Ormond Beach Observer 9-14-23

CITY WATCH

Rising costs lead Ormond to increase utility rates

Starting Oct. 1, residents will see a 6% increase on their utility bills.

The Ormond Beach City Commission unanimously approved a rate adjustment for the city’s water and wastewater rate on Wednesday, Sept. 6. The 6% increases for both rates will help “mitigate the rising cost of operating expenses such as electricity, chemicals and necessary components to maintain the distribution and collection systems,” according to the city’s agenda item.

Troy Kent to host meeting Monday

Volusia County Councilman

Troy Kent, who represents District 4, will host a community meeting from 5-6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at Holly Hill City Hall, located at 1065 S. Ridgewood Ave.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Cultural programs seek funding

Three Ormond Beach organizations are among the 30 groups that are applying for funding from the Cultural Council of Volusia County.

The organizations — Ormond Beach Historical Society, Ormond Memorial Art Museum and the Daytona Beach Choral Society, which meets at the Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church — have each received Community Cultural Grant grant funds in the past. In fiscal year 20212022, the Historical Society received over $15,000; OMAM received over $26,000; and the choral society received $788.

In June, the Volusia County Council — after considering a “reexamination” of the Cultural Council in April — listened to two hours of pleas from the local art community insisting the county continue to fund the arts. The Cultural Council awards over $600,000 in grant funds a year. The County Council ultimately voted 6-0 to let the Cultural Council remain active. The meeting to review applications for the 20232024 Community Cultural Grant program will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, at the County Council chambers in DeLand.

How much will your bill go up?

According to the city, the average customer who uses 5,000 gallons of water a month will pay $1.59 more — from about $26.47 to $28.06 for water. For wastewater, the average customer will see about a $2.06 increase, from $34.33 to $36.39.

In total, the average customer will see about a $3.65 increase on their utility bill. Then on Sept. 30, 2024, as approved by the commission, utility users will see another 6% increase.

Three people spoke at the City Commission meeting regarding the water and wastewater rate increases.

Resident Nancy Bates asked the commission to vote against the increases to help seniors on fixed incomes.

“Our lot rents go up,” she said. “Our insurance has gone up. There’s increases in the amount of money we’re spending for gas and for food — the essentials of life. ... While I totally appreciate having clean water to drink, I wouldn’t like to have to choose between drinking my water or buying my medicine.”

Resident Jeff Boyle said that the notice put in the utility bill states the city’s operating costs have increased $2 million, but didn’t include a calculation of how much revenue the city needs, nor how much revenue the rate increase would generate.

The rate increases will negatively

impact low-income households and seniors, more so than property tax increases, said Boyle, who is a former commissioner.

“The report says the rate increases are for operations and capital projects,” he said. “That means utility ratepayers are footing the bill for growth — a burden for little people who can least afford these rate hikes.”

The city has increased its water and wastewater rates 15 times since 1998. According to the city’s operating budget document, user fees are the primary revenue source for the water and wastewater fund, accounting for $21.8 million.

In addition to the water and wastewater rates, the commission unanimously approved a $7.53 monthly increas for residential waste collec-

tion and recycling at its meeting on Sept. 6. The increase will also go into effect on Oct. 1.

According to the agenda item, the city’s solid waste hauler — Waste Pro — continues to increase its cost of operations due to rising fuel and employment expenses. This cost is typically passed along in its entirety to the customer, the city states.

“While the city has previously subsidized a portion of the customer rate with Solid Waste Reserves, the rates must be adjusted to reflect the full rate paid to the solid waste hauler in order to keep the operation financially sound,” the agenda item states.

Like the water and wastewater rates, the solid waste rates will also increase again next year. On Sept. 30, 2024, the rates will go up by $1.87.

The city of Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea are part of District 4. This meeting is part of Kent’s quarterly “District Dialogue 4 Residents” series, according to a press release. Residents can ask questions and voice concerns.

Seawall fix OK’d for Andy Romano

The City Commission approved a $93,965 work authorization to Zev Cohen and Associates to replace the damaged seawall at Andy Romano Beachfront Park during its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 6. The seawall was damaged during Hurricane Nicole. Zev Cohen, having designed the park in 2010, “has a detailed understanding of the park,” the agenda item states. In addition, a new concrete ADA-compliant ramp will be integrated into the park’s design, to be located on the north side to better withstand storm impacts.

BY THE NUMBERS

$62,599 received by the city of Ormond Beach as reimbursement for the hurricane damage to the MacDonald Tennis Center.

Email Managing Editor Jarleene Almenas at Jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com.

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Monthly water, wastewater and solid waste rates are increasing in the city of Ormond Beach.

“We don’t have jurisdiction, but we do have the ability to exert some influence, and we have every intention to do that.”

City Attorney Randy Hayes on Belvedere Terminals proposal. See Pages 4A

For the 343

Ormond Beach firefighters climb 110 flights in memory of 9/11

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

On Sept. 11, 2001, firefighters with the New York City Fire Department responded to the World Trade Center after American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into its Twin Towers.

Twenty-two years later, at 8:46 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 11, a group of 11 Ormond Beach Beach firefighters gathered at the lobby of the Marina Grande on the Halifax condominiums, preparing to climb 110 flights of stairs, while wearing their heavy gear, in memory of the 343 firefighters and the 2,996 other people who died in the terrorist attack.

“Three-hundred-and-fortythree of our guys went up there, knowing they may not be coming back,” OBFD Driver Engineer Hunter Ramirez said. “That’s probably the hardest thing to think about, even for us. None of us have ever been in that situation, and hopefully we never have to be in that situation.”

Ramirez organized the first stair climb for the department in 2019. This year’s challenge was taken on by members of the Ormond Beach Professional Firefighters union.

Union President and Ormond Beach Fire Capt. David Randall said knowing the sacrifices made by the firefighters on 9/11 is what drove them to hold the stair climb in their honor.

“A lot of people out there still have their fathers and mothers and children because of the sacrifices those men and women made,” Randall said. “It’s an honor to be associated with them in any way, and we do this to honor them.”

The gear the firefighters carried during their climb weighed over 50 pounds. They went up the stairs to the 25th floor four times, plus a fifth climb to the 10th floor, to total the number of flights of stairs in each of the Twin Towers. Each of the firefighters also carried a small photos of fallen 9/11 firefighters.

This is the bare minimum they can do to honor them, said Driver Engineer Denton Sawyer. He held up a photo of 37-year-old FDNY Firefighter Kevin Bracken.

“We essentially call upon the strength that they had to do it,” Sawyer said. “... They kept going, so we’ve got to keep going.”

Ormond Beach Firefighter Zachary Snyder climbs stairs in memory of 9/11.

OBFD Driver Engineer Hunter Ramirez speaks before beginning the 9/11 stair climb.

Firefighter gear lines the outdoor corridor before Ormond Beach firefighters begin their 9/11 stair climb.

Ormond Beach Firefighter Zander Harper climbs flights of stairs.

Driver Engineer Denton Sawyer talks about the fallen firefighters of 9/11 as he takes a break between climbing flights of stairs.

Eleven of Ormond Beach’s firefighters climbed 110 flights of stairs.

Ormond Beach firefighter Luke Hoynoski climbs flights of stairs.

Ormond Beach Fire Capt. Josh Cady takes part in the 9/11 stair climb.

Ormond Beach Firefighter Robert Zalewski gears up for the 9/11 stair climb.

Citizens criticize Ormond for 2022 staff meeting with Belvedere representatives

City attorney defends planning staff, affirms that Ormond Beach is committed to fighting the fuel farm project — which is under county jurisdiction — every step of the way.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

The citizen pushback against the proposed fuel terminal in Ormond Beach continues, with some accusing the city of not being transparent about a Site Plan Review Committee meeting attended by Belvedere Terminals representatives in June 2022.

“That meeting involved conversations about traffic, things like that — no mention whatsoever about the fact that this is ... a very inappropriate area for such a fuel farm,” said citizen Elena Kraft during a City Commission meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 6. “... So this is why I feel betrayed.”

Kraft was one of 17 people who spoke at the commission meeting, though the chambers were at standing-room only, with additional residents seated out in the building’s atrium, which was used as overflow space.

The city of Ormond Beach and its officials have voiced opposition to Belvedere’s fuel farm proposal for 874 Hull Road since the community became aware that the Mississippibased company had gained approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for an air construction permit. Since then, the city has sent letters of opposition to the Volusia County Council, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Congressman Michael Waltz, FDEP, the Volusia County Legislative Delegation and Belvedere.

There is no conspiracy between the city and Belvedere to hide the fuel farm project from the public, City Attorney Randy Hayes said at the commission meeting following some heated comments from citizens accusing commissioners and city planning staff of shady practices.

“There was no nefarious conduct by your city planning staff, none whatsoever,” Hayes said. “Your planning director? You’ve had a lot of good ones in this city. He’s by far one of the finest ones you’ve ever had and I will stand with him through thick and thin on this issue and other issues, and that’s going to be unwavering.”

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2022

On June 22, 2022, City Planning Director Steven Spraker, Economic Development Director Brian Rademacher and other planning staff that form the Site Plan Review Committee met with representatives from Belvedere Terminals, three of whom were on Zoom, for approximately 36 minutes, according to the meeting’s minutes.

The representatives told the city that the property they planned to develop was located in Volusia County. They spoke about a “fuel terminal for storage and disbursement for rail fed gasoline and diesel fuel with the intention to fill trucks,

offering an alternative way to get fuel expedited to the market, especially in emergency situations such as hurricanes,” the minutes state.

They discussed a proposed truck route from Harmony Road to Hull Road to reach U.S. 1. The construction of two small buildings and a service road.

They also mentioned the terminal would see about seven trucks an hour in a 24-hour cycle, for an average of over 160 trucks.

Staff told them that connections to city utilities require annexation, that the county would require a traffic analysis. There was discussion about concerns regarding truck traffic on the local roads.

Staff also said the city would need to create an I-2 Heavy Industrial zoning district to provide Belvedere with a compatible city zoning use, should it annex into the city. This is because the city’s current I-1 Light Industrial zoning district is more stringent than the property’s current Heavy Industrial Volusia County zoning, which does allow for a fuel terminal.

The city has a legal obligation to give properties a similar land use and zoning when annexed, Hayes explained. The I-2 had never been implemented, though it was identified as a future need in a 2010 Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Appraisal Report.

The I-2 zoning district was finally added to the city’s Land Development Code when it annexed 52 acres owned by Halifax Paving at 860 Hull Road and 1399 Hull Trail — because the property had the county’s Heavy Industrial zoning and land use.

“[Residents] want the facts, right?

But this is really complicated stuff,” Hayes said. “There’s no fingerpointing here. The fact remains, it’s in the county. The county knows that. The county staff knows that, and they do have concerns.”

Belvedere representatives spoke with county planning staff first, Hayes said, because the county will be the ones to review a site plan application when one is submitted. An application has not been submitted yet.

Then, because Belvedere will need utilities from the city, county staff told the representatives to speak with the city planning department, Hayes said. That’s how the representatives ended up speaking with city staff in that June 22, 2022 meeting.

“Those minutes were posted on our website for everybody in the world to see, which the county does not do,” Hayes said. “Nothing is heard from this applicant or the county or anybody else, and nothing was known about it at a staff level until the notice was published ... for the FDEP permit, and no surprise there, because this is the easiest permit for them to get.”

‘OMISSION IS BETRAYAL’

The citizens are watching the commission’s actions, said resident Rebecca Mangali. She said there was a lack of opposition and concern at the Site Plan Review Committee, and criticized staff’s focus on answering questions regarding utilities when she said they should have been focused on the project’s impact to quality of life and the environment.

“Omission is betrayal, lies are deceit,” she said. “Who shall step

down from their elected seats?”

Resident Arthur Amstrong said none of the commissioners will hold their seats next election if the fuel farm proposal moves forward. He reprimanded City Commissioner Lori Tolland, who represents Zone 1, for not attending Ormond Lakes homeowners association meetings.

“We don’t see you,” he said. “You need to be there. You need to fight for us — not just sit up here and look good.”

Mayor Bill Partington then interrupted him and asked for all comments to be directed to him, saying he took offense to what was said.

“I know how hard she works for this community,” he said, shouting over cries from the audience.

Citizen Karen Clark thanked the commission for letting residents speak about the fuel farm, calling it a “good practice round” for when they go to the next County Council meeting.

“We’re not done with them,” she said. “We’re your army that’s behind you, just remember that. Nobody wants this thing.”

Belvedere Terminals is proposing the development of a $250 million multi-site fuel distribution system that “will offer Floridians safer, lower cost and more reliable delivery of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel,” according to a statement from the company. Florida is almost entirely dependent on shipping to supply its energy needs, the statement details, as it has no in-state refining capacity or interstate pipelines for the production and distribution of refined petroleum products.

