Palm Coast Observer 4-20-23

Battling on the School Board

Setting up for success

New nonprofit ‘Autism Champions’ supports families of kids with autism. PAGE 3A

Cole Hash: state champ

The Matanzas junior bench pressed 360 pounds to win a state championship.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Cole Hash looked up at the bar on the rack over his head. He was about to attempt a 360-pound bench press on his final lift at the state boys weightlifting championships. And he felt good about it.

The Matanzas High School junior had never benched that much weight before. He never even attempted it.

“I mean 340 was a struggle at regionals (the week before),” he said. “But I knew I just had to get it done to win. So, the competitive advantage kicked in, and I got it done.”

Hash hit the 360-pound lift to win the championship in the 199-pound weight class in traditional compe-

SEE MATANZAS PAGE 7B

Shake a leg

Pet project

The steer, heifer and goat show April

choreographed by Jada Hathaway, performed by Ava Andrews, Alexis Cruz, Davon Gwyn, Kerry O’Connell, Alana Oshesky, Chloe Raymond, Malia Raymond, Emma Reiter, Emma Schwen, Kristina Serrano, Ella Sheffield and Mary Wilcox

Photos by Brian McMillan

Photo by Brian McMillan Mackaylea Cody showed a steer and a heifer at the Livestock Show on April

was senior showmanship champion for her work with

CITY WATCH

Waterfront Park construction to end in August

The Waterfront Park enhancements are expected to be completed in midAugust.

Construction began in November to add a boat launch for nonmotorized boats to access the Intracoastal Waterway.

A concrete patio has also been installed, and the canal dredging has been completed, according to a press release from the city of Palm Coast.

The boat access retaining wall and the sidewalk to access the boat launch will be installed next, Palm Coast Stormwater and Engineering architect Eric Gebo said. Dirt from the dredging has been relocated for future use at the Southern Recreation Center, according to the press release.

The work is being conducted in two phases, according to an earlier press release. In phase one, the dredging, site work, shoreline stabilization, dock installation and concrete pad installation will occur. Phase two will expand parking.

The next phase of the project will develop an underground stormwater system to protect the site from flooding.

City to

name trail

Palm Coast will name a walking trail after the late community safety activist Al Krier.

The City Council voted unanimously to name the walking trail from Cimmaron Drive to European Village after Krier, who founded the Safety on Cimmaron group.

The council also approved a list of potential sites to name after the late Mayor Jon Netts.

Council member Theresa Carli

Pontieri had filed an application to rename a city site after Krier, who died on Dec. 24, and Parks and Recreation staff proposed the trail at the April 11 meeting .

In the application, Pontieri wrote that Krier was “incredibly involved in the community, with specific focus on promoting safety on Cimmaron [Drive] and our other neighborhood streets.”

In the section asking why the location was relevant, she wrote that the trail would “be a good tribute to the efforts made to promote pedestrian safety.”

Krier fought for safety measures for Cimmaron Drive to help protect children, bikers, joggers and other pedestrians, his daughter Roseanne Dunn told the Observer

She said her father was always worried about pedestrians using Cimmaron.

“This is a symbolic way to pay homage to him,” Dunn said after the April 11 meeting. “He would love to be on that trail.”

In the April 11 workshop, Parks and Recreation Director James Hirst also presented options for naming a community facility after the late Councilman and Mayor Jon Netts, who died in 2021.

Naming a facility in honor of Netts, who served on the council as mayor or as councilman for 15 years, is one of the City Council’s official priorities.

The City Council approved the following as facilities that could potentially be named after Netts: the Community Center, rooms within the Community Center, walking trails, the Community Center park and playground, and several sport courts and fields.

for

late traffic safety activist Fire Department celebrates 50 years of service

nology Doug Akins said.

The city has been unable to appropriate the $1.5 million needed to lay conduit underground to complete the network.

Akins told the council at the April 11 workshop that a company already laying fiber in the area — MetroNet — has agreed to let the city use MetroNet’s contractor to install the city’s conduit at the same time, saving the city money.

The City Council voted 5-0 to buy the conduits and transfer the necessary money from FiberNET’s reserves.

The project would cost a fraction of what it would have cost if the city did the work on its own, Akins said in the April 11 meeting.

The Palm Coast Fire Department is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The PCFD was established on April 3,1973, with just 36 members, according to the city’s website. The city is hosting an anniversary celebration from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, at Fire Station 21 at 9 Corporate Drive, Palm Coast. Saturday’s event will have a fire truck display, station tour and ceremony to mark the occasion. It is free and open to the public.

Hirst said at the April 11 meeting that staff reached out to Netts’ family to get an idea of what kind of facility the family would prefer. Hirst said that Priscilla Netts, Jon Netts’ wife, said naming the Community Center after Netts was her preference. While city policy allows for the naming of city parks, trails, facilities, municipal buildings, specialized areas or other recreational areas after a nominee or organization, the policy does not apply to “core” city facilities like City Hall and fire stations fall, Hirst said.

The Palm Coast Community Center is not considered a “core” city facility.

Before a site can be chosen, Hirst said, a nomination must be filed, then approved by the Beautification Environmental Advisory Committee. Once that happens, the City Council would vote on whether to rename the site.

CITY LOOKS TO CLOSE GAP IN FIBER NETWORK

The Palm Coast City Council hopes to close the circuit on its fiber network.

The city has operated a city-only network since 2006. There is a gap in the fiber network on U.S. 1 from Palm Coast Parkway to State Road 100, totaling about 35,000 feet, Palm Coast Director of Information Tech-

The city will be able to pay for the entire project using FiberNET reserves and money already allocated to FiberNET in the fiscal year 2023 budget.

BY THE NUMBERS

Here is a breakdown of the projected costs to close the FiberNET gap:

$1.5 million

The original projected cost if the city were to take on the project on its own

$542,000

By piggybacking on Metronet’s contractor, the city will only end up paying this amount to close the gap, including a $20,000 contingency

$178,000

The amount the city budgeted in fiscal year 2023 for FiberNET capital

$388,000

The amount the city will need to transfer from FiberNET’s reserve

Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill, Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin and Rep. Paul Renner, speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, will all give remarks.

Alfin read a proclamation at the April 18 City Council meeting recognizing April 2023 as the department’s 50th anniversary.

“The Palm Coast Fire Department has been instrumental in saving countless lives, and protecting property from the devastating effects of fires and emergencies,” Alfin read, Berryhill accepted the proclamation, with the volunteer association’s executive board and members of the Palm Coast Professional Fire Fighters’ executive board by his side.

“We’re just so proud of the job that these folks do every day protecting our community.,” Berryhill said. “Our mission is to deliver the best service to our community every time and we do that in a variety of ways.”

The department has five fire stations throughout the city and often works in conjunction with Flagler County, Flagler Beach and Bunnell first responders during emergencies.

File photo

Al Krier, who died on Dec. 24, was a community safety advocate.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Championing awareness

New local nonprofit Autism Champions seeks to help support families of children with autism.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Antonella Varvara, like most moms, always has one eye on her kids, no matter what she is doing.

But caring for her teenage son Nicholas requires extra vigilance, because Nicholas has been diagnosed with autism.

Nicholas is non-verbal and completely dependent on Varvara, she said, but is also at an age where support resources are beginning to drop off.

Local parents with older autistic children take their kids to Jacksonville or to the Daytona Beach area to access support, she said.

“And realistically, when ... parents have other kids in schools, that’s not happening,” she said.

Antonella Varvara’s experience as a parent of a child with autism spurred her to create Autism Champions, Inc., a nonprofit in Palm Coast that supports families and individuals with autism. The nonprofit was especially borne out of a need for more resources for autistic people over age 11.

Varvara said she is working toward having weekly social events and skills classes for families with autistic children.

Another big part of Varvara’s nonprofit will be education and advocacy, she said.

That’s why one of the first events she lined up for April — Autism Awareness Month — was an educational session with the Bunnell Police Department.

On April 5, Varvara and Florida Autism Center Clinical Director Mary-Helen Toppin, alongside Clinical Supervisor Adina Her -

nandez, sat at a table in the BPD’s temporary headquarters and taught officers about what autism is, recognizing the signs of someone with autism and how police officers can de-escalate a situation involving someone with autism.

FIRST RESPONDER AWARENESS

Toppin told the officers that autism presents differently in each individual: Police officers shouldn’t fixate on stereotypes when interacting with people who are or may be autistic.

“It’s important for us not to have one idea of what an autistic person is,” Toppin said. “They look like you.”

Toppin said one person with autism may have gifted intelligence, while others may struggle. Communication levels vary from non-verbal to highly verbal.

Autism can affect a person’s sensory experience, motor skills and social abilities, Toppin said, but to a different extent from one person to the next.

“There are no two autistic people who are the same,” Toppin said. “I don’t want anyone to go out in the field and think, ‘I know what an autistic person looks like. Because that might not be the case.”

It is also critical that police officers dealing with autistic people know about potential destructive and soothing behaviors, Toppin said.

Varvara said her son Nicholas displays self-destructive behaviors through arm biting, and has an arm guard to protect him.

In many cases, Toppin said, communicating with family members who know what could soothe the individual, or even just handing them a sensory toy or item, could help de-escalate tense situations with an autistic child who is lost or an autistic adult having a meltdown.

BPD Chief David Brannon said the seminar for his officers was important to him. He has friends with autistic children who have had bad experiences with police, he said.

“This is an area that I’m passionate about and want to lead our agency in making sure that they get this training,” Brannon said. “This topic was never covered in the 26 years that I worked in law enforcement.”

De-escalation is always better, Toppin said, so long as it is safe.

Brannon said his officers are already trained in de-escalation, but he wanted to give them a greater understanding of tactics for getting everyone involved home safely when they are interacting with someone with autism.

For him, Brannon said, providing this training was about making sure officers could respond as responsibly as possible with someone who is autistic.

“I by no means expect them to be experts in autism after an hour’s worth of training,” Brannon said. “But it’s a start.”

AUTISM CHAMPIONS PLANS OUTREACH

The BPD education seminar is just the start for Autism Champions, Varvara said.

Not only does she want to reach out to other first responders, she said, she also wants her nonprofit to connect families and individuals with autism through weekly social events and skill classes.

Varvara said she is working with the Florida Autism Center to get applied behavioral analysis therapists to volunteer to help with the skill classes.

Autism Champions will help teach individuals with autism life skills like doing laundry, grocery shopping, hygiene and more.

It will also teach and reinforce social cues, Varvara said — like learning to recognize emotions, and to recognize danger — and teach about resources like police and fire departments.

Varvara said she teaches all of these skills to her own son each day, reinforcing the lessons through repetition.

She hopes to have these classes twice a week at a community center where parents or guardians can sign up their children.

The proposed classes are similar to the goals of the Florida Autism Center, said Maegan Howell, director of clinical operations in northeast Florida at BlueSprig Pediatrics, which operates the Florida Autism Center.

Howell said many children with autism struggle with basic tasks other children might pick up without a problem, so the Florida Autism Center develops a longterm treatment plan for each child, broken down into six-month periods, to help the child reach tailored milestones.

“So, whatever that is,” Howell said, “we work with the family to really focus that individual child’s treatment plan for that goal and looking at their longterm goals.”

ASD is nearly four times more common in boys than girls.

Children with ASD are 160 times more likely to drown than children without ASD.

48% of children with ASD attempt to leave a safe environment, a four-times greater rate than children without ASD.

50% of individuals with autism are non-verbal throughout their life, and another 20% may present as nonverbal under high stress.

ASD often occurs alongside other conditions. 79% of people with ASD have motor disabilities, up to 30% have epilepsy, up to 70% have gastrointestinal issues, 45% have an intellectual disability, and 50%80% have sleep disorders.

Source: CDC Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network and Florida Autism Center

NEEDS AND RESOURCES

Autism diagnoses are becoming more common.

According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control in 2020, one in 36 8-year-olds have autism. In 2018, that number was one in 44, and in 2000, it was one in 150.

Access to resources for early diagnosis makes all the difference, Mikaela Wooten said.

As an educator with a master’s degree in special education, she knows the data. And as the mother of two autistic children — one of whom received earlier intervention than the other — she can see the difference.

“We really, really attribute the difference in the boys’ success at school to the difference in their access to early intervention,” Wooten said. But, Wooten said, therapy access is limited in Flagler County.

Both of her sons qualify for and need regular therapy sessions, but there are not enough therapists in general in the county who are accepting new children for appointments, Wooten said, let alone therapists who specialize in helping children with autism.

“There’s nobody, no mental health counselors in Flagler County that will take children that don’t have a waiting list,” Wooten said. “If you’re not a family that is ... as aware or comfortable or familiar with things, you need counseling to help you notice things. It’s just a terrible situation.”

When the Wootens first began seeing the signs in her now-13-yearold son Logan, Wooten said, they did

“I by no means expect them to be experts in autism after an hour’s worth of training. But it’s a start.”

not have resources for early intervention where they were living. But it was different for their son Kai, who began showing signs at 18 months, when the family lived near an early intervention program, Wooten said. Kai qualified for enrollment, and now, at age 9, does not struggle as much as his brother.

