, then proceed to South Bacher Street before returning to the community center. A program will begin at 1 p.m. following the march. A continental prayer breakfast will be held at 10 a.m. inside the community center.
YOUR TOWN
DAYTONA SOLISTI OPENS 20TH CONCERT SEASON
The Daytona Solisti Chamber Orchestra will open their Winter Festival — the group’s 20th concert season — with “Baroque and Classical Gems.”
The concert features Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, a work by his youngest son Johann Christian Bach, and an original piece, based on a 17th-century Lutheran hymn, by Solisti principal cellist Joseph Corporon. It will be presented at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19, at Port Orange Presbyterian Church, 4662 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., where the Daytona Solisti is in residence this season.
Composed of professional musicians from throughout Central Florida and Northeast Florida, the Daytona Solisti performs music by the master composers of the 18th and 19th centuries. Along with Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, the Jan. 19 concert will include J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins, featuring violinists Susan Pitard Acree, Solisti’s founder and music director, and Olga Kolpakova.
A $15 donation is requested at the door. For more information call 386-562-5423 or visit daytonasolisti.com.
VOLUSIA LIBRARIES OFFER WINTER READING CHALLENGE
Beginning on Sunday, Jan. 19, all Volusia County Public Library card holders are invited to participate in the library’s online “For the love of reading” six-week reading challenge.
The library’s winter reading goal is a cumulative 10,000 days read, and all local readers are encouraged to join this challenge.
Readers can log their reading achievements into the library’s reading platform, Beanstack, to earn virtual badges and entries into a prize drawing in March. Beanstack is a digital platform designed to help users track reading and log activities.
Pre-registration begins Sunday, Jan. 12, and can be accomplished online by visiting https://volusialibrary.org or by visiting one of Volusia County Public Library’s fourteen branches.
Readers can also join and participate in the challenge any time between January 19th through March 2nd. Registered participants can also stop by any Volusia County Public Library branch to claim a small incentive during the challenge. For more information, visit the library’s website at https://volusialibrary.org.
ORMOND BEACH RESIDENT CELEBRATES
102ND BIRTHDAY
Ormond Beach resident Mary Barnett turned 102 years old on Dec. 11, 2024.
Barnett celebrated her birthday with her two daughters, Linda Thale and Paula Barnett, by going out to lunch at Carrabas, according to a statement to the Observer.
She continues to enjoy long walks by the river with her friend, Darla Widnall.
LIONS OFFER FREE VISION, BLOOD SUGAR SCREENINGS
The Ormond Beach Lions Club started the year off with free vision and blood sugar screenings on Thursday, Jan. 2, at the Ormond Beach Regional Public Library.
Vision screenings were provided to 38 people, mostly children, and nine were referred for complete eye examination, according to a club statement. Individuals screened ranged in ages from 2-84, and were screened using a diagnostic camera.
Blood screenings were provided to 11 people, with seven referred for follow-ups.
The Ormond Beach Lions provide free screenings at the library every first Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon. No appointment necessary.
CHABAD JEWISH CENTER CELEBRATES CHANUKAH
The annual Chanukah celebration, hosted by the Chabad Jewish Center of Palm Coast,
drew hundreds of people Dec. 30, 2024, to the European Village for an evening filled with music, fun and tradition.
The highlight of the evening was the grand lighting of the menorah, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and the enduring spirit of the Jewish people. Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris and Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Commander Kenny Goncalves joined Rabbi Levi Ezagui in officiating the ceremony.
“This event is a reminder that even in challenging times, the light of Chanukah can illuminate our lives and bring people together,” Ezagui said. “The menorah’s message of hope and perseverance resonates deeply, and seeing so many members of our community gathered here tonight is truly inspiring.”
The celebration was made possible through the sponsorship of Palm Coast Pharmacy and local friends of Chabad, according to a press release. A team of volunteers from the Chabad community worked to ensure the event ran smoothly and safely.
Guests were treated to a mix of traditional and modern Hebrew songs, performed by Jewish pop singer Shuky Sadon and accompanied by a DJ and live musicians. Crispy latkes, sweet donuts and hot Starbucks coffee were served. Children were treated to a petting zoo, face painting, balloon animals, train rides and more. A 360-photo booth added a modern twist to the celebration, giving guests the chance to capture joyful memories. As the candles of the menorah burned brightly, the message of Chanukah shone through: a celebration of faith, perseverance, and community.