“Belvedere’s system is a unique hub and spur distribution system,” the company statement reads. “The hub, based in Mississippi, will load product onto trains which will travel along existing rail lines to multiple spur locations throughout Florida, investing over $250 million in capital with approximately $100 million of that total investment in Florida with over a hundred high paying, skilled jobs during operations.”

CITY SEEKS A UNIFIED FRONT

Hayes said the commission directed staff to coordinate with county staff to fight the fuel farm project every step of the way.

“And dammit, that’s what we’re going to do,” he said.

At the meeting, the commission approved a motion to further allow staff to continue its opposition against Belvedere — by helping Volusia County in its review and analysis of the project including “analysis of the issues and harmful effects that will be created by the project”; evaluating the effect the project will have on the interlocal agreement between the city and the Volusia County School Board for the utilization of the Ormond Beach Sports Complex for school-related activities; evaluating effects on the airport, including how first responders be impacted in light of an emergency; evaluating traffic issues; and retaining professional and legal consultants to evaluate negative impacts.

And to prevent future issues from blindsiding both the county and city, the motion also directed staff to speak with the county about creating an interlocal agreement establishing a joint planning and municipal service area for zoning and land uses involving unincorporated lands that share a boundary with the city.

“So with respect to the project itself, you just need to be aware that we don’t have permitting authority,” Hayes said to the commission. “We don’t have jurisdiction, but we do have the ability to exert some influence, and we have every intention to do that.”

The commission addressed the fuel farm in their closing comments of the meeting.

Tolland said she appreciated the residents’ passionate emails and phone calls, but that she didn’t appreciate being threatened.

She said she and her fellow commissioners worked hard to be elected because they love the city — she’s raised seven children in Ormond, lives within a mile of the proposed fuel farm and spent over 20 years of

her life going to the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. “I really resent the fact that folks think that we’re not transparent and that we don’t care,” she said through tears. “That’s just absolutely absurd. We don’t do what we do because we don’t care. ...Finger-pointing doesn’t do a darn thing. We have to be positive. We’re working together.”

Commissioner Harold Briley added that applicants who meet with the Site Plan Review Committee don’t necessarily follow through with an application. Sometimes they just go to the meetings, held every Wednesday, to ask questions.

“I do just want our residents to know that I have always thought the city, the City Commission and our staff are transparent people,” he said. “We’ve never tried to hide, as far as I know, anything from the people in regards to this project.”

Partington acknowledged that yes, the mention of the fuel farm was included in a city manager’s report back in June 24, 2022.

This is what that report states on the fuel farm: Pre-application meeting for a parcel located in unincorporated Volusia County that seeks a fuel farm facility with railroad access. Items discussed included the permitting process, utilities, annexation required based on the connection to city utilities, roadway access, the intersection of U.S. 1 and Hull Road, and a proposed traffic study.

“If we’re trying to hide something, we’re doing a terrible job of it from that perspective,” Partington said. When he read that, he imagined something similar to the fuel storage facilities at the airport or the city’s Public Works department.

“I certainly in my lifelong experience in the city could never fathom an industrial 20 million gallon fuel farm,” he said. “That would be the farthest thought from my mind. Still can’t believe it today that’s what they’re proposing.”

Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Belvedere Terminals seeks to build a 16-tank fuel farm at 874 Hull Road in Ormond Beach.

Principal resigns before investigation into segregated assembly is complete

Evensen wrote in her resignation letter that she did not deserve to be placed on leave or to be removed as principal; the presentation’s facilitator has also resigned.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Bunnell Elementary School Principal

Donnelle Evensen has resigned as the Flagler County School District completes its investigation into an assembly at the school for African American students.

Evensen emailed her letter of resignation on the night of Wednesday, Sept. 6, to Flagler Schools Interim

Superintendent LaShakia Moore and the district’s five School Board members.

Anthony Hines, the school’s fifthgrade facilitator, who coordinated the assembly, resigned on Sept. 7.

Moore informed Bunnell Elementary parents on Thursday morning that former BES Principal Marcus Sanfilippo would take over as princi-

Donelle Evensen

pal again in the interim “as we determine next steps.”

On July 28, Sanfilippo transferred to the district office as coordinator of special projects, and Evensen was promoted to principal.

Evensen was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 24 following her approval of the Aug. 18 assembly that included only fourth and fifth grade African American students.

The assembly was designed to urge the Black students to improve their state assessment scores. Hines was also placed on leave.

Hines, who is Black, presented a PowerPoint that included a bracketed competition on assessment scores with meals from McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A as prizes. Parents said the students were told that if they were not responsible in school they would be in danger later in life of getting shot and killed or going to jail.

In a short resignation letter, Hines wrote: “Please consider this my letter of resignation effective today and dated September 7, 2023. I appreciate the opportunity to work in Flagler County Schools.”

Evensen has been a teacher and administrator in the district for 18 years. She was an assistant principal at BES for the past four years and was the district’s Assistant Principal of the Year last year. She was the district’s Teacher of the Year in 2019, when she was a literacy coach at Rymfire Elementary School. Moore was the principal at Rymfire at the time.

In her resignation letter, Evensen said she “loved every minute of teaching, coaching, and leading within the county.”

She went on to say: “I am broken hearted over the way in which the current events have affected the district and the communities view of my abilities and reputation. I have not deserved the time of leave that I have been placed on and I certainly do not deserve anything less than the position I currently have as Principal of Bunnell Elementary. I have willingly followed the process for investigation and been as quiet as I can during this process so as to preserve

that process, believing that the truth and legacy that I have built would result in restoration of my name and a chance to truly show what BES is capable of under my continued leadership. Since this is not the direction that things are going at this time, I am offering my resignation.

“I can only hope that due to the unfavorable attention from this situation that a light will be shed and the most important conversation will be unavoidable as to the achievement levels of subgroups of students including African American students and Students With Disabilities. The level of achievement is unacceptable and although some are infuriated with the conversation I am hopeful that those same people and more will become instead infuriated with the data and begin working together to change it.”

In a Sept. 7 press release announcing Evensen’s resignation and Sanfilippo’s return to the school on an interim basis, the district said Moore expected the investigation into the assemblies will be completed by the end of the week.

“Once the investigation is complete and persons given the opportunity to appeal, then the investigation will be closed. Ten days after that, it

will be made available to the public,” a district spokesperson said.

Evensen sent an email to BES faculty and staff at the same time she sent in her resignation.

“It has come to my attention that the outcome will not be a favorable one at the conclusion of my leave,” she wrote. “Please know that I have tried my best to make known to district officials the positive manner in which the meeting with African American students took place and reminded them of all that we have accomplished and the plans for what we would accomplish this school year. ... I feel that I have failed you and all the great plans that we had. I can not tell you how much you mean to me and how much my journey with you these past four years means to me.”

Moore informed BES parents of Evensen’s resignation and Sanfilippo’s return in an email on Thursday morning.

“I know that this has been a rocky start to the year but we as a school and organization are committed to restoring the rest of this year. There are many great things that are happening at BES and we will continue to do even more great things,” Moore wrote.

Flagler County at ‘extremely high’ risk of rip currents from Hurricane Lee

Swells could reach 5 or 7 feet throughout the week, and the elevated water levels could damage the county’s dunes.

SIERRA WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

As Hurricane Lee moves north offshore of Florida’s east coast, the storm’s effects on waves and currents will be a real concern through-

out the week, Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord said.

“We definitely have some concern about the increasing risk of rip currents,” Lord said. Swells and rough seas increase the risk of rip currents, Lord said, and the rough seas and swells could create an “extremely high risk.” The surf could reach 5 or 7 feet from Wednesday, Sept. 13, through at least Saturday, Sept. 16, according to a press release from Flagler County. The National Weather Service has also issued a rip current advisory for the Volusia County coastline.

As of 5 a.m. on Sept. 12, Hurricane Lee was moving north at 7 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Lee has decreased from a Category 5 storm to a Category 3, with a sustained wind speed of 125 mph. A Category 5 hurricane has sustained wind speeds greater than 155 mph.

Lee is predicted to make landfall on Sunday, Sept. 17, near Maine and Canada, according to the NHC. Flagler County’s dunes could also see some damage from the swells and tides, Lord said.

“There’s no way to truly predict

that,” he said. “We don’t have anything that tells us it’ll break through the dunes. The dunes will just do what they’re supposed to do, which is sacrifice themselves to protect what’s on the other side.”

Coastal Engineering Administrator Ansley Wren-Key said the tides for Lee are lower than they were for Hurricane Idalia, which hit during a supermoon, with elevated tides.

As the storm gets closer, the waves will likely worsen and potentially cause more damage to the dunes.

“What we’re really concerned about is the swells,” she said. “Basi-

cally, waves are going to create a little bit of an elevated water level, and then the wave run-up is what’s going to run up the beach and erode the dunes.”

Not only do higher swells increase the risk of rip currents, but they also increase water elevation on the beach by a couple of feet, she said.

Lord reminded residents that this is the peak of hurricane season, and they should stay prepared.

“People should not let their guard down, and [should] be prepared and make sure that disaster kits are ready at all times,” he said.

COPS CORNER

line, according to the man’s arrest report. The employee saw the man sleeping at the wheel, but he woke up when she approached his car.

SEPT. 1

IDLE HANDS

11:37 p.m. — 1000 block of Justice Lane, Bunnell Obstructing extinguishment of fire. An inmate at the county jail is facing an additional felony charge after he made the sprinkler system go off because he was bored.

The inmate, who was already facing three felony and two misdemeanor charges, admitted to standing on his bunk bed and reaching up to the sprinkler near the ceiling of the cell, according to his arrest report. Security camera footage showed that the sprinkler suddenly began spraying as the man reached up to the sprinkler.

Water began spreading out under the cell door and into a general recreational area, flooding the entire cell block, the report said. When a Sheriff’s Office deputy spoke to the man about why he touched the sprinkler, the man said he did it because he was bored.

SEPT. 4

DRIVE-THRU DRINKING

2:03 p.m. — First block of Old Kings Road, Palm Coast Driving under the influence. A Sheriff’s Office deputy arrested a man for drunk driving when the man fell asleep in a fast-food restaurant drivethru lane and then drove into a parked car.

An employee at the restaurant stepped out into the lane after noticing that a car was stopped and holding up the

The man was slurring his words and then tried to leave the drive-thru lane, hitting a curb and then a parked car, the employee told the Sheriff’s Office deputy. The driver told the deputy that he had just left the hospital and had gone to a liquor store to get a drink since he wasn’t able to drink at the hospital. He drank the liquor in the parking lot before going to the fast-food restaurant, the report said.

COST OF INQUIRING

2:43 p.m. — First block of South Beach Street, Ormond Beach

Non-reportable offense. A 47-year-old Ormond Beach man received a threatening message from an escort site owner after he contacted about 30 women to inquire about their availability.

The man told police he was feeling lonely because he hadn’t seen his girlfriend for about six months, which led him to contact the women, according to a police report. However, he told police he didn’t pursue any further conversations or speak with anyone over the phone.

The text message from the escort site owner said that the man had wasted the women’s time and that he would be fined, and that the site owner wanted to come to an agreement “without any bloodshed.”

The man asked police to document the incident.

SEPT. 5

ON-STREET PARKING

11:51 a.m. — 100 block of Ponce De Leon Drive, Ormond Beach Recovered stolen vehicle. A 62-year-old Ormond Beach woman saw an unidentified man drive a teal motor scooter by her house. She

watched him park the scooter and walk away from it, never to return, according to a police report.

Thinking that was odd, she called police, who discovered that the scooter had been stolen three days prior in Daytona Beach. Police tried to find the suspect, but could not.

The owner of the scooter was at work. The scooter was towed at her request.

SEPT. 6 THIS POSTER’S ON FIRE

4:01 a.m. — 600 block of South Atlantic Avenue, Ormond Beach Arson. Police arrested a 56-year-old Ormond Beach woman who lit a local restaurant’s Bob Marley poster on fire.

The restaurant’s manager told police that the restaurant’s surveillance footage showed a woman walking up to the poster with something on fire in her hands, according to a police report. She lit the poster on fire in several spots until the whole poster caught fire, leaving burn marks on the wall and the wood frame that surrounded the poster.

The woman was found walking north on South Atlantic Avenue the next day. When the reporting officer began speaking with her about the incident at the restaurant, the woman apologized and said she hadn’t meant to light the poster on fire. She said she would pay the restaurant back and asked the officer to apologize on her behalf.

The restaurant’s manager estimated that the poster cost about $300. The frame was valued at $100, and the damage to the wall was estimated at $200.

The woman was taken to jail.

Ormond, Volusia and VCS: Who raised their tax rates?

The city of Ormond Beach and the county each held their first budget hearing last week. Volusia County Schools held its final budget hearing.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

The city of Ormond Beach, Volusia County and the Volusia County School Board each held budget hearings last week for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Here’s a roundup of what elected officials voted on.