“Kai definitely benefited a lot from that program,” Wooten said. That outcome is why experts encourage early intervention, said Howell.

Ideally, Howell said, a child can start therapy services between ages 2 and 5.

“It doesn’t mean that if a child receives a diagnosis later in life that they can’t still benefit,” Howell said. “But the research supports that early intervention.”

A lot of parents don’t know the signs and rely on their kids’ doctors, who only see the child for minutes at a time and may not notice the signs on their own, Wooten said.

“We need to somehow find a way to reach parents of young children to tell them it’s not a bad thing to have their kids screened,” Wooten said. “It’s not a bad thing to ask questions.”

The Bunnell Police Department, Florida Autism Center’s Mary-Helen Toppin and Adina Hernandez and Autism Champions, Inc. founder Antonella Varvara work to helps spread autism awareness.

Photo by Sierra Williams

BPD Officer Adrian Zapata plays with a sensory blanket during an autism awareness training event with Florida Autism Center and Autism Champions.

“We need to somehow find a way to reach parents of young children to tell them it’s not a bad thing to have their kids screened.”

MIKAELA WOOTEN, special education teacher

“It’s important for us not to have one idea of what an autistic person is. They look like you.”

MARY-HELEN TOPPIN, Florida Autism Center clinical supervisor

DAVID BRANNON, Bunnell Police Department chief, on autism awareness training for BPD officers

AND 16-13-31-2000-00030-0070 WHICH IS CONTIGUOUS TO THE CITY OF BUNNELL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION PROVISIONS OF SECTION 171.044, FLORIDA STATUTES, AND OTHER CONTROLLING LAW; REDFINING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL TO INCLUDE SAID PROPERTY; PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS; PROVIDING FOR CONDITIONS; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO RECORD THE ORIDNANCE WITH THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, WITH THE CHIEF ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICE OF FLAGLER COUNTY AND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE; PROVIDING FOR LEGAL DESCRIPTION AND A MAP; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR NON-CODIFICATION AND THE TAKING OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED

Interchange project may get state funding

JARLEENE ALMENAS SENIOR EDITOR

In late January, Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed a $4 billion infrastructure initiative to expedite transportation projects across a nine-county region over the next four years. Ormond Beach’s I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange redesign is one of those projects.

On Thursday, April 13, Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez, joined by transportation officials, held a news conference promoting the initiative, titled “Moving Florida Forward,” and called for the Legislature to approve the $4 billion investment in its entirety.

If passed by Legislature, the investment would redirect an average of $131 million annually to the state Transportation Work Program and leverage more funding over the four years for a total of $7 billion.

“So if funding for this initiative is passed as originally

recommended by the governor, Floridians would benefit tremendously from the $7 billion worth of infrastructure improvements that are ready to begin as soon as next year,” Núñez said. “If not, unfortunately these projects will simply have to wait, and those delays of progress could come up to possibly 15 to 20 years from now.”

Núñez said the state isn’t in a position to wait on these projects, given the growth in the state’s population and number of visitors.

“This initiative is the ultimate solution, we believe, to address Florida’s infrastructure needs and challenges, and the action that we need to take, it needs to be done now,” Núñez said. “It needs to be done now for real change that our communities have been longing for, especially as it relates to traffic and congestion.”

Of the 20 projects, the Ormond Beach interchange is the only one located in Volusia County.

On March 29 and 30, the Florida Department of Transportation held two public hearings to announce it would be pursuing a redesign of the interchange to a “diverging diamond” interchange pattern, expected to cost $215.4 million.

The new design would be safer because vehicles turning left would not have to cross opposing traffic, and drivers would be less likely to enter ramps in the wrong direction, according to FDOT.

“This interchange is the original construction on I-95,” FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue said during the news conference. “It’s in desperate need of upgrades, both for safety and congestion relief.”

FDOT is excited to get started on these projects, Perdue said, and is looking forward to continuing to work with the Legislature to fully fund the initiative.

“It’s bold,” Perdue said. “It’s innovative. It’s forwardthinking, and it’s really going to set Florida up for many years to come.”

“It needs to be done now for real change that our communities have been longing for, especially as it relates to traffic and congestion.”

County awards $4.36 million contract for inmate dorm

contract to build the

JARLEENE ALMENAS

SENIOR EDITOR

The Volusia County Council has unanimously approved a $4.36 million contract for the

construction of a new inmate isolation dormitory at the Volusia County Correctional Facility.

The contract to build the 6,470-square-foot dormitory was awarded to A.M. Weigel Construction, Inc., of Daytona Beach.

The majority of the project is being funded through federal coronavirus relief dollars, with $286,880 coming from the corrections’ inmate welfare funds, according to the

county.

Once completed, the dorm will have 66 beds.

Councilman Matt Reinhart, a former warden for the Volusia County Corrections Division, said the new dormitories could be used for inmate workers, since they would not need to pass through regular inmate facilities when coming in from work.

“This particular area has its own fence, it’s own entry point, it’s own exit point,”

Reinhart said. “And so you can bring inmates in and out from that area. This is ideal.”

Part of the project would also demolish the smaller building currently on the site, which the county reported has asbestos.

“I appreciate the fact that this is finally coming to fruition because we’ve been asking for it for a long, long time,” Reinhart said.

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The

dormitory was awarded to A.M. Weigel Construction, Inc., of Daytona Beach.

Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez speaks during a news conference on Thursday, April 13.

The DeSantis administration has proposed $4 billion for 20 transportation projects.

JEANETTE NÚÑEZ, Florida lieutenant governor

Furry’s motion to censure School Board chair fails, 3-2

Will Furry said Cheryl Massaro violated board policy by adjourning the special meeting early and not promoting a cooperative team atmosphere.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

On the night that the Flagler County School Board took the first step in its search for a new superintendent, board member Will Furry called for a censure of Board Chair Cheryl Massaro.

While board members, including Furry, later said they could work together to choose a new superintendent, just as they have on other issues, Furry’s motion at the April 18 board meeting showed that the board remains divided.

Ultimately, his motion was defeated 3-2, with Sally Hunt hesitating before voting against it.

During a contentious special meeting on April 4, Hunt had voted with Furry and Christy Chong to let Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt’s contract run out and replace her with a new leader for Flagler Schools. Massaro and Colleen Conklin were the only board members who voted to retain Mittelstadt.

Furry’s motion to censure Massaro centered on a video Massaro posted on her School Board Facebook page on April 10.

Massaro began with a summary of recent School Board discussions before going on to say she has lost trust in the board.

“I believe that three of our five

school board members do not have Flagler Schools, all students, their families and communities’ best interest as their priority,” she said before singling out each of the board members who voted not to renew Mittelstadt’s contract, without mentioning them by name.

“One school board member does not appear to believe in or understand public schools,” Massaro said in the video. “Another member is greatly influenced by numerous outside local and state political action groups and other entities who obviously does not understand Flagler Schools. And a third who doesn’t seem to have enough time in the day to research agenda items and develop independent unbiased decisions.”

Furry brought up the censure motion during the “old business” portion of the meeting. School Board Attorney Kristy Gavin said a censure is an admonition by the other board members, but would not involve removing the censured board member from their position.

“It is clear,” Furry said, “that some of the comments that you made about your fellow board members were unacceptable and divisive and not true. And saying things like we don’t have the best interest of Flagler schools, that you’ve lost trust in us, this is unacceptable for a board chair to communicate.”

He said Massaro violated the board’s procedure manual by not following Robert’s Rules of Order when she adjourned the April 4 special meeting immediately after the superintendent contract vote without calling for closing comments. Massaro also violated policy, Furry said, by not promoting a cooperative team atmosphere and not setting aside personal views while speaking on behalf of the board.

“So, it is true that you’ve lost trust in us, Chair Massaro. When we were elected, we weren’t elected for you,” Furry said. “As a matter of fact, I think that after those comments that you need to work on regaining the trust of all the thousands of people that voted for us to make that decision.”

Massaro, in her closing comments, said she ended the meeting after the vote out of concern for the public’s safety.

“Things got really out of hand … and I didn’t want it to escalate, because I have been on this board, and it’s been very frightening being up here,” she said.

Chong, who voted with Furry for the censure, said Massaro set a precedent for how the board will choose to treat each other in the future.

“I’ve lost confidence in you as well,” Chong told Massaro. “I thought we were off to a great start. It’s not OK to be so divisive just

because a vote did not go your way. I find this to be unprofessional and a form of intimidation and control that I will not tolerate.”

Hunt said she has been disappointed “by really almost a campaign to discredit and disparage,” and that Massaro has contributed to a “gross narrative.”

“I now exist as this villain, which is just gross,” she said. “If you watch the footage from the workshops you will hear me fighting for working parents, saving them money, saving paraprofessionals money.”

Before Furry made his motion, Conklin said the conversation was inappropriate. If there were concerns, she said, they could have been shared during the workshop earlier in the day, “instead of putting a show on for everyone else.”

But Furry said that when the board chair speaks on her School Board Facebook page, “it is perceived that she is speaking the voice of the board, so I think it is very relevant that we’re having this conversation.”

Massaro said when she was speaking to reporters about the vote and when she was opining on her video, she did so as an individual, not as the board chair. And she defended her remarks.

“The things you claim I did to you, you did to (Mittelstadt),” Massaro said. “I find that extremely abrasive

“It is clear that some of the comments that you made about your fellow board members were unacceptable and divisive and not true.”

WILL FURRY

on Board Chair Cheryl

Massaro

and offensive. The idea was to work close together as a team and build a team concept. At the special meeting, you had all of your minds made up before you got here and disregarded the public that was here, which was embarrassing.”

Thirty of 32 public speakers at the special meeting spoke in favor of retaining Mittelstadt.

Chong said those 30 people were not a fair representation of the people in the county.

“I’ve heard multiple times now about how 30 people came out and supported our superintendent,” Chong said. “However, 30 people do not represent the entirety of 120,000 people who live in Flagler County or the majority of the people who overwhelmingly voted for us to represent them. And they do not have to be here, because they voted for us to represent them.”

School Board approves policy to store Narcan in schools

The policy directs the superintendent to issue guidelines on where the medication can be stored and who can administer it in an emergency.

EDITOR

Michael Feldbauer, the president of the Flagler County Drug Court Foundation, spoke during the public comment period of the April 18 Flagler County School Board meeting after speakers who had shown their displeasure to board members.

“I feel I’m a little different,” Feldbauer said. “I’m here to celebrate what you’ve done tonight.”

The board approved an addition to the district’s medical policy allowing Narcan to be stored and admin-

istered in the schools during emergency situations. Narcan is a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill last year allowing public schools to store Narcan in secure locations.

Flagler County became the first school district in the state to approve a policy that directs the superintendent to administer guidelines on where the medication can be stored in each school building, who can

administer it and what training must be completed, among other specifications.

Board Attorney Kristy Gavin wrote the policy.

The drug court foundation’s Reneé DeAngelis followed Feldbauer to the podium.

DeAngelis and her husband, Chip, became activists after their daughter, Savannah, died of an overdose in 2017.

“We did not want to see other

families go through the devastation we went through, and now we’ve gotten to this point,” she said. “You don’t know what this means to me. I hope this serves as a catalyst for the rest of the state and our country to do the same thing. I believe it will, and maybe it will start to make a change with this epidemic that we have. And the silver lining is you voted for it unanimously. So, thanks.”

COPS CORNER

April 22nd - April 30th, 2023

Showcase

an incident report. The woman told the deputy that she had found things inside her home that did not belong to her.

The woman said she found two shirts, a packet of new toothbrushes, a hairnet, facial wipes, beer, two-liter soda bottles and some food that she did not own, the report said.

The deputy looked through the home and did not see anything tampered with, beyond the items the woman pointed out.

Despite the woman’s report, the incident report stated that there was not enough evidence to pursue the case.

APRIL 8

THEFT INTERRUPTED

12:14 p.m. — Intersection of Bear Creek Path and Hull Road, Ormond Beach

Attempted stolen vehicle. An Ormond Beach resident called police after his friend spotted two young men trying to steal his RV. The resident’s friend had pulled up

to the RV in order to park it

when he spotted the two men, according to a police report. The men fled the scene in a vintage truck.

The resident told police he wanted to pursue charges if the suspects were identified.

APRIL 9 PLANT WAR

5:11 p.m. — First block of St. Anne Circle, Ormond Beach Vandalism. For 40 years, a star jasmine plant was a permanent fixture in the backyard of an Ormond Beach home.

But recently, the family members of the homeowner noticed that it had been cut down to the ground without their authorization.

The elderly homeowner’s daughter called police and told officers that the 7-foottall plant had been removed, along with its trellis, and that the cuttings had been placed in their driveway.

Who cut it down? A landscaping company, hired by their neighbor’s son, according to a police report. The two parties had had previous disputes about the homeowner’s fence and encroaching plants. But the report notes that the jasmine plant, which was planted in 1983, was “well within the property line.”

When police spoke with the neighbor’s son, he said he directed the landscaping company to cut the plant so that it was not on his mother’s

Police asked if he saw that the plant was in his mother’s property, and he said he couldn’t recall.

