PCO 05 07 20

PALM COAST

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 11, NO. 14

FREE • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Feeding our neighbors Feed Palm Coast crosses $100,000, gives away food to 3,500 cars in historic day of service. PAGE 3

Graduating in style Flagler’s 2020 graduation will be held at Daytona International Speedway.

PAGE 5 INSIDE SAFETY PLEDGE County creates safety pledge program for businesses. PAGE 2

MORE OPTIONS

County looks at new options for Sheriff’s Operations Center, library branch location. PAGE 2

NO CHAMBER?

Flagler Chamber board recommends dissolution, after revenue streams dry up. PAGE 7

Back to work?

Most child care centers closed due to the pandemic. How many will never reopen? The next few weeks will reveal the future of one of the economy’s most critical support systems.

PAGE 12

INCOME REPORT

United Way’s ALICE report reveals record high of income-constrained families in Volusia and Flagler. PAGE 10

Journi Rome, 5, at Ity Bity Learning Center, which has remained open throughout the pandemic.

Photo by Brian McMillan

ADAMS RETIRES

Palm Coast Utility Director Richard Adams retires after almost 43 years.

PAGE 11

COST INCREASE?

School Board challenges proposed 5% cost increase for school resource deputy contract PAGE 5

Sharon Crunkleton, the one-woman assembly line

1,200 face masks and counting

BRIAN MCMILLAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

With her background in manufacturing teddy bears, Sharon Crunkleton thought it would be a cinch to make cloth face masks to help fight the spread of COVID-19. Using a Bernina serger that was at least 40 years old, and a commercial Singer sewing machine that’s likely twice that old, she got to work, in her Palm Coast home.

She counted up her masks after

INDEX

Briefs..................... PAGE 8 Business...............PAGE 12 Letters................... PAGE 6 Real Estate...........PAGE 16 Your Town.............PAGE 14 Photo by Brian McMillan

SEE PALM COAST PAGE 15

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PALM COAST OBSERVER

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PalmCoastObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

‘Pledge to Prevent’ can help businesses stand out County looks at new options for Sheriff’s Ops Center, library Businesses that commit to a set of health guidelines will receive from Flagler County a certificate to display for customers, and cloth masks for their employees.

JONATHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

Businesses hoping to reassure potential customers that they’re doing what they can to reopen responsibly may get some help from the county: A new program will award businesses with a certificate to display for customers if they agree to follow a set of recommended health and sanitation guidelines.

For businesses that sign the “Pledge to Prevent� program, the county will also provide masks for

“People will want to travel to less populated areas, and that’s in our benefit.�

AMY LUKASIK, Flagler County tourism director

their employees, Flagler County Tourism Director Amy Lukasik said during a County Commission meeting May 4.

Her announcement coincided with the start of national travel and tourism week — an occasion for which, she said, she’d normally be requesting a proclamation by the County Commission.

Instead, she gave a report on how COVID-19 has damaged that sector of the economy.

The numbers were stark, if not unexpected given travel restrictions: Hotel occupancy in Florida is down 75% for the past six weeks compared with the same six weeks of 2019, for an average loss per week of $345 million statewide.

About 20% of the state’s sales tax revenue comes from tourists, and 79% of the state’s general revenue fund comes from sales tax, she said.

H

In Flagler County, information provided by lodging establishments indicated that occupancy is down 80%-90%, she said.

About 13.8% of Flagler County jobs are supported by tourism.

But, she said, the county does have something going for it when it comes to reopening. “We’re fortunate, because people will want to travel to less populated areas, and that’s in our benefit,� she said. “We want to stay top of mind for them, because everyone in the state is going to be competing tactically for the same people.�

Flagler County is using the internet and social media to keep the county in tourists’ minds through a “Visit Flagler at Home� promotion.

A Marineland Virtual Field Trip posted on YouTube received more than 40,000 views, and a “Boredom Buster� Facebook and Instagram post garnered 7,700 engagements, she said.

For more information, go to https://www.visitflagler.com and www.flaglersupports.biz.

Commissioner David Sullivan wants county to make a decision.

JONATHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

In April, Flagler County commissioners decided that the county would build a new Sheriff’s Operations Center near the county’s Government Services complex on State Road 100 in Bunnell, next to a planned new county library branch.

During a commission meeting May 4, commissioners discussed two new options.

County Administrator Jerry Cameron said the county might be able to acquire a parcel of land near the First Baptist Church, across from the initial planned site off Commerce Boulevard, allowing the county to place the Sheriff’s Office building and the library building on facing par-

cels, rather than together on one parcel. A deal with the church to acquire the land, Cameron said, is “about 60% probable.�

That would solve a problem: Although placing both structures on one parcel would be possible, engineering staff had informed the county administration, it would limit the ability of either one to expand in the future. “If the site across the street were to become available ... it would make a lot of sense to pick up that property and split the two,� Cameron said.

Sheriff Rick Staly said during the meeting that he preferred the two buildings to be placed separately, if the parcel near the church becomes available. “Can you do it on one property?

Yes,� Staly said. “But you’re going leave some headaches for commissioners and sheriffs that follow you 10, 15, 20 years from now.�

County Commission ChairSEE SHERIFF’S PAGE 6

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PalmCoastObserver.com

|

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

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FACE MASKS DONATED

FEEDING PALM COAST Feed Palm Coast crosses $100,000 threshold, gives away food to 3,500 cars.

TYLER JARNAGIN COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, CITY OF PALM COAST

A

fter two weeks of planning and fundraising, the Mayor’s Feed Palm Coast Initiative culminated in a day to remember for the Palm Coast community.

By day’s end, all 10,000 boxes containing food for families were given away at the two distribution locations: Palm Coast City Hall and Parkview Church.

More than 3,500 combined cars passed through the two distribution lines, many containing more than one family. They were greeted under clear blue skies by hundreds of volunteers from faith-based organizations, such as Parkview Church, and staff from the city of Palm Coast, city of Bunnell and Flagler County.

Additionally, cumulative financial donations to the Mayor’s Feed Palm Coast Initiative surpassed $100,000 on Saturday. The city originally set a goal to raise $10,000 for Feed Palm Coast and promptly blew past it within 24 hours. New goals of $15,000, $30,000, $50,000 and $75,000 were similarly exceeded in short order.

Among the contributions was $18,035 from Hammock Dunes residents, delivered by HOA President Ralph Dumke May 1.

All funds will continue to be used to purchase more food for the community.

“This has been an extraordinary day of giving and kindness,” said Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland, who spent the day providing food to residents at the City Hall location. “I am inspired by the overwhelming support this cause has received from so many different directions. I truly feel

ONE WOMAN’S EXPERIENCE Mayor Milissa Holland received an email from one Palm Coast family of seven who drove to City Hall to receive food on May 2. The mother of the family explained how she and her husband were expecting to sit in line for hours; instead, she was amazed at how smooth the experience was.

“We were greeted by traffic directors and volunteers with kindness and smiles,” the mother wrote. “We drove right in and were pulling out to head back home at 9:42 a.m.! In total awe, I held back a full on cry.”

Courtesy photos

“This has been an extraordinary day of giving and kindness.”

MILISSA HOLLAND, Palm Coast mayor

lucky to live in and represent such a caring community.”

Parkview Pastor Greg Peters was influential in organizing and providing the volunteers for both locations.

“Today’s event was a one-two punch for families needing food,” said Peters, who led efforts at the Parkview Church location on Saturday. “We believe they came for food and also found hope and joy. From donors to volunteers, we were able to share our five loaves and two fish to feed thousands.

This is what it looks like to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

I am so thankful for our mayor’s leadership and our community’s response. This was a huge win in the midst of a tough season.”

All volunteers were fed for free by the generosity of Denise Duffy, who owns and operates the Bruster’s Real Ice Cream and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs franchises located in Palm Coast.

They received hotdogs, ice cream, chips and water.

“It’s been such a wonderful day seeing our community come together,” said Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson, who spent hours under the Florida sun greeting residents and providing food.

“To see the need and then help fulfill the need has been gratifying to all of us. We’re coming together for a worthy cause, and it truly humbles my heart to be a part of it.”

“In more than two decades of governmental work, I have never seen an event like this planned and executed to this scale,” said Palm Coast City Manager Matthew Morton. “It’s incredibly gratifying to see this humanitarian vision become a reality and know that we have the resources and infrastructure to rise up for our community in these unprecedented circumstances.”

Brian and Jacki Unger are used to planning ahead for their community. They are Palm Coast residents and members of AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation’s 20/20 Society, whose 100 members pledged to donate $1,000 over 10 years to raise $1 million, which will assist in advancing the health care available within Flagler County by the year 2020.

Over a month ago, the Ungers anticipated the need for masks in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and purchased thousands of KN95 masks for AdventHealth Palm Coast with the hope that they would be used by the community one day — and they were. The masks were given to volunteers at the Feed Palm Coast Initiative on May 2.

AdventHealth Palm Coast representatives and the Ungers visited City Hall on April 28 to deliver 5,000 KN95 masks for Feed Palm Coast.

“I can’t thank Jacki and Brian enough for their generous donation,” said Dr. Ron Jimenez, CEO of AdventHealth Palm Coast. “Being able to ‘pay this gift forward’ and pass out directly to our residents through the Mayor’s Feed Palm Coast Initiative really worked out well for everyone.

Thank you to the Ungers and the city of Palm Coast.”

“The Ungers have continuously shown how deeply they care about the health and well-being of this community,” said Mayor Milissa Holland. “I am extremely grateful to them and AdventHealth for continuing to provide the highest level of care for our community, even beyond the walls of the hospital.”

BY THE NUMBERS

10,000 BOXES OF FOOD

3,500

CARS SERVED, MANY INCLUDING MORE THAN ONE FAMILY

$10,000

INITIAL GOAL FOR FUNDRAISING

$100,000 ACTUAL AMOUNT RAISED

PALM COAST OBSERVER

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PalmCoastObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

JONATHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

BY THE NUMBERS as of May 5

Image courtesy of the city of Palm Coast

Mayor Milissa Holland and Fire Chief Jerry Forte speak during a May 5 council meeting.

37,439

COVID-19 cases in Florida

141

COVID-19 cases in Flagler County

4

COVID-19 related deaths in Flagler County

17

COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Flagler County

521

COVID-19 cases in Volusia County

27

COVID-19 related deaths in Volusia County

92

COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Volusia County

As the Palm Coast community begins to reopen, people should not become complacent to COVID-19’s dangers, Palm Coast Fire Chief Jerry Forte said during a May 5 City Council meeting — especially if they’re a member of a vulnerable population or live with someone who is — and businesses should take measures like temperature checks to prevent employees from spreading the virus.

“Anybody who is over the age of 65 or has a serious underlying condition should continue to stay home,” and should practice social distancing if they need to leave the house, he said.