On Wednesday, Sept. 6, the Ormond Beach City Council voted 4-1 to adopt on first reading a 4.16% tax rate increase. The total millage rate of 4.0060 mills — or $4.0060 per $1,000 in taxable property value — is 13.71% above the rollback rate, or the rate that generates the same amount of tax revenue as the previous year. Mayor Bill Partington voted against, having previously said he believed the tax rate increase was too high for residents.

“Everybody has tons of additional things that they want to do,” Partington said at a July 18 commission meeting. “And that’s our hard job — is to prioritize and balance that against available resources, keeping in mind the senior citizen that is single and living by herself on a fixed income and has to pay for her medicines.”

So why is Ormond Beach moving forward with a tax rate increase?

To raise additional dollars for Leisure Services and the city’s Facilities Renewal and Replacement fund. The mill-

age rate is expected to generate $500,000 for Leisure Services and $300,000 for the R&R fund. These dollars, as discussed in previous budget workshops, would help fund needed field improvements and maintenance projects at Nova Community Center and the Ormond Beach Sports Complex, such as the reconstruction of fields two through five at Nova Rec and a softball quad lighting project at the sports complex.

No one from the public spoke for or against the proposed tax rate increase at the Sept. 6 meeting.

The commission also approved a $120,121,116 budget on first reading with a 4-1 vote. Partington again voted no. Projects to be funded by next fiscal year’s budget include a $60,000 study to determine how to best use the parking lot at 56 N. Beach St.; $225,000 to upgrade the City Commission chambers including the city’s livestreaming of the meetings; and a $100,000 study for the replacement and/or relocation of the city’s police station and emergency operations center.

The final budget hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20.

COUNTY KEEPS ITS TAX

RATE STEADY

Volusia County opted not to raise its tax rate, instead proposing the County Council adopt the same tax rate as last year’s — 4.8499 mills, or $4.8499 per $1,000 in taxable value.

This millage includes 1.4541 mills for the county’s new Public Safety Fund. Prior to this fiscal year, funding for county-wide law enforcement services was part of the general fund millage. Because of its separation, the general

BIZ BUZZ

and collaboration,” according to a news release.

fund

millage went 23.16% below rollback.

The council approved the millage rate unanimously, but expressed a desire to trim the budget further.

Of the additional eight county taxing funds, four have a tax rate increase. The proposed millage for the Volusia Forever and ECHO funds — each at 0.2 mills — is 10.01% above the rollback rate. The Mosquito Control millage of 0.1781 mills is 9.8% above rollback, and the Fire Rescue District’s millage of 3.8412 mills is 10.86% above rollback.

Councilman Troy Kent asked if everyone on the dais was OK with those increases. County Council Chair Jeff Brower said he wasn’t.

“I think we need to look at it a little harder,” he said. “We don’t have much time. We have less than two weeks till the next budget meeting.”

Brower said they all knew that this budget would be difficult due to the rising costs of building materials and insurance.

“Everything that the county staff touches has gone up and we have to deal with that,” he said. “We can’t just ignore it, but there comes a point where we have to make some hard cuts because ... the residents of Volusia County are also dealing with all those things, and they’re hurting so there’s got to be some shared pain there.”

The county is expecting its millage rate to bring in $256.6 million in ad valorem tax revenue, which is slated to fund the $11.2 million in increases in the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office fund; $6.5 million in salary and benefit increases for unions and non-bargaining staff; $2.7 million in inmate medical expenses and a $1.2 million increase to the

Supervisor of Elections budget.

The council also unanimously approved a total budget of approximately $1.4 billion.

The final budget hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19.

VCS TO RECEIVE MORE STATE FUNDING

The Volusia County School Board unanimously adopted a total millage of 5.409 mills — or $5.409 per $1,000 in taxable value — at its final budget hearing on Thursday, Sept. 7. Unlike the city and the county, the millage rate for school funding is set by Florida Legislature.

This year’s millage is a reduction from the 2022-2023 property tax rate of 5.482, but because of an increase in the required local effort millage, it is 9.26% above the rollback rate.

The school district reports it will receive $36.2 million more in property tax revenue as compared to the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

However, student enrollment is “not hitting the target this year,” Chief Financial Officer Todd Seis said. The school district is down about 758 students compared to last year, creating a negative financial impact of $6.4 million.

The Base Student Allocation also increased to $5,139.73 per student from $4,587.40. But, as several Florida Education Finance Program were rolled into the BSA funding umbrella, such as salary increases for teachers, the increase of funding per student was 2.4%, or about $110 per student.

The School Board also unanimously approved a $1.4 billion budget.

STEEL OAK COFFEE TO OPEN ROASTERY

Ormond Beach is getting a new roastery and coffee education center.

Steel Oak Coffee is hosting a grand opening event for its new location at 187. S. Yonge St. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Founded in 2016, Steel Oak Coffee is a family-owned and operated specialty coffee company aiming to “redefine coffee innovation, education

The grand opening event will feature free coffee, complimentary cannolis by Mama Cannoli, door prizes and raffles.

“At Steel Oak Coffee, our passion for exceptional coffee is only matched by our commitment to our local community,” Steel Oak Coffee Founder Carl Dupper said in the news release. “This grand opening celebration is our way of expressing our gratitude and sharing our excitement with the people who have supported us on this journey.” Visit steeloakcoffee.com.

-David M.

Defense attorney calls fatal shooting ‘accidental’

Defendant Brenan Hill, 34, is on trial for second-degree murder. The prosecution says he lied to law enforcement multiple times about the shooting and has a history of domestic violence.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The defense attorney for a man accused of shooting his girlfriend in 2021 says the shooting was accidental. Opening arguments in the trial of defendant Brenan Hill, 34, began on Sept. 12 after jury selection on Sept. 11. Hill is

facing three felony charges

— including second-degree murder — for the 2021 shooting of his girlfriend, Savannah Gonzalez, who died of her injuries in late 2022. Hill has pleaded not guilty.

When first questioned by deputies, Hill had said that a black man approached the couple’s car and shot Gonzalez in the parking lot at Graham Swamp. But he changed his story several times and tried to hide the gun in the woods, according to the prosecution.

Hill’s defense attorney, Gerald Bettman, said that the shooting was an accident and would warrant a manslaughter charge, not a seconddegree murder charge.

“It was purely accidental,” Bettman said. “As horrible as it was.”

Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark said during the trial’s opening arguments

that not only did Hill lie multiple times to detectives, but he also had a volatile temper and a history of domestic violence. When arrested in 2021, Hill had an active warrant for a domestic violence case in Pennsylvania.

“You’re going to hear how he lies,” Clark said. “He was lying to the police over and over again … and he did all of that to try to hide what he had done.”

The Medical Examiner’s Office listed Gonzalez’s cause of death as complications from a gunshot wound to the head.

After opening arguments, the court heard from the first FCSO deputy to interview Hill, Sgt. Daniel Parthemore; as well as Dr. Maryan Rahman, one of Gonzalez’ doctors; and FCSO Detective Sarah Scalia.

Clark said the jury would hear and see video evidence of Hill’s lies and his temper.

“You’ll be able to see the

BRIEFS

Man struck, killed while walking on roadway

A 39-year-old Palm Coast man died the evening of Sept. 11 after he was struck by a car while walking in the roadway on Belle Terre Parkway.

short fuse that he has,” Clark said. “You’ll be able to see how he acts with her when he’s angry at her, and how he yells at her.”

Bettman said that was not the case. Hill and Gonzalez loved and depended on each other, Bettman said.

“There was not an intentional shooting,” he said. “They were living together. They loved each other; they provided for each other.”

Person of interest in baby’s shooting had prior gun charge

Several witnesses gave sworn statements that the man had handled the gun earlier that day and had said it was ‘jammed.’

The person arrested after an 18-month-old girl was shot and killed on Sept. 3 had been arrested in 2022 for carrying a firearm without a license.

The suspect, a 21-year-old man, is a “person of interest” in the shooting case but

was arrested on an unrelated charge of parole violation. Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies had responded to Ranwood Lane after a report that a child had been shot. Several witnesses in the home provided sworn statements that the person of interest handled the firearm and spoke of the weapon being “jammed” before the shooting, according to the man’s Sept. 4 arrest report. The shooting may have been accidental, and Major Case Unit detectives are still investigating, according to statements from the FCSO. In April, the 21-year-old man had pleaded no contest to two charges — possessing

a gun without a license, and marijuana possession — and was placed on six months’ probation.

The FCSO charged him on Sept. 4 with violating his parole by possessing or carrying a firearm.

In audio from the 911 call on Sept. 3, an unnamed man told the operator, “the baby has been shot.” The call lasted 7 minutes and 15 seconds. The operator could be heard repeatedly asking the man about the baby’s condition.

“I know you’re upset, but try to answer my questions the best you can,” the operator said. “Is the baby breathing?”

Initially, the caller thought the girl had already died, tell-

ing the operator a gun went off and shot the 18-month-old in the head. Then, halfway through the call, he told the operator the baby was breathing.

“The baby’s breathing,” he said. “She’s conscious, she’s breathing.”

The man could be heard calling the girl’s name and telling her to stay strong and stay awake. “Breathe, baby, it’s okay,” he said. “Be strong for me, baby.”

The operator ended the call when FCSO deputies arrived on scene. Fire rescue personnel took the child to AdventHealth Palm Coast, where she later died.

The man was walking in the right outside travel lane just north of Palm Coast Parkway at about 7:42 p.m. when a northbound sedan struck him, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. The man was not in a crosswalk, according to the report.

The sedan’s driver, a 27-year-old Palm Coast woman, had no injuries. Rescuers took the man to AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway, where he died.

Cyclist dies in U.S. 1 crash

Two Ormond Beach bicyclists were hit by a pickup truck on U.S. 1 north of County Road 2002 in Flagler County on Sept. 7. A 40-year-old woman was killed in the crash while the other cyclist, a 45-yearold man, was seriously injured.

The crash happened just after 4 p.m. The pickup truck was driving south in the outside lane of U.S. 1, and the bicyclists were traveling south in the bike lane, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol.

The pickup truck crossed over into the bike lane, hitting both cyclists, and came to a stop on the outside shoulder, according to the report. The driver, a 32-year-old man, was not injured.

Library marks 60 years as federal depository

The Volusia County Public Library system is celebrating

the 60th anniversary of its status as an official federal documents depository library for the Government Publishing Office.

What does this mean for Volusia County residents?

They can stop by any of the county’s 14 library branches and request free access to historical and current documents from all three branches of the federal government in print and electronic formats. Librarians can help patrons navigate the documents.

The public is invited to a celebration at noon Monday, Sept. 18, at Daytona Beach Regional Library, 105 Jackie Robinson Parkway.

Staff will explain the program, and District 2 County Council Member Matt Reinhart will present a proclamation honoring staff for providing open access to federal documents. Access to documents is available at volusialibrary.org.

Pipe work scheduled for Old Kings Road

Old Kings Road will be temporarily closed at two intersections while the Palm Coast Stormwater Department replaces a pipeline at Freneau Lane. The department will close Old Kings Road at the intersection of Felshire Lane and the intersection of Frenora Lane on Sept. 14 and 15, according to a press release from the city.

The roads will be closed overnight due to safety concerns, and workers will be present from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Traffic heading north on Old Kings Road will be detoured to Felshire Lane, then to Fellowship Drive and finally back to Old Kings Road.

Traffic heading south on Old Kings Road will be detoured to Frenora Lane, then to Freneau Lane to rejoin Old Kings Road and avoid construction.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Photo by Sierra Williams Brenan Hill (right) and his attorney, Gerald Bettman.

One Daytona reveals Costco Wholesale design

One Daytona is also adding two new tenants this month: Foxtail Coffee and Crumbl Cookies.

SUZANNE MCCARTHY

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

One Daytona President Rozanne Ribakoff unveiled a rendering of the new Costco Wholesale at a press conference at The Daytona Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 7. Costco plans to open in early 2024, and work has begun on the future site in the Northwest corner of One Daytona, west of the CMX movie theater. The façade design features a checked flag background, a departure from the traditional Costco signage. Two new businesses are also coming to One Dayto -

na: Foxtail Coffee, located in the former Copperline Coffee storefront, is opening on Sept. 19, and Crumbl Cookies is targeting a late September opening.

Crumbl Cookies will be located in the Shoppes at One Daytona, the former Volusia Point Shopping Center on the corner of International Speedway Boulevard and Bill France Boulevard, recently

BIZ BUZZ ENTREPRENEURS JOIN TO FORM MANAGEMENT FIRM KMDN

rebranded and redeveloped by One Daytona. To provide easy entry for customers, an access road was added from the main shopping and entertainment area to The Shoppes at One Daytona, which also features a First Watch restaurant, Gold’s Gym and longtime tenant Cycle Gear.