The victim’s family was interested in seeking restitution for the plant, which they valued at $2,000. The neighbor’s son said he would pay restitution if that would resolve the issue. The family was not sure if they wanted to pursue charges or rectify the issue civilly, according to the police report.

APRIL 11

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

9 a.m. — Interstate 95 southbound 289 off ramp at Palm Coast Parkway Recovered stolen vehicle. A man was pulled over for driving a trailer that his company had mistakenly reported as stolen. A license plate reader had alerted deputies to a trailer that was reported stolen in Lakeland in 2022, according to an incident report. Deputies caught up to the trailer and performed a traffic stop on the southbound I-95 at Exit 289.

But when deputies spoke to the driver, they discovered that the trailer belonged to his company. Upon calling the company, the man and deputies realized the wrong trailer had been reported as stolen.

CRIME REPORT

Man arrested in connection with F-Section bomb

A Palm Coast man was arrested on April 14 after he allegedly set off a bomb in a swale at the intersection of Fernwood Lane and Fleetwood Drive.

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested suspect Michael Blum just hours after the explosion. No one was injured, according to an FCSO press release.

FCSO deputies worked with St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office’s bomb squad and FBI agents to sweep the area around the intersection, and no other devices were found, according to Blum’s arrest report.

The homemade bomb used a firework mortar and a radio-

BRIEFS

Man rescued from car submerged in retention pond

Flagler County first responders rescued a driver after his vehicle crashed into the retention pond at the Interstate 95 exit ramp on Palm Coast Parkway on April 16.

The incident happened in the late afternoon when the driver lost control of his car and veered into the pond. The car turned upside down in the water, according to a press release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. The driver was the only occupant.

FCSO deputies, Palm Coast Fire Department firefighters and civilians worked together to pull the driver from the car.

“Thanks to everyone’s quick action and bravery, the driver was able to be located quickly and life saving measures were immediately given,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “We pray the driver makes a full recovery. Thank you to the

Woman charged with child neglect after crash

transmitted electric match used in commercial fireworks displays.

Using neighborhood security cameras and witness descriptions, FCSO deputies identified the suspect’s white van and trace it to Blum. The FCSO has been to Blum’s home over 25 times for various fireworks complaints, according to the press release.

Blum met with deputies and admitted to setting off the mortar, using a cigarette as a time delay, according to his arrest report. He has been charged with felony discharge of a detonation device and is being held without bond at the county jail, according to the press release.

citizens who also jumped in to help.” The man was unconscious when he was pulled from the water, and first responders began CPR, according to the report. The driver’s current condition and the cause for the crash are unknown. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Halifax Humane Society names new CEO

The Halifax Humane Society announced Adam Leath as its new CEO on Wednesday, April 12.

Leath is currently the director of Volusia County Animal Services, a position he has held since 2019.

HHS’ former CEO, Pam Clayton, recently announced she would be stepping down to receive treatment for breast cancer.

Leath previously worked as the manager of Kennel Operations at Lee County Domestic Animal Services, where he

TRIBUTES

Philip August

Pearson

1945-2022

Philip, with his wife and son at his side, passed peacefully on January 27, 2022 at the Stuart Meyer Hospice House in Palm Coast, FL. He leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Alexandra (Sandy) Pearson, son William (Bill) Pearson, sister, Sharon Netsch of Deep River, CT, brother, Robert Pearson of Stanardsville, VA, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Phil was born in Middletown, Connecticut on May 6, 1945 to William and Frances Pearson of Chester, Connecticut. The family eventually moved to Deep River, Ct. His childhood was filled with many interests and pursuits including fishing, hunting, music, painting, woodworking, chess, among many, many others. He attended Valley Regional High School in Middletown, CT, where he excelled in academics and was perpetually on the Dean’s List. Because of his scholastic excellence, he was selected to attend Choate Summer School for Advanced Scholarship in Math and Science in Wallingford, CT. Phil’s leadership abilities were also evident as he held the offices of President of the Deep River Junior Chess Club and Deep River Junior Horseshoe League. He started a 3 person music group, The

A woman was arrested on DUI and child endangerment charges after she rear-ended a semi-truck on Interstate 95 near the State Road 100 exit on April 12, sending her 6-year-old to the hospital.

The Haines City woman was not seriously injured from the crash, according to her arrest report, but her son was injured and was taken to AdventHealth Palm Coast.

The crash happened at 11:30 p.m. as the woman was driving north on I-95 near mile marker 282.

At the scene of the crash, the woman told a Florida Highway Patrol officer that she was driving around 70 mph when she fell asleep at the wheel and rear-ended the semi-truck. Her Honda SUV had heavy

began his career in 2006, according to a news release. He said that he is “thrilled to be back in shelter management.”

“I want to expand on the lifesaving efforts currently underway and continue to focus on the needs of the pets entrusted to our care,” Leath said of his first priority for HHS.

In addition to his work with the county, Leath is a courtesy assistant professor for the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and sits on the board of directors for the National Animal Care and Control Association and the Florida Animal Control Association.

STI prevention offered at Health Department

National Sexually Transmitted Infection Awareness Week is April 9-15, and the Florida Department of Health-Flagler is raising awareness about STIs and how they impact people’s lives, according to a Health Department press release.

front-end damage, and, given the extent of the damage, the FHP officer wrote in his report that he believed she was actually going 85-90 mph.

The truck driver was uninjured and the trailer’s rear side had minor damage, the report said.

The woman also told the FHP officer that her 6-yearold was sitting in the rear, left-side seat, but because the back seat of the vehicle was full of household items, the officer wrote that he believed the child may have been in the front seat.

At the hospital, the officer conducted two breath tests which registered as .213 and .211 — almost three times the legal limit — more than two hours after the crash.

The woman has been charged with reckless driving, three DUI-related charges and felony child neglect. She was taken to the county jail.

One of the DOH-Flagler’s primary services and goals of is to reduce the rate of STIs in Flagler County and use early identification and treatement to prevent disease-related complications.

The Health Department has developed a comprehensive program for preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing treatment people who have been infected.

Dr. Stephen Bickel, the Flagler health department’s medical director, and Jennifer Kennedy, the Ryan White operations and management consultant, lead the program with Amanda White and Leslievette Garcia.

The April 8 Flagler Health Matters show on Flagler Broadcasting featured Bickel along with the Ryan White team.

To listen, go to flaglerbroadcasting.com/podcasts/ flagler-health-matters.

For more information about HIV or STI treatment or testing in Flagler County, call 386437-7350, Ext. 7063.

He spent countless hours working with the State of Florida Development Disabilities Council and the local unit of the Agency for People with Disabilities.

Particles, in which he played accordion. The group played several gigs in Deep River for various functions. He was also a member of the Deep River Fife and Drum Corps.

After graduating High School, he attended the University of Connecticut and studied Electrical Engineering. He became President of the UCONN chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) and Vice-President of fraternity Eta Kappa Nu. One lucky Freshman class had Phil as their counselor.

He had a Rock Band, The Blue Embers, in which he played keyboard for several functions at the College. After graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering he was employed by Bell Laboratories/Lucent in No. Andover, MA for 33 years, during which time he earned his Masters Degree at Northeastern University. He also took up the study of photography, ham radio, golf, and Violin and Viola, a passion that he continued for the rest of his life. After a brief move to Ashburn, Virginia, he worked for Chromatis/Lucent in Herndon, VA as Director of Sustaining Engineering. He also taught at ECPI ( East Coast Polytechnic Institute) in Prince William County, VA. After moving to Palm Coast in 2004, he continued with ECPI teaching online as adjunct professor. Along with his other interests, he studied the art of rehairing

bows for stringed instruments and opened a small business, Phil’s Bow Rehair, doing rehairing and minor repairs. He spent countless hours working with the State of Florida Development Disabilities Council and the local unit of the Agency for People with Disabilities. The card game of bridge, one that he thought he would never like, became another passion. He was a member of the Palm Coast Duplicate Bridge Club and built the initial website. He was a member of the Chamber Players of Palm Coast playing Viola and, along with his wife, hosted many quartet/quintet sessions at his home. Phil was a history buff and read many books and watched online courses of same. Technology, friends, many musicians, neighbors, and bridge players were the focus of his last years.

Make yourself at home

Luke’s approach to life: Learn one thing every year

If you end up learning two things, you’re well on your way.

He never explained, but I’m guessing the key to No. 4 is simply waiting around.

understood, he made it extra clear: “Kennedy, you’re my maid.”

Hailey chastised him. “Why are you doing this?” she asked. He was honest: “I’m trying to get attention!”

ObserverLocalNews.com

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

BRIAN MCMILLAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On a recent car ride, Luke said matter-of-factly from the back seat: “When you’re 0, you know zero things. When you’re 1, you know one thing. When you’re 2, you know two things.”

“OK,” I said as I drove down Belle Terre Parkway on a sunny morning.

“So that means when you’re 4, you know four things?”

“Yes,” he said.

“And because I’m 43, I know 43 things?”

“Yes.”

“What are those 43 things?”

He never answered me, but I revived the conversation on Easter, April 9, when Luke turned 5 years old.

Here are the four things he said he knew before that day:

1. How to paint;

2. That God loves us;

3. How to meet people;

4. How to get older.

YOUR TOWN

FPC’S STUDENT GOVERNMENT RECEIVES

NATIONAL AWARD

Flagler Palm Coast High School’s Student Government Association has been recognized as a 2023 National Gold Council of Excellence by the National Student Council, according to a press release.

“Exceptional student councils are a hallmark of exceptional schools,” said Ronn Nozoe, the CEO of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which is the National Student Council’s parent organization. “The Flagler Palm Coast High School council has taken student leadership to the next level, creating a culture promoting scholarship and citizenship that resonates far beyond their team. I’m delighted to recognize their hard work with the National Gold Council of Excellence Award for their commitment to service, leadership and uplifting the voices of their peers.”

A student council must meet a variety of criteria to earn the National Council of Excellence Award.

In addition to basic requirements such as a written constitution, regular meetings and a democratic election process, the councils must have demonstrated successful sponsorship and participation in activities such as leadership development and service to the school and community.

FPC Principal Bobby Bossardet was not surprised by the award.

“Our Student Government Association models exceptional student leadership and portrays all the true characteristics of what it means to be a Bulldog,” Bossardet said. “We are extremely proud of this recognition and look forward to watching them continue to set the standard for student leadership in public education.”

FPC was also named a Gold Medallion Council at the Florida Association of Student Councils’ state conference.

FPC placed third in the Parliamentary Procedure Competition, second in Faculty and Staff with Autumn Adventure, second in Community with

PETS UP FOR ADOPTION

The Flagler Humane Society is located at 1 Shelter Drive, off U.S. 1 in Palm Coast. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adoption fees vary based on the animal, and the shelter has both dogs and cats up for adoption.

Anyone who is interested in adopting or has questions about the process can contact the Humane Society at 386-445-1814 or apply online at flaglerhumanesociety.org.

The more I think about this odd bit of Luke logic, the more I like it. Maybe each year, as long as we learn one thing, we can call it a successful trip around the sun. It helps to keep expectations manageable. And if you end up learning two things, you’re well on your way.

Of course, that begged the next question.

“Now that you’re 5,” I asked, “what’s the fifth thing?”

“Now I know more math problems, like 6+9,” he said. He thought for a minute, seemed to realize he hadn’t learned that one yet, and changed his mind: “I mean, 10+10. That’s 20.”

Luke turned to my wife, Hailey, and said, “I’ll give you a hard math problem: 1,000+100+6.”

She replied, “It’s 1,106.”

Luke’s jaw dropped.

It’s been one of his obsessions lately, asking people math problems. When his siblings aren’t responsive, he asks Google instead.

“Hey, Google, what’s 116 plus 116?” he asked one day at lunch time.

That soothing voice replied: “332.”

Luke decided for a real test: “Hey,

the Share Table Project, first place in the Technology Project with Why FPC SGA, first place in Citizenship Development with Dude. Be nice, and first place in School Service with the Literacy Week project.

At the Southern Association of Student Councils Conference, FPC placed in all projects that were submitted — one in first place, three in second place, and one in third place.

FPC’s student council has created and implemented 92 projects this past school year.

GABE BRECKENRIDGE NAMED STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

The Flagler County Rotary Club recognized Matanzas High School senior Gabe Breckenridgåe as its April Student Athlete of the Month at its regular meeting on April 11, according to a Rotary Club press release.

Breckenridge is a varsity baseball player who plays shortstop for the Pirates. He has earned an associate degree from Daytona State College and will enter Mississippi Valley State University in the fall to play baseball and study pre-law. His community service includes volunteering for the Palm Coast Little League.

Google, what’s the square root of 19?”

Google either misunderstood or didn’t know the answer and decided to dodge it. The voice said, “In the NFC Championship Game on ...”

In an exasperated tone, rolling his eyes like his older siblings do, Luke said, “Google, stop!” We tried to make Luke’s fifth birthday a special one, but he did a good job of that on his own.

After tossing a candy wrapper on the floor, he said to his 8-year-old sister, Kennedy: “I don’t have to pick it up because it’s my birthday.”