And, he added, “Those living with vulnerable individuals should beware of the exposure risk — that they could carry the virus back home after returning from work.”

Members of populations vulnerable to the disease should also inform employers so that employers can plan for protections, and should inform anyone coming over to their home to perform repairs or other work, Forte said.

In this first phase of the reopening process, Forte said, summarizing orders from the state, employers should continue to encourage workers to work

remotely when possible; bars, nightclubs and movie theaters should remain closed; restaurants should operate at no more than 25% capacity; travel should still be avoided; gatherings should be limited to no more than 10 people; and people should maximize their distance from others, especially in closed environments.

“All employers should screen employees before entering the premises for symptoms of COVID or flu-like symptoms,” he said. “Where practical, the temperature of each employee should be taken.”

“I encourage people to enjoy the beauty of our parks and trails in Palm Coast ... but please observe all the guidelines that are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. ”

City helps distribute masks The city of Palm Coast is trying to get masks to local businesses and help restaurants temporarily increase their outdoor seating to help keep guests at least 6 feet apart from one another, Palm Coast Fire Department Capt. Tom Ascone said during a May 5 City Council meeting.

The city has been accepting donations of masks and redistributing them to big box stores and restaurants that are doing delivery.

The city also distributed 5,000 masks during the May 2 Feed Palm Coast event, Mayor Milissa Holland said.

City staff members are wearing face masks in public — especially when it’s hard to be 6 feet away from other people — and the city is taking employees’ temperatures when they come to work, Ascone said.

Holland said she believed the city’s number of COVID-19 cases has stayed low because residents have been heeding advice to stay home.

“I know we have some fatigue going on with our residents that are looking to get out, and get out quickly,” Holland said. “Understand that Palm Coast residents still fall in with a majority of population at high risk. ... It’s been a tremendous effort by all to get to this point. We want to continue to ask our residents to be patient, be diligent, continue to do their part.”

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PalmCoastObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

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5

District opposes increased cost for deputies Graduation 2020 to be The school district has a set amount of school safety funding from the state, and the FCSO’s proposal exceeds it.

JONATHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

When the School Board began to discuss a proposed contract with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office during a May 5 board workshop, the conversation followed a presentation about the district’s financials in light of COVID-19.

The district might face a 30% reduction in state funding in the coming year, district Finance Director Patricia Wormeck said — “a very, very drastic cut.” So when district Risk Manager and Safety Specialist David Bossardet and FCSO Chief Mark Strobridge presented a proposed contract between the district and the Sheriff’s Office that would involve the district paying 5% more this coming year for school resource deputies, there was immediate pushback from board members.

“I’m concerned about the increase,” board member Colleen Conklin said. “We have a specific allocation under Safe Schools,” she said, referring to the state program to fund school safety initiatives.

For Flagler Schools, that allocation is about $833,000 and is intended to provide for not only law enforcement coverage, but initiatives like facilities hardening and mental health care support.

The proposed FCSO contract, not including overtime, is $851,489, and doesn’t include any substantial changes from the current year in terms of coverage or staffing.

“I just think to be financially responsible, we need to say, ‘This is what our allocation is; what can you make work for the dollars that we are being allocated from the state?’” Conklin said. “My fear is that our world is about to be rocked over the next two years, financially.”

At minimum, she suggested, the board should have a conversation about eliminating district payments for deputies’ overtime in cases where the overtime was not requested by the district, but was necessitated due to FCSO training or scheduling issues.

“That really is kind of out of our purview, if they’re being pulled to have other duties or pulled to do training,” she said.

Board Chairwoman Janet McDonald asked about the possibility of starting to use school “guardians” — not regular law enforcement officers, but school staff members armed and trained to react in the event of an incident like a shooting.

“This may be the time we talk about going to a blended model,” she said, with guardians being trained by the Sheriff’s Office.

Board member Trevor Tucker said he doubted the district would have time before the upcoming school year begins to send staff members through the training required by the state for armed school guardians.

“I think that has to be a longer conversation, maybe over a year,”

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“My fear is that our world is about to be rocked over the next two years, financially.”

at Daytona Speedway Graduates will drive across the finish line this year.

JONATHAN SIMMONS

COLLEEN CONKLIN, Flagler County School Board member

he said. For now, he said, “If we can just get a little bit of flexibility on that overtime, that would maybe help us out.”

Board members Andy Dance and Maria Barbosa said they agreed about the overtime.

Strobridge noted that the school district is paying 100% of the cost of its school crossing guards — positions now provided through the FCSO which could instead be brought in-house.

The proposed contract includes $103,327 for nine crossing guards.

But if the district decides to hire its own school crossing guards, Board Attorney Kristy Gavin said, it would have to have them trained and may not have time to do that before the school year begins.

Strobridge said the FCSO could look at a flat cost for deputy overtime, rather than having the district pay time and a half, as it has been doing.

McDonald said school resource deputies are an important part of the school district’s culture.

“I’m hoping the pencils can get a little more sharpened, and we can come up with a workable agreement,” she said.

Email Jonathan Simmons at jonathan@palmcoastobserver. com.

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The metaphorical finish line will become a literal one for Flagler County’s 2020 graduates, who will be able to take a victory lap at the Daytona International Speedway at their graduation ceremonies May 31.

With COVID-19 rendering a traditional walk-across-thestage graduation impossible, the district convened a Graduation Committee of students and staff to come up with something both celebratory and social-distance-friendly for this year. Their solution: The new grads will drive a victory lap around the speedway’s track and be handed their diplomas as they cross the start/ finish line.

“Never did we think, getting our group together, that a Speedway historical graduation was even an idea,” said Hunter Perez, the student School Board member representing Matanzas High School, during a May 5 Flagler County School Board workshop.

He thanked district staff for helping plan the event. “They took something that we thought was going to be impossible and made it possible,” he said.

Shelcey Garcia, the student School Board member representing Flagler Palm Coast High School, said she was hearing from students in other districts who won’t be getting in-person grad-

uation ceremonies at all. She was thankful that Flagler has come up with something special.

“The FPC Class of 2020 will be remembered as those who persevered and created hope out of a time where we felt hopeless,” Garcia said in a district news release. “For our class to be able to go out on such a high note at such an amazing venue is so exciting.”

Ceremonies at the speedway will be held on May 31 for both local high schools. Matanzas High School’s ceremony will begin at 11 a.m., and Flagler Palm Coast High School’s will begin at 4 p.m.

The ceremonies will be simulcast by radio inside the speedway and also live-streamed at FlaglerSchools.com, according to the news release.

“The FPC Class of 2020 will be remembered as those who persevered and created hope out of a time where we felt hopeless. For our class to be able to go out on such a high note at such an amazing venue is so exciting.”

SHELCEY GARCIA, Flagler County School Board student member

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MY VIEW

6

PALM COAST OBSERVER

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My approach to the city’s budget amid the COVID-19 crisis City’s contribution to MEDNEX should be on hold. No tax rate increase. Needs vs. wants. Voluntary pay cuts for top earners.

JACK HOWELL CITY COUNCILMAN

When I was seeking to become a member of the Palm Coast City Council, I ran on a position to lower the tax rate. That is still my major goal. As a former senior Marine Corps officer, I am used to making difficult decisions in times of crisis. Some of these decisions made the difference between life and death.

Last year, I attended a class at Harvard University titled Leadership in Crisis. Today, the nation is in crisis, and much

L ETTERS

PalmCoastObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Wittkowski shouldn’t be cited uncritically Dear Editor: A recent letter on the pandemic quotes a Dr. Wittkowski advice on the virus as something we should be following.

It is interesting to note that the doctor’s own company is engaged in, you guessed it, developing treatments for viruses.

Aside from the fact that his advice runs counter to what

of what I learned at Harvard has validity in the handling of today’s crisis. I challenge my fellow council members to follow my lead as I offer my position and observations to ease some of the financial burdens upon my fellow citizens of Palm Coast.

For the last two months, the COVID-19 virus has wreaked havoc on our health and severely damaged our economy. Many of our citizens lost their jobs. They did not have the personal finances to carry them through this pandemic.

While the city of Palm Coast administration took appropriate steps in waiving certain late fees and restrained from turning residential water service off, this policy will soon end as the city gets back to the day to day business. One of my major concerns is the loss of tax revenue generated by the business community that serves us.

How are we going to make up this lost revenue?

On May 4, Phase I of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recovery plan began. While this is a good thing for some in the workforce, it won’t be enough to other experts in the field recommend, it should be noted that one of his theories is to expose children to the virus so that they can build up antibodies that can then be used to treat others.

This is supposed to build up “herd immunity,” a concept that was touted in Sweden and has resulted in an escalating death count in that country.

It hasn’t worked so well in California either, where quarantine has actually helped to

make up lost revenue for the city. So, the question, “Where do we go from here?” is appropriate to ask.

The city manager has issued guidelines to reduce and align current city spending through the end of this fiscal year. I concur with these actions.

Simply because things were budgeted last year does not mean we have to go forward with the spending on these items. I believe in accountability as to the justification for these proposed purchases.

Our city directors must justify, to me and my colleagues on the City Council, the urgency and need for these purchases in this fiscal year.

Further, I believe additional savings can be reached by changing the current policy to replace city-owned vehicles not when they reach 100,000 miles but instead replace them at 125,000 miles.

Some of you may remember that the city put aside $1.5 million for the MedNex program in hopes that the state Legislature would provide the additional funds for the project. I want the MedNex project to be control the spread of the virus.

So, who out there is going to volunteer their children for this experiment?

One of Wittkowski’s other pronouncements is that China and South Korea are not reporting any new cases, which is factually proven to be wrong.

It is understandable to look for answers in a situation like this crisis, but with 60,000+ Americans dead we need to be careful about listening to those

placed on the back burner and the $1.5 million returned to the city and placed in the general fund unencumbered!

Our citizens are hurting financially. Many don’t have any idea when they will receive their stimulus check from the federal government. And, the state of Florida’s unemployment system is broken, so that further adds to the misery of those in need. Therefore, I will not vote for any property tax rate increases.

This is a vital step in the slow economic recovery for our citizens. It is also important that as the city puts together a budget for the next fiscal year, each line item is carefully scrutinized. The old “want” and “need” test should be the justification used for all purchases going forward.

Finally, I think that city and charter employees making above $100,000 a year take a voluntary 10% pay cut. I am willing to give up my city council salary for the rest of the calendar year. I challenge my fellow City Council members to do the same.

PALM COAST

Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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Sheriff’s Operations Center, library branch location debated man David Sullivan asked about another possibility — demolishing the old Sheriff’s Operations Center building on S.R. 100, which has been evacuated since June 2018 due to mold, and using the land there for the library or a new Sheriff’s Operations Center.