The press conference also highlighted the economic impact of One Daytona in the local community.

It has generated over 2,900 direct and indirect jobs, bringing $99 million in income or wages to Volusia County. Costco plans to hire at least “300 full- and parttime employees,” Ribakoff announced. It is currently unknown if Costco customers will pay the enhanced amenity fee of 1%. The EAF is added to each purchase at One Daytona to offset development investments. The fee also allows the center to offer the public various events, including an art festival and concerts, free of charge.

Kelly Navarro, J.D., M.B.A., and Dr. Maria Dowling have joined to form KMDN Global Business Partners, LLC.

“Florida’s entrepreneurial landscape is thriving, and by uniting our expertise, we hope to not only enhance business outcomes but also inspire others to realize their potential as entrepreneurs,” Navarro said, according to a press release from KMDN.

Both are leaders of the leaders of the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Hispanic Business Alliance, according to a press release from the chamber.

Navarro and Dowling met during a local business conference and discussed the challenges businesses face juggling various aspects of management. The two planned for months before unveiling their joint venture, according to the

KMDN press release.

KMDN Global Business Partners offers “a one-stop shop of business management services, including legal, compliance, HR consultancy, IT solutions, project management, financial advisory, marketing, and beyond,” according to the news release.

“Our partnership signifies the potential for collaboration to drive meaningful change,” Dowling said. “By combining our strengths, we aim to create solutions that resonate both locally and globally.”

EL POLLO COLORAO ADDS DINING ROOM

El Pollo Colorao Puerto Rican Eatery has opened an eat-in dining area, enabling patrons to dine in as well as take out.

“It’s awesome: Customers

can enjoy a great atmosphere with great food they have already come to love,” owner Dennis Rivera said, according to a news release.

The restaurant held a soft opening for the new dining area on Aug. 8. Take-out is still available.

The addition of the dining room was driven by customer requests, according to the news release. The restaurant, which opened in 2015, had signed a lease for the neighboring unit in 2020 and therefore had room to expand.

“It has been a long road to get to this point! We were and remain committed to giving our customers a nice dining room to enhance the experience,” the news release states.

El Pollo Colorao Puerto Rican Eatery is located at 227 St. Joe Plaza Drive in Palm Coast, in the St. Joe Plaza to the right of Aaron’s.

Photo by Suzanne McCarthy

Signage marks the location of the future Costco, where work has begun for an early 2024 opening.

Courtesy of One Daytona

A rendering of what the Costco at One Daytona will look like.

Kelly Navarro Maria Dowling

Courtesy photo

The new dine-in area at El Pollo Colorao Puerto Rican Eatery

Strap on a pack and walk with purpose! The Gammon Ruck is on Saturday, Nov. 4. This 28-mile ruck can be completed solo or as a team and raises funds for the Brant Gammon Scholarship to assist future firefighters.

Matanzas student opens smoothie truck

Joey Sherman transformed a trailer into the Snowy Smoothie Saloon, which will debut at the Potato Bowl and have a grand opening at the Pro Rodeo.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Matanzas High School junior

Joey Sherman has been preparing to open his food truck — Snowy Smoothie Saloon — for the past two years.

He’ll finally be open for business at the Potato Bowl football game at Matanzas on Friday, Sept. 15. Sherman and his two friends, Gavin Winfree and Violet Ochrietor, will serve fruit smoothies and snow cones, with soda and water also available.

He’ll have a grand opening ribbon cutting on Sept. 29 at the Flagler County Pro Rodeo at the Flagler County Fairgrounds.

“I’m really excited,” Sherman, 16, said. “I’ve been telling my friends about this for the past two years.”

The idea has been in the works since Sherman’s parents, Jessica and Steve, closed their Palm Coast business, Twisted Minds Escape Room, during COVID-19. Since then, they’ve been helping their youngest son start his own business. (Older son Steven is a senior at Matanzas).

Joey and his father, Steve, converted a cargo trailer the Shermans had used in their business into the watering hole-themed truck.

“I took down the walls, put in foam insulation, did the

For more information or to register, visit parksandrec.fun Check

wiring and the plumbing, put the walls back up — wrapped in linoleum — and we added tables, sinks, stuff like that,” Joey Sherman said. He did research. He saw there was an uptick in food trucks during COVID, especially smoothie trucks.

“I always loved fruit,” he said. The “Saloon” will serve five basic smoothie flavors and three specialty flavors — the Sheriff (strawberry and banana), the Outlaw (mango, pineapple and strawberry) and the Wrangler (blueberry and banana). It will also have a rotating flavor, Joey said.

Joey earned his ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification at age 14, scoring a 97 on the exam. He had

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA will hold a Public Hearing as authorized by law at 7:00 P.M. on the 25th day of September 2023, for the purpose of Second and Final Reading of Ordinance 2023-09, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Building (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110. ORDINANCE 2023-09

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA

PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING OF REAL PROPERTY TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 32,583 + ACRES WITHIN THE CITY OF BUNNELL AS DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT

“B” PROVIDING FOR THE TAKING OF IMPLEMENTING ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF MAPS BY REFERENCE; REPEALING ALL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR NON-CODIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE as may be legally permitted on the day of the meeting. Instructions on how to participate by electronic or other means, if legally permitted, would be found on the City of Bunnell’s website at www.bunnellcity.us on the homepage. The public is advised to check the City’s website for up-to-date information on any changes to the manner in which the meeting will be held and the location. The failure of a person to appear during said hearing and comment on or object to the proposed Ordinance, either in person or in writing, might preclude the ability of such person to contest the Ordinance at a later date. A copy of all pertinent information this ordinance can be obtained at the office of the Bunnell Customer Service Office, 604 E. Moody Blvd. Unit 6, Bunnell, FL 32110. Persons with disabilities needing assistance to attend this proceeding should contact the Bunnell City Clerk at (386) 437-7500 x 5 at least 48-business hours prior to the meeting.

NOTICE: If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Commission on this matter a recording of the proceeding may be needed and for such purposes the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made which includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is based. (Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes)

Internet installed, he has his own insurance for the business, and now he’s learning about payroll, Steve said.

Jorge Carrasco of Rev’d Up Marketing did the artwork for the truck, creating the character “Sheriff Snowy.”

The truck has wood pallets for customers to step onto at the ordering and pickup windows. Straws and napkins are in containers placed on two wooden barrels.

The truck’s Old West watering hole theme is part of Joey’s long-range business model to follow the rodeo circuit.

Joey has always enjoyed cooking and baking, and Steve has 32 years of experience in the restaurant business, opening up individual stores for corporate chains. Joey is in Matanzas’ culinary program, and after he graduates from high school, he wants to enroll in the Culinary Institute of America or Johnson & Wales University’s culinary arts program.

“Hopefully he can eventually franchise this out and go into brick and mortar,” Steve said. “The knowledge and experience he’s gaining right now is important, because this is what he wants to do with his future.”

For now, Joey, a cadet in Matanzas’ Army JROTC program, wants to work JROTC and community events and donate a percentage of the profits to the JROTC programs

“Hopefully he can eventually franchise this out and go into brick and mortar. The knowledge and experience he’s gaining right now is important, because this is what he wants to do with his future.”

at Matanzas and Flagler Palm Coast high schools. He is limited in how much time he can devote to the business. In addition to JROTC, he is dual-enrolled, has a 5.16 GPA in the Cambridge AICE program and is a member of the National Honor Society. He is also a member of the Matanzas JROTC drill team, Color Guard and Raider team.

Before Matanzas athletic director Jordan Butler invited Snowy Smoothie Saloon to be one of the food trucks at the Potato Bowl, Joey Sherman was scheduled to lead the JROTC’s traffic patrol at the game.

“At first he wasn’t going to man the truck (at the game),” Jessica Sherman said. “He said the traffic kids aren’t going to know what to do. But the first sergeant gave him the green light.”

Jessica Sherman at the pickup window

Joey Sherman prepares a snow cone during a practice run Sept. 10 in the Shermans’ driveway.

STEVE SHERMAN on son Joey's smoothie and snow cone truck.

Courtesy photo from the City of Palm Coast Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin, right, took a tour of Joey Sherman’s Snowy Smoothie Saloon truck, which will debut at the Potato Bowl football game Sept. 15 at Matanzas High School.

Photos by Brent Woronoff

Flagler County bans ‘floating structures’

on weekends or whenever, and there’s this structure there that clearly is a concession stand,” O’Brien said. “And it is huge. And it’s just sitting there ... The only intent and the only use of that structure is to sell food and snacks or whatever, and it does not belong there.”

the county line.

JONATHAN SIMMONS

MANAGING EDITOR

Hoping to avoid becoming home to the kind of on-thewater concession stand that’s been causing controversy in St. Johns County, Flagler County has banned unpowered “floating structures” from its waters.

The County Commission voted unanimously Sept. 6 to pass an ordinance barring the structures, except in marinas.

County Commissioner Donald O’Brien said he’d noticed such a structure this past weekend, just north of the Flagler-St. Johns County line “Boats all congregate there

Commissioners in St. Johns County passed a similar ordinance on Aug. 1 after residents created a Change.org petition to oppose a floating business, Hurricane Watersports, that sells snacks, plays music and rents out paddle boards and kayaks in the Matanzas Inlet area.

County Commissioner Andy Dance passed the Hurricane Watersports structure on Saturday in the Matanzas River just west of Las Brisas Condominium. It looked closed, and he took a photo of it and sent it to County Attorney Al Hadeed and the county administrator, he said in a text sent to local reporters.

Jeff Thomas, the owner of Hurricane Watersports, told the Observer that he’s ready to move on: He wants to travel the country, see the west coast and Alaska and then build a bigger floating music venue out west, likely in Lake Tahoe.

“This time I’m going into the politics side of it first,” he said. “I’m going to get somebody to invest in it, so they have a vested interest to make sure it doesn’t get shut down.”

Of the bans in St. Johns and Flagler, he said: “I’m just honestly shocked that they passed a law that it’s OK just to go in and shut down an operating business, that wasn’t breaking any laws. ... As soon as you let the government take over, they’re going to take over and ban everything. The fact that you can’t have an unattended float? That’s crazy.”

He said he’d started the company in June 2021, and

TRIBUTES

PATRICIA B. GREEN 1931 - 2023

denied accusations that he’d played loud music or sold alcohol or sold alcohol to minors, noting that he has a teenage daughter himself.

“You could barely hear our music from the shore,” he said. “The company was based off of renting to children and their parents.”

Thomas said he’d built the float himself and expected to pull it from the water by Wednesday, Sept. 13, before he takes to the road.

Hadeed told commissioners at the meeting that Flagler County’s ordinance is preventative. It does not apply to barges or boats that meet state registration guidelines.

The kinds of floating structures the ordinance targets, Hadeed said, don’t meet the safety requirements boats must meet and can cause environmental damage when anchored and a safety hazard when storms approach and the structure can’t move out of the way.

The county’s staff overview of the new ordinance refers to the structures as, “in essence, a neighborhood convenience store on the water,” and adds that those may work in some parts of the state, but that Flagler County’s waterways are too narrow.

The ordinance would prohibit such structures from mooring, anchoring, or tying to shoreline vegetation.

Hadeed noted that the northeastern part of the county is part of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve.

“Those are very high-quality estuaries that would be damaged if a floating structure shaded out a particular part of that area, which is a very sensitive area where we have mangroves growing, etc.,” Hadeed said.

Patricia B. Green of Palm Coast, FL ( formerly of Allison Park, PA ), passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 at her daughter's residence in Sturbridge, MA.

A beloved wife, mother, sister, and aunt.

Patricia was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Franklin Hartford Green of Allison Park, PA., and is survived by her daughter, Sarah E. Green of Sturbridge, MA.

Born Dec. 10, 1931 in Indianapolis, IN, the daughter of Russell E. Brandenburger Sr. and Gladys Hoehn Brandenburger. She grew up in Shelbyville, IN graduating from Shelbyville High School in 1949, and attending Western College in Ohio.

A dedicated member of the P.E.O Sisterhood in Shelbyville, IN., Allison Park, PA and Palm Coast, FL. She also volunteered her time and creativity to the Pittsburgh Civic Garden Center, Passavant Suburban Aids, and Altar Guild for Christ Episcopal Church of Pittsburgh.

As a founding member of the Franklin H. Green

Family Foundation, she lent her support to the preservation of history and historic places via The National WWII Museum and The National Trust for Historic Places. And was a dedicated supporter of her local animal welfare organizations.

A talented gardener, avid croquet player and ardent animal lover. Patricia enjoyed travel, listening to Frank Sinatra, hot fudge sundaes anytime, a glass of good red wine and laughing with family and friends.