Then, in case Kennedy hadn’t

As he continued his attentiongrabbing birthday-boy routine, Kennedy taught him a lesson of her own.

“You said when you were 4 that you were going to practice, so that when you turned 5, you wouldn’t make any bad choices anymore,” she said.

Luke was surprisingly shaken by her reminder. Apparently the two of them had actually discussed this goal.

I was happy that Kennedy was trying to help him make good choices and that Luke’s heart was pointed toward goodness.

But even Kennedy didn’t realize that she was asking the impossible: to always make good choices.

Luke, seeming to suddenly comprehend the limits of not only his own soul but of all mankind, cried out, “I just can’t!”

The next morning, on the way to school, I asked Luke about his pact with Kennedy to never make any bad choices, after the age of 5. I reassured him: “All we can do is try. And then, try again.”

That’s my 44th thing.

MENTORING PROGRAM OPENS BUNNELL CHAPTER

The mentoring and ministry program Truth in Nature has opened a new chapter in Bunnell.

The Bunnell chapter is one of 22 chapters across 12 states for Truth In Nature — a nonprofit, outdoor mentorship and ministry program for fatherless boys, according from a press release from Truth in Nature.

The program is designed for middle- to high school-age boys from a single-parent or fatherless home.

Boys can expect to engage with mentors in an outdoor setting while being led to become a Christian man

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VETERAN OF THE WEEK

and positive member of the community, according to the press release.

The program’s mentors will take groups of boys for outdoor activities like camping and fishing.

The Bunnell chapter has a full calendar of events planned over the course of the year, including inshore fishing on April 22 as its next event, and a day at Split Oaks Farm in May.

Parents or boys interested in the program should contact Program Director David Emery at david.emery@ truthinnature.org or call 386-2066424.

Earl Presley

 Branch of military: U.S. Navy  Dates of service: 1974-1978  Rank/occupation: Seaman / Fire Control Technician, Musician, Vocalist  Hometown: Bartow, Florida Earl Presley enlisted in the Navy as a Fire Control Technician and was assigned to the USS Ponce. Midway through his tour, the Navy decided to capitalize on Presley’s talent as a musician and vocalist. He was transferred to the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet Band and traveled extensively, performing for troops and civilian audiences alike. Following his honorable service, he received a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in theological studies. He has spent his entire adult life teaching, pastoring and generally striving to help others succeed. He is the recipient of many awards for his talents and is quite proud of being the 1988 Dallas District Metropolitan Opera Auditions winner. He retired to Palm Coast in 2016 from Waco, Texas, with his wife, Renee. He formerly owned a guitar store and taught music in Waco. Presley is a member of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 86, in Palm Coast, where, in partnership, he is launching a chapter of Guitars 4 Vets, or GV4. GV4 is a program created to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder learn how to play guitar and heal through the power of music. If you are interested in learning more, contact DAV Chapter 86 at 386-439-2122.

NEED HELP WITH VETERAN SERVICES?

For information about benefits and support organizations for veterans, call 386-313-4014.

Lucy

Pippy is an 11-year-old female domestic short-hair mix that was recently surrendered to the shelter.

is a 3-year-old female. She is a timid domestic short-hair that would thrive better in a quiet household.

Abracadabra is a 7-year-old lap cat. She is very shy at first, but warms up to people quickly.

Courtesy photo Flagler Palm Coast’s Student Government Association members pose for a picture in the cafeteria prior to set-up for the homecoming dance.

Image courtesy of Truth in Nature

The Bunnell chapter of Truth in Nature.

Photo by Brian McMillan Luke turned 5 and now knows five things.

Matanzas High unveils new lab for marketing and finance programs

“This is very exciting to have a space for students to take their education beyond high school. It will let students explore their passion in business and prepare for college and future careers.”

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Matanzas High School Assistant

Principal Sara Novak remembers when the school’s new marketing lab was an overstuffed storage room.

“You couldn’t even walk in,” she said.

On Thursday, April 13, Matanzas hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the lab, which replicates a business office for the high school’s marketing and finance programs as well as the school’s DECA chapter.

“I’m really excited to put it into use,” said Julie Davis, Matanzas’ marketing instructor and DECA advisor. “All year, I’ve heard, ‘When are we going to use the fancy room?’”

The lab consists of four connected areas — a waiting area, a boardroom, an office space and a brainstorming area — designed by Flagler Schools Coordinator of Innovation Joey DiPuma and his team.

“We designed it in zones,” DiPuma said. “We have an introverted area, an extroverted area and collaborative areas, because everyone has their own learning styles and their own work styles.”

Jeremy Ossler, Matanzas’ Career and Technical Education coordinator, said the lab was more than five

years in the making.

“We modeled this after Stetson University’s Centurion Sales Program,” he said. “We visited them several times in their College of Business Administration, and then we took that to model this space.”

The lab provides an interactive space for students in Matanzas’ three-year marketing and finance programs.

The students will use the lab to train and prepare for their certification is Salesforce, “which is highly used in the industry and is very popular,” Ossler said.

Students who complete the program will also be eligible for Florida Bright Futures Gold Seal Vocational Scholarships to continue their education in those fields, he said.

“The Centurion Sales Program is a great example of bridging gaps between theory and practice, and that’s exactly the hands-on, realworld opportunity we want to bring

to our students at Matanzas,” Ossler said at the ceremony.

Flagler Schools Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt and Matanzas Principal Kristin Bozeman cut the ribbon on the lab.

“I’m so excited,” Mittelstadt said.

“I can’t thank the technology team enough for all of their support to make this happen. The students who are experiencing this, oh my goodness, this is all for you, and I’m just so excited to see the things that come from this.”

Bozeman said educators often hear teenagers ask, “When am I ever going to use this in life?”

“I don’t think anyone can stand in a classroom that looks like this and wonder when someone is going to use this in life,” she said. “To be able to have a space that students can come in and be inspired and feel that vision of themselves in the future working in business and working in marketing is incredibly powerful.”

The first-year principal thanked her predecessor, Jeff Reaves, who is now the district’s director of teacher and learning, for shepherding the project’s progression.

DECA chapter president Natalie Plambeck and vice presidents Christa Koehler and Lexi Hixon spoke at the ceremony.

“This is very exciting to have a space for students to take their education beyond high school.” Plambeck said. “It will let students explore their passion in business and prepare for college and future careers. And we’re excited to have a space like this where we can hold our meetings, plan for competitions, campaigns and also do mock things like interviews.”

Down the hall from the lab in Building 5 is DECA’s “On Deck” student-run coffee shop, which is open three days a week.

“It is truly the students that give (‘On Deck’) life,” Bozeman said. “And I’m so appreciative to be in a district and a school where we’re able to make a facility that matches that drive and that passion.”

Also attending the ribbon-cutting were Reaves; Assistant Superintendent LaShakia Moore; District CTE Specialist Adam Blair; and staff members of the Flagler County Education Foundation, whose former executive director, the late Joe Rizzo, helped cultivate and support the project.

“To see what this room has turned into is pretty amazing,” Novak said. “The best part is the kids’ excitement. They want to do work outside in real life and not just doing projects that stay in school.”

The lab will allow students to put business skills into practice as they train for Salesforce certification.

Photos by Brent Woronoff

Matanzas DECA chapter officers: Casey Schagen, vice president for career development; Christa Koehler, vice president for marketing; Natalie Plambeck, president; and Lexi Hixon, vice president of leadership

Matanzas Principal Kristin Bozeman and Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt struggle with dull scissors to cut the ribbon on the Pirates' new marketing lab.

“To be able to have a space that students can come in and be inspired and feel that vision of themselves in the future working in business and working in marketing is incredibly powerful.”

KRISTIN BOZEMAN, Matanzas

High principal

NATALIE PLAMBECK, DECA chapter president

Connector construction could start in October Flagler

SIERRA WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

Construction may begin as soon as October on the long-awaited parkway connecting State Road 100 and U.S. 1 in Bunnell, while July could bring the completion of the S.R. 100 pedestrian bridge and trails.

Flagler County Engineer Faith

Alkhatib presented updates on the two county engineering projects — the expansion of Commerce Parkway and the pedestrian bridge across S.R. 100 — during the April 17 County Commission meeting.

The Commerce Parkway expansion project will extend the current Commerce Parkway from S.R. 100 to U.S. 1 in south Bunnell, a total of approximately 1.7 miles in length, bypassing downtown Bunnell.

Design plans will be complete in May, Alkhatib said, and the county will send out for bids over the summer with the hope of beginning construction in September or October.

“We are anticipating an 18-month construction schedule for this project,” Alkhatib said, “and this project will be completed April 2025.”

Alkhatib said the new Commerce Parkway will have speed limits of 20 mph along the existing section, but 35 mph along sections of the new connector road. It will have two 11-foot wide lanes with 8-foot shoulders — 5 feet of which will be paved — and a 5-foot sidewalk along the east side of the road.

The connecting roadway has been in the works for over 10 years, but the city and county governments hae hit snags on funding.

Because the project was shelved in 2017, Alkhatib said, the design will need to be updated.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Commission Chair Greg Hansen said. “We need this done.”

The final project cost is expected to be $14.2 million, but Flagler County has $14.93 million available for the project. That money comes from a myriad of state and county resources, Alkhatib said, including $6.8 million from legislative grants, $3.2 million from Flagler County east impact fees, $3 million from Bunnell for utility construction and $1 million from the city for general construction.

“[The new road] will enhance safety during emergencies, and also it will promote growth at this area,” Alkhatib said.

The Graham Swamp trail and pedestrian bridge has also been progressing smoothly, Alkhatib said — construction began in 2022 and is scheduled to be complete around July.

“At that time, we’ll have a big celebration,” Alkhatib said.

The new trail connects the Lehigh

Trail and cuts through Graham Swamp to S.R. 100 as part of the new Graham Swamp Trail System, according to Alkhatib’s presentation.

The trail and bridge will also connect the Graham Swamp Trail to the future proposed Bulow Creek Headwaters Park on the south side of S.R. 100.

The project is expected to cost $12 million, Alkhatib said. Most of that funding came from the federal highway department, she said.

The work includes a new sidewalk along S.R. 100 to connect to Old Kings Road, three elevated boardwalks and 1.94 miles of new trail. The pedestrian bridge is 18 feet wide, while the trail is 12 feet wide.

Commissioner David Sullivan said that the trail connections and other future projects will have a large impact on the south part of the county.

“I call it the ‘bridge of the future,’” Sullivan said. “Because it’s going to really make a tremendous difference.”

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The bait shop at the Flagler Beach pier will close on June 1.

The Flagler Beach City Commission decided at an April 13 to close the shop after City Manager Mike Abels presented a cost-benefit report to the commission.

The analysis showed that that the shop has been running at a deficit and is only projected to make $7,700 in the first five months of 2023.

Its expenses in that time frame are projected to total $31,553, costing the city’s general fund $23,838.

The commission unanimously voted to close the store starting on June 1, while the pier remains closed.

At a May 3 meeting, the City Commission will discuss whether to rent out the space after the bait shop closes.

Commissioner Scott Spradley said some people may have argued that the bait shop is still being used while the pier is closed. But, he said, the analysis doesn’t support that.

“These numbers that we are looking at offer a stark contrast in how much traffic there is over there,” Spradley said. “It’s not being used.”

The pier closed in 2022 because of damage from the two hurricanes and other storms.

The bait shop — which sells bait, souvenirs and fishing supplies — is an enterprise fund business and was directly impacted by the lack of visitors at the closed pier.

A government enterprise fund is meant to operate a business that can support itself, City Attorney Drew Smith said.

But the bait shop, according to the city’s cost-benefit analysis, has historically been subsidized by the city’s general fund.

The general fund subsidy is estimated to increase because of the pier closure, according to the analysis.

In 2019, the store made $112,192, but expenses were $82,866 higher than that, according to the analysis.

In 2022, the bait shop made $143,602, but costs exceeded revenue by $87,506.

The commission members seemed split on the idea of renting out the space for revenue over the next two years while the pier is being reconstructed.

Some commissioners wanted to explore the idea, while others were worried about the longterm effects of replacing the store, even temporarily.

Commissioner Rick Belhumeur suggested that this might be an opportunity to renovate the store and possibly turn it into more of a souvenir shop alongside a bait shop.

Commission Chair Eric Cooley and Commissioner Jane Mealy both said there is no harm in hearing out requests.

But at the same time, Cooley said, there are other concerns about having a business in that spot while the pier is under construction.

Commissioner James Sherman said the decision is not an emotional one.

“This is just something that we — as elected officials that are put here — we have to be fiscally responsible with our taxpayers’ money,” he said.

Email Sierra Williams at Sierra@ observerlocalnews.com.

Meanwhile, the new Graham Swamp trail and pedestrian bridge should be complete around July, County Engineer Faith Alkhatib said.

The bait shop has been running at a deficit, subsidized by the city’s general fund. It will close on June 1.

Map courtesy of Flagler County government

The proposed path for the expanded Commerce Parkway, connecting S.R. 100 and Highway U.S. 1.

“As elected officials that are put here, we have to be fiscally responsible with our taxpayers’ money.”