“If we tore the old Sheriff’s Operations building down, theoretically you could put a library or a new Sheriff’s Operations Center there, provided you took the

concrete base and everything out — and it is land we own and it does front directly onto Route 100,” Sullivan said. “If we take out the cost of demolition, since that’s already been approved, could you make a case for, say, putting the library there if it was costeffective and we couldn’t get the church property?” he asked.

That would be possible, Cameron replied.

Demolition of the old Sheriff’s Operations Center, Cameron said, would cost about $250,000,

and buying the property near the church would likely not exceed that, “So that’s pretty much a financial wash there,” he said.

However, he said, the location would require environmental assessments, which could uncover problems that would delay construction.

“That would be out there, and there would be an element of uncertainty if we decided to go down that path,” Cameron said.

“It could work out fine, and it may be problematic.”

Sullivan said he’d like the board to come to a decision soon — ideally at the board’s next meeting in May. “The Sheriff’s Operations Center is one of the most public problems that our staff has faced,” he said. “I’m concerned that we never seem to get to a final, final decision on a lot of this, and it’s understandable. But I’m just concerned time is going by, and final decisions need to be made.”

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Goodbye, Flagler Chamber?

Board recommends dissolution, as COVID-19 hits chamber finances.

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BRIAN McMILLAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

The Board of Directors voted on April 30 to recommend dissolution of the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce, which has served the business community since 1962. The membership will now be asked to vote on the dissolution, as signs continue to point to a devastating economic impact of COVID-19.

Aimee Stafford said in an April 30 phone interview with the Palm Coast Observer that when she was hired as president in the beginning of 2020, she knew she would have to downsize. But the state chamber now forecasts a reduction of 20%-30% in membership, and she believes Flagler County’s chamber is likely to be even harder hit because of our high percentage of small businesses.

In addition to membership dues, advertising and events made up the other two sources of funding for the chamber, and those are dried up due to COVID-19.

“We couldn’t have got hit any worse,” said volunteer Chairman Mark Langello.

Both Langello and Stafford agreed that neither continuing operations nor bankruptcy is a responsible option; they expect that the membership will agree with the board’s recommendation to dissolve.

LEGACY OF THE CHAMBER

Langello praised some of the previous chamber presidents: Dick Morris, Doug Baxter, Rebecca DeLorenzo, Heather Edwards.

“The chamber was one resource that helped the community, and I really believe it will be replaced,” Langello said. “Communities like this deserve a chamber.”

Donald O’Brien, who is a Flagler County commissioner and was chairman of the chamber two times, was saddened by the news.

“Every community needs a chamber, I believe,” O’Brien said.

“And I think it’ll come back in a new format at some point. But I certainly understand the board’s decision, given what I know about their financials.”

Among the problems the chamber faced was its own identity.

“I don’t think there’s been a clear path or direction about what the chamber wanted to do, what its role was,” O’Brien said.

IT’S TIME TO START EXPLORING THE

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT? Chamber President Aimee Stafford, who worked for the state chamber in Kentucky prior to moving to the area, said that whatever does eventually take the place of the Flagler Chamber will need more support from local governments.

“There are many chambers, including many in surrounding communities, that have great support from their local governments,” Stafford said. “That is not true here. That makes it even more difficult to overcome these obstacles.”

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Langello, who was given a plaque in 2006 as the chamber’s 1,000th member, said the chamber is already exploring opportunities with neighboring chambers and other organizations to help businesses in need.

He is hopeful that whatever does fill the void left by the chamber will be better. Similarly, other organizations will be assessing their missions and improving, in response to COVID-19’s impact.

“You might see more specialized organization — smaller, leaner, more dedicated to a certain aspect of the business community — and that’s fine, too, and they may be healthier,” he said.

In the meantime, O’Brien said, businesses can find support through the Flagler County Department of Economic Opportunity and the city of Palm Coast, as well as through other organization, including the Flagler Home Builders Association and the Flagler County Association of Realtors.

“Every time something ends, something new begins,” Langello said. “The disappointment, the nostalgia gets washed away when the new thing comes around, and it ends up being a better thing anyway. I’m sure the new thing will be better than what we’re experiencing, because it’ll be able to adapt and be what it needs to be without the legacy of the old model.”

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

BRIEFS Teen and mother Michael Schottey, nabbed in drug bust entrepreneur and former city After receiving tips about drug activity at a house on Seven Won- spokesman, files to ders Trail in Palm Coast, deputies run for mayor Michael Schottey, owner of Nova Digital Marketing and Consulting and formerly the city of Palm Coast’s communications officer, has filed to run for mayor of Palm Coast. Schottey is also vice president of the board of Mad Dogs Flag Football of Palm Coast.

“I love Palm Coast,” Schottey said in a news release issued May 1. “That love for this city led me to want to make this city an even better place than it is today.”

In the May 1 press release, Schottey listed five priorities: first responders; business friendliness; better partnerships with the county, other municipalities and other stakeholders; mental health and community health; and responsible development.

“As citizens, we should be able to trust our leaders and truly believe that everything they do is in our best interest,” Schottey said in a video posted on his Facebook page. “... I also believe that leadership should actually lead, responding to the needs of all citizens, not just reacting to the loudest voices in the room or to the power brokers who know which levels to pull.”

Schottey has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts studies from Martin Luther College and is pursuing a master’s of public administration at Park University, according to a profile posted on his campaign webpage, http:// www.schottey2020.com.

Hospital officials said they believe it is a safe time to reopen.

JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

With phase 1 of the governor’s plan to reopen Florida having started on Monday, May 4, AdventHealth announced the measures it will take to keep its staff, patients and visitors safe moving forward.

These include COVID-19 testing for all health care workers and patients in the hospital, as well as ensuring everyone wears a mask at all times, said Daryl Tol, president and CEO of AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division, during a virtual press conference on Thursday, April 30. AdventHealth will also allow inpatients one visitor, and staff will be practicing and encouraging social distancing by the use of wall signs and chair covers, a measure which will extend to doctors’ offices.

Tol said the hospital believes it is a safe time to reopen, and, keeping with the governor’s theme of facts versus fear in his April 29 announcement, Tol said action is the best antidote to fear.

“We weren’t wrong as a society saying this could be really bad,” Tol said. “It has been really bad in some places, but the actions of our leaders and the actions you’ve taken have made it better.”

Other safety measures that AdventHealth will implement include deep cleanings in the hospital and encouraging the use of telehealth services. People with

WERE THE MODELS WRONG? In response a question regarding Gov. Ron DeSantis’ approach at his news conference where he criticized that COVID-19 projections reported were much higher than what the state actually experienced, Tol said that is how models worked.

The best models, he explained, have a series of projections based on observations of other areas. When you add realtime data to those models, they shift.

“The fact that they shift is because they’re smart, not be-

doctor’s appointments in outpatient facilities may also be able to check in online and wait in their vehicles until their room is available, Tol said.

Dr. Neil Finkler, chief medical officer of acute care services, said AdventHealth has tested over 51,000 people for COVID-19.

The reason for testing all staff and patients is to identify possible asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19, which are occurring in 1%-2% of the population.

As long as that percentage of asymptomatic carriers remains, wearing masks will still be necessary. Additionally, should an asymptomatic patient test positive for COVID-19, the hospital will be able to cohort them in a unit prepared to adequately meet their needs, Finkler said.

Another reason for testing is that, now that the governor is

cause they’re wrong,” Tol said.

“If they didn’t shift, it would be a major flaw in the model.”

What causes that shift? Tol said it was human action and leadership.

From a clinical standpoint, Finkler said the hospital system needed to be prepared for scenarios where they could have needed twice the number of ICU beds.

“Fortunately, we didn’t have to utilize or activate these plans, but we certainly were prepared,” Finkler said.

allowing elective surgeries to resume, several studies have shown patients with COVID-19 have an increased mortality rate post-procedure of 20%-40%.

“I think that we would all agree that is absolutely unacceptable and nowhere near what that mortality should be,” Finkler said. “So this is really for the safety of our patients as well as for the safety of our staff.”

Regarding hospital revenue, Tol said that AdventHealth is expecting a significant loss since there were no layoffs or furloughs. All in all, Tol said it was the right decision. He thanked the community for its support in the last few weeks.

“The outpouring of support has been incredible,” he said. “It’s something our whole team gets emotional about.”

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executed a search warrant there April 30 and arrested a 16-yearold boy and his mother.

In the home, deputies from the Special Investigations Unit and Problem Area Crime Enforcement Unit found approximately 324 grams of cannabis, plus oxycodone pills, drug paraphernalia and a $100 counterfeit bill, according to an FCSO arrest report.

The teen said that the drugs were his and that he’d been selling them, and both he and his mother, 41-year-old Melissa Smith, admitted that Smith had hidden a bag of drugs when deputies arrived, according to the news release.

Deputies seized $4,080 in drug sales for forfeiture, according to the news release.

“I hope the courts hold them both accountable, since they are already both on probation and obviously haven’t learned anything,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in the news release.

The teen’s arrest history includes charges of grand theft of a firearm and grand theft of a motor vehicle. He’s been on probation since Aug. 8, 2019, for unlawful possession of a firearm.

Smith, who is on probation for a 2016 charge of dealing in stolen property, was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence, probation violation, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and multiple drug charges.

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Q + A WITH COURTNEY EDGCOMB, PRESIDENT OF UNITED WAY

ALICE report reveals record high of income-constrained families JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Courtney Edgecomb

ably in our communities. That gap is right where ALICE sits.

We’re finding out that a third of our populations in both Volusia and Flagler County fall right within that gap, and so we need to be there to support one out of three people.

Q: The data showed 33% of Volusia households are ALICE, and in Flagler, 30%. What are some ways the pandemic could be affecting these families?

A: You know how a lot of companies were saying if you feel sick, if you’re running a fever, you’re not supposed to come into the office?

Well, if those companies are not offering paid sick leave, then those are hours that people are not able to work and they’re not going to get paid for. It automatically creates a gap in their budget every month.

Additionally, you have to think that there’s got to be families with an increased energy cost in their home. If you’re not going into the office, but you’re working from home, your electric bill will prob-

Q: Why is this data analysis so important?

A: Community groups use the ALICE report to better understand the gap between where federal resources will support families if they fall below federal poverty guidelines, and what it actually takes to live sustain-

Q: The ALICE Essentials Index is a new measurement in this report. What does this tell us?

A: It talks about the mismatch between wages and the cost of basic needs, and what I thought was really interesting is that the cost of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care and a smartphone plan — those things rose at nearly twice the rate of inflation. So all of those pieces, which would be hard to think about how you could do your job or live your life without any of those aspects, the cost of those runs about 3.4% annually over the past decade, versus 1.8% which was the rate of inflation.