A loving mother and friend, Patricia was always ready for the next new adventure with her daughter and friends and her company is greatly missed.

A Memorial Service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 5910 Babcock Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, September 15, at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, North Hills - Pittsburgh or The National Trust for Historic Places.

A new ordinance bans floating concession stands like one that became a subject of controversy in the Matanzas Inlet north of

Photo courtesy of Andy Dance

The Hurricane Watersports concession stand is the kind of structure county commissioners are trying to ban.

Q+A ASHER FARKASH, RABBI

What the High Holy Days mean to our Jewish friends

BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER

The Jewish community in Flagler and Volusia counties is gearing up for the High Holy Days. To better understand the celebrations, and to ask for advice in finding meaning in prayer and worship, I spent some time with Asher Farkash, assistant rabbi and program director at the Chabad of Greater Daytona. What follows is an edited interview. For more of my interviews with faith leaders, follow “Faith in Flagler” on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

What exactly are the Holy Days?

And how are you and your synagogue celebrating?

The Holy Days actually begin with Rosh Hashanah, which is going to be Sept. 16 and 17 this year. Rosh Hashanah is the new year, the beginning of the year. From the Bible: God created the world in six days. Rosh Hashanah is actually the sixth day of creation, when God created Adam and Eve. We celebrate the creation of man, because ultimately, God created the world, but it’s our mission as the human race to bring the goal and the purpose of creation into fruition.

Ten days later, we have the holiday of Yom Kippur, which is the Day of Atonement. So that tracks back to when the Jews left Egypt, and they were in the desert, and they received the tablets. Thirty-nine days later was the sin of the golden calf, and Moses goes back up the mountain to ask God for forgiveness. And he comes down with God’s forgiveness on the second tablets on the day of Yom Kippur. This is a special day, where God

LEGION POST 267 DONATES CLASSROOM SUPPLIES TO OBE

The American Legion Auxiliary Post 267 recently collected back-toschool supplies for Ormond Beach Elementary School. The donated supplies were delivered to the school for classroom use and for its clinic, thanks to the support of members as part of one of their annual community service projects. For more information, contact President Rebekah Mead at auxiliarypost267@gmail.com.

EARLY LEARNING COALITION TEACHES WATER SAFETY

The Early Learning Coalition of Flagler & Volusia has launched a new initiative to be offered to child care centers in Flagler and Volusia counties.

The Josh the Otter Water Safety & Awareness Project teaches young children about the importance of water safety through educational activities and its mascot, Josh the Baby Otter.

Each month, a trained volunteer for ELCFV will visit local early learning programs to promote the importance of early childhood water safety training to prevent drowning. The volunteer will read “Josh the Baby Otter,” by Blake Collingsworth, and provide resources to go home with children, including their own copy of the book.

Collingsworth started the Josh the Otter program in 2008 following the death of his 2-year-old son Joshua. He died after being found unconscious and unresponsive in the family’s pool.

Collingsworth also developed the Float 4 Life water safety program, which provides customized one-onone lessons for children to teach how to jump or fall into the water

gives us a blank page, a new beginning.

Four days later, we have the holiday of Sukkot, which is known as the holiday of huts. When God took us through the desert, we were protected by God’s clouds of glory. We live in a very shaky world, nothing’s for certain. So we go out into huts and we say, “You know, we might have these big houses and these businesses and security. But ultimately, we know that our true security is in the hands of God.” And so we step out into the wilderness, so to speak, in a hut and you say, “God, you’re my roof, and you’re my walls, and you’re my protection.”

And the fourth and finally of the Holy Days?

It’s called Simchat Torah, which is the Joy of the Torah. And that’s celebrating Moses coming down with the second tablets. So there was the first tablets, which were broken after the sin, and then Moses comes down with the second tablets, and God forgave us. So we conclude the

High Holy Days with celebrating the Torah.

What do you do to celebrate the Torah?

You would think the best way to do it is to open up the Torah and study it, right? But we don’t do that; we actually dance with it. Because ultimately, our connection with God is that deep. It’s not about how much you know, it’s about how much you’re involved. It’s about being connected. And so maybe not everyone can read, we’re not going to understand, but everyone can dance. And so we grab the Torah, we hug it, we embrace it, and we dance with it.

God commands the children of Israel to teach their children about this deliverance. Why is that so important that we continue to teach our children about those ancient events?

We actually believe that the Torah is

not just something that happened in the past, but it’s something that happens on a constant basis. History repeats itself. God didn’t give the Torah 3,300-and-something years ago, but every day, God is giving the Torah again. God didn’t just create the world 5,784 years ago, but God, on a constant basis, is recreating the world. We commemorate these things, and we learn about them, because it’s not something of the past. It’s the past, it’s the present, it’s also the future.

Are these celebrations open to the public?

It’s open. Whenever services are happening, people come in all the time to learn, to listen. God is not just the God of the Jews; we believe God is the God of everybody.

High Holy Days 2023

Rosh Hashanah Begins sunset of Friday, Sept. 15

Ends nightfall of Sunday, Sept. 17

Yom Kippur Begins sunset of Sunday, Sept. 24

Ends nightfall of Monday, Sept. 25

Sukkot Begins sunset of Friday, Sept. 29

Ends nightfall of Friday, Oct. 6

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat

Torah Begins sunset of Friday, Oct. 6

Ends nightfall of Sunday, Oct. 8

Read the rest of this Q+A at http:// bit.ly/3Lleic8.

Room” for third to fifth grade. She was one of two teachers in Daytona to receive a combined total of $397 in donations, according to a news release. The second teacher to receive funding in Daytona was Amelia Haller at Longstreet Elementary, for the project “Building Critical Thinkers and Future Scientists!” for pre-K to second grade.

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and recover to a back float without assistance.

In Flagler and Volusia counties, the program is facilitated by Easterseals of Northeast Central Florida.

Drowning is the primary cause of accidental death for children under the age of 5 and the second leading cause of accidental death for children fourteen and under, according to Centers for Disease Control.

PACE CENTER FOUNDER RECOGNIZES VOLUSIAFLAGLER LOCATION

Pace Center for Girls Founder Vicki Burke presented an award named in her honor to the Pace Volusia-Flagler team on Aug. 21 in recognition of their commitment to upholding Pace’s values and guiding principles during a challenging nine-month displacement following Hurricane Ian.

Pace Volusia Flagler Academic Manager Lorna Papke-Dupouy highlighted the resilience of the staff working together as a team, as operating an academic and social service center in a single gymnasium after displacement posed significant challenges.

“The sense of teamwork wasn’t just for the girls; it extended to supporting one another through a challenging time,” she said.

Burke founded Pace Center for Girls in Jacksonville in 1985 with a vision to divert girls from the juvenile justice system, recognizing that their behavior often stemmed from trauma. Over the past 35 years, Pace has transformed the lives of more than 40,000 girls and emerged as a leading advocate for girls on a national scale.

“The dedication and resilience displayed by the team at Pace VolusiaFlagler exemplifies their commitment to our girls,” said Mary Marx, president and CEO of Pace Center for Girls. “The ‘Vicki Burke’ award not only honors their unwavering efforts but also serves as a reminder of the impact we can achieve when we come together to empower the girls and communities we serve.”

PILOT CLUB DONATES OVER $14,000 TO VOLUSIA NONPROFITS

The Pilot Club of the Halifax Area donated a total of $14,988 during the period of July 2022 to June 2023.

A total of $13,373 was donated to 13 nonprofit organizations within the Volusia County community, including Rose Marie Byron Children’s Center, Beacon Center, Wit-NEST Inc., Sunrise Community Foundation, Jewish Federation of Volusia/ Flagler Counties, First Step Shelter and others, according to a news release.

Donations of $1,615 were also made for projects within the Florida District Pilot International for the Founders Fund, Scholarship Houses, Anchors and more.

The Pilot Club of the Halifax Area is a nonprofit service organization serving Volusia County. Its members are also part of the Florida District Pilot International along with Pilot International. The club focuses on advocating for leadership and service in youth, brain safety and health as well as supporting families in need, the news release states.

To learn more, contact pilotclubofhalifax@gmail.com.

SONIC DONATES TO TOMOKA, BEACHSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

In August, the SONIC Foundation donated $1 million to help fund classroom supply requests on DonorsChoose, a national nonprofit that allows individuals to donate directly to public school classroom requests submitted by teachers. The $1 million donation is part of the SONIC Drive-In brand’s ongoing Limeades for Learning initiative.

In Ormond Beach, Yanelisi Brugone at Tomoka Elementary School received a donation of $108 for the project “Increase Access to Literature in 4th Grade Classroom” for third to fifth grade. At Beachside Elementary, Kelsi Quicksall-Jones also received funding for the project “Capturing Creativity in the Art

“SONIC’s dedication to supporting education through our Limeades for Learning program is a core pillar of our business and the transition into a new school year is a crucial window in setting students and teachers up for success,” said Kim Lewis, vice president of brand experience for SONIC.

CAMERA CLUB PRESENTS ANNUAL SHOW WINNERS

The Casements Camera Club has announced the winners for its 43rd annual show, which drew a variety of entries judged by Christina Katsolis from the Southeast Museum of Photography.

The winners were:

„ Best of Show: “Boneyard” by Nancy Munier

„ First place: “Touch & Go” by Vicki Payne

„ Second place: “The Pairing” Janet Bernardini „ Third place: “Art and The Maiden” by Ans van Beek „ Casements Award: “Heaven’s Window” by Ronn Orenstein

The exhibit is on display at The Casements Gallery through Sept. 28. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

“This show is a must-see so we hope you come out to The Casements Gallery and enjoy these beautiful images,” Club President Ans van Beek said.

Rachele Hogan and her four sons — Dean, Lewis, John and Philip — are Ormond Memorial Art Museum’s featured family from the museum’s Sept. 1 Free Family Art Night event.

The family moved to Ormond Beach four years ago and “are always looking for things around town to do as a family,” according to a statement from OMAM. While they have visited the museum gardens many times and enjoy the mini art gallery in the park, often contributing their own artwork, the family attended the Free Family Art Night for the first time on Sept. 1.

The family loved the event, the museum statement reads, especially as the youngest son has leukemia. “So getting to do something free and together as a family means everything to us right now,” Rachele Hogan said. “We will definitely be back in October.”

The museum’s Family Art Night takes place from 5:30-7 p.m. on most first Fridays of the month. All art supplies are provided, and the program is sponsored in part by the Women United Volusia Chapter. The next program is scheduled for Oct. 6.

Courtesy photo Rabbi Asher Farkash, of Chabad of Greater Daytona.

Courtesy photos Rebekah Mead, Karen Gokey, Christine Vitch, Ormond Beach Elementary Office Specialist Amanda Frick, Principal Shannon Hay, Lisa Pennet and Toni Ellsworth.

ELCFV’s Literacy Initiatives Coordinator Erica Garris poses with Josh the Baby Otter.

The Hogan family — Rachele Hogan and her four sons Dean, Lewis, John and Philip — are OMAM’s featured art night family of the month for September.

MEET OMAM’S ART NIGHT FAMILY FOR SEPTEMBER

“Boneyard” by Nancy Munier

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Art in house

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Ceramics and pottery.

Seabreeze’s art program ‘empowers students.’

That’s what Seabreeze High School’s 3D art program consisted of before art teacher Christine Colby began working at the school five years ago. It was functional art, perhaps a bit crafty, she said.

“When I joined Seabreeze, it was in a little bit of a transition period,” Colby said. “So my focus has been to revive what formerly was ceramics into a more of a diverse 3D art or sculpture program.”

And revive the program, she has.

For example, in her first period portfolio class, students work independently to develop their own art, with guidance from Colby. The students come up with a theme and propose their idea to Colby, who then helps talk them through what materials to use and what concepts to hone in on.

Then, they go to work, and ideally, the students will wrap up the school year with a portfolio of eight pieces. Seabreeze is also the only school in Volusia County to currently offer a Cambridge AICE art course.

Last year, when the new ceramics textbook, titled “Experience Clay,” was released, it featured the works of some of Colby’s former students. It’s her third textbook contribution, she said, and

WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE SAYING

“[Colby] is very understanding and will guide you with doing what’s best for your art project.”

VICTORIA COLE, 12th grade

“It’s fun. She gives you a lot of freedom on what you want to make.”

PEYTON DOMAYER, 12th grade

“I just want to learn everything about [art]. I’m going to be in the career field. I’m going to be a tattoo artist, so it helps.”

KADEN KEEZER, 11th grade

the fact it’s the textbook used for the curriculum by Volusia County Schools is a bonus.

“It makes them feel more significant and exciting about the relevance of what they’re doing,” Colby said.

MASTERS’ LEGACY Colby became an art teacher because she had a good one herself.