JAMES SHERMAN, city commissioner

Flagler Schools’ Future Problem Solvers shine at state TRIBUTES

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Schools had 157 students participating in the state Future Problem Solver competition on April 2-5 in Orlando.

Of those, 39 were invited to the international competition June 7-11 at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Four more will join the group in the Multi-Affiliate Global Issues (MAGIC) Competition.

All 43 competitors, plus chaperones and coaches, will fly together to internationals for the first time, said Indian Trails Middle teacher and FPS coach Beth Blumengarten.

“Amy Kopach and I always dreamed of the county going as one, and that’s finally going to happen,” Blumengarten said.

Kopach is the Flagler County FPS board chair and a Matanzas and ITMS coach.

Matanzas High School senior Ben Kopach was the opening ceremony speaker at state. Kopach has won multiple state and international competitions since he began participating in Future Problem Solvers as a fifth grader.

Kopach will be competing in one more international competition for his individual Community Problem Solving project, Help Wanted.

ITMS student Holden Carleton became the first Flagler middle school student to win first place in Scenario Performance.

Here’s a breakdown of Flagler County’s results at state:

MATANZAS HIGH

Number of students attended states: 11. Number of students invited to internationals: 8.

„ Community Problem

Solving: 1st place: Individual Project, Help Wanted: Ben Kopach (with an invitation to the International Competition). 1st place: Team Project, Just SCREAM: (Lily Lisowski,

Olivia Chochev, Eva Luis, Donald Khek, Lorraine Wilson, Ava Muldoon, and Megan Rhee) (with an Invitation to the International Competition).

1st place: Individual Project, Food Allergy Awareness: Matt Carleton.

„ Global Issues Team Writing: 6th place: Olivia Chochev, Eva Luis, Lily Lisowski, Lily Ames. 4th place: Matt Carleton, Ava Muldoon, Megan Rhee, Amy Leonardi.

„ Presentation of Action

Plan: 5th place: Olivia Chochev, Eva Luis, Liliy Lisowski, Lily Ames, Donanl Khek.

„ MAGIC (Multi-Affili -

ate Global Issues Problem Solving Competition)

Team Writing: Middle Division — 3rd place: Donald Khek.

INDIAN TRAILS MIDDLE

Number of students attended states: 62. Students invited to internationals: 17.

„ Community Problem

Solving: 2nd Place (Education) Leader League: Grace Brocksmith, Karolyn Whitney, Peyton Cerasi, Maya Swierczynski, Maddie Butts, Ava Anderson. 1st Place (Education) with an International Invite, Project MESS: Ryan Castro, Tony Pacilli, Sean Barnes, Mason Gamble, Giles Platt, Tristan Norman, Will Wells. 1st Place (Civic & Culture) with an International Invite, Tuned

In: Isaiah Jack, Alex Berenblit, Garrett Tucker, Paris Milton, Riley Eidman, Kendall Willis, Ellah Cherry, Wesley Kopach, Kashvi Sagar. 2nd Place (Civic & Culture)

Project LOVE: Wyatt Davis, Willa Ames, Sam D’Ascheberg.

„ MAGIC Team Writing:

Juniors: 5th Place – Chase

Renuart. 4th Place – Maddy Aguilar. Middles: 5th Place –Alex Berenblit, Maddie Butts, Jacob Gibson, Maya Swierczynski. 4th Place – Jordan Wilson, Anri Gagoshidze, Tristan Norman, Allie Sims. 3rd Place

– Eliana Mendez, Kiley Golding. 2nd Place – Macie Araujo, Alena Karanas, Lilly Rodrigue, Chloe Ascone. 1st Place – Sydney Mahon, Mason Gamble, Kashvi Sagar.

„ Presentation of Action

Plan: 4th Place: Sam, Wyatt, Giles, Tony, Allie, Eliana, Lilly.

„ Scenario Writing: 5th Place – Holden Carleton.

„ Scenario Performance: Middle Division 1st Place with International Invite: Holden Carleton.

RYMFIRE ELEMENTARY

Number of students attended states: 22. Students invited to internationals: 7.

„ Community Problem

Solving: 1st Place Junior: Team Project, Project Helpers: (Roman Lipkovich, Eli Christlieb, Lilly Raad, Bella Glasco, Katelyn Castello, Aaliyah Auriemma and Cameron Short) (with an international invited). 2nd Place Junior: Team Project, The Achievers: (Monica Vazques, Khubseerat Zafar, Ben Johnsen, Brady Rezendes, Lily Niemann, Tanner Mckinney, Skylar Weston, Kate Zapata, & Benjamin Hurley). 3rd Place Junior: Team Project, Reading Rescuers: (Piper Burford, Priya Vargas, Mackenzie MacDonald, Alina Syniuk, Mia Puccio, Wilhelm Skutans, Brenden ScarboughSanders).

„ Presentation of Action

Plan: 6th Place Junior: Piper Burford, Mackenzie MacDonald, Brady Rezendes, Cameron Short, Brenden ScarboughSanders, Benjamin Hurley and Tanner McKinney.

„ MAGIC Team Writing: Juniors: 5th Place – Roman Lipkovich. 4th Place – Mackenzie MacDonald, Kubseerat Zafar. 3rd Place — Eli Christlieb. 2nd Place — Bella Glasco. 1st Place — Piper Burford.

FLAGLER PALM COAST

Number of students attended states: 47. Students invited to internationals: 5.

„ Global Issues Team Writing: Middle Division: 7th Place — Abigail Blumengarten, Ava Mello, Arianna Slaughter, Victoria, DaSilva-Carvalheira. Senior Division: 4th Place — Kyra Baldwin, Ella Oshri, Brendan Wang, Jack Gilvary. 2nd Place — Jake Blumengarten, Madelin Sims, Hailey Tucker, Jack Mikutel (with international invite).

„ Presentation of Action

Plan: Middle Division: 1st Place - Abigail Blumengarten, Ava Mello, Arianna Slaughter, Victoria DaSilva-Carvalheira. Senior Division: 6th Place — Hailey Tucker, Jake Blumengarten, Jack Mikutel, Madelin Sims. 3rd Place — Tristen Skinner, Tanya Feldman, Malina Hreib, Adniel Alonso. 2nd Place — Roymara Louissaint, Genesis Santiago-Gil, Cameron Driggers. Logan Shafer, Charlotte Fletcher. 1st Place — Veronica Matsikh, Summer Barnes, Nigel-Ginola Njok, Emma Coates.

„ MAGIC Team Writing: Senior Division: 2nd Place — Glynnis Gong. 1st Place — Skylar Carroll & Samantha Newell.

„ Scenario Writing: Middle Division: 1st Place Liam Lafferty (with international invited). Senior Division: 3rd Place — Jack Mikutel

„ Scenario Performance: 4th Place — Tanya Feldman.

BUDDY TAYLOR MIDDLE

SCHOOL

Number of students attended states: 15.

„ Global Issues Individual Writing: 3rd Place — Derek Payne

„ Global Issues Team Writing: 9th Place - Ethan Zverinsky, Josh Reyes, Jesus Rodriguez, Brianna Long.

„ MAGIC Team Writing: 1st Place — Kendon Reinert.

Joan

Elaine Cianfrocca 1942-2023

Joan Elaine Cianfrocca, 81, of Palm Coast, FL passed away on April 4, 2023 in Palm Coast.

Joan was born on January 7, 1942 in Auburn, New York to Percy Abbott and Verneal Abbott. She married Thomas Cianfrocca on April 1, 1959 in Madison, North Carolina. She worked as a Certified Nurses Assistant for many years, until her retirement. Joan has been a resident of Palm Coast since 2008, coming from Syracuse, New York & Daytona Beach, Florida. Joan was a member of the TOPS organization and she enjoyed bowling, playing cards, gambling and spending time with her kids & grandkids. She especially loved coaching kids bowling & her cats.

Joan is survived by her 2 daughters Teena Kelly (Gary) & Lori Dixon (David); 3 sons, James Cianfrocca (Shari), Russell Cianfrocca (Lynn) & Thomas V. Cianfrocca; 8 grandchildren, Nicole Cormier (Doug), Cheryl Ferguson (Robert), Christopher Moore (Crystal), Cody Dixon (Tiana), Joey Cianfrocca & Erika Caveda (Nicholas); 11 great grandchildren, Kayleigh, Kaitlynn (Dylan), Briggs, Jenny, Sean, D.J., Harley, Quinn, Sienna, Luca & Mason and by 1 greatgreat grandchild, Weston. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas J. Cianfrocca, her brother, Dale Abbott and by grandsons, Aaron Cianfrocca & Jarrod

She especially loved coaching kids bowling & her cats.

Cianfrocca.

A memorial service will be held at Clymer Funeral Home & Cremations, 39 Old Kings Rd., N., on Saturday April 22, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends before the service from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

The family of Mrs. Cianfrocca have entrusted her arrangements to Clymer Funeral Home & Cremations. Condolences may be left at clymerfuneralhome.com

SERVICE:

Saturday, April 22, 11 AM Clymer Funeral Home & Cremations 39 Old Kings Rd., N.

Josh Crews writing project launches anthology

One hundred and fifty Flagler County students contributed to the anthology as the project celebrated its 12th anniversary.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Twelve years ago, the Flagler Education Foundation’s Josh Crews Creative Writing Project began with about 20 elementary school students contributing to a 20-page book.

On April 11, the 2023 Josh Crews book launch at the Buddy Taylor Middle School/Wadsworth Elementary School cafeteria celebrated the publication of a 180-page anthology book with contributions from 150 students representing all of Flagler County’s Schools.

The students got to autograph the anthology and present their published works to the community. Each student received a free copy of the book.

“For some of them, they are their very first published works. For some, they’ve done this over the years,” said Maryiotti Johnson, the Ed Foundation’s finance and operations director.

The works are mostly fiction and include poetry and short stories as well as illustrations, all created by students. The cover was designed by a Flagler Palm Coast High School student from a digital media design class.

“I think we’re the only county in the state that has a creative writing club in each school,” said Teresa Rizzo, the Ed Foundation’s executive director. “Mostly in the classroom, writing focuses on opinion or informational writing, and students don’t really get a chance to do creative writing. So, it’s such a great opportunity for them to be able to express themselves. And most students who write aren’t students who (like to perform). They’re more of

YA author speaks at FPC event

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Young adult novelist Tiffany Rosenhan stopped at Flagler Palm Coast High School this month as part of her Florida tour speaking to students.

Rosenhan is the author of the spy thriller, “Girl from Nowhere,” which has no relation to the Netflix series of the same name. She describes the story as a James Bond movie with a teenage female protagonist.

She spoke to two classes of students in FPC’s media center followed by a group consisting of members of the school’s book club and the Josh Crews Creative Writing Club.

said. Don’t write digitally, or you’ll be tempted to make changes and corrections, she added.

When you’re done, she said, read it. You’ll see it’s even worse than you thought, but then you’ll pick out some glimmering words. Pull out the words that sparkle and discard the rest, she said.

that quiet, creative person. So, it’s an opportunity for them to express their thoughts and creativity in writing.”

The project was named for Josh Crews, a Flagler County resident who was a prolific writer and reader. Crews died in 2010 at age 34.

This year, Crews’ nephew, Cullen Crews, a fourth-grader, was published in the book. He is the first member of the Crews family to be published as part of the project.

“It’s really a legacy carrying on,” Rizzo said. “We’re proud to have him in the book. It’s an awesome experience for his family and for him as well.”

Cullen Crews, Derik Hardesty and Anderson Smith all read their stories from the anthology on Flagler Broadcasting’s WNZF.

The 2023 anthology can be purchased for $20 from the Ed Foundation. Go to flagleredfoundation.org/ how-to-help/donate.html and click on 2023 JDC Anthology Book on “Which programs are you Helping?”

Rosenhan lives in Millcreek, Utah, with her husband — who is a critical care physician — and their four daughters, ages 16, 14, 12 and 8. She started writing stories every day when her oldest daughter was a baby, but at the time, she said, she never thought of herself as an author.

A political science major at the University of Utah, Rosenhan said she thought at the time of becoming a UN diplomat or working for the CIA, maybe becoming Black Widow.

While she will never have superpowers, she said, she does have the ability to be in two places at once. That’s because she has a twin sister.

Rosenhan urged the high school students to embrace creative writing to better understand who they are and to better process their feelings and emotions.

“The stories we write are valuable whether we write them for ourselves or we share them with others,” she said. She discussed writer’s block and shared an exercise to overcome it. Write five minutes a day with pen and paper as terribly as you can, she

By doing this exercise every day, Rosenhan said, you’ll be giving yourself permission to begin. You’ll move on to writing more efficiently. And you’ll begin to build a neural highway that “connects your thoughts with your ability and capacity to articulate them with a pen and paper.”

If all else fails, she said, adapt to what you would do if you were on fire. In this case, stop, drop and read.

“Reading is the tool to become better, more proficient, confident writers,” she said. “I hope you’re each devouring every single book in this library, because they are your greatest resource.”

Rosenhan handed out copies of “Girl from Nowhere” to students who asked questions, or, in some cases, just asked for a book.

Jasmine Sites, president of both the book club and the Josh Crews Creative Writing Club, said she had started reading it earlier in the day.