People who fall within the ALICE population, their wages have remained stagnant. So they haven’t been able to make up any of that gap. Their expenses have just increased.

Q: What is the household cost that puts the most strain on ALICE families?

A: Housing, for sure. Our ALICE

household survival budget for a family of four in Volusia County is $955 a month, so you’re thinking that’s maybe a two-bedroom or a three-bedroom house or apartment — no.

It’s so hard to find affordable and attainable housing for families because the problem doesn’t just start with what the rent is per month. If you have to have a first, last and security [deposit], but you’re not making enough to save.

I don’t know how you’ll be able to come up with $3,000 just to get into a house, or into an apartment before you can even start paying your monthly rent.

AT A GLANCE

Q: How should the findings in the report be used to help these families?

A: The first thing is to give.

There are lots of organizations that are supporting ALICE families. They’re providing subsidized child care, rent assistance if someone were to fall in hard times; they’re providing health programs for those kids, mentoring opportunities for some of those families, financial education classes. That’s how we do our grant funding every two years, is based on how these programs are helping ALICE families.

Second thing is to advocate.

We’ve been doing a lot of work with state and federal legislation.

And the last thing is to volunteer.

n Median household income is $58,963, which is over the state’s average of $55,462. n ALICE households make up 30% of the total households, below the state’s average of 33%.

There are about 12,544 ALICE households. n 10% of households are in poverty, which is under the state’s average of 13%. There are 4,239 households in poverty. n 33% of ALICE households are families with children, another 33% are single and cohabitating and 28% are 65 and over.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused 30 million Americans to file for unemployment, creating the perfect climate to expose the hardships faced by those who live paycheck-to-paycheck, said Courtney Edgcomb president of United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties.

On Monday, May 4, United Way released its ALICE Report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), which found that when the pandemic impacted Volusia and Flagler County, over 119,000 households were one emergency away from financial ruin, according to a press release.

The report, released every two years, revealed a 10-year record high of these ALICE families.

Calls to United Way’s 211 First Call for Help hotline increased by 200% since the middle of March, finding families in need who never needed services in the past, Edgcomb said.

In this Q+A, Edgcomb explains why the ALICE report matters:

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The child care, I think, is probably one of the biggest pieces because when you’re thinking about a family that might utilize Early Learning Coalition’s resources for subsidized child care, but a lot of their centers have either been shut down or reduced capacity. Are they able to find child care?

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

“His steady, measured and responsible voice was always so reassuring and will be missed, but his legacy and the foundation he has built here will be forever remembered and appreciated.”

MILISSA HOLLAND, Palm Coast mayor

Photo courtesy of the city of Palm Coast

Richard Adams, left, at a Nov. 19, 2019 City Council meeting.

‘It’s been an exciting and rewarding career’ Palm Coast Utility Director Richard Adams retires after almost 43 years of service.

KIMBERLY NORMAN PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATE, CITY OF PALM COAST

In 1977, Palm Coast was a rural landscape of woods, some houses and a small population. Jimmy Carter was president. Fleetwood Mac’s popular album “Rumours” was released. The first “Star Wars” movie hit theaters. Cell phones were unknown. And prime-time television was an everyday household event. It was

a different time.

Now, Palm Coast is home to nearly 90,000 residents.

Schools, businesses and cultural arts groups are empowering our community. And throughout the changes, there has been one constant for nearly 43 years — Utilities Director Richard Adams.

Adams, the second longestserving city employee in Palm Coast’s history, retired Friday, May 1.

“Richard is a man of extremely

high character and ethical standards,” said Steve Flanagan, deputy director of utility. “He is a man who will roll up his sleeves and do almost anything to make an organization better and has done so for his entire career.”

Adams began working for International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) Corp., Palm Coast’s original developer, in 1977 as an engineering technician, sizing future water and wastewater pipelines and pumping systems.

This became the basis of the city’s 30-year utility master plan.

In 1982, he transferred to ITT subsidiary Palm Coast Utility Corp. while pursuing a bachelor’s in business administration.

In 1999, Florida Water Services Corp. bought Palm Coast Utility, and Adams became the system manager. Finally, in 2003, Palm Coast bought the utility, and Dick Kelton, the city manager at that time, hired Adams as utility director.

“It’s been an exciting and rewarding career, and I have been very fortunate to have wonderful people to work with, and without them, I could not have succeeded,” Adams said. “Some of these people I have worked with almost my entire career, some only a short while, but nonetheless, people who I feel are the best in the business and have made me look good.”

“Richard Adams holds a wealth of knowledge on all things utility,” said Mayor Milissa Holland. “His

Richard Adams

forward thinking as a director incorporated the latest technology to ensure the system was stable and could provide the cleanest drinking water possible. His steady, measured and responsible voice was always so reassuring and will be missed, but his legacy and the foundation he has built here will be forever remembered and appreciated.”

Adams managed more than 100 employees who monitor more than 500 miles each of water and wastewater pipelines, three water treatment plants and two wastewater treatment facilities.

“Richard has been the foundation on which utilities was built,” said Terry Jarvis, utility office manager. “He is well-respected, honest and extremely knowledgeable.”

“Richard’s steady leadership has guided us through difficult times of drought, recession, many different types of changes, and brought an unprecedented era of cooperation between all positions in the department,” said Pete Roussell, utility systems manager.

Under Adams’ guidance, the department’s national-champion “Water Buoys” team has won more than a dozen knowledgebased Top Ops State Championships. Several utility divisions have received awards for design, safety and best-tasting drinking water.

He shares his knowledge several times a year during Citizen’s Academy classes. Last November, he became the first director in the city’s history to sit in for the city manager in his absence.

“Richard sets the highest standard for honesty, dedication and loyalty,” said Brian Matthews, environmental compliance manager. “He lives both his personal and professional life to this standard and expects the same of the people around him.”

City directors purchased a glass recognition award to honor his retirement.

With a newfound amount of free time on the horizon, Adams and his wife, Lindy, are looking forward to traveling, spending time outdoors and seeing their grandchildren.

“Under Richard’s direction, the utility has always overachieved, and for this he deserves to be recognized,” said Danny Ashburn, utility systems manager. “He can retire knowing he played a big part in where we as managers are today and how much he was appreciated.”

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MAY 7, 2020

YOUR NEIGHBORS The return of child care?

Some Flagler and Volusia facilities are slowly reopening, but the majority remain closed.

How many will close for good?

BRIAN MCMILLAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

W

ith more parents working from home — or stuck at home after having lost their jobs — the demand for child care has plummeted, forcing about 60% of the 400 child care centers in Volusia and Flagler counties to close.

The facilities that have remained open, including Bunnell’s Ity Bity Learning Center and Ormond Beach’s La Petite Academy, have adjusted to life with stringent sanitation protocols and drastically reduced enrollment.

The next few weeks will be critical for the child care industry, according to D.J. Lebo, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia. As the economy reopens, parents will go back to work and will need child care again. But how many facilities will reopen? How many will decide to close permanently?

“There was enough supply for the demand of child care before the pandemic,” Lebo said. “After, if the supply is half the demand, that’s going to raise the cost of child care to an astronomical cost.”

Therefore, keeping child care facilities alive is a priority for the state’s economic health, she said.

To some level, the state is still funding 250 of them in FlaglerVolusia, based on the income of parents, even if the facilities are closed for now.

“The hard part for child care programs is they don’t have a lot of money in the bank,” Lebo said.

“And they’re not usually strong business people. They know what to do with a 2-year-old who’s biting, but they don’t know how to

COST OF CHILD CARE It can cost $8,000 for a year of child care for an infant, which is more than it costs for a year of tuition for a freshman at the University of Florida.

Many families receive subsidies for child care from the Office of Early Learning, a division of the Florida Department of Education, that can bring the cost down to just a few dollars per week; others who fall just outside the income brackets can spend as much as 50% of their income on child care, according to D.J. Lebo, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia.

apply for a PPP loan.”

Fortunately, signs are positive.

Ity Bity and La Petite are seeing enrollment increase slowly. And, Lebo said, “We’ve already heard from 10 that plan to reopen in the next two weeks. One was very excited. She was only reopening part of her school, and she’s not sure her workforce is going to feel comfortable enough to come back, but they’re going to try. It’ll be interesting to see what the next three weeks bring.”

ITY BITY LEARNING CENTER

Rebecca Miller owns two child care facilities in Bunnell: Ity Bity Learning Center and Jet’s Day Care Inc. She has kept both of hers open, but numbers have dropped.

Prior to the pandemic, Jet’s had 39 students, plus a waiting list.

At its low, it had four students.

Ity Bity used to have 52 students, plus a waiting list. At its low it had nine.

Miller was grateful for the supplies donated recently by the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler

Photo by Brian McMillan

Ity Bity Learning Center Director Corry Tanner, with students Ivory Sweetman, Alani Gould, Alora Sierra and Jaxlyn Hormes.

Lucas Sweetman, 4

and Volusia. Thanks to an expedited United Way grant, in the past few weeks the ELC distributed $22,000 worth of cleaning supplies for facilities that remain open. Before the donations, Miller and other facilities had to scour grocery stores for supplies like toilet paper and hand soap.

And thanks to the continued financial support from the state, Miller said, “We weren’t affected too much.”

There is a new protocol, though: Parents can’t enter the building to help their children wash their hands and take a seat for breakfast. Instead, children are only allowed in if they have an acceptable temperature.

Miller also takes other precautions, including running all the toys through a sanitizing dishwasher each day. She doesn’t require her teachers to wear masks, for fear of traumatizing the children.

“Some kids were excited to come back, and then you see some children having a little bit of separation anxiety, because they’ve been home with mom or dad,” Miller said May 4. “The staff were exited this morning to see the kids come back.”

LA PETITE ACADEMY

Courtesy photo

Delores Cope, Melanie Barclay and Kim Kania, of the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia, help deliver some of the $22,000 in cleaning supplies for child care facilities, thanks to a United Way Grant.

Debra Lipinski, director of La Petite Academy of Ormond Beach, feels fortunate that her facility has been able to stay open as well. Enrollment has dropped, and there is a new protocol of temperature checks; parents aren’t allowed inside anymore; hand washing regiments are enhanced.

Staff at La Petite Academy does wear masks. “It started out as being very weird, but it’s become

Marcello Borges, 3, plays on the jungle gym at Ity Bity Learning Center, in Bunnell, on May 4.

more routine,” she said, adding: “We are looking forward to the end.”

One problem with masks is that the students can’t see the facial expressions of the teachers. For a speech instructor, that’s especially important, so one speech instructor at La Petite Academy is now wearing a transparent face shield instead.

Although the masks will eventually go away, the hand washing and other increased sanitizing will remain.