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COMICS
Five Star review
FPC boys, girls win Five Star Conference tournament openers
BRENT WORONOFF
EDITOR
ASSOCIATE
Flagler Palm Coast’s boys and girls soccer teams won their Five Star Conference tournament openers in a soccer double-header on a frigid night, Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Sal Campanella Memorial Stadium.
Both FPC varsity teams advanced to the conference semifinals on Jan. 8. The semifinal winners will play for the conference championships on Friday, Jan. 10.
The FPC boys (11-1-2) defeated Seabreeze (7-8-1) for the second time this season, 4-1. The FPC girls (10-4-2) scored six goals in the first 19 minutes of the second half to defeat Pine Ridge 8-0 by the mercy rule.
“We had the same type of chances in the first half, but we didn’t finish, and their keeper was solid,” FPC girls coach Pete Hald said. “We wanted to end it early because we have to play back-to-back.”
The Seabreeze girls (4-5-4) also advanced to the semifinals with a 4-0 home win over DeLand.
Senior Erin Hughes scored three goals for the Bulldog girls to give her a team-leading 18 for the season. Sophomore Ivy Chen scored her 15th
and 16th goals of the season and Isa Kummernes, Skyler Strickland and Nichole Dickinson each scored a goal. Katherine Ouellette had six assists. Jack Moberly had a first-half hat trick for the Bulldogs’ boys team, giving him 21 goals for the season. Sophomore Jack Runnoe scored the lone second-half goal from about 35 yards out.
Drew McNerney scored Seabreeze’s only goal. McNerney
was playing in his first game of the season since severely spraining an ankle.
The Sandcrabs had other chances to score with two shots bouncing off the goalpost, but the Bulldogs controlled the ball for most of the game.
“The first half of the first game (which FPC won 2-0 on Nov. 21) was pretty even,” Bulldogs coach Ramtin Amiri said. “We wanted to make sure the doubt we had in the first game wasn’t here this time.”
Flagler Palm Coast girls wrestling team wins two winter-break tourneys
The FPC boys won district duals and will host regionals on Jan. 16.
BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Flagler Palm Coast girls wrestling team solidified itself as the team to beat in the March 6-8 state championships by winning the Knockout Christmas Classic and the Cradle Cancer Invitational during winter break.
“I consider the Knockout a mock state tournament because of the level of competition,” FPC coach David Bossardet said. “But our girls know the big picture. They don’t crown state champions in November or December. They crown them in March. They are good group of girls who work hard everyday, and that makes my job easier.”
Joslyn Johnson (105 pounds), Mariah Mills (110), Christina Borgmann (130) and Kendall Bibla (170) won titles at the Knockout on Dec. 20-21 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, which is the same venue as the state championships.
Tiana Fries (145) placed second, Ana Vilar (135) placed third and Alexa Calidonio (155) placed fourth at the Knockout.
Mills, Borgmann, Vilar, Calidonio and Bibla all won their weight classes at the Cradle Cancer Invitational in Jensen Beach on Jan. 3-4, while Alisha Vilar (140) and Fries placed second and Juliana Mills (100)
placed sixth. On the boys side, Kevin McLean (113) placed third and T.J. McLean (120) placed fourth.
Mariah Mills, ranked 18th in the nation in her weight class, improved to 16-0 on the season at the Cradle Cancer Invitational, while Borgmann, ranked 10th in the nation, improved to 19-0.
Johnson is ranked fifth nationally at 105 pounds. She avenged her only loss of the season in the Knockout final, defeating seventh-ranked Camdyn Elliott of Gulf Breeze, 3-1. Johnson defeated Elliott in the state championship match last season.
“They have wrestled seven times and there never has been a back-toback winner,” Bossardet said. “There are three girls (in the 105-pound weight class) ranked in the top 10 in the country (also including Ponte Vedra’s Erin Rizzuto), who are all in
the same region of the same state. To me that’s unheard of.”
Johnson defeated Rizzuto in the Knockout semifinals with a 13-10 overtime decision. Johnson did not wrestle in the Cradle Cancer Invitational.
Mariah Mills upset 10th-ranked Abigail Gonzalez of Miami Southridge, 9-8 in overtime, in the 110-pound Knockout final.