“I need to finish it. I’m sucked in,” she said. “This book has pulled me out of my reading slump. I’ve read it through four periods, and I’m halfway through.”

When asked what she liked best about it, Sites said, “The romance, of course.”

Josh Crews Creative Writing Project contributor Carlin Blaine with Flagler County Education Foundation Executive Director Teresa Rizzo

Courtesy photo

Derik Hardesty, Anderson Smith and Cullen Crews read book excepts on Flagler Broadcasting’s WNZF Radio.

The author of the young adult spy thriller “Girl from Nowhere” spoke to two classes and members of the school’s book club and creative writing club.

Photo by Brent Woronoff Tiffany Rosenhan, author of the young adult spy thriller, “Girl From Nowhere,” speaks to Flagler Palm Coast High students in the media center on April 6.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

SHOW WINNERS

Participants were as follows, categorized by the animals they raised:

WHETHERS (MALE CASTRATED GOATS)

Micah Evensen, reserve champion, junior showmanship

Drew Medearis, grand champion, senior showmanship

HEIFERS (FEMALE COWS)

Saige Strickland

Laci Westbrook, reserve champion

Mackaylea Cody, grand champion, senior showmanship

STEERS (MALE CASTRATED COWS)

Connor Barton, junior showmanship

Mackaylea Cody, senior showmanship

Savannah Strickland, reserve champion

Madison Myers, grand champion

SHOWTIME

RABBIT SHOW WINNERS

Brylynn Rodgers, Best of Show, Best Mini

Kinley Musgrove, Best Rex

Zoey Zimmerle, Best AOV

Landon Herr, 1st Jr Showmanship

Margaret Reiter, 1st Pw Showmanship

„ Micah Evensen, 2nd Jr Showmanship

BRIAN MCMILLAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

For more than 30 years, the Flagler County Fair and Youth Show has given 4H and FFA group members a time to be celebrated for their hard work in raising animals in the winter and spring. On April 12, the weeklong festivities continued with the steer, heifer and goat show.

The show was judged by Dr. Cindy Sanders, director and livestock agent in Alachua County for the University of Florida Extension Office. Her family has been in the agriculture business for six generations. She told the audience that agriculture is the second biggest industry in Florida, behind Mickey Mouse.

“I appreciate you being involved in an industry that puts food on our table,” Sanders told the show participants.

The livestock auction was scheduled to take place Friday, April 14.

„ Emily Parks, 2nd Pw Showmanship

„ Christian Sikes, 3rd Jr Showmanship

„ Emma Lauremore, 3rd Pw Showmanship

PULLET SHOW WINNERS

„ Kinsley Robinson, Best of Show, Best

Australorp

„ Connor Barton, Best Americauna, 3rd Jr

Showmanship „ Zoey Zimmerle Best Buff Orpington

„ Coralynn Soard, 1st Jr Showmanship

„ “Liam” William Robbins, 1st Pw Showmanship

„ Hunter Robbins, 2nd Jr Showmanship

„ “Bella” Emerson Robbins, 2nd Pw Showmanship

„ Emma Lauremore, 3rd Pw Showmanship

WETHER SHOW WINNERS

„ Drew Medearis, Grand/Sr Showman

„ Micah Evensen, Reserve/Jr Showman

STEER SHOW WINNERS

„ Madison Myers, Grand

„ Savannah Strickland, Reserve

„ Mackaylea Cody, Sr Showman

„ Connor Barton, Jr Showman

HEIFER SHOW WINNERS

„ Mackaylea Cody, Grand Champion and Senior Showmanship

„ Lacy Westbrook, reserve Grand Champion

SWINE SHOW WINNERS

„ Madison Myers, Grand Champion

„ Mason Herr, Reserve Champion

„ Mackaylea Cody, Sr Showman

„ Skyler Strickland, Int Showman

„ Jaycee Harper, Jr Showman

Drew Medearis was grand champion and senior showmanship champion in the whether category.

Madison Myers was grand champion; her steer weighed 1,458 pounds.

Members of the Fair Board: Mike Boyd, Jaxon Cox, Dan Cody, Walton Cowart, Jacob Boyd, Penny Buckles, Jeanette Jones, Dowlin Cody, Kristen Hoffman, Craig Barton, Jeremy Barton

Savannah Strickland was reserve champion for her steer.

Alston Boyd dreams of showing his own steer. Your day will come.

The Robbins family: Grayson, Bella, Luke, Alli, Hunter and Liam. The three youngest are members of Southern Livestock Growers, a 4H group in Flagler County. For this year’s livestock show, they raised pullets, which are chickens under 1 year old, and all three earned showmanship awards.

Photos by Brian McMillan

ATTENTION SENIOR CITIZENS

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LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, APRIL 20

SWING INTO SPRING

CONCERT SERIES

When: 6:30-8 p.m.

Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: See The Ataraxis Experience perform at The Casements as part of the the city of Ormond Beach’s Swing into Spring concert series. There will be a food truck. Free event. Call 386-6763216.

ORMOND BEACH AREA

DEMOCRATIC CLUB

MEETING

When: 7 p.m.

Where: 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: The April meeting of the Ormond Beach Area Democratic Club will be held in person, with social visiting starting at 6:30 p.m. The guest speaker will be Danny Fuqua, new Florida Democrat ic Party state committeeman. Like-minded nonmembers are welcome to attend as guests. Visit ormondbeachdems.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

‘BARNUM’

When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, April 21, 22, 28, 29, May 5 and 6; 2 p.m. Sundays April 23, 30 and May 7

Where: Flagler Playhouse, 301 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell

Details: See “Barnum,” the story of P.T. Barnum told in a musical portrait, at the Flagler Playhouse. Tickets cost $30 for adults; $25 for students. Visitflaglerplayhouse.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

FLORIDA’S FEMALE

PIONEERS

When: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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

Details: Historian Peggy MacDonald will speak about some of the women who shaped Florida. Program is presented by the Ormond Beach Historical Society. Free and open to the public.

EARTH DAY

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

Where: Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center, 601 Division Ave., Ormond Beach

Details: The city of Ormond Beach is hosting a tree giveaway drive-thru as well as guided nature walks, guest presentations, and more at the Environmental Discovery Center in honor of Earth Day. Proof of residency is required to receive a tree.

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 6400 N. Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast

Details: Washington Oaks Garden State Park is hosting its annual Earth Day event, featuring live entertainment, vendors, a kids section and more. Entrance to the park costs $5 per vehicle.

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

‘WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES’

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Flagler Auditorium, 5500 S.R. 100, Palm Coast

Details: See this tribute band perform Doobies hits spanning both the Johnston and McDonald eras. Tickets cost $40-$50. Visit flaglerauditorium.org.

THURSDAY,

SPRING BIRD

WALKS WITH JOAN TAGUE

When: 8 a.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center, 601 Division Ave., Ormond Beach

Details: Join Master Naturalist Joan Tague, of Halifax River Audubon, for a casual bird walk along the trails in Central Park. Bring water. Walking shoes and sunscreen are recommended.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3

‘OIL PAINTING WITH A KNIFE’

When: 9 a.m. to noon May 3, 10, 17 and 24

Where: Art League of Daytona Beach, 433 S. Palmetto Ave., Daytona Beach

Details: Take this fourweek series of classes with instructor Trish Beckham. The class is for intermediate and advanced painters and costs $150 for members and $170 for non-members. The deadline to register is Friday, April 28. Visit artleague.org/ classes.

ONGOING ORMOND BEACH ART

GUILD SPRING EXHIBIT

When: April 4-27

Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond

See the Ormond Beach Art Guild’s spring exhibit at The Casements, featuring paintings in several mediums. Most are available for purchase. The Casements is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MondayFriday and 8 a.m. to noon on

Saturdays. For more information, call Marilyn Dorinson at 386-274-9963 or Maureen Bridger at 386-846-5517. For a preview of the works, visit The Casements’ Facebook page.

‘THE WAY I SEE IT’

When: through April 22

Where: Art League of Daytona Beach, 433 S. Palmetto Ave., Daytona Beach

Details: See this exhibit featuring abstract, surrealist and impressionist art by Florida artists. Visit artleague.org.

VOLUSIA COUNTY SENIOR SOFTBALL

When: 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays

Where: Derbyshire Park and Sports Complex, 849 Derbyshire Road, Daytona Beach

Details: This 50-and-older men’s senior softball league is now forming. It’s both recreational and competitive. Call Joe Daly at 954-732-0992 or visit nsbseniorsoftball.com.

EXERCISES FOR THE MATURING

BODY

When: 10:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays

Where: First Baptist Church of Palm Coast, 6050 Palm Coast Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: Attend upbeat classes presented by Synergy Senior Fitness and taught by Senior Fitness Specialist Artie Gardella. Classes are ongoing. Insurances that cover fitness accepted, or a donation for those with no coverage. Visit Synergyseniorfitness.com.

MOAS EXHIBITIONS

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Museum of Arts and Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach

Details: Want to spend a day looking at fine art? The Museum of Arts and Sciences has the following shows on display: “It’s a Kite Thing: Florida Women’s Arts Association”; “A Treasury of Indian and Persian Miniature Paintings”; “Curiosities from the Collection” and “Sensations: Florida Artists Group Statewide Exhibition.”

‘Dance doesn’t lie’

Grace, power and creativity in the spotlight.

BRIAN MCMILLAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Truth was told, at the FPC Dance Company Spring Concert, on April 13, on the Flagler Auditorium stage. Dance “is a universal language,” instructor Janice Monsanto said after the show. “I’ve had students who were deaf, who were blind, who could still communicate through their body. Dance doesn’t lie. It teaches young people about truth and honesty. When you dance, you can’t fake it.”

Monsanto teaches 120 students in six classes per day at FPC; 60 of the students participated in the show.

The following seniors were honored in a video at the end of the show: Zionni Butler, Alexis Debone, Liza Guseva, Kiara Jackson, Lyric Kelley, Alana Oshesky, Cristina Pruna, Amaris Rodriguez, Emma Schwen, Midlyne Thomas, Madison Wade and Shyleigh LeBlanc.

The show’s choreographers included Monsanto and five alumnae, who helped expose the students to the latest trends in music and moves: Jada Hathaway and Ruth Rodriguez, Class of 2021; and Janelle

Hodgson, Alexandra Khoriakov and Alexandra Reiter, Class of 2022. The show’s technical director was Jack Neiberlein, with Cole Sever as sound director. Praising the Flagler Auditorium and Neiberlein, Monsanto said, “We are truly blessed with this facility and the patience he has with me.”

Lucy Noble, Christine Koblensky, Terri Williams, Helena Hreib, Wendy Mudd and the Flagler/Palm Coast Kiwanis Club were given special thanks for their volunteer work. Top Dogs of 2023, for their work with the FPC Dance Company fundraiser,

were Jayde Hurley, Kristina Serrano and Matilda Noble. The FPC

theater group will perform “Carousel” on May 11-13.

Photos by Brian McMillan

Baylee Rogan, in “Louise’s Ballet,” a preview for the FPC theater production of “Carousel,” May 11-13 at the Flagler Auditorium, choreographed by Janice Monsanto

Janice Monsanto teaches 120 students in six classes per day at FPC.

“Evergreen,” choreographed and danced by Class of 2021 alumna Kyla Owen, who now dances at Florida State University

The seniors pose with Amaris Rodriguez, who attends class “with a big smile” every day, in her wheel chair, said Janice Monsanto. Rodriguez also makes TikTok videos of the other dancers and has gained a large following. “We love that she wants to perform with us,” Monsanto said.

“To the One I Love,” choreographed and danced by Emma Schwen, Kerry O’Connell and Alexa Gonzalez

“If You Wanna,” choreographed and danced by Ruth Rodriguez

“Dance teaches young people about truth and honesty. When you dance, you can’t fake it.”

JANICE MONSANTO, Instructor

Turtle and tortoise fans take over for Turtle Fest

The Flagler and Volusia Turtle Patrol also released a juvenile green sea turtle back into the wild.

The 2023 Turtle Fest took over Veterans Park in Flagler Beach on April 15.

The festival, now in its 15th year, was hosted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by the Volusia and Flagler Turtle Patrol and finished with Turtle Patrol volunteers releasing a rescued juvenile green sea turtle back into the wild as beachgoers cheered.

The festival included educational exhibits, bounce houses, live music and belly dance performances.

The Turtle Patrol also set up enclosures with three different kinds of turtles and and tortoises for attendees to view, including African spur thigh tortoises Thomas and Streaker.

Local artists and small business owners, including Something to Craft About, All Washed Up and Sweetwater Photography, displayed their crafts.

The festival took place just weeks before the start of sea turtle nesting season, which begins May 1 and runs through Oct. 31.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Hannah Maurice, 1, is more interested in splashing her hands than she is in the turtles.

Photos by Sierra Williams

Denise Ellis, of Sweetwater Photography.

Gina Newman, director of Blue Lotus World Dance, performs a belly dance.

A Turtle Patrol volunteer releases a juvenile green sea turtle back into sea.

Samantha Lilly and the Brown siblings — Karl, 2, Tina, 5, and Jeanette, 11.