“There’s always runny noses — it’s just the way it is,” Lipinksi said. “But since we’ve started these new protocols, we haven’t been sending anyone home sick. I had one parent say, ‘Gee, my little girl hasn’t had a runny nose since all this started.’ Granted, there’s only five kids in her classroom, but it’s definitely going to have an effect on keeping kids healthier year round.”

SNAPSHOT OF DEMAND BEFORE THE PANDEMIC

39

Jet’s had 39 students, plus a waiting list.

52

Ity Bity had 52 students, plus a waiting list.

LOW DURING THE PANDEMIC

4

Jet’s had 4 students.

9

Ity Bity had 9.

AS OF MAY 4

14

Jet’s had 14 students.

28

Ity Bity had 28.

PALM COAST OBSERVER

PalmCoastObserver.com

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

13

HERO SQUAD Rymfire Elementary’s Hero Squad helps kids feel comfortable around first responders BRIAN McMILLAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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SEVEN EVENTS

Throughout the school year, the group came up with seven events to which they invited first responders from the FCSO, Flagler County Fire Rescue, the Palm Coast Fire Department and other agencies in other counties to interact with younger students at Rymfire.

Abigail Blumengarten recalled Candy Cane Day, when each Hero Squad student was paired with a first responder, carrying a Christmas stocking full of candy canes.

At first, some of the kids were scared of the adults in uniform.

“They were like, ‘What are they doing here?’”Abigail recalled.

“Once we told them they were going to be handing out candy canes, they weren’t as scared.”

Another event was Classroom Visiting Day. “We brought in first responders to tell students about what they do, who they are, how they help people,”Abigail said.

Aniyah Graham recalled seeing a second grader standing in the corner during Candy Cane Day, uncomfortable to be around a deputy. Later in the school year, that same second grader was playing a game, stacking cups, with a first responder.

“The kids loosened up a little,” Aniyah said. “I’ll always remember how I realized how the kids have changed.”

Courtesy photos

You

Gobble Gobble Day was the Hero Squad’s event in November.

TWO MORE PARENT-HEROES

In addition to Anna, two other students have fathers who are first responders. Alyssa Fernandez’s father, Thomas Bentley, is a Holly Hill police officer, and Kaylee Cavas’ father, Troy Cavas, is a K-9 officer with the FCSO. “Sometimes when we’re in public, kids will give him weird stares or back away because they’re afraid,”Kaylee said.

Alyssa said the events helped the kids. “The first responders bonded with them and played games with them and made jokes,” she said.

Sheriff Rick Staly, who attended Game Night with the Rymfire students, praised the Hero Squad for taking up such an important cause.

“I know from my own daughter’s growing-up experience — it’s tough to be a son or a daughter of law enforcement,” he said.

“Any time that we can involve the youth interacting with law enforcement and first responders, it’s a good thing.”

HARD WORK PAYS OFF

Xavior Rodriguez, Josiah Baccus, Cameron Kalasnik, Timothy Kulev and Persia Hughes also made good memories as members of Hero Squad.

The students researched, made phone calls, obtained supplies and set up the events all by themselves, according to Ruddy.

“It was amazing to see them work,” he said.

One disappointment, in addition to the award ceremonies being online only, was the fact that the final event had to be canceled: a lip sync battle between the first responders.

“I was sad because I was looking forward to it,” Persia said.

“The kids loosened up. I’ll always remember how I realized how the kids have changed.”

ANIYAH GRAHAM

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nna Gimbel’s dad, Fred Gimbel, is a K-9 officer with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Holmes, the FCSO’s hound dog, is her “pet.”But not every child is so comfortable around law enforcement.

“My dad used to be my soccer coach, and when he was wearing his uniform, this girl on our team would back away slowly,”Anna said. “She was scared something was going to happen.”

Anna and her friends, the Hero Squad, a Community Problem Solves group at Rymfire Elementary School, worked all year to help other children feel more comfortable around first responders. They were rewarded with first place honors in the state’s Future Problem Solvers competition in April.

The group, along with their coach, teacher Tim Ruddy, assembled for a Zoom meeting on May 1 to discuss their project, as well as their plans to continue preparations for the next step in FPS, which is the International Competition, to be held virtually in June.

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PALM COAST OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Gratitude for the quarantine Growth and strength don’t come from life being easy.

YOUR TOWN

WORKING MAMAS

Courtesy photo

Matanzas cheer coaches Adelia DeFalco, Emily Hays and Melanie Wood, with senior Ally Robinson.

Spending 24/7 with my beautiful boy, Elijah, over the last 47 days has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.

MEGAN FARRELL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

It’s 5:13 a.m., and I’ve been up for two hours. This quarantine insomnia I’ve been experiencing lately is no joke! People are losing their jobs. People aren’t getting to see their families. People are dying! It’s almost impossible to not feel stressed or anxious.

Spending 24/7 with my beautiful boy, Elijah, over the last 47 days has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.

But at the same time, it’s been one of the most challenging things my husband, Brady, and I have ever done. It’s affected our routines. It’s affected our work.

It’s affected our marriage. But growth and strength don’t come from life being easy.

We have had to be intentional with our thoughts and actions.

Writing in my gratitude journal daily has become essential to my inner peace. Making sure that we have designated “work time” has positively impacted not just our business, but our relationship

MATANZAS CHEER COACHES HELP SENIORS CELEBRATE ‘PROM’

with Elijah. The time I spend with Brady connecting and focusing on each other — without the baby or business — has strengthened our relationship and taught us skills we didn’t have before. Communication has been more key now than ever.

How does a flower grow? You plant a seed and you bury it. Do you think it’s easy for it to make its way out of the dirt? No! But when it does, the results are beautiful.

I know this season is hard, but we will make it through.

You will make it through.

Keep searching for the blessings in everyday, and you will find them. I can’t wait to see what beautiful things bloom from this season of life.

LOCAL WOMAN MAKES 300 MASKS Mary Lew Renninger is among the mask makers in our community. She has completed 300, she reported via email.

“There are stacks waiting to be completed, and I give them away to anyone who needs them,” she said, including Bunnell Police Department, AdventHealth Palm Coast, and facilities in St. Augustine and South Florida.

“It is my firm desire to do whatever I can to help others,” she said. “It is a joy to see how a homemade mask makes someone smile or want to hug you — but they stand back!

This is what we need: caring for others without anger and letting the political mess stay out of it. Thankfully there are a lot of people who give of themselves.

She said that when people donate material, elastic, times, or send her children’s drawings to say thank you, it’s “better than money.”

With their senior cheerleaders missing prom, the coaches at Matanzas High School decided to cheer them up. On May 1, coaches Melanie Wood, Adelia DeFalco and Emily Hays, with the help of the parents, “tricked” the seniors into dressing up for pictures.

“While they were in the yard taking pictures, we pulled up in prom gowns, carrying balloons, playing their favorite song and brought them a bottle of juice to toast!” Wood wrote in an email to the Palm Coast Observer. “They didn’t get their senior prom at the Speedway, but they did get hopefully a fun memory to look back on!”

JEEP PARADE FOR HEALTH WORKERS The A1A Jeep Club showed its support for health care workers at AdventHealth Palm

Coast on April 30 by driving around the hospital and holding up signs in a parade.

Send your good news to editor@palmcoastobserver.com.

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PALM COAST OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

15

Palm Coast woman dedicates hours every day to making face masks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

a week or so and saw that she had just shy of 200.

“I thought, ‘Well, there’s still a need,’ and that fueled me to keep on doing it,” said Crunkleton, 72. “When I hit 750, I thought, ‘Might as well just go to 1,000 now.’ When I hit 1,000, I said, ‘That is going to be it.’”

But she decided not to put away the machines just yet. She couldn’t help herself.

“There’s still a need,” she said.

Within another month, Crunkleton hit 1,200, and she was awaiting more elastic to make even more.

She was hesitant to talk about her work because she didn’t want to sound like she is seeking attention. According to the bishop of her church, that is typical of her life of service.

“Sharon Crunkleton is one of the kindest people I know,” said Faron Sanders, bishop of the Palm Coast Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“It doesn’t surprise me because that’s the way she and her husband have been their whole lives.”

JUST KEEP SEWING

Crunkleton began her sewing business, Goldilocks and the Bears, in about 1985 in Pennsylvania. She made teddy bears and dolls, as well as clothing for the dolls and bears, all in her own home, morning, afternoon and night.

The bears were so popular that she ramped up production to many thousand each year. She would spend days just cutting fabric for the fur, then turning to attach the eyes, like a one-woman assembly line — with help from her children.

Her husband, Ron, was integral to the operation; he built a 28-by40-foot addition to their house to store her supplies. He also created a device to add the bears’ eyes so it was easier on her thumbs, and made other helpful suggestions on improving her processes.

“He was the one that would put it in gear,” Crunkleton recalled.

She was on TV more than once, she recalled, to be interviewed as an example of reusing materials to help the environment. Rather than throwing away two-liter soda bottles, she bought them from people and filled them with chlorinated water to use as the inside of her teddy bears, which

weighed seven pounds each.

More than once, QVC asked her to sell her bears and dolls on TV, as well, but she declined.

“That just petrified me,” she recalled. “I thought, ‘I’m so busy now.’ It was too overwhelming to do QVC. Can you even imagine? I had no life as it was.”

In about 2000, Crunkleton’s husband began showing signs of Alzheimer’s. At the same time, she was also burned out from her business, so they retired to Florida.

She was relieved to be done with the teddy bears and dolls that had dominated her life. And yet, when she saw a commercial Singer sewing machine — just like the ones she used in her business — at an estate sale, she bought it.

It took four men to haul it into her home.

“It’s like a big boat anchor,” she said. “It cost me $200, and it would have been thousands.

I thought, ‘I can’t go wrong.’ I couldn’t resist.”

For the most part, it sat in a kitchen nook, untouched, for almost two decades.

LIFE IN PALM COAST

In Palm Coast, Crunkleton taught children at church, year after year, almost always the 3-year-old Sunbeams class. As her husband’s mind deteriorated, he continued to sit with her in the classroom at church. They both enjoyed the children.

Sanders remembers the Crunkletons helping him paint his grandmother’s house, just because they wanted to serve.

Crunkleton cared for her hus-

Photos by Brian McMillan

Sharon Crunkleton is motivated to make masks because she knows that each mask could prevent many from becoming infected.

band until his death in 2018 — about 18 years since their journey with Alzheimer’s began.

Sanders conducted the funeral service in the chapel and spoke words of comfort to conclude the meeting. His own children had also been taught by the Crunkletons over the years.

Two years later, in her home in Palm Coast, she has none of her old teddy bears that she used to make. She has no sentimental attachment to them.

But there was something pleasant about finally using her old Singer sewing machine and her old Bernina serger.

“Some of the prints on the material reminded me of the good old days when I was doing my business,” she said.