“That was the most anticipated match of the tournament,” Bossardet said. “It was the first time they were both in same weight class, so it was good for the sport of wrestling. It was a very exciting match from a fan’s standpoint. From a coach’s standpoint, the match went our way. We need to make adjustments to beat that girl when it matters, and Mariah will tell you that too.” Not to be outdone, the FPC boys
“There are three girls (in the 105-pound weight class, including FPC’s Joslyn Johnson) ranked in the top 10 in the country, who are all in the same region of the same state. To me that’s unheard of.”
BOSSARDET, FPC wrestling coach
DAVID
won the District 2-3A dual tournament on Dec. 18 at University High in Orange City. The Bulldogs defeated Sanford Seminole (78-3), DeLand (53-20) and Gainesville Buchholz (49-18). FPC hosts the four-team regional duals at 6 p.m. Jan. 16, which will also include district runner-up Buchholz. Last season, the Bulldogs also defeated Buchholz in district but lost to the Bobcats at regional. “I think they’ll make adjustments in their lineup and we’ll make adjustments in our lineup,” Bossardet said.
“We know we’ll have to be ready to go.” The boys were back in action with a home match Jan. 7 against Mainland. They defeated the Bucs 81-0. Three middle school wrestlers in the Flagler Wrestling Club placed at the Knockout Youth Christmas Classic. Joseph Foalima won the 14U 149-pound title. Jayden Mills placed second in the 12U 117-pound class. Jacob Hald placed fourth in the 14U 106-pound class. And Buster Bossardet placed third in the 14U 119-pound class.
SIDE LINES
BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR
FPC cheer team advances to nationals for first time in school history
For the first time in school history, the Flagler Palm Coast High School competitive cheerleading team has qualified for the Universal Cheerleaders Association nationals.
FPC placed fourth out of 13 teams at the UCA Regionals on Dec. 14 in Lakeland to qualify for the National High School Cheerleading Championship, which will be held Feb. 7-10 at Walt Disney World Resort. The UCA’s NHSCC is the most prestigious high school national cheerleading competition.
The team has created a fundraiser through Vertical Raise to pay for travel and hotel expenses and competition fees. To donate, go to https://bit. ly/4fMjodE.
Email Brent Woronoff at Brent@observerlocalnews. com
Rigney back as Matanzas athletic director
After Jordan Butler replaced Zach Rigney as Matanzas High School’s athletic director in 2021, he would tell people that he was just riding Rigney’s coattails.
“I really didn’t change a whole lot. I just tried to continue building on what he started,” Butler said recently. Now it’s Rigney’s turn to do the same. He’s returning as the Pirates’ AD this semester after Butler stepped down to take a job with Baker’s Sports.
“I think Jordan did a really good job keeping the Ship going in the right direction,” Rigney said. “We’re going to continue to row in the same direction. I want to thank our principal, Ms. (Kristin) Bozeman, for giving me this opportunity.”
Rigney was previously the athletic director at Matanzas for four years, 2017 to 2021. Evidence of the continuity, he said, is that the majority of the coaches he hired are still with the Pirates.
Rigney stepped down at the end of the 2020-21 school year because he was needed at home. He and his wife had two young children with one on
the way. They now have four children, ages 2 to 10. Next year, three of their children will be in school, he said.
Rigney returned to Matanzas a year ago as an ESE support facilitator for English. He said he really enjoyed his year back in the classroom, but his heart is in athletics.
He played baseball at Atlantic High School in Port Orange, where he graduated in 2006, and continued his baseball career at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.
Rigney went on to coach Atlantic’s baseball team for two seasons and then became the Sharks’ athletic director for two years before moving to Matanzas.
“I love working with coaches. Some of the best people in the world are coaches,” he said.
“I love working with studentathletes, helping them grow off the field as young adults. When you’re a head coach you can impact 15 to 30 student-athletes. But when you’re an AD, you can impact 600 studentathletes.
In his first stint with Matanzas, he
said, one of his goals was to remember every Matanzas athlete’s name.
“I don’t know if I got everyone of them, but I got the majority of them,” he said.
Second-half surge lifts Pirates to Kiwanis win
Alex Davis, Matanzas’ 6-foot-8 junior center, scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half to propel the Pirates to a 64-51 boys basketball victory over Menendez in the final game of the two-day Kiwanis Holiday Invitational on Jan. 4, at the Matanzas gym.