Katherine “Nina” Masters taught at Seabreeze High School from 1963 to 2010, and during that time, she also served as the art department chair. She started the school’s Tradewinds Art Festival, which put students’ works on display in the community, introduced photography into the school’s curriculum, and created the largest printmaking studio in a public school in the state, according to her

obituary. She died in 2021. “After she passed away, I thought that it would be great to create a space here on campus to commemorate the legacy that she had here and how many students she impacted,” Colby said.

The concept is in its early stages, but Colby said she is partnering with Masters’ daughter and son, both of whom remain active in the community, to transform the school’s auditorium lobby into a student art gallery.

They want to call it the Masters Gallery. Seabreeze High School Principal Tucker Harris is on board.

“We want to revitalize [the auditorium] and really transition that into more of a performing arts center to where it houses all the arts,” he said.

When she was a student at Seabreeze, Colby, the current department chair, recalled how Masters helped to foster creativity in her students, including allowing her classroom to be a “home base” for them.

It’s something she’s inherited, Colby said, as she can usually expect to see over 20 students hanging around in her classroom during lunch hours.

“It becomes their home,” she said.

Bryce Hammond, visual arts specialist for VCS, said he has the unique opportunity to see students continue to grow in their art journeys from fifth grade to high school. He also likes to observe great teachers at work, of which he said Colby is an example.

“We have a lot of fantastic teachers here in the county, but that [student] interaction is really important to me,” he said. “... Then I get to talk to the student, the higher-level students, about their artwork, and they know what they’re doing which is a sign of a really great teacher.”

GROWING THE PROGRAM

Once she joined the faculty at Seabreeze, Colby said she made it a goal to reintroduce — and reinvent — Masters’ Tradewinds show.

In May, the school partnered with the Ormond Memorial Art Museum to bring back the student exhibition. The show featured two- and threedimensional works by over 90 students — both of Colby’s class, as well as Seabreeze 2D art teacher Kasondra Price’s class. There were more than 100 student art works on dis-

play. As a department, Colby said, they work together to make sure students’ works are recognized in the community.

One of Colby’s students won Best of Show in the Gallery 500 High School Art Exhibition last fall. Another won first place in the 2023 Daytona Beach Arts Festival.

This year, the art department added a third teacher: Paul Shuler, who is teaching 2D art.

Harris said the community often hears about sports and academic achievements. But there are achievements happening in the arts as well, he said. In addition to the work Colby is doing, Price’s students will soon start a mural program at Seabreeze to help beautify the campus.

“When the kids see their work displayed, it empowers the student,” Harris said.

Seabreeze High School, he added, is special because of the people in the building.

“Colby is just another example of a dynamic educator in the building, but we’re full of them” he said. “... It just makes you feel good that the person standing in front of [students] is very passionate about their work — so passionate, they go above and beyond and are nationallyrecognized.”

Outside the classroom, Colby’s also busy advocating for arts education. She’s a new member of the Volusia County Cultural Alliance and recently joined the Florida Women’s Art Association. She was also interviewed in a podcast episode with K12ArtChat where she talked about clay and ceramics at the high school level.

What motivates her?

“I want art to be present in Volusia County,” Colby said.

WANT TO HELP?

Colby is looking for donations and support from the community for the Masters Gallery effort. For more information, email her at clcolby1@ volusia.k12. fl.us.

Seabreeze High School senior Victoria Cole works on her sculpture.

Maya Ulibarri and Peyton Domayer show off what they’re working on during Christine Colby’s class.

Junior Kaleb Zahn works on his sculpture during Christine Colby’s class.

Photos by Jarleene Almenas

LOCAL EVENTS

GREEN EXPO

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

Where: Cattleman’s Hall, Flagler County Fairgrounds, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell

Details: Attend educational sessions and panel discussions led by sustainability experts. The University of Florida IFAS Extension partnered with St. Johns River Water Management District, various Flagler County professionals, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for this expo. There will be presentations about Florida’s water, Florida-friendly landscaping, residential irrigation,green industry certifications and more. Lunch will be served followed by roundtable discussions. Registration required. Visit FlaglerGreenExpo.eventbrite. com.

HALIFAX GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MEETING AND PROGRAM

When: 1:30 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Library auditorium, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach Details: Kathy Stickney will present “Using Local and County Histories in Your Family Research,” a talk that defines local histories and explores the various types of information they contain. Following the program, join the society as it brings its ancestors to life by telling the stories that shaped them. Guest registration free.

PALM COAST DEMOCRATIC CLUB GATHERING

When: 6-8 p.m.

Where: African American Cultural Society, 4422 U.S. 1 N, Palm Coast

Details: The Palm Coast Democratic Club is hosting a gathering with guest speaker Colleen Conklin. A time to socialize will take place from 6-6:30 p.m., and the gathering will begin afterward.

TRACKING GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY BY HARNESSING

THE WIND When: 7 p.m.

Where: University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32080, or via Zoom with registration link

Details: This first lecture of the fall Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series will feature Elizabeth Clare, Ph.D., professor of biology at York University. Clare will describe the power of “eDNA,” or “environmental DNA,” genetic material found in the water, soils and air. It has been for decades in the study of aquatic life, but scientists are realizing that its most extraordinary power might actually be on land. Free event, in person or live via Zoom. To watch via Zoom, register at ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_Qh61zq8MQvenHsh8qJ4XEA.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 15

ALL THAT JAZZ AND MORE

When: 6-10 p.m.

Where: African American Museum and Cultural Center of Florida, 4422

U.S. Highway 1 North, Palm Coast

Details: Listen to jazz, meet and greet local authors and enjoy some dancing. Tickets cost $28. Attire

is “classic.” There will be light fare and a cash bar. Proceeds benefit the Flagler County NAACP. Visit aacspalmcoast.org.

‘I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE’

When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30; and 3 p.m. on Sundays, Sept. 17, 24, and Oct. 1

Where: City Repertory Theatre, 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: City Repertory Theatre will present this off-Broadway musical on modern love illustrated through a series of vignettes. Featuring a cast of six, the show will look at the perils and pratfalls of the first date to marriage, children and life’s twilight years. Tickets cost $30; student tickets cost $15. Visit crtpalmcoast.com.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 16

INTERNATIONAL COASTAL

CLEANUP

When: 8-11 a.m.

Where: Varies Details: Participate in this year’s International Coastal Cleanup event, to be held at more than 20 sites along the beach, Halifax River and Indian River Lagoon. Event is hosted by Volusia County’s Environmental Management Division. Register at tinyurl.com/registerforcleanup.

OPERATION 22 POKER RUN

When: 10 a.m.

Where: Iron Horse Saloon, 1068 U.S.

1, Ormond Beach

Details: Local real estate agent Kathy Davis Carlton is teaming up with Operation 22, which aims to combat veteran suicide, to hold a poker run beginning at the Iron

Helping you pursue your financial goals since 1890

Horse Saloon. To sign up, visit operation22.com/events.

‘GENEALOGY IN THE LIBRARY’

PROGRAM

When: 1-4 p.m.

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

Details: This free, one-on-one research assistance program is offered by Halifax Genealogical Society volunteers to anyone interested in researching family history. Gather your family information, and explore how the library’s genealogical databases can help find your ancestors. Convenes in Meeting Room 3. For registration, contact halifaxgensociety@gmail. com.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 19

FOOD TRUCK TUESDAY

When: 5-8 p.m.

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

Details: Enjoy a variety of foods from local food trucks as part of Food Truck Tuesday in Palm Coast, presented in partnership with the Palm Coast Observer

THURSDAY, SEPT. 21

ORMOND BEACH AREA

DEMOCRATIC CLUB MEETING

When: 7 p.m.

Where: 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach Details: The Ormond Beach Area Democratic Club will host guest speaker Carl Persis, Volusia County School Board member for District 4. Check-in and social visiting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Like-minded nonmembers are welcome to attend as guests. Visit ormondbeachdems.org.

ONGOING

MOMS OF PRE SCHOOLERS

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

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

Details: Moms of Pre Schoolers is a free faith-based program for moms, moms-to-be and their preschoolers for support and encouragement. Breakfast is provided, as well as a video with discussion and crafts. Playtime offered for children, with adult supervision. Call 386-2552588.

‘THE CHOSEN’

When: 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, through the end of November

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

Details: “The Chosen,” a TV series on the life of Jesus, will be aired at Central Baptist Church every Thursday, beginning with Season 1, according to a news release. Free admission. Discussion and light refreshments will follow the showings. Call 386-255-2588.

MOAS EXHIBITIONS

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Where: Museum of Arts and Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach

Details: Want to spend a day looking at fine art? The Museum of Arts and Sciences has the following shows on display: “Unfolding the Universe: The James Webb Space Telescope” and “Visions of Visionaries: Beaux Arts of Central Florida.”

The

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JOHN ADERSON COUNTRY ACRES OCEANFRONT

Remarkable waterfront estate currently owned by an awardwinning musician offers a harmonious blend of opulence and functionality. Presently used as a second home and a music studio, this property presents a unique opportunity to own a truly exceptional residence. 4-bedroom, 4-bath, 2 half-bath .

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HOMES ARE SELLING FAST! WE NEED MORE LISTINGS

BEWARE THE SPORTS

ELEPHANT

wood. You hear elephant, and everyone starts going crazy.”

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

If Matanzas is to beat Flagler Palm Coast in the Potato Bowl for the first time in seven years, it will have to beware the elephant and not underestimate the flag football player.

On paper, the Pirates won last year as the rivalry game was one of four contests the Bulldogs forfeited after self-reporting an ineligible player. But on the muddy, drenched FPC turf, the Bulldogs rolled to a 41-6 victory. Matanzas did not throw a pass in the game as it tried out a triple-option offense a week after quarterback Dakwon Evans fractured his collarbone.

On Friday, Sept. 15, at Matanzas, both teams expect a close game for the first time since the Pirates last won in 2016. Matanzas is 2-0 for the first time since the 2016 season. The Pirates had hoped to be 3-0 this week, but their Sept. 8 game at Deltona was postponed because of unplayable field conditions.

FPC (1-1), after struggling in its season opener at Suwannee on Aug. 25, defeated Orlando Bishop Moore 28-14 in the Bulldogs’ home opener on Sept. 8. An early bye week came at a perfect time. The Bulldogs apparently have found their starting quarterback. They also found a charging elephant that is hard to stop.

Defensive end Colby Cronk, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, lined up at tailback behind 225-pound running back Marcus Mitchell and the biggest offensive and defensive linemen on the team in the “elephant formation” and scored three touchdowns of 4, 4 and 7 yards.

“It was certainly fun and awesome,” Cronk said. “I’m always on defense and being on offense, actually having the ball in my hands, is kind of different. I’ve done it in Pop Warner, but not in high school.”

Offensive coordinator Jake Medlock said the formation was designed by his father, Ricky Medlock, when the elder Medlock was an assistant coach at Fletcher High School. The Bulldogs installed it after they were stopped on fourth and goal against Suwannee, Jake Medlock said.

“My dad came up with the formation years ago. It’s, go have fun tackling 6-4, 250. It’s right up the middle. If you can stop those guys, I’ll (tip) my hat off to you. That’s what I want us to be known for. We’re going to be all spread all over the yard, but on third and short, fourth and short, we’re getting elephant. Hopefully the fans will start buying the old (plastic) horns, just how we did it at Fletcher and how we did it at Sandal-

Dan Fish, the Bulldogs’ first-year head coach, said the formation was even more successful than they had anticipated.

“Colby’s a guy who’s never going to quit,” Fish said. “So you’re going to need all 11 to get him. We brought in some other big bodies to get in front of him and clear the way. So, that’s a package you’ll see on goal line and short yardage situations going forward. And we’ve got a lot of faith in it.”

FLAG FOOTBALL TO

FROM

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

The Bulldogs also have a lot of faith in senior quarterback Caden Gonzalez, who played in his first tackle football game in the spring.

In his first regular-season start, Gonzalez completed eight of 15 passes for 120 yards against Bishop Moore. Mikhail Zysek caught seven of the passes for 112 yards. Zysek’s 20-yard catch on third down set up Cronk’s third touchdown of the game, a 7-yard run behind the big bodies.

“I’ve been playing with (Zysek) since flag (football), so me and him have that chemistry,” Gonzalez said. “I rolled out and hit him. He saw me pointing my finger to start moving up instead of blocking. So, he start ed running up and I was able to give him a nice throw, and he made a great catch.”

Gonzalez has been playing flag football since he was 6 years old. His parents would not allow him or older brother Landon to play tackle football until high school. Caden’s high school career got sidetracked with injuries and eligibility issues, he said. He missed his junior season due to knee surgery.

He discovered that the differences between flag and tackle football are much more than getting hit.

“You got the helmet on, so it’s

MATANZAS GAME RESCHEDULED

The Pirates game at Deltona on Sept. 8 has been rescheduled for Monday, Oct. 2, three days after Matanzas travels to St. Augustine for its first district game of the season.