Henry Row, 5, pets a turtle.

Beachgoers lined the beach to see a juvenile sea turtle released.

Thomas was one of three tortoises available for viewing.

SPORTS

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

F

Spruce Creek won the girls title by just 2.5 points over FPC, 169 to 166.5. The Seabreeze girls (84 points) finished fourth behind third-place DeLand (93). Mainland (42.5) was seventh. FPC’s boys won seven individual and relay titles and collected 167 points to beat out second-place Mainland (138). Seabreeze (73) was fifth behind Spruce Creek (93) and Atlantic (88).

The Bulldogs won titles in all phases of the boys’ competition.

Robert Harris won the boys long jump (21 feet, 1.25 inches). Ashton Bracewell (156-7 in discus) and Jake Blumengarten (51-1.5 in shot put) won throwing titles.

Zach Spooner (4:26.49 in the 1,600 meters) and Kamron Davis (1:57.63 in the 800) won distance events. Isaiah

Joseph won the 400 hurdles (54.85 seconds), and Joseph, Dennis Murray, Thomonte Curry and DZ Steward won the 4x400 relay.

The 4x400 team set a PR of 3:16.59. The Bulldogs are now ranked third in Class 4A, but they are just half a second behind leader Miami Columbus.

Bracewell set a personal discus record and is now ranked fifth in Class 4A, while Blumengarten is ranked fourth in shot put, two spots ahead of teammate Colby Cronk, who placed second (48-10) at the Five Star.

Joseph set a PR in the 400 hurdles with the eighth-best time in Class 4A this season. He beat secondplace Damarcus Creecy of Mainland by 3.41 seconds and believes he still has room for improvement before the state meet on May 20.

“The last hurdle, I jumped too early,” he said. “I’m really optimistic about the 400 hurdles. I want to break the school record of 53.95.”

Joseph has been working on lowering his time recently after concentrating more on the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.

“We’ve been working on the first 200 (meters) in practice,” he said. “I try to get to the first hurdle before

lagler Palm Coast won the Five Star Conference boys track and field championship for a record 16th time on Wednesday, April 12, at the Bulldogs’ stadium.„ District 6-3A (Seabreeze, Mainland) at East River High School, Orlando, April 19.

„ District 4-3A (Matanzas) at St. Augustine High School, April 26.

„ District 3-4A (FPC) at Flagler Palm Coast High School, April 26.

Spooner, who transferred from Matanzas after winter break, said he is happy to be in a competitive environment with a group of talented distance runners. His teammates are happy the senior has joined their fold.

“He’s been our biggest supporter,” said Jack Gilvary, who placed fifth with a PR time of 4:33.69. “We’re targeting a state championship, and Zach’s leading the way for our distance guys.”

FPC’s Braedyn Wormeck finished second behind Spooner with a PR of 4:28.82.

“It’s my first time running under 4:30,” Wormeck said. “(Spooner) had a great kick. I knew if I was following him, I’d have a good finish.”

FPC’s Davis broke his PR by nearly four seconds in the 800 and edged teammate Brandon Kalasnik by nine-tenths of a second. Kalasnik was the runner-up.

“I started getting out faster,” Davis said. “I stayed with Brandon. He always goes out fast.”

Mainland won the boys 4x800 relay with a school-record time of 8:14.86. After winning RunMatanzas with an 8:17.09 four days earlier, the Bucs’ Seth Sawyer, Khalil Wilmore, Jack Mathis and Logan Camara shattered the old school mark of 8:16.58.

The Bucs took four of the top five places in the 110 hurdles with Jonathan Williams, ranked second in the state in Class 3A, winning in 14.47. Mainland’s Emmanuel Yisrael (15.20) and Damarcus Creecy (15.25) were second and third. Marquis McCants was fifth. Yisrael and Creecy are also ranked among the top 12 in 3A.

“He’s been our biggest supporter. We’re targeting a state championship, and Zach’s leading the way for our distance guys.”

Seeing double? Mackenize Roy leads her twin sister, Arianna Roy, by a step in the 1,600-meter run. Mackenzie finished second, while Arianna was fourth.

Mainland’s Cameron Boatright set a PR in the boys 400 meters with a 48.48. Boatright is ranked fourth in the event in Class 3A but finished second to Atlantic’s Aiden Dixon — the third fastest 400 runner in all classifications. Dixon ran a 46.80. Mainland placed second, third and fourth in the high jump with Zavier Mincey (second) and Zion Noralus (third) both jumping 6 feet and three-quarters of an inch. The Bucs were also second in the 4x100 relay with Williams, Jontrell Edwards, Creecy and Boatright running 43.40. Seabreeze’s Levi Hayworth was second in the javelin (165-8) with teammate Chandler Mitzo (159-6) third.

ROY BREAKS SCHOOL MARK Seabreeze’s MacKenzie Roy lowered her own school record in the girls 1,600 with a 5:06.58 to finish second behind Spruce Creek’s Olivia Niewald (5:05.76). The Sandcrabs’ 4x800 relay team of Kristin Glaezner, Nickole Dane, Arianna Roy and Mackenzie Roy knocked about 16 seconds off its PR to win the event in 9:45.12. The foursome is now ranked sixth in 3A.

“We’re putting in the work, because we know we have the potential to get better,” Mackenzie Roy said. “We all ran the best splits we have all year.”

Mackenzie Roy also finished second in the 3,200 behind Niewald, who swept the three distance runs. Arianna Roy finished fourth in the 1,600 and third in the 800. Mackenzie paces her identical twin in the 1,600 as well as in their cross country races.

“She likes to run right behind me, so the gap doesn’t get too big,” Mackenzie said. “I try not to let her pass.”

FPC’s Maya Tyson won the girls shot put with a 35-4. Bulldogs freshman Karina Marcelus won the 100 hurdles (15.72), finished second in the 400 hurdles (1:09.49) and placed

Photos by Brent Woronoff

Mainland’s Marquis McCants placed 14th overall in the 400 hurdles. McCants placed fifth in the 110 hurdles in the Five Star meet at FPC.

third in both the long jump and triple jump.

FPC won the girls 4x100 relay with Summer Barnes, Fabiola LaPlante, Jada Dotson and Taylor Spann finishing in 49.56 seconds, 1.2 seconds ahead of Mainland’s Amyah Watlington, Kiera Williams, Jamelia McCoy and Gabrielle Lett.

The Bulldogs also won the girls 4x400 relay with Barnes, Cassidy De Young, LaPlante and Ma’shuyn Jeffers crossing the finish in 4:11.47. Barnes finished second in the 200 meters (25.55) and third in the 100 (12.66), Spann finished second in both triple jump (34-5) and 100 hurdles (16.49) and FPC’s Zoey Gotera placed second in javelin (84-5).

Seabreeze’s Xavier Lucas (370) runs in a boys 400-meter heat.

FPC senior Zach Spooner (168) won the 1,600-meter run by over two seconds with fellow Bulldog Braedyn Wormeck finishing second.

FPC’s Taylor Spann finished 13th in the 400 hurdles after finishing second in the 100 hurdles at the Five Star Conference championships.

FPC boys win record 16th Five Star Conference track and field championship.

anyone else. My coach says as long as you get to the 200 in 25 seconds, it sets you up for the rest of the race.”

DISTRICT MEETS

JACK

GILVARY, on fellow FPC distance runner Zach Spooner.

Mother Nature prevails at Florida East Coast Senior All-Star Classic

MICHELE MEYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mother Nature kicked off the annual Florida East Coast Senior All-Star Classic with a 60-minute heavy rain and lightning delay at the Daytona State College soccer stadium on Thursday, April 13.

Two teams, each consisting of 22 coach-nominated high school seniors, eventually took the field. With 12:28 remaining in the first half and a tie score of 0-0, lightning prevailed and abruptly ended the battle.

“Mother Nature 2, All-Stars 0,” event creator Reg Monsanto joked.

Monsanto started the college showcase because the state all-star game had traditionally been held five to seven hours away. Logistically, it made it tough for local area soccer players to attend. He decided to launch one for Flagler and Volusia county high schools at the Indian Trails Sports Complex. It worked.

Eventually, it outgrew the space and wound up at Matanzas High

School, where Monsanto is currently an assistant soccer coach.

He jumped at the chance to play on a college field when DSC’s soccer coach invited him to hold the game at the Falcons’ facility.

“The environment is good for these kids,” Monsanto said. “It’s a

are coming to watch.”

DSC president Tom LoBasso said that when DSC built the facility, it was meant to be used to host special community events in addition to the college’s sporting events and gatherings. His son Tommy LoBasso played in the All-Star game.

“I wanted to finish the game,” the University High player said. “It was a good game. You just adapt to the differences and just see how they play during the game and go with the flow.”

a predominantly football- and baseball-oriented town. Five years in, the club grew to over 2,000 kids. The Powells moved to Palm Coast after their children went to college, and, two years ago, the couple started the Palm Coast club.

“My grandkids followed me over to Palm Coast,” Jim Powell said. “When I saw my grandkids coming into it, I just wanted to create that culture my family had. That’s kind of how I decided.”

regulation size field compared with high school. For some of them, it’s the last time they will play in an environment like this, and for others, it’s a showcase. College coaches

For two years, the Inter-United Soccer Club of Palm Coast has participated in the event by having a group of its young players walk out with the seniors onto the field in a traditional pregame ceremony usually performed at international soccer matches.

Jim and Jennie Powell founded the club in Apopka in 1997 to bring soccer culture to what was, at that time,

Powell also is an assistant soccer coach at Matanzas High School with Monsanto, who is on Inter-United’s board. Both of them believe soccer is a family affair. Monsanto’s son Nathan coaches at Stetson University. His son Nick coaches at Bolles High School and his dad still refs at the age of 81.

“Soccer is like another language, literally, that we can utilize around the world,” Jim Powell said.

Matanzas’ GC Gonzales dribbles the ball in the Florida East Coast Senior All-Star Classic on April 13.

The players in the Florida East Coast Senior All-Star Classic line up for the national anthem before the game at Daytona State College.

FPC goalie Francisco Cruz and Spruce Creek goalie Ethan Houle joke around after playing “rock, paper, scissors” to decide who will start the game.

FPC’s Grayson Ronk (10) chases the ball in the annual Florida East Coast Senior All-Star Classic at Daytona State College.

Local high school senior soccer players take the field in an all-star showcase at the Daytona State College soccer stadium.

Matanzas High’s Cole Hash hits his ‘magic number’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tition at the Class 2A state meet on April 15 in Lakeland.

Hash hit a personal-record 345 pounds on his second bench press attempt. Fleming Island’s Jered Rhodes matched that on his final bench press to take a 15-pound advantage for total weight in the clean and jerk and bench press lifts.

“The funny thing was, like 20 minutes before, me and (assistant coach Jeremy Ossler) were in the stands talking, and he said ‘360 is your magic number,’” Hash said. “We didn’t even know what the kid from Fleming Island was going to finish with. But it happened to be. So, God works in mysterious ways.”

Hash and Rhodes each finished with a 650-pound total.

Hash only needed to tie Rhodes to win the title since he weighed in at 195.4 pounds, eight-tenths of a pound lighter than Rhodes, giving Hash the potential tie-breaker.

Hash had no trouble benching 345 on his second attempt. It felt light, he said. And then on his final lift, as soon as he held the bar, he knew the title was his.

“Coming off the rack, I had it at that top position and I just knew right then and there, click, ‘I’m going to get this. I’m going to win this thing,’” he said. “So being able to get (the bar) off my chest and just have it be pretty light and then being able to turn around and see those three white lights was just an amazing feeling.”

The weight on the bar did not pose too much of a problem, but the weight of the moment hit him, and he burst into tears.

“I started bawling my eyes out,” he said. “It was a fantastic feeling, having my mom and my dad there. They were both crying. I was crying. It was just great. It was something I’ve worked my butt off for three years being in (the Pirates’ weight room), putting my blood, sweat and tears into it, literally. I mean coming back and winning it was just a great feeling. There’s nothing like it.”

Hash, who placed third at state

“I started bawling my eyes out. It was something I've worked my butt off for three years ... putting my blood, sweat and tears into it.”

last year, also finished eighth in the Olympic category (snatch and clean and jerk lifts) this year with a 510-pound total.

Hash is the Pirates’ third state champion during this school year and just the fifth in the 18-year history of the school. Matanzas has had a state champ in each sports season this year. Alexandra Gazzoli won the girls Class 2A golf championship in the fall. And Kendall Bibla won a girls wrestling title to help the Pirates win the team championship in the winter season.

Matanzas had two other lifters finish among the top 10 at state.

Aiden Schissler was eighth in both the Olympic and traditional competitions in the 139-pound class.

Jaden Sao was ninth in Olympic at 129 pounds.

In Class 3A, Flagler Palm Coast had four lifters finish among the top 10.

Nick Lilavois placed third in Olympic and sixth in traditional at 129 pounds. Junior Nick Groth placed fifth in Olympic and sixth in traditional at 169 pounds. Charley Perry placed seventh in traditional and was ninth in Olympic at 238 pounds, and Kobe Murphy placed eighth in Olympic and was 13th in traditional in the unlimited weight class.