The Pirates (6-7) were playing their first game in two weeks and were a bit rusty at the beginning of the game, coach Eric Guerrero said. They led by three points at halftime but outscored the Falcons (3-10) 35-25 in the second half.
“I told them to be patient. Our team is at its best when we go inside out. They were sending two, three guys at Alex. When we passed the ball inside and then back out, the double- and triple-team wasn’t there anymore.”
The Pirates also drained nine 3-pointers. Freshman Curtis Giles (14 points) and sophomore Jezrahiah McCoy (11 points) hit three apiece from behind the arc.
Matanzas has won four of its last five games heading into a game at Deltona on Thursday, Jan. 9.
“We’re trying to peak at the right time of year,” Guerrero said. The Pirates played just one game in the Kiwanis Invitational. Other varsity teams that participated in the event included Spruce Creek (two losses), Miami Norland (wins over Menendez and Spruce Creek) and Ponte Vedra (a win over Spruce Creek). There were also two JV games with New Smyrna Beach defeating Spruce Creek and Matanzas
Palm Coast Patriots 12U softball team wins seasonending tourney
The Palm Coast Patriots 12U travel softball team finished the fall season with a record of 25-9.They finished first or second in six of their seven tournaments, including a championship in
The date of first publication of this notice is: January 9, 2025. Attorney for Estate of DAISY M. HENRY A/K/A DAISY M. MCKAY and MARY A. BLETCHER, Petitioner: RICHARD Q. LEWIS
16, 2025 25-00002G
FIRST INSERTION
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CIRCUIT CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO.: 2024 CA 000180
LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Plaintiff(s), vs. DAVID G. LAIRD; et al., Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, pursuant to Plaintiff’s Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered on December 12, 2024 in the above-captioned action, the Clerk of Court, Tom Bexley, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash www.flagler. realforeclose.com in accordance with Chapter 45, Florida Statutes on the 7th day of February, 2025 at 11:00 AM on the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment of Foreclosure or order, to wit: LOT 20, BLOCK 166, BELLE TERRE - SECTION 35 PALM COAST PARK AT PALM COAST, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 11, PAGE 2, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA.
Property address: 16 Birchview Place, Palm Coast, FL 32137 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. Pursuant to the Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.516, the above signed counsel for Plaintiff designates attorney@padgettlawgroup. com as its primary e-mail address for service, in the above styled matter, of all pleadings and documents required to be served on the parties. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS AN ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO ACCESS COURT FACILITIES OR PARTICIPATE IN A COURT PROCEEDING, YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, TO
FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024 CP 000782 Division 48 IN RE: ESTATE OF JAMES F. JOHNSON Deceased The administration of the estate of James F. Johnson, deceased, whose date of death was April 1, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg 1, Bunnell, Florida 32110. 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. 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, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. 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 January 9, 2025. Personal Representative: Gary Johnson 342 Constitution Circle North Brunswick, New Jersey 08902 Attorney for Personal Representative: Eric Joseph Matheson E-mail Address: eric@matheson.law Florida Bar No. 0963534 Matheson PA 44 Cocoanut Row Palm Beach, Florida 33480 Telephone: (561) 613-8778 January 9, 16, 2025 25-00003G FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 24 CP 876 Division 48 IN RE: ESTATE OF BEVERLY A. DELLA VENTURA Deceased. The administration of the estate of Beverly A. Della Ventura, deceased, whose date of death was November 6, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 East Moody Blvd., Bunnell, FL 32110. 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 January 9, 2025.
Personal Representative: Nancy L. Costa 3175 Connemara Drive Ormond Beach, Florida 32174
Attorney for Personal Representative: Diane A. Vidal Attorney Florida Bar Number: 1008324 CHIUMENTO LAW 145 City Place, Suite 301 Palm Coast, FL 32164 Telephone: (386) 445-8900
Fax: (386) 445-6702 E-Mail: DVidal@legalteamforlife.com Secondary E-Mail: Proserv@legalteamforlife.com January 9, 16, 2025 25-00004G
FIRST INSERTION
GRAND HAVEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGULAR MEETING
Notice is hereby given that a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Grand Haven Community Development District (the “District”) will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the Creekside Amenity Center, 2 North Village Parkway, Palm Coast, FL 32137. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss any topics presented to the board for consideration.