“It’s not ideal for either one of us,” Matanzas coach Matt Forrest said. “They’ve got their game with DeLand that Friday.”

After a heavy rain on Sept. 8, playing conditions on Deltona’s field “were borderline unsafe,” Forrest said. “They just finished a field renovation project.”

playing under the lights.”

Caden’s father, Rick Gonzalez, who coached both of his sons in flag football, said he and his wife were both nervous about them playing tackle before high school. Landon, a receiver who graduated in 2022, played four years for the Bulldogs.

“I think they learned the game a lot better playing flag because they’re playing both sides on offense and defense,” Rick said. “So mentally, both the boys were prepared.”

Caden was the only eligible quarterback on the roster for the spring game and helped the Bulldogs win playing in his first tackle football game. Competing against three other quarterbacks in the preseason, he started in the kickoff classic and turned the ball over on FPC’s first two possessions. He didn’t get on the field again until the fourth quarter against Suwannee. With the senior at the helm, the Bulldogs started moving the chains.

“He performed really well towards the end of that game,” Fish said. “We saw something in him, and the guys were really gravitating towards him. In the bye week, he really kind of solidified himself as the one. It was still competitive this week (before the Bishop Moore game), but he kind of ran away with it.”

Caden said he heard the chatter after the kickoff classic, and that motivated him to work harder.

“Yeah, it really hit me,” he said. “It made me want to push more, so I started working harder, watching more film and talking to my coaches. And I’ve been staying determined. Tonight’s game, it was really fun.”

“There’s one thing about Caden,” Medlock said. “He’s not a quitter. I have tested him on so many levels, and he has responded every time.”

Medlock said they only asked Gonzalez to manage the game. The Bulldogs primarily relied on their running game in the win. They ran for 267 yards, with Mitchell running for 145 yards on 25 carries and

POTATO BOWL

WHO: Flagler Palm Coast (1-1) vs. Matanzas (2-0)

WHERE: Matanzas High School

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m. (gates open at 5:30)

TICKETS: $10. Go to matanzas.com/athletics/athletics/tickets or download the Hometown Fan app. Cash will not be accepted at the gate.

freshman Ehimen Ajide (known to his teammates as He-man) rushing for 87 yards on 10 carries, including a 14-yard touchdown run.

The defense did its part, with Cronk notching a game-high 12 tackles and recording two key thirdquarter sacks.

“It was a monster game for him,” Fish said. “We have the utmost faith in Colby. He’s our leader on and off the field. We know whatever we ask him to do, he’s going to do it to the best of his ability.”

FPC junior wide receiver Mikhail Zysek (15) catches a 20yard pass fro Caden Gonzalez to put the Bulldogs into the red zone early in the first quarter.

Bulldogs quarterback Caden Gonzalez (13) completes a pass to Mikhail Zysek.

“You got the helmet on, so it’s harder to see things. You got people coming at you. In flag, usually they send one person and they’re about seven yards away. Tackle is way more intense. But I love playing under the

CADEN GONZALEZ,

Touchdown! Colby Cronk puts Flagler Palm Coast up by two scores with his third touchdown of the game with 4:22 remaining.

Jumbo formation, converted flag football player come up big for Flagler Palm Coast.

Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh

Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh

Matanzas’ Gazzoli outlasts FPC’s Carlisi in match at Palm Harbor Golf Club

Reigning state champ

Alexandra Gazzoli shot a 4-under-par 32; Carmella Carlisi had an eagle on the par-4 No. 5 hole.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

With three holes to go, Flagler Palm Coast’s Camella Carlisi and Matanzas’ Alexandra Gazzoli were tied at 2-under.

But keeping pace with Gazzoli, the Florida Women’s Amateur Stroke Play champion and the defending Class 2A state high school champ, is not easy.

Gazzoli, who will play golf at Florida State University next year, shot a 4-under 32 to lead the Pirates to victory over the Bulldogs at Palm Harbor Golf Club on Sept. 7.

Carlisi shot a 2-over 38. Her highlight of the day was an eagle on the

par-4 No. 5 hole.

“It was like 240 yards. With the wind in my face, I took my 3 wood and I just got my hands nice and high and hit it right at the flag. We walked up and I was like 6 feet away,” she said. “I tapped it in for eagle. It was a pretty straight putt. So, it was pretty cool. I felt like Happy Gilmore. I hit it in one.”

She also had an eagle putt on the par-5 No. 3, but she wound up 3-putting for par. Carlisi was two strokes

behind Gazzoli going into the par-4 No. 1, which was their final hole. But while Gazzoli birdied, Carlisi finished with a triple bogey.

“Other than that, I was hitting pretty well,” she said.

Gazzoli had four birdies on Nos. 3, 7, 8 and 1 and no bogeys.

Her 32 wasn’t her best nine-hole round at Palm Harbor, but it was close.

“I think I shot a 31,” she said. “I could have done better. The greens aren’t in the best condition, so may-

be if they were better, another putt or two might have gone in, but I think I did good overall.”

Playing without No. 2 golfer Zoe Alred, Matanzas defeated FPC 185 to 247. Matanzas’ other top scorers were Ana Heartz (47), Arianna Rodriguez (51), Bianca Sherman (55) and Sara-Kate Vannucci (57). Madison Heck shot 58 for the Bulldogs.

The Pirates improved to 2-1 while FPC was playing in its first match. Carlisi rejoined her former teammates after spending last year in San

Diego, honing her game at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

“I want to go to college out there, so I tried to play in some tournaments,” she said. “It’s tricky though, because I want to be with my family, but I like it out on the West Coast. So, we’ll see.”

Matanzas’ only loss came to Seabreeze on Aug. 29 at Riviera Country Club. The Sandcrabs and Pirates meet again on Thursday, Sept. 14, at Palm Harbor.

Carol Lunn, 85, a resident of The Overlook Community in Charlton, MA, passed away Saturday https://www. dignitymemorial.com/ obituaries/framinghamma/bernadettelunn-11422289, August 28th, amongst family, following a brief illness.

Carol lived a long and abundant life. She was born and raised in Portland, CT, the eldest of three siblings and the only daughter of Bernice and John Kuzminski. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Connecticut School of Nursing and later a master’s in health care management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She worked for 18 years as an Occupational Health Nurse at Pratt & Whitney/United Technologies in Connecticut. Following retirement, she and her husband Howard moved to Palm Coast, FL, to embrace new friends and host family escaping New England winters. Ever prepared, Carol was an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and the Palm Coast CERT team, all while Howard kept the neighborhood in good order. They returned to New England in 2016 to be closer to family and blended into the beautiful community at The Overlook. Carol enjoyed time with friends and family,

Carol enjoyed time with friends and family, traveling, cavorting with pets Ziggy and Poppy, and was the “Cool Grammy,”

traveling, cavorting with pets Ziggy and Poppy, and was the “Cool Grammy,” She is predeceased by her parents and husband Howard. She leaves a heartbroken but immensely grateful family including her two brothers John Kuzminski (Joan) of Killingworth, CT, and David Kuzminski (the late Ronna) of Portland, CT; three children Carolyn Selavka (Matt) of Charlton, MA, Larry Hryb (Taylor Johnson) of Kenmore, WA, and Sue Larson (Dave) of Cumberland, RI; and four grandchildren Amelia Larson, Chloe Selavka, Brigitta Larson, and Waverly Hryb.

A celebration of life will be held at the Chapel at Overlook Community, Charlton, MA, on Saturday, September 23rd at 11:00 AM, with a reception to follow.

CELEBRATION OF

Saturday, September 23, 11AM Chapel at Overlook Community Charlton, MA

DONATIONS:

In lieu of flowers, financial contributions in memory of B. Carol Lunn can be made to the UConn School of Nursing (Nursing Scholarship Fund (0021761)) details on UConn Foundation page. or The DanaFarber Cancer Institute.

Carol Lunn 1937-2023

Matanzas golfer Alexandra Gazzoli watches her shot on Sept. 7 at Palm Harbor Golf Club.

Carmella Carlisi, right, and Bianca Sherman on the green

Photos by Brent Woronoff

“I tapped it in for eagle. It was a pretty straight putt. So, it was pretty cool. I felt like Happy Gilmore. I hit it in one.”

CARMELLA CARLISI

LINES

Seabreeze topples FPC in girls bowling battle

Flagler Palm Coast girls bowling coach Laura Oliva made sure to reschedule the Aug. 30 match with Seabreeze that had been canceled because of the hurricane.

They rescheduled for Sept. 7, with Seabreeze winning the match 5-2 at Palm Coast Lanes.

“Seabreeze is a No. 1 team. It was our third match of the week, but I wanted the girls to see that level of competition,” Oliva said.

MATANZAS BOYS, GIRLS PLACE 5TH

The Matanzas boys and girls cross country teams both finished fifth at the Coach Joe McKinney Classic on Sept. 9 in New Smyrna Beach.

Seabreeze’s boys were sixth.

Mainland’s girls were seventh.

Spruce Creek’s Mackenzie and Arianna Roy finished first and second in the girls race with times of 18:20.3 and

18:37.6, respectively.

Matanzas’ Sierra Howard ran her best time of the season with a 20:33.8 to place ninth, while the Pirates’ Nina Rodriguez was 16th with her best time of the season at 21:29.1. Matanzas freshman

Noemi Malinowski finished 21st with a personal record

21:56.5. Kiera Williams led Mainland with a 25th-place finish in 22:05.7.

Seabreeze sophomore

Hunter Shuler finished ninth in the boys race with a time of 16:59.8, which was just 1.3 seconds off his personal record that he set the previous week in Ocala.

Matanzas sophomore

Blaine Vogel (17:04.7) was 12th. Chris Murdock of First Baptist in Bunnell ran a PR 17:13.8 to finish 15th.

Lake Mary won the girls team title, while Orlando Boone won the boys team title.

The Sandcrabs and Bulldogs split the individual games, with Seabreeze winning two of three Baker games and winning the point for total pins with 28 more than FPC.

“I’m pleased they only beat us by 28 pins,” Oliva said.

FPC was the first team this season to score points off Seabreeze, which has defeated its six opponents by an aggregate score of 40-2. FPC has been almost as good, with an aggregate score off 44-5.

Oliva was pleased with her bowlers’ enthusiasm against the Sandcrabs. She told them to stay positive, and she was happy with the results.

“We cheered every time, not just for strikes and spares,” she said.

Seabreeze improved to 6-0 with another 7-0 win over Atlantic on

Sept. 11. FPC improved to 6-1 with a 7-0 win over DeLand.

Bulldogs senior Emma Pezzulo leads all girls bowlers in the district

BUCS RALLY PAST BARTRAM TRAIL

Mainland held on to its No.

1 MaxPreps football ranking in Class 3S with a 28-24 win over Class 4S No. 5 Bartram Trail on Sept. 8.

Rodney Hill scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns for the Bucs, who improved to 3-0. The Bears (2-1) led 24-14 at the end of the third quarter. Hill’s 8-yard touchdown run pulled the visitors to within a field goal at 24-21. He then rumbled 43 yards for a score to put Mainland ahead with 3:44 remaining.

Khamani Robinson also had two long touchdown runs for the Bucs, scoring from 67 and 57 yards. Mainland will return home on Friday, Sept. 15, for a game against Jacksonville Raines (2-0).

SEABREEZE’S HAYES TOSSES 4 TD PASSES

with a 233.13 average.

“Emma is bowling her best ever,” Oliva said. “She is knocking it out of the park every time.”

Seabreeze’s Kara Beissel is second in the district with a 219 average, while Seabreeze’s Stacey Spaulding is third with a 212.6.

Four other Seabreeze bowlers — Breanna Hess, Madison Kuenning, Hailey Halcomb and Katelyn Miller — also rank among the top eight in the district.

Seabreeze’s boys are also 6-0 after wins over FPC and Atlantic. The Sandcrabs blanked the Bulldogs 7-0. DeLand also topped FPC to drop the Bulldogs’ record to 5-2.

Like the Sandcrabs’ girls team, the boys have dominated with a 40-2 aggregate score.

Seabreeze’s Dalton Boice leads the district with a 244 average, while Brayden Barnes is third at 215. Jeremy Batt and Eliot Oliva leave the Bulldogs with a 186 and a 180 average, respectively.

Seabreeze’s offense got rolling for the first time this season but its defense struggled for the second straight week in a 64-36 loss to University at Daytona Stadium.

Hayden Hayes threw four touchdown passes — two to Tyrone Cordare. Denali Campbell scored on a 91yard kick return to put the Sandcrabs up 22-19 with 1:35 left in the first quarter. Campbell also caught a 58-yard touchdown pass on third-and-14.

Landon Smith scored on a 76-yard catch and run, and Drew McInerney kicked a 43yard field goal.