If her husband were alive today,

Sharon Crunkleton isn’t sure how old this commercial Singer sewing machine is, but it’s more than 50 years old and could be twice that.

he would be excited about the mask project and would help her find ways to make it more efficient, just like he did with the teddy bear production, she said.

Sanders has been her delivery man. He picks up the bundles of completed masks from her home and gets them into the hands of health care professionals at hospitals, doctors offices and pharmacies through people he knows.

Each person who wears a mask is making an impact, she said, because if you have COVID-19 and don’t know it, you could be spreading it to many other people unless you’re wearing a mask.

That’s significant for her, since she has had pneumonia more than once in her life and is among the high-risk population.

“One mask could prevent a lot of spread,” she said. “That’s my drive.”

After making 1,200, Crunkleton ran out of fabric and elastic.

The sewing machine and serger came to a halt.

Until, a few days later, she ventured out. She hadn’t left her home in weeks, but then she found out the fabric store was open. She bought more materials, cut the patterns, and she now has a table full of more face masks to complete — once again, a onewoman assembly line.

“I’m doing those right now,” Crunkleton said. “When I’m done with the next batch, it will make 1,400.”

“I thought, ‘Well, there’s still a need,’ and that fueled me to keep on doing it. When I hit 750, I thought, ‘Might as well just go to 1,000 now.’ When I hit 1,000, I said, ‘That is going to be it.’”

Email Brian McMillan at editor@ palmcoastobserver.com.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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To my wife Shannon, thank you for being the greatest mother, aunt and wife anyone could ask for!! Lucy, Dunkin and I love you so much and hope you have the best Mother’s Day yet!

Even if we are limited to quarantine life for now!

Lots of people think they have the best mom. They are wrong. We do, not them. But then it’s not really about ranking is it? It’s about having everything we could ever want and then some, like love, support, guidance, trust. We could never thank you enough for everything you’ve given us, but we’ll keep trying to get as close as we can. Thank you mom. We love you.

334610-1

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

WE LOVE YOU!

REAL ESTATE

PALM COAST OBSERVER

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PalmCoastObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Top home sells for $915,000

RESIDENTIAL TRANSACTIONS

MARCH 26-31

BRIAN MCMILLAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

A

Reed Glassman, of New York, New York, for $275,000. Built in 1987, the home has 3/2 and 1,311 square feet. It previously sold in 1999 for $118,000.

house in Harbor Village Marina/Yacht Harbor was the top residential real estate transaction for the week of March 26-31 . Roger and Marcia Steimle, of Palm Coast, sold the home at 258 Yacht Harbor Drive to Stephen and Michele Seifert, of Palm Coast, for $915,000. Following is a partial list of other transactions for the week.

Belle Terre WJHFL LLC sold the home at 323 Parkview Drive to David Wayne McQueen and Winnifred Lucille McQueen, of Ormond Beach, for $182,800.

Built in 2019, the home has 4/2 and 1,612 square feet.

Grand Haven Mary Lee McGrath, of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, sold the home at 9 Deerfield Court to Robert and Annie Badger, of Palm Coast, for $220,000. Built in 1998, the home has 3/2 and 1,650 square feet. It previously sold in 2001 for $150,000.

Holiday Builders, of Melbourne Florida, sold the home at 16 Pebble Wood Lane to Robert Wozniak and Angelica M. Vergara Curcio, of Palm Coast, for $189,900. Built in 2020, the home has 4/2 and 1,806 square feet.

Grand Reserve D.R. Horton Inc. Jacksonville sold the home at 13 Birdie Way to Waltraud Schaumann, of Bunnell, for $263,990. Built in 2019, the home has 3/2 and 1,585 square feet.

Cypress Knoll Andrew Douglas Stewart, of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, sold the home at 5 Easton Place to Thomas G. and Mary L. Rogan, of Palm Coast, for $239,900.

Built in 2006, the home has 3/2 and 1,611 square feet. It previously sold in 2018 for $231,400.

Harbor Village Marina/ Yacht Harbor Laurence S. Ratner and Kimberly Juvinall, of Palm Coast, sold the home at 264 Yacht Harbor Drive to David S. and Willa Cherese Younts, of Charlotte, North Carolina, for $890,000.

Built in 2009, the home has 4/3 and 3,221 square feet.

Note: Bedrooms and bathrooms are annotated with a slash. If a home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the entry will state “3/2.”

Courtesy photo

The top-selling home was at 258 Yacht Harbor Drive.

Lehigh Woods WJHFL LLC sold the home at 7 Rolling Sands Drive to Dayra G. Almeida, of Palm Coast, for $173,990. Built in 2019, the home has 4/2 and 1,402 square feet.

James A. St. Pierre, of Ormond Beach, sold the home at 30 Claridge Court N. to Lauren S. Williams, of Gainesville, for $334,500. Built in 1982, the home has 3/2 and 2,333. It previously sold in 2013 for $237,000.

Zina and Sergey Zakubov, of Fremont, California, sold the home at 35 Roxbury Lane to Travis N. Terpstra and Alesha F. McGrew, of Palm Coast, for $235,000. Built in 2004, the home has 5/3 and 2,514 square feet.

Dannie L. Huckeby, individually and as trustee, sold 14 Floral Court to Robert S. and Carol L. Murphy, of Palm Coast, for $322,000. Built in 1984, it has 3/2 and 2,123 square feet.

Palm Harbor Delbert F. and Suzet D. McDonald, of Waycross, Georgia, sold the home at 55 Florida Park Drive to George E. and Sylvia A. Hamelin, of Rockville, Maryland, for$185,000. Built in 1974, the home has 3/2 and 1,456 square feet. It previously sold in 2015 for $129,000.

Quail Hollow Michael A. Marano and Catherine G. Marano, of Palm Coast, sold the home at 4 Zodiac Place to Edward Henry Lee Jr. for $264,900. Built in 2016, the home has 3/2 and 2,064 square feet.

Sea Colony Katherine Kyriacou, of Palm Coast, sold the home at 25 Nantucket Drive to Nancy Kihn and

TRIBUTES

Seminole Woods Holiday Builders, of Melbourne, sold the home at 24 Sea Trail to Okeif Wright and Michelle Wright, of Palm Coast, for $181,000. Built in 2020, the home has 3/2 and 1,552 square feet.

Holiday Builders, of Melbourne, sold the home at 12 Sea Trail to Steven P. Savoca and Amy L. Edmonson, of Palm Coast, for $189,990. Built in 2020, the home has 4/2 and 1,806 square feet.

Toscana Applied Building Development of Orlando sold the home at 29 New Leatherwood Drive to Skyler S. and Alecia N. Lind, of Palm Coast, for $440,000. Built in 2019, the home has 4/3 and 2,632 square feet.

Applied Building Development of Orlando sold the home at 8 New Leatherwood Drive to Joseph Michael McFadden Jr. and Maria De Los Angeles Febres, of Palm Coast, for $410,000. Built in 2019, the home has 4/3 and 2,274 square feet.

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

CELEBRATIONS Shirley Jean Owens 1933-2020

The Observer

Paul & Lucinda Wilhelmsen 5/8/1970

Shirley Jean Owens was born on April 4th, 1933 in Yonkers, New York. She entered into eternal life on April 23rd, 2020. Shirley passed peacefully at her home in Monticello, MN surrounded by loved ones.

Tributes to honor your loved ones.

Visit

palmcoastobserver.com/tributes

296263-1

to view our informational Tributes booklet.

After raising her family in Yorktown Heights, NY, she and her husband Doug retired in Palm Coast, FL. In June 2019, she relocated to Minnesota to live with family.

Shirley was known for her ability to light up a room with just a smile, making everyone she met feel special. She loved going to plays, dinner shows, concerts and any other type of adventure with those she befriended along the way. Shirley was a wonderful and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

On March 27th, 2020 Shirley expressed her desire to become a member of the Catholic Church. The following day, Father Peter Richards, from St. Michael Catholic Church (MN) gave Shirley her 1st Communion and Confirmation as she beamed with joy the entire time.

Shirley was predeceased by her true love, Douglas Owens. She was also predeceased by her parents Myrtle and Norman Lent, her daughters Linda Garrett and Karen Yiambilis, and son Douglas Owens Jr. Shirley is survived by her son Keith Martin, daughters Jean (&Dave) Klaus and Sue Van Nooy, daughter in-law Donna Owens, and son in-law Michael Garrett. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Danielle & Brian Dehmer, Tara Peat, Andrea Martin, Raquel

Mom, Grandma, Nanny, Shirley: You touched so many lives over the years… We will hold you in our hearts forever.

Gordon, Douglas & Amy Owens, Daina Owens, Daniel & Allison Owens, Jonathan Klaus, Billy Van Nooy, Kayleigh Van Nooy, Gus Yiambilis and Eleni Yiambilis. Shirley also has 18 great-grandchildren: Kaylei, Eric, Rylee, Kenneth, Joseph, Elizabeth, Nicole, Dougie, Lucy, Davey, Georgie, Emma, Abby, William, Austin, Zoe, Angelo and Kalista.

The family of Shirley Owens would like to give a special thank you to Jolene Stang for all her care, compassion and love she provided to Shirley.

Mom, Grandma, Nanny, Shirley: You touched so many lives over the years…

We will hold you in our hearts forever.

SERVICE: Funeral Services will be held at St. Michael Catholic Church on Friday, May 8th at 11AM (CDT)/12PM (EDT). The mass can be viewed live at stmcatholicchurch.org. Shirley and Doug will be buried in Amawalk Hill Cemetery in Yorktown Heights, NY.

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is now offering

Mom and Dad aka Paul & Lucinda Wilhelmsen: Cheers to celebrating 50 years together...Thank you for showing me what strength, love, compromise and commitment truly mean. I wish I could be there to celebrate this with you both but look forward to when I can.

Happy 50th Anniversary, I love you both!!

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Puzzle One Solution: “My one big ... hit ... hurt my ... career. ...

I was typecast as a lion, and there just weren’t many parts for lions.”

– Bert Lahr Puzzle Two Solution: “I have often wished for just a few words of love from one man, rather than the applause of thousands of people.”

– Judy Garland

3 PIECE Broyhill wood entertainment center very good condition $150 386-793-5510.

ABOVE GROUND pool filter assembly and 1.5 horse motor 3 years old $175 386-445-1817.

BIKES (2)ADULT M/F Huffy; like brand new . Price Firm $100 (386) 445-9842.

KITCHEN FORMICA table with leaf and 6 cane back chairs $100 386-437-3441

Need to make some room?