Copies of the agenda may be obtained from the District Manager, Vesta District Services, 250 International Parkway, Suite 208, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, Telephone (321) 263-0132, Ext. 193. The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law for community development districts. The meeting may be continued in progress without additional notice to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at the meeting.
FIRST INSERTION
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA
CIRCUIT CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO.: 2024 CA 000216
SERVBANK, SB Plaintiff(s), vs. JUSTIN R DACUS Defendant(s).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, pursuant to Plaintiff’s Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered on December 12, 2024 in the above-captioned action, the Clerk of Court, Tom Bexley, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash www.flagler. realforeclose.com in accordance with Chapter 45, Florida Statutes on the 7th day of February, 2025 at 11:00 AM on the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment of Foreclosure or order, to wit: LOT 7, BLOCK 66, PINE GROVE - SECTION -26 PALM COAST, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 9, PAGES 20 THROUGH 35 INCLUSIVE, PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA.
Property address: 34 Pinwheel Lane, Palm Coast, FL 32164
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.
Pursuant to the Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.516, the above signed counsel for Plaintiff designates attorney@padgettlawgroup. com as its primary e-mail address for service, in the above styled matter, of all pleadings and documents required to be served on the parties.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS AN ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO ACCESS COURT FACILITIES OR PARTICIPATE IN A COURT PROCEEDING, YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, TO THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN ASSISTANCE. TO REQUEST SUCH AN ACCOMMODATION, PLEASE CONTACT COURT ADMINISTRATION IN ADVANCE OF THE DATE THE SERVICE IS NEEDED: COURT ADMINISTRATION, 125 E. ORANGE AVE., STE. 300, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114, (386) 2576096. HEARING OR VOICE IMPAIRED, PLEASE CALL 711.
Respectfully submitted, PADGETT LAW GROUP BETZY FALGAS, ESQ. Florida Bar # 76882 6267 Old Water Oak Road, Suite 203 Tallahassee, FL 32312 (850) 422-2520 (telephone) (850) 422-2567 (facsimile) attorney@padgettlawgroup.com
Attorney for Plaintiff TDP File No. 24-001437-1 January 9, 16, 2025 25-00006G
There may be occasions when Staff and/ or Supervisors may participate by speaker telephone. Pursuant to provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in the meeting is asked to advise the District Manager’s office at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting by contacting the District Manager at (321) 263-0132, Ext. 193. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service at 711, for assistance in contacting the District Manager’s office. A person who decides to appeal any decision made at the meeting, with respect to any matter considered at the meeting, is advised that a record of the proceedings is needed and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. Grand Haven Community Development District David McInnes, District Manager (321)
RE-NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL DIVISION: CASE NO.: 2022 CA 000101 THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2007-15CB, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-15CB, Plaintiff, vs. BRUCE E. CASTEEL, et al Defendants. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Consent Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated October 4, 2023 and a Supplemental Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated December 30, 2024, and entered in 2022 CA 000101 of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH Judicial Circuit in and for FLAGLER County, Florida, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2007-15CB, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-15CB, is the Plaintiff and BRUCE E. CASTEEL; VICTORIA D. CASTEEL; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF BRUCE E. CASTEEL; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF VICTORIA D. CASTEEL; RLF MORTGAGE CORPORATION; STATE OF FLORIDA; UNKNOWN TENANT #1 AND UNKNOWN TENANT #2, UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF BRUCE E. CASTEEL, are the Defendant(s). The Clerk shall sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, electronically at www.flagler.realforeclose. com at 9:00 AM on January
Easy Swing located at 36 Faith Lane, in the City of Palm Coast, Flagler County, FL 32137 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. Dated this 2nd day of December, 2024 Halifax Christian Community Church, Inc. Jan. 9 25-00006F
SECOND INSERTION
ORMOND CROSSINGS WEST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
NOTICE OF THE DISTRICT’S INTENT TO USE THE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTION OF NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS
Notice is hereby given that the Ormond Crossings West Community Development District (“District”) intends to use the uniform method of collecting
SUBSEQUENT INSERTIONS
A/K/A LEANNE MARIE RIEBEL HOLTER A/K/A LEANNE RIEBEL HOLTER; STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA; Defendants NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment in Mortgage Foreclosure dated October 2, 2024, and entered in Case No. 2023 32394 CICI, of the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for VOLUSIA County, Florida. THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS TRUSTEE FOR REGISTERED HOLDERS OF CWABS, INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-12, is Plaintiff and KEL-
LY HOLTER A/K/A KELLY ALLEN HOLTER; LEANNE HOLTER A/K/A
LEANNE MARIE REIBEL HOLTER
A/K/A LEANNE RIEBEL HOLTER; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF LEANNE
HOLTER A/K/A LEANNE MARIE
RIEBEL HOLTER A/K/A LEANNE
Dated this 23rd day of December, 2024
VAN NESS LAW FIRM, PLC 1239 E. Newport Center Drive, Suite 110 Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442 Ph: (954) 571-2031 PRIMARY EMAIL: Pleadings@vanlawfl.com /s/ Mark Elia Mark C. Elia, Esq. Florida Bar #: 695734 CR18286-23/sap January 2, 9, 2025 25-00004I
RIEBEL HOLTER; STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, are defendants. Laura E. Roth, Clerk of Circuit Court for VOLUSIA, County Florida will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash Via the Internet at www.volusia. realforeclose.com at 11:00 a.m., on the _31ST_ day of _JANUARY_, 2025, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 17, PALM GROVE SUBDIVISION, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 19, PAGE 201 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Anne Pierce, Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Suite D-305, Deland, Florida 32724 Phone no. 386-626-6561 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. Si usted es una persona minusválida que necesita algún acomodamiento para poder participar en este procedimiento, usted tiene derecho, sin tener gastos propios, a que se le provea cierta ayuda. Tenga la amabilidad de ponerse en contacto con Anne Pierce, Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Suite D-305, Deland, Florida 32724 Phone no. 386-626-6561 por lo menos 7 días antes de la cita fijada para su comparecencia en los tribunales, o inmediatamente después de recibir esta notificación si el tiempo antes de la comparecencia que se ha programado es menos de 7 días; si usted tiene discapacitación del oído o de la voz, llame al 711. Si ou se yon moun ki andikape ou enfim ki bezwen akomodasyon pou w ka patisipe nan pwosedi sa, ou kalifye san ou pa gen okenn lajan pou w peye, gen pwovizyon pou jwen kèk èd. Tanpri kontakte Anne Pierce, Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Suite D-305, Deland, Florida 32724 Phone no. 386-626-6561 nan 7 jou anvan dat ou gen randevou pou parèt nan tribinal la, oubyen imedyatman apre ou fin resevwa konvokasyon an si lè ou gen pou w parèt nan tribinal la mwens ke 7 jou; si ou gen pwoblèm pou w tande oubyen pale, rele 711.
THE OLIVE ADINA KING REVOCABLE TRUST AGREEMENT DATED THE 28TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2016.; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF ALTHEA WHITTAKER N/K/A WAYNE WHITTAKER are the Defendant(s). Laura E. Roth as the Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at www. volusia.realforeclose.com, at 11:00 AM, on January 23, 2025, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 1, BLOCK 423, DALTONA LAKES, UNIT 11, A SUBDIVISION ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 25, PAGES 193 TO 206, INCLUSIVE, PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. Property Address: 1601 RANDOLPH ST, DELTONA, FL 32725
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 in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 45.031. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to access court facilities or participate in a court proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. To request such an accommodation, please contact Court Administration in advance of the date the service is needed: Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste D-305, Deland, FL 32724, (386) 257-6096. Hearing or voice impaired, please call 711. Dated this 27 day of December, 2024.. ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33487 Telephone: 561-241-6901 Facsimile: 561-997-6909 Service Email: flmail@raslg.com By: _\S\Amanda Murphy_ Amanda Murphy, Esquire Florida Bar No. 81709 18-199134 - ErS January 2, 9, 2025 25-00009I
NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024 11799 CIDL U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST 2005-4A, Plaintiff, vs. MARC A. HALE A/K/A MARC HALE; KAREN A. HALE A/K/A KAREN HALE; V.P. HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY - INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, Defendant(s). NOTICE OF SALE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the order of Summary Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated December 17, 2024, and entered in Case No. 2024 11799 CIDL of the Circuit Court of the 7TH Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, Florida, wherein U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2005-4A, is Plaintiff and Marc A. Hale a/k/a Marc Hale; Karen A. Hale a/k/a Karen Hale; V.P. Homeowners Association, Inc.; United States of America, Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service, are Defendants, the Office of the Clerk, Volusia County Clerk of the Court will sell via online auction at www.volusia.realforeclose. com at 11:00 a.m. on the 4th day of February, 2025, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 180, VICTORIA PARK INCRE-
SECOND INSERTION
NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP-14302 Division Probate IN RE: ESTATE OF DENNIS DANIEL HIGGINBOTHAM, Deceased The administration of the estate of DENNIS DANIEL HIGGINBOTHAM, deceased, whose date of death was October 22, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 North Alabama Avenue, DeLand, Florida 32724. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorneys 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 PERIOD 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: January 2, 2025. DOROTHY G. HIGGINBOTHAM-MOODY (who is also known as Trudy Higginbotham Moody) Personal Representative 357 Highland Meadow Road Flora, MS 39072
BRIAN J. HERSHORIN
Florida Bar No. 14375
KRISTINE M. SCOTT
Florida Bar No. 125993
Attorneys for Personal Representative Purcell, Flanagan, Hay & Greene, P.A. 1548 Lancaster Terrace Jacksonville, Florida 32204 Telephone: (904) 355-0355
Email: BHershorin@pfhglaw.com
Email: KScott@pfhglaw.com January 2, 9, 2025 25-00005I
THIRD INSERTION
NOTICE OF ACTION IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE No.: 2024 12989 CIDL HUGO FERNANDO TOLOZA, INGRID BERNAL AND DANNIEL FERNANDO TOLOZA, Plaintiff, vs. THE ESTATE OF FREDERICK LEE
STEPEHNS, DECEASED, BRITNEY MONICA COX, INDIVIDUALLY, AND AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF FREDERICK LEE
STEPHENS, AND JUSTIN STEPHENS, Defendant, TO: THE ESTATE OF FREDERICK LEE
STEPEHNS, DECEASED YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to quiet the title on the following real property in Volusia County, Florida: Lots 4 and 5, Block 81, West Highlands, according to the plat thereof recorded in Map Book 6, Pages 214 and 220, of the Public Records of Volusia County, Florida. a/k/a 12th St. Orange City, FL 32763. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on J.D. Manzo, of Manzo & Associates, P.A., Plaintiff’s attorney, whose address is 4767 New Broad Street, Orlando, FL 32814, telephone number (407) 514-2692, on or before Feb 03 2025, 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. DATED this 18th day of December 2024. Laura E Roth Clerk of the Circuit Court By: /s/ Jennifer M. Hamilton Deputy Clerk Dec. 26, 2024; Jan. 2, 9, 16, 2025 24-00633I
MENT TWO SOUTHWEST, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 50, PAGE(S) 145 THROUGH 149, INCLUSIVE OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA.
Property Address: 432 Victoria Hills Drive, Deland, Florida 32724 and all fixtures and personal property located therein or thereon, which are included as security in Plaintiff’s mortgage. Any person claiming an interest in the surplus funds 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 any 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
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LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING AN INTEREST BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THE ESTATE OF VIOLET D. BARRS AKA VIOLET DAUGHTREY BARRS AKA VIOLET FLORENCE DAUGHTREY BARRS, DECEASED, et al., Defendants TO: UNKNOWN SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING AN INTEREST BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THE ESTATE OF DARRYL BARRS AKA DARRYL ANTHONY BARRS SR., DECEASED, AS A POTENTIAL HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF VIOLET D. BARRS AKA VIOLET DAUGHTREY BARRS AKA VIOLET FLORENCE DAUGHTREY BARRS, DECEASED 916 S DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114 AND TO: All persons claiming an interest by, through, under, or against the aforesaid Defendant(s). YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following described property located in Volusia County, Florida: LOT 6, BLOCK H, HARRIET
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2024 12537 CIDL U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. MIRIAM PENALOZA, et al. Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated October 29, 2024, and entered in 2024 12537 CIDL of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, Florida, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST is the Plaintiff and MIRIAM PENALOZA; ADAN MUNOZ; FIRST AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC are the Defendant(s). Laura E. Roth as the Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at www. volusia.realforeclose.com, at 11:00 AM, on January 21, 2025, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOTS 37, 38 AND 39, BLOCK 11, DAYTONA PARK ESTATES SECTION NO. C, ACCORDING