The Sandcrabs (0-3) will have a week off to make corrections. They’ll travel to DeLand on Sept. 22.

Email Associate Editor Brent Woronoff at brent@observerlocalnews.com

By Luis Campos

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

“PV’HH FHPFOG CDKDX JCV CVXDVG DE 9/11. ... PV ZHVTUV JCFJ PV PRHH KVIVX EDXUVJ JCVRX GFLXRERLV.”

ZXVG. UVDXUV P. AMGC

Puzzle One Clue: M equals U

“RN RG’Z COIUG NAY CO, RG MRFF HO. GXAZO MAYLZ IYO CV CIUGYI RU FRNO, IUL RG XIZ UOBOY FOG CO LAMU.”

KOUURNOY XTLZAU

Puzzle Two Clue: A equals Z

“V’N UROYJU GJ R BVN REN CPRZ KVOY CRCJU CPREJW OYRE GJ R ARE REN CPRZ KVOY R KIARE’W YJRUO.”

VUVWY WVEFJU EVRPP YIURE

Puzzle Three Clue: Z equals Y

© 2023 NEA, Inc.

BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE by Aaron Rosenberg, edited by Jeff Chen

Photos by Brent Woronoff

FPC’s Emma Pezzulo has the highest girls average in the district, with a 233.13.

Seabreeze's Kara Beissel bowled a 212 against FPC.

REAL ESTATE

House on Riverside Drive is Ormond’s top sale

Ahouse in Riverside Park was the top real estate transaction for July 30 to Aug. 5 in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea. Carl Stanley Tews and Louvenia Tyler Tews, of Ormond Beach, sold 382 Riverside Drive to JDL Refresh Restore or Renovate LLC, of South Daytona, for $685,000. Built in 1969, the house is a 5/3 and has a pool, a fireplace and 2,068 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $100,000.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Condos

Robert Newton Jr. and Jane Newton, of Brandon, Wisconsin, sold 1275 Ocean Shore Blvd. Unit 4020, to Jason Edward Hitte and Caroline Ann Hitte, of Ormond Beach, for $495,000. Built in 1981, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,182 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $271,500.

Jayne Stones and Leigh Wayne Stones, of Gotha, sold 1926 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 3040, to Bryan David Clements and Amanda Lyn Clements, of Winter Garden, for $353,000. Built in 1974, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,165 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $190,500.

ORMOND BEACH

Daytona Shores Parks Pyle, Jr. and Cheryl Pyle, of Ormond Beach, sold 759 East River Oak Drive to James Ford and Laura Camoesas, of Ormond Beach, for $454,500. Built in 1976, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,620 square feet. It sold in 2014 for $135,100.

Lake Walden Villas Barbara Foster, of Ormond Beach, sold 210 Timberline Trail to 210 Timberline Trail, LLC, of Ormond Beach, for $230,000. Built in 1980, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,304 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $110,000.

Ormond Terrace

Erik Janssen, Michael Janssen, Edward Janssen and Karlene McConnell, of Ormond Beach, sold 263 Greenwood Ave. to Joshua and Erin Allred, of Ormond Beach, for $395,000. Built in 1973, the house is a 5/2 and has 2,338 square feet. It sold in 1975 for $46,400.

Plantation Bay

Gerald and Diane Henrick, as trustees, sold 1208 Sunningdale Lane to Julie Mingli Zhu, of Ormond Beach, for $465,000. Built in 2001, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 2,174 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $287,000.

Plantation Pines

Nicole Candice Selby and Jason Lee Perry, of Ormond Beach, sold 3715 Long Leaf Drive to Juan Carlos Bustamante Robles, of Ormond Beach, for $355,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/1 and has 1,680 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $278,000.

Rio Vista

Elizabeth Cheong Toon Coley and Taylor Coley, of Ormond Beach, sold 123 Seville Street to Josue Miguel Hitchman and Sarah Rodriguez Hitchman, of Ormond Beach, for $280,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,040 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $193,000.

Sherris

Michael and Patricia Burke, of Keystone Heights, sold 599 Andrews Street to Gregory and Mariela Cox, of Ormond Beach, for $436,900. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,815 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $164,000.

Southern Pines

Ronald Aubel, as trustee, sold 11 Cross Vine Drive to Robin Cecchini, of Ormond Beach, for $509,900. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,928 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $254,500.

Trails North Forty Constance Treloar, of Ormond Beach, sold 161 Deer Lake Circle to Judith Karges, of Ormond Beach, for $390,000. Built in 1985, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,099 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $200,000.

Louis Gargiulo, of Lakewood, New Jersey, sold 147 Deer Lake Circle to Nancie Pyne, of Ormond Beach, for $325,000. Built in 1985, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,119 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $166,000.

Tymber Crossings

Kobi Finley, of Ormond Beach, sold 54 Grey Dapple Way to Kurtis Stanley Heiret and Paula Jean Heiret, of Ormond Beach, for $409,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,962 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $420,000.

Woodlands Circle 5 Builders, LLC, of Ormond Beach, sold 20 Red Maple Circle to Robert James Bigwood and Elizabeth Kay Bigwood, of Ormond Beach, for $299,900. Built in 1978, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 1,825 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $120,000.

ORMOND BY THE SEA

Fairwinds Estates Frank and Corinne Lucania, of McKinney, Texas, sold 20 Julie Drive to M & S Properties Ormond, LLC, of Roswell, Georgia, for $660,000. Built in 1985, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool and 2,405 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $365,000.

Not in a subdivision Christopher Sampson, of Maitland, sold 51 Beechwood Drive to Lisa Anna Lee, of Tampa, for $331,400. Built in 1957, the house is a 2/1.5 and has 1,015 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $250,000.

Ocean Shores Steven Anthony Wilbon, of Ormond Beach, sold 60 River

Shore Drive to ELG Investments Group, LLC, of Ormond Beach, for $215,000. Built in 1954, the house is a 3/2 and has 998 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $162,000.

Megan Paige Smith, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, sold 10 River Shore Drive to Melinda Ables Hendren, of Sorrento, for $338,000. Built in 1956, the house is a 2/1 and has a fireplace and 1,149 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $300,000.

Albert and Patricia Sanders, of Ormond Beach, sold 1655 John Anderson Drive to Glenn and Deborah Loftain, of Ormond Beach, for $470,000. Built in 1971, the house is a 2/2 and has a fireplace, a pool, a hot tub and 2,041 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $270,000.

Ormond Beach Manors Lucy and Eric Minnix, of Wilmington, North Carolina, sold 219 Essex Drive to Melissa Turner, of Ormond Beach, for $450,000. Built in 1963, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,559 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $295,000.

Sunny Shores Breana and Joshua Akerberg, of Ormond Beach, sold 33 Tropical Drive to Vincent Tornelli, of Daytona Beach, for $290,000. Built in 1957, the house is a 2/1 and has 924 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $200,000.

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

Find your notices online at: ObserverLocalNews.com, FloridaPublicNotices.com and BusinessObserverFL.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

Mary Ann Murphy, Stanley Tavanese, Sr. and Waldtraut ChavezTavanese, Tommy D. and Barbara F. Tant, Eric Johannessen, Edith C. and Thomas M. Reilly, and Lake and Resort Properties, LLC. (Lake and Resort Properties, LLC subsequently transferred its property interest to Commercial Properties, LLC). The permit, numbered FL-479 AR, authorizes erection of an anchored sheetpile bulkhead and associated backfill of approximately 2,000 cubic yards between approximately 220 feet south and 305 feet north of the Department of Environmental Protection’s reference monument R-54 in Flagler County. The project address is 3295, 3299, 3303, 3309, 3311, 3319, 3323, 3335 and 3341 North Oceanshore Boulevard, Flagler Beach. The application is available for public inspection during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays, at Department of Environmental Regulation Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 3522, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400. The Department has received a petition for an administrative proceeding (hearing) on the Department’s issuance of the permit. The administrative hearing process is designed to formulate agency action. Accordingly, the Department’s final action may be different from the proposed agency action and may result in the issuance of a permit as requested by the applicants or as modified in the course of the proceeding or by settlement. The petition has been given DOAH Case Number 23-2785. The Department’s agency action in DOAH Case Number 23-2785 shall become final unless a timely petition for an administrative hearing is filed under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., before the deadline for filing a petition. The procedures for petitioning for a hearing are set forth below. A person whose substantial interests are affected by the Department’s agency action may petition for an administrative proceeding (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S. The petition must contain the information set forth below and must be filed (received) in the Office of General Counsel of the Department at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000. Petitions filed by any persons other than those entitled to written notice under Section 120.60(3), F.S. must be filed within twenty-one days of publication of the notice or receipt of the written notice, whichever occurs first. In addition to filing a copy of the petition with the Office of General Counsel as stated above, the petitioner shall mail a copy of the petition to the applicants at the time of filing. The applicants’ address is Akerman LLP, Attention Silvia Alderman, 201 E. Park Avenue, Suite 300, Tallahassee, FL 32301. The failure of any person to file a petition within the appropriate time period shall constitute a waiver of that

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

Additional Public Notices may be accessed on ObserverLocalNews.com and the statewide legal notice website, FloridaPublicNotices.com

FLAGLER COUNTY LEGAL NOTICES

person’s right to request an administrative determination (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., or to intervene in this proceeding and participate as a party to it. Any subsequent intervention (in a proceeding initiated by another party) will be only at the discretion of the presiding officer upon the filing of a motion in compliance with Rule 28-106.205, F.A.C.

A petition that disputes the material facts on which the Department’s action is based must contain the following information:

(a) The name and address of each agency affected and each agency’s file or identification number, if known;

(b) The name, address, any e-mail address, any facsimile number, and telephone number of the petitioner, if the petitioner is not represented by an attorney or a qualified representative; the name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner’s represen tative, if any, which shall be the address for service purposes during the course of the proceeding; and an explanation of how the petitioner’s substantial interests will be affected by the agency determination;

(c) A statement of when and how the petitioner received notice of the agency decision;

(d) A statement of all disputed issues of material fact. If there are none, the petition must so indicate;

(e) A concise statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including the specific facts the petitioner contends warrant reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action;

(f) A statement of the specific rules or statutes the petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action, including an explanation of how the al leged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes; and

(g) A statement of the relief sought by the petitioner, stating precisely the action petitioner wishes the agency to take with respect to the agency’s proposed action. A petition that does not dispute the material facts on which the Department’s action is based shall state that no such facts are in dispute and otherwise shall contain the same information as set forth above, as required by Rule 28106.301, F.A.C. Because the administrative hearing process is designed to formulate final agency action, the filing of a petition means that the Department’s final action may be different from the position taken by it in this notice. Persons whose substantial interests will be affected by any such final decision of the Department have the right to petition to become a party to the proceeding, in accordance with the requirements set forth above. Mediation is not available in this proceeding. Persons seeking to protect their substantial interests that would be affected by such a modified final decision

must file their petitions within twenty-one days of publication of this notice, or they shall be deemed to have waived their right to a proceeding under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S. Any party to a final order has the right to seek judicial review of it under Section 120.68, F.S., by filing a notice of appeal under rule 9.110 of the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure with the clerk of the Department in the Office of General Counsel, Mail Station 35, 3900

Commonwealth Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, and by filing a copy of the notice of appeal accompanied by the applicable filing fees with the appropriate district court of appeal. The notice of appeal must be filed within thirty days after a final order is filed with the clerk of the Department. September 14, 2023 23-00226F

DISTRICT

FIRST INSERTION

District Manager

September 14, 2023

27, 2023

11, 2023

2024

Manager

21,

23-00228F

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2023 CA 000540 LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC,

Plaintiff, vs. MELISSA C. ROCKWOOD AND JOHN PARAGIOS, et al.

Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated August 2, 2023, and entered in 2023 CA 000540 of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH Judicial Circuit in and for Flagler County, Florida, wherein LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC is the Plaintiff and MELISSA C. ROCKWOOD; JOHN PARAGIOS; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; ENERBANK USA; GULF STATES CONTRACTOR SERVICES, INC. are the Defendant(s). TOM W. BEXLEY as the Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at https:// flagler.realforeclose.com, at 11:00 AM, on October 06, 2023, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 9, BLOCK 89, SUBDIVISION PLAT ROYAL PALMS - SECTION-32 PALM COAST, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 10, PAGE 54 THROUGH 66, INCLUSIVE, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS

OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA. Property Address: 6 ROBIN HOOD LN, 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 in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 45.031. IMPORTANT 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 11 day of September, 2023. 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\Danielle Salem Danielle Salem, Esquire Florida Bar No. 0058248 Communication Email: dsalem@raslg.com 23-107206 - NaC September 14, 21, 2023 23-00149G FIRST INSERTION

public and will be conducted

accordance with the provision of Florida Law for Community Development Districts. The meetings may be continued to a date, time, and place to

23-00227F