Use Observer Classifieds to sell your items quickly

n

AWNINGS Installed, Replaced (Customer Materials ).

n

MOBLE HOME Remodeling, Repairs. Painting, Doors & More.

n

ATTIC Insulation, Stair, Flooring.

n

PAINTING Interior, Exterior, Touch Ups, Paver Sealing, Staining.

n

BATHROOM Full Remodel, Shower Redone, Tub Redone, Tub Remove, Built Shower Fixture, Grab Bars, Towel Racks, Vanities, Toilets Repair, Tile, Grout Replacement, Caulking, Paint, and More.

n

POWER WASHING/ WINDOW CLEANING Full Service Residential & Commercial.

n

REMODELING Full Service.

CABINETS Install, Replace, Repair, Paint.

n

ROOFING Repairs Only.

CARPENTRY Interior, Exterior, All Speciality Interior Molding, Crown Molding, Chair Moulding, Shadow Boxes, & More.

n

SCREEN REPLACEMENT Pool & Porch Enclosers Only.

n

CLOSETS Wire or Wood Shelving, All Types Closet Organizers, Additional Closet Built, Closet Doors installed, repairs, replace.

SIDING Wood, Vinyl, T1 11, Hardi Board Planking, Repair, Replace, Install.

n

SOFFITS Install, Repair, Replace, Paint, Vinyl or Wood.

n

COLUMNS Interior, Exterior, Installed, Replace, Repair, Paint.

n

n

DECKS/PORCHES Repairs, Replace, Install, Powerwash, Paint, Stain.

STORAGE SHEDS Assemble, Paint, Custom Build, Disassemble, Cart Away.

n

STORM DAMAGE/ WATER DAMAGE All Types of Repairs.

n

DOORS Interior, Exterior, All Types Installed, Replaced, Repair, Paint, Stain, Door Knobs, Locks, Doggie Doors.

n

STUCCO Repairs.

n

TILE Floors, Walls, Fireplaces, Pool Decks, Porches, Interior, Exterior and More.

n

WALLPAPER Removal.

n

WAINSCOTTING/PANELING/SHIPLAP Walls, Ceiling Installed, Removed.

n

WOOD ROT Full-Service.

n n

386-447-9723

n

NEW MEDICAL equipment: walker $85, wheel chair $115 386-437-7058.

NEW TIRE DONUT, DONUT SIZE- T135/90D16 from Mitsubishi outlander $50.00 (954) 258-1190.

PATIO BLOCKS, (30) 12x12x1.5” .35 cents ea. (6) 4x8x16 .50 cents ea 386-437-3275.

RINKER 21’ fiberglass boat, needs work, in dry storage for extended time $200 386-445-0057.

TARGUS TSB 212 Laptop Backpack. New, tags, 12 compartments, warranty, $65 (386) 316-9990.

Cleaning

ELIZABETH JONES CLEANING SERVICES SINCE 2003

n

DRIVEWAY Power Wash, Paint, Stain.

n

DRYWALL Install, Repair, Remove, Walls, Ceiling, Spackle, Tape, Texture, Water Damage Repairs, Paint.

n

DRYER VENT CLEANING AVOID FIRES!

n

FASCIA BOARD Install, Remove, Replace, Power Wash, Paint.

n

FLOORING Tile, Laminate, Wood, Linoleum, Vinyl Planking

n

FENCE Power Wash, Painting, Staining, Repairs, Install, Replace

n

GARAGE Flooring Paint, Epoxy Finish, Power wash, Garage Shelves, Wall Painting, & More.

n

GUTTERS Clean out, Power Wash, Paint.

n

HAND RAIL Install & Repair all Types, Paint, Stain.

n

TIRED OF COMING HOME TO A MESSY HOUSE? NEED YOUR ROOMS/CLOSETS ORGANIZED? I WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER SO YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR DAY! Small to Large - ANY Detailed Job is Available!

Now Offering Room & Area Rug Carpet Cleaning!

Servicing Flagler and Volusia Counties for 17 years State License CRC1329768/CCC1329185 | Fully Insured

Office Manager Debbie

386-447-7633

n

KITCHEN Full or Partial Remodel, Tile Backspash, Cabinets, Disposal Replacement, Painting, Flooring- Tile, Laminate, Wood, Vinyl Planking, Linoleum, Fixtures.

n

LANDSCAPING Yard Clean up, Rock, Mulching, Bush Trimming, Planting, Installing , Replacing, Scalloped Edging, Ties, Rubber Edging, & More.

Announcements Medical Marijuana Card

2017 DODGE Grand Caravan 10” lowered floor, ramp & tie downs $32,995 727-492-1630.

2020

NOW OFFERING GARBAGE HAULING & DUMPSTER RENTAL!

Get Your

Call: 386-569-6151 Autos For Sale

HURRICANE SHUTTERS Install & Remove, Cut, Install & Remove Plywood Over Windows.

Autos For Sale

Free Estimates All Supplies Furnished 10% OFF 1st Cleaning Residential/Commercial Licensed References available

This week’s Crossword answers

email: Mrjeffhandyman2therescue@gmail.com HANDYMAN SERVICES FULL SERVICE Mail Boxes, Curtian online: Handyman2therescuellc.com Rods, Mirrors, Pictures, Smoke Alarm Batteries, Furniture Assembling, T.V. Brackets.

All workmanship is always fully Guaranteed!

n

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2020 NEA, Inc.

Help Wanted

GRAND RESERVE Golf Course is hiring! We are looking for part-time help for both bartenders and cart attendants. Stop by and fill out an application today! 400 Grand Reserve Drive, Bunnell 386-313-2966.

334505

MOVING BOXES, clean, used one time. 2 wardrobes and 40+ boxes $40 386-263-7496.

LV9729

INFO & RATES: 386-447-9723 • Fax: 386-447-9963 • EMAIL: pcoclassifieds@palmcoastobserver.com • ONLINE: classifieds.palmcoastobserver.com HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm • DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at Noon • Service Directory - Friday at 3pm • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

HVAC SERVICE TECH 3 yrs minimum experience Fast growing company with full time hours.

Apply on site, email or fax. 401K available Arctic Breeze Air Conditioning 15 Hargrove Ln 2C, Palm Coast, FL 32137 email: arcticbreezeair@gmail.com 386-446-8894; F 386-446-1746 EOE/DFWP

Fast - Easy Guaranteed Or You Pay Nothing Yes We Are Open!

ReCertify by Phone

ADULT AIDE/COMPANION. Assistance for 19 year old autistic girl. Perfect job for special ed/ nursing student. (407) 505-8752.

Call 386-319-1600 RXPO.COM

Tutoring

License #058874

Adult Care Services

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER looking to tutor elementary students in all subjects 386-264-2221.

FIND WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IN

OBSERVER CLASSIFIEDS

TO ADVERTISE TODAY CALL 386-447-9723 OR VISIT

CLASSIFIEDS.PALMCOASTOBSERVER.COM

18

PALM COAST OBSERVER

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

|

PalmCoastObserver.com

APPLIANCE REPAIR

DOORS

s d i o D o or s u t sS e

Lic/Insured

ag

INSURANCE

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE PERSONALIZED INSURANCE QUOTE.

AUTO SERVICE “God Bless You” 334186

WE CHOMP HIGH PRICES!

Auto • HomeInsurance • Condo • Motorcycle • Flood • Renters All Counties Agency All Counties Insurance Agency RV • Boat • Commercial Auto • Property & Traffic School 99 Old Kings Rd. S. Suite 3 & Traffic School Winn-Dixie Shopping Plaza - Route 100 Central Plaza Florida Retina Winn-Dixie Shopping - Route 100Center www.aciaonline.com Phone 386-439-9254 www.aciaonline.com

334191

333682

386-986-7675

A

In home appliance service & repair Palm Coast/Flagler County Prompt and Dependable

Ga tkin r

COASTAL APPLIANCE SERVICE TEAM, LLC

CALL for a Quote CALL & forAsk a About Quote Money & Ask Saving About Money Discounts!

Saving Discounts!

LV9731

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Phone 386-439-9254 www.aciaonline.com Phone 386-439-9254

PF-SPAD0414151522

PF-SPAD0414151522 PF-SPAD0414151522

CONCRETE 334504

386-437-0041

Helping You Select the Medicare Plan That is Right For You!

PAVERSTRAVERTINEANDMORE.COM

CERTIFIED COLLISION REPAIR SHOP 410 N. Railroad Ave, Bunnell, FL 32110

HMO • PPO • SUPPLEMENTS PART D • DENTAL OR OST NO C ATION OBLIG

ORMOND FINE AUTOS “Your Full Service Hometown Dealer”

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE

PF-SPAD0414151522 (100%) LAWN CARE PF-SPAD0414151522 ADVERTISER: ALL COUNTIES INSURANCE(100%) A PROOF CREATED AT: 4/20/2016 9:35:47 AM

NEW CONCRETE OR CONCRETE REPAIR

PROOF CREATED 4/20/2016 9:35:47 AM NEXT RUN DATE: AT: 04/21/16 NEXT RUN DATE: 04/21/16 PROOF DUE: 04/22/16 13:59:55

SIZE: 3X3.75 SPEC PUBLICATION: PUBLICATION: SPEC

PROOF DUE: 04/22/16 13:59:55

RonnieRay | LawnCare

Quality Work at Affordable Prices S & D Construction and Maintenance, Inc.

Check us out on line at: 333683

ormondfineimports.com

ADVERTISER: ALL PF701 COUNTIES INSURANCE A SALES PERSON: SALES3X3.75 PERSON: PF701 SIZE:

20

$

Concrete • Pavers • Travertine Fire Pits • and More

BARBER

MOW & TRIM

386 - 446 -1655

Voted Best Around 5 Years in a Row

386-276-5777 | Licensed/Insured

333951

333685

sdcminc@gmail.com 5054 N. Ocean Shore Blvd. Palm Coast

GOLF

386.446.1566 • Owner Dominic DiGirolamo

PAINTING

Craig Halsey Painting Inc. of Palm Coast

1360 North U.S. 1, STE #102 Ormond Beach, FL 32174

386-446-1191

333949

BudgetBlinds.com

333688

We’re your local, neighborhood experts, and when we say we have style and service for every budget, we really mean it. Call North America’s #1 provider of custom window coverings and get the style and personalized service you deserve!

We seal cracks & holes

FOR A FREE ESTIMATE ALLEN

(386) 793-6919

386-445-6198 Serving Flagler County Since 1987

Palm Coast FL 32137

Phone: (386) 627-8051 Fax: (844) 273-3853 chery@cannaconciergepc.com www.cannaconciergepc.com

FLAGLERCONCRETE.COM

GET YOUR NAME

DOORS

OUT THERE!

LV10376

Serving Palm Coast for over 20 years

Advertise your business in The Observer Business Directory Call 386-447-9723 to advertise

HEALTH

333690

PLUMBING

TERRY’S PLUMBING For All Your Plumbing Needs

Serving Flagler County for over 30 years

LICENSE # FC11803 / # GAR13041803

439-3191 Any Job, Big and Small We do them all 386-445-3305 386-

Fast, Reliable Service

WORKS FOR YOU LV10381

334190

Call 447-9723 to reserve your space

Licensed • Insured Master Plumber CFC1426001

2 Generations Family Owned & Operated

334197

334185

DIRECTORY

BUSINESS

Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

PLUMBING

1 Florida Park Drive N #204

XNSP17974 334181

CALL TODAY

SERVICES

WE PAINT HOUSES, POOL DECKS, DRIVEWAYS & DOCKS

Chery Fee MD MBA

CONTRACTOR & REPAIR SPECIALIST • • • • • OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE • • • • • DRIVEWAYS STAINING POOL DECKS OVERLAYING PATIO STAMPING FIRE PITS ACID STAINING OUTDOOR KITCHENS TEXTURING COUNTERTOPS PAINTING AND MORE!

Titanium Painters

CannaConciergePC

CREATIVE TOUCH —CONCRETE—

facebook.com/craighalseypainting

334503

OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

CONCRETE

386-453-5469

craighobfl@gmail.com

Visa/MC/Amex/Discover

HEALTH

©2019 Budget Blinds, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Budget Blinds is a trademark of Budget Blinds, LLC and a Home Franchise Concepts Brand. Each franchise independently owned and operated.

Craig Halsey

333689

Ask for special promo on select Signature Series

Interior/Exterior Residential Commercial Insured References 20 Years Experience Pressure Washing

334257

BLINDS/WINDOW TREATMENTS

Blinds • Shutters • Shades Drapes • Home Automation

333961

82 N. US-1, Ormond Beach, FL 32174

17 Old Kings Road North • Palm Coast

386.931.3414

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE

We will buy or consign your car 386-672-2474

Mon.-Fri. 8-5 • Saturday 9-1

Independent Licensed Agent

334196

ASE Certified Master Technicians

No Appointment Necessary

Deanna Kershner

PROOF O.K. BY:___________________________ O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY:________________ PROOF O.K. BY:___________________________ O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY:________________ Deanna.Kershner@yahoo.com

Foreign and Domestic

John Abramovic, Owner

Medicare Plan Options

Classified Ads Bring Results • 386-447-9723

PALM COAST OBSERVER

PalmCoastObserver.com

|

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

19

ROOFING

ROOFING

POOLS

LICENSED & INSURED

Four Seasons Pools LLC

386-503-7731

fivestar386@gmail.com • www.fivestarroofingSVC.com CGC049971, CCC330417, CPC048249

Patricia A. McBean, EA

Tax Preparation • ITIN Service Accurate • Affordable • Professional

“Specialist In Hard to Find Leaks” Shingle | Tile | Metal | Flat | Re-Roof Structural Repair | Skylights

Houses · Driveways · Pool Enclosures Siding · Concrete Licensed/Insured & Reliable

(386)463-AMPM (2676) patricia@ampmbiz.com www.ampmbiz.com

386.677.9265

Call Rick

333952

State Licensed | Insured CCC1328252 | CBC1254280

RETAIL

CBC ROOFING COMPANY

EZ Roofing Inc.

TREES

386-328-5359

Residential Roofing Specialist

A1

Insurance Inspections Available Reliable Prompt Service LIC#CCC1331086

333692

• New Roofs • Replacements • Repairs • FREE Estimates • FREE Roof Inspections & Minor Repairs

ee Experts LL r T A C

Proper pruning and removal of trees Safely working over houses is our specialty 27 years experience

Classified Ads Bring Results 333691

Available Year Round

Building Customers For Life!

Of Flagler County

by Zhouqin Burnikel; CROSSWORD OFF-SCREEN Edited by David Steinberg

334501

Rick's Power Washing

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ROOFING

Locally Owned and Operated 20+ years

TAX PROFESSIONAL

Roof Leaking?

POWER WASHING

712 South Oceanshore Blvd.

Flagler Beach, Florida 32136

386-447-9723

100 Food coloring, for one 101 Blown away 103 “I have nothing more to say” 107 Reporter’s concern 110 Poughkeepsie college 113 Necessary items 116 Harbor city where lots of grain is exported?

119 Googling “Dragnet” star Jack, e.g.?

123 Soon, poetically 124 Longtime journalist Roberts 125 Baby seat, at times 126 Anticipate with trepidation 127 Silent assents 128 Night vision?

129 Performed like Billie Eilish 130 Greyhound’s grow DOWN 1 Tesla Model 3, e.g.

2 Thickener used in Asian desserts 3 Ho Chi ___ City 4 Borden’s spokescow 5 Lewis with the hit “Bleeding Love” 6 Like ceviche or poke 7 Homer’s dad 8 Shuts with force 9 Finder’s words 10 Hunting garb, briefly 11 Berry that may improve brain function 12 Tends to marinara sauce 13 Long, long time ©2020 Universal Uclick 14 Rap great Mac ___ 30 Iowa senator Joni 56 “Conan” network 80 Ghana’s capital ACROSS 15 Devoid of vegetation 31 China setting?

57 Sadat in Egyptian history 81 Toys may hang over them 1 Caravan animal 16 Words of confidence 34 Personal shopper’s 59 Walker, on road signs 83 “The Matrix” hero 6 Poorly thought-out 17 Charitable gifts concern 60 Draft holder 86 Photoshop seller 10 Sized up for a heist 18 Fat in mincemeat 37 Tiny lie 61 Lake west of Carson City 87 Article in some rap album 15 Reporter’s concern 24 Israeli intelligence agency 40 Ship in Battleship, 63 Mann of “The Other names 19 Like Pilates instructors 26 Oscar’s roommate in “The informally Woman” 88 Lizard with sticky feet 20 Up to the task Odd Couple” 41 Banks of fashion 65 Not imaginary 89 Lead pipe, e.g., in Clue 21 One in a cast 29 BLT condiment 44 1988 film featuring a 67 Bounces back 91 Pear problem 22 Org. with many volunteer 32 Dutch bloom savant 69 List-shortening abbr.

92 Platform for Memojis attorneys 33 Put up with 48 Slip up 70 Not disrupt 93 Tail swipe from a stur23 Dognapper’s outfit?

35 “Have a sample!”

49 Spiteful wild cat?

72 ___ down vote (Congress geon, say?

25 Picture holder made in 36 Tug hard 95 Tolkien tree being 52 Guadalajara gold action) Bangor?

37 Wild 96 “How fancy!”

53 Rock’s ___ Speedwagon 73 Irrational suspicion 27 Horned herbivore 38 Goddess of peace 54 Cloudfoam sneaker brand 76 Start from scratch with 98 Doe or fawn 28 Kiss-and-tell book, 39 Window shopper’s money?

55 Quivered 99 Redd’s Apple ___ 77 Cherokee and Cree perhaps 42 Stole cattle

Arborist

Rick Crouse, owner Licensed and Insured

43 Arthur of tennis fame 45 Instagram caption for a yawning parent picture?

46 Shady retreat 47 Battery-free smoke detectors 49 ___ Trench 50 Core group 51 French wine valley 58 Communion site 60 Keeps for later 61 Highest level 62 Steer clear of 64 “Strange Magic” rock grp.

66 Anvil or hammer, anatomically 68 Director’s shout 70 Wood used to make ships 71 Lisa of “Enemy of the State” 73 Barbecue spot 74 Sound from Sneezy 75 Device for Arctic anglers 78 Black piano key material 79 Seven, in Rome 82 “Just joking!”

84 Bother greatly 85 Milky gemstones 88 Arizona river 89 Bellicose sorts 90 Current venues?

93 Big name in orange soda 94 Understands 97 Sheets and such 102 Summon forth 104 Curling venue 105 West Yorkshire’s largest city 106 Come to know 107 Read over quickly 108 Comedian Jay 109 Slugger with 2,086 career RBIs 111 Opera solo 112 Flower support 114 De Matteo of “Sons of Anarchy” 115 Sword fight mark 117 PC monitor type 118 “___ favor” 120 Jerry’s ice cream partner 121 Hold out a paw, say 122 “Good” cholesterol initials

334200

Please view Testimonial Videos on Website www.PoolServiceSpecialists.com | Pool Contractor #CPC1457288 FourSeasonsPools@icloud.com | FloridaLicense State Pool License

386.931.4614

info@sckroofing.com • SCKRoofing.com

333955

334502

CALL BRIAN 386-385-8504

Office: 386-264-6281 Cell: 904-669-7743

CELEBRITY CIPHER

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“BK DEI JNF ... XNZ ... XCYZ BK ...

VSYIIY. ... N GST ZKAIVSTZ ST S WNDE, SEP ZXIYI HCTZ GIYIE’Z BSEK ASYZT UDY WNDET.”

– JIYZ WSXY

“L SJGF UXCFY HLISFK XUV RNIC J XFH HUVKI UX MUGF XVUO UYF OJY, VJCSFV CSJY CSF JZZMJNIF UX CSUNIJYKI UX ZFUZMF.”

– RNKD PJVMJYK Puzzle Two Clue: O equals M

Prices Starting as low as $90 per month

• State Certified Roofing & State Certified General Contracting.

• Pres. Brian Mullen building locally in Flagler County since 1976 • Licensed, Bonded & Insured

Puzzle One Clue: F equals G

(Upon becoming a monthly customer)

334199

• Roof Replacement and Insurance Experts • Estimates and Inspections • High Wind shingles / All types of roofing

333957

"Quality You Can Count On"

One Month Free Pool Service

386-585-5160

LV9731

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

© 2020 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

©2020 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

05-07-20

20

PALM COAST OBSERVER

|

PalmCoastObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

We’re STARS in PALM COAST

• OUR safe practices have a proven track record from Hurricanes to Covid 19 • We are taking Reservations now for move ins and future move ins • RN’s & LPN’s on Staff 24 Hours/Day Our Staffs smiles can be seen through any Mask. . . Join us, kindness is served Daily!

Assisted Living & Memory Care Community RN’s & LPN’s on Staff 24 Hours/Day • Building Rated for Category 4 Hurricane Generator on Site • Offering Respite Care

For Virtual tours and information please contact Sandra direct: 386-302-2383

When a change needs to take place whether its short term or long term and you want a place to call home, one that you can be proud of, one that you’d like to invite your friends and family too, consider us. . . SABAL PALMS. We are continuing to work with Hospitals and Rehabilitation Centers during these challenging times.

Should you have a discharge forthcoming from rehab or the hospital . . .

Assisted Living may be an option or Respite short term stay (based upon availability).

(386) 225-4070

Lic # 13103

Please Call For More Information LIC# 13103

2125 Palm Harbor Pkwy, Palm Coast, FL 32137

334647-1

386-225-4070 | SabalPalmsSeniorLiving.com