HASH SEEDED SECOND Hash, who weighed 193.7 at regionals, gained nearly two pounds before state.

“My preparation going in was not really focused on the weigh-in, but to see how much we could get done, so I could put up my best numbers, and I wouldn’t have to go to that tie,” he said. “But (head coach Matt Forrest) said make sure to keep your weight underneath 196 just in case. But that was our backup plan.”

Hash entered the competition as the second seed behind Rhodes. He

FPC avenges five-overtime loss to DeLand with 6-0 win

pass from Heidi Michaels early in the fourth quarter.

“Heidi threw a short pass to me, and I just stuck it over,” Swearingen said.

trailed the Fleming Island lifter by 15 pounds after Rhodes completed a 305-pound clean and jerk on his third lift. Hash had missed his second clean and jerk of 290 pounds but hit it on his third attempt.

“I was just going to have to go for (290 again) on my third attempt and not risk my numbers,” he said. “I just had to make up the weight on the bench.”

With spring football practice starting on May 1, Hash will now turn his focus back to his primary sport. Although he can out-bench press most linemen, Hash will continue to play linebacker. He also rotates in at wide receiver, and last season he filled in at quarterback. His goal is to play college football.

“That’s my dream,” he said. “So, hopefully I’ll have the best season of my life (this fall).”

He joined the weightlifting team as a freshman when senior football teammates Richard Rigby, Nick Morin and Jason Charles convinced him to try it. At his first meet, he fell in love with it.

“Ever since, I just can’t get my hands off weights. I can’t be in the weight room enough,” he said. “These past three years I’ve been working toward this goal. And the job’s not finished. I still have my senior year, and I got to go win that Olympic title too. So, I want to have three gold medals around my neck before I’m done here.”

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The last time Flagler Palm Coast’s flag football team faced DeLand, the teams battled through five overtimes before DeLand prevailed 24-18.

On Monday, April 17, the teams met again, this time with the season on the line. On this night, FPC thwarted DeLand’s last-chance scoring attempt to defeat the visitors 6-0 in a District 3-2A quarterfinal.

“It feels really good to get our revenge and move on in districts,” said Emma Swearingen, the only senior on FPC’s team.

With the win, FPC advanced to the district semifinals against No. 1 seed Spruce Creek. The Hawks improved to 16-1 with a 28-6 win over the Bulldogs on April 18. The loss ended FPC’s season.

Spruce Creek defeated Matanzas 43-0 to advance to the semifinal game.

Swearingen scored the only touchdown against DeLand on a 2-yard

Faith Dailey picked off a DeLand fourth-and-goal pass late in the game to seal the deal.

FPC won its fourth game in a row since the marathon loss to DeLand on March 31. It was FPC’s second straight shutout. The Bulldogs also beat Pine Ridge 6-0 on April 12.

“We’re much better on defense,” Swearingen said. “We just have really good mindsets. We’re going to use our bodies to pull the flag, to knock down the ball.”

The key to their stingy defensive play, said Bulldogs head coach Tony Coates, is the players trust each other.

“We always try to stay home, to stay in our zones,” Coates said. “Each person has to do their job and trust their teammates to do theirs.”

Swearingen, who likes to fly to the ball and knock down long passes, plans to attend Florida Tech to study to be a pilot and play soccer.

She had hoped to end her high school athletic career with a district championship. Instead, she will be rooting for her former teammates next year.

By Luis Campos

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Emma Swearingen caught a short touchdown pass from Heidi Michaels for the only score of the game.

Photo by Brent Woronoff

The Flagler Palm Coast flag football team poses for a team photo after its 6-0 win over DeLand in a District 3-2A quarterfinal.

Photo by Brent Woronoff Cole Hash sports his gold medal in the Matanzas High School weight room, two days after winning a Class 2A state weightlifting championship.

CAMPING MISHAPS by David Alfred Bywaters , edited by Jeff Chen

PRIME LOCATION

•

ASK

SIDE

LINES

Pirates win in their annual home beach volleyball match

Matanzas High School’s beach volleyball team plays one “home match”

a year at the two sand courts at Wadsworth Park.

The Pirates honor their seniors.

Craig Lenninger, the director of beach volleyball at DME Academy in Daytona Beach, provides music and play-by-play announcing.

A sizeable crowd watched Matanzas defeat DeLand 3-2 at Wadsworth on April 12. It was the Pirates’ second win of the season.

ball as a sport, hosting state playoffs.

Matanzas district rival New Smyrna Beach won the FHSAA’s first state championship last year.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

FPC GIRLS TENNIS

Flagler Palm Coast’s girls tennis team finished as the runner-up to Spruce Creek in the District 2-4A tournament on April 10 to advance to the state playoffs.

The Bulldogs traveled to Creekside High in St. Johns County on Tuesday, April 8, for a regional quarterfinal dual match.

At district, four FPC players advanced to finals — Ania Martynuk at No. 2 singles, Marina Carlisi at No. 3, Tatiana Leontayva at No. 4, Tessa Carlisi at No. 5 (no finals played) and Marina Carlisi and Leontayva at No. 2 doubles.

FPC, MATANZAS BASEBALL

The Flagler Palm Coast baseball team was scheduled to face New Smyrna in a Five Star Conference semifinal on the night of April 18.

FPC fell to 11-10 with a 6-4 loss to East River on April 17 on senior night. Seniors

Brayden Stuart and Tristan Miller each went 2 for 4. Senior Dalton Schell drove in two runs. Stuart smacked a double with an RBI and a run scored.

Matanzas also held its senior night on April 18. The Pirates fell to 5-10 with a 7-5 loss to Baker County.

“Normally, not a lot of people see us,” said senior Charley Robinson. “We always play right after school at DME or Jacksonville Episcopal.”

The Pirates’ winning doubles teams were Charley Robinson and Senna Thayer at No. 1 (21-17, 21-16); Maria Kelly and Faith Purvis at No. 3 (21-16, 21-18); and Jaeda West and Mino Furuta at No. 5 (21-12, 21-17).

After the match, the Pirates honored seniors Robinson, Kelly, Taylor Foley and Kimmy Truhe.

“We don’t usually have this,” Foley said. “It’s amazing what they do for us here.”

This is the second year the Florida High School Athletic Association is officially recognizing beach volley-

This year, the Pirates have a new coach in Brittany Watts, who took over for Dawn Moses, the Pirates’ indoor volleyball coach, who is also DME’s director of indoor volleyball. Watts, an electrician, joined Matanzas girls basketball coach Brittany Marts’ staff this school year. She was asked before the season if she would like to also lead the beach volleyball team. Watts played basketball and volleyball at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, but, being from Pennsylvania, she was not familiar with the beach version of the sport.

“Just before the season, I watched a lot of YouTube videos,” she said.

“I’ve been learning as I go. This is a rebuilding year for the team and for me. We’re learning all together.”

“She’s new to this,” said Foley.

“But she really pushes us to get better every day. She has incredible coaching skills. She’s very passionate, not only about the game, but her players too.”

The players enjoy beach volley-

never even played indoor volleyball before.

But there are a lot of things the exchange student from Japan had never done before this year, such as going to the beach.

Assistant coach Jeri Thayer invited her to join the team. She accepted.

“Beach volleyball sounds so Florida,” Furuta said.

ball because it’s more laid-back, and with just two players on a team, they each get to touch the ball more.

“You have to cover more of the court, and you have to be able to do everything,” Robinson said.

Foley said she plans to continue playing beach volleyball on her own after she graduates.

“I’m not done,” she said. “I’m trying to play in open tournaments around the state. And hopefully I’ll be able to play in college later on.”

MISSING BLOWFISH, MISO SOUP

Matanzas beach volleyball player Mino Furuta won her match with teammate Jaeda West against DeLand. Furuta never played beach volleyball before this season. She

Furuta said she had wanted to go to school in the United States since she was young when she watched Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel.

As she got older, she and her mom started traveling to nearby Osaka to watch American musicals.

She said her coaches and teammates are helping her improve her volleyball skills.

Even though she said people had trouble understanding her English at the beginning of the school year, everyone has made her feel welcome, she said. Her host mom, who is from Japan, cooks Japanese food for her.

“But I do miss my blowfish and miso soup,” she said.

Email results, story ideas to Brent@ observerlocalnews.com

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BRENT WORONOFF

Photos by Brent Woronoff

Charley Robinson sets for Senna Thayer (21) in the Pirates’ No. 1 match.

Jaeda West gets ready to serve.

Exchange student Mino Furuta serves in the No. 5 match, which she and Jaeda West won in two sets.

Olivia Chochev tosses the ball to serve.

REAL ESTATE

Condo at Hammock Beach tops sales list in Palm Coast

Acondo in The Club at Hammock Beach was the top real estate transaction for March 1-7 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. Vickie Reagan, of Palm Coast, sold 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Unit 307, to Gregg and Tracy Munn, as trustees, for $760,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/3 and has an ocean-view balcony and 1,676 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $407,500.

ALEXIS MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Condos Samantha Boomer, as a trustee, and Joshua Rosenbaum, of Palm Coast, sold 65 Ocean Crest Way, Unit 832, to 45 Blitbro LLC, of Palm Coast, for $352,500. Built in 2005, the condo is a 3/2.5 and has 1,859 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $360,000.

John and Bobbie-Jo DelBonis, of Palm Coast, sold 54 Club House Drive, Unit 202, to Nicholas Lopez, of Palm Coast, for $155,000. Built in 1977, the condo is a 1/1 and has 665 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $117,500.

Harry and Lia Menendez, of Palm Coast, sold 15 Oxford Lane, Unit 0, to Tina Marino, of Punta Gorda, for $260,000. Built in 1983, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,338 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $185,000.

Beach Haven

E.J. and Catherine Jones, as trustees, of Palm Coast, sold 26 Laughing Gull Lane to Robert and Lynette Scavo, of Palm Coast, for $600,000. Built in 2016, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 1,684 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $425,000.

Belle Terre Almanac Group Inc., of Bunnell, sold 91 Pebble Beach Drive to Peb-

ble Beach LLC, of Ormond Beach, for $297,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,433 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $225,000.

Luciano and Raul Lima, of Palm Coast, sold 16 Pennfield Lane to Patrick Benzick and Dana Cecil, as a trustee, for $335,000. Built in 1993, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,657 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $275,100.

Easthampton Dorothy Kuhns, as a trustee, of Palm Coast, sold 18 Elias Lane to Phillip and Marcia Robinson, of Norristown, Pennsylvania, for $495,000. Built in 1996, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 2,327 square feet.

Jerzy and Bernadetta Ziemba, of East Hanover, New Jersey, sold 43 Edith Pope Drive to Michael and Jaclyn Roller, of Palm Coast, for $399,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,404 square feet. It sold in 2006 for $389,700.

Indian Trails Bressler PRCL H Brookside PRCL PMichael and Joyce Carter, of Middleburg, sold 36 Brooklyn Lane to Michael and Marjorie Sachinger, of Palm Coast, for $390,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,926 square feet. It sold in 2002 for $8,500.

Amalia Soszynski, of Ridgewood, New York, sold 39 Whitcock Lane to Sarah Mundy-Russell and Joseph Russell, of Palm Coast, for $322,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,859 square feet. It sold in 2004 for $120,500.

Lehigh Woods

LGI Homes – Florida, LLC, of The Woodlands, Texas, sold 38 Ramblewood Drive to the Cynthia M. Annen Revocable Trust, of Palm Coast, for $309,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,463 square feet.

LGI Homes – Florida, LLC, of The Woodlands, Texas, sold 9 Ryken Lane to Kelly Worden and Sheila Holiday, of Palm Coast, for $342,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,680 square feet.

LGI Homes – Florida, LLC, of The Woodlands, Texas, sold 19 Rymshaw Drive to Ricardo Ortiz and Alba Velazques, of Palm Coast, for $294,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,270 square feet.

INB Fund 1 LLC, of Orlando, sold 68 Ryberry Drive to Taylor Schmitt, Jeffery Schmitt and Susan Schmitt, of Palm Coast, for $320,900. Built in 2023, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,500 square feet.

Pine Lakes

INB Fund 1 LLC, of Orlando, sold 51 Wheatfield Drive to Patrick Mahoney and Alina Chuckerko, of Palm Coast, for $368,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,753 square feet.

Joyce Guariglia, of Toms River, New Jersey, sold 84 Westfield Lane to Steven and Joanna Tacheny, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, for $340,000. Built in 1990, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,045 square feet.

Sawmill Creek at Palm Coast Park Adams Homes of Northwest Florida, Inc., of Pensacola, sold 112 Rivertown Road to Kenneth Cham bers and Joy Phillips, of Palm Coast, for $361,400. Built in 2022, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,820 square feet.

Seminole Woods Seagate Homes, LLC, of Palm Coast, sold 13 Sea Green Path to Lawrence and Margaret Parker, of Palm Coast, for $438,400. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,290 square feet.

Adams Homes of Northwest Florida, Inc., of Pensacola, sold 53 Sentinel Trail to Ryan and Nicole Farrell, of Palm Coast, for $397,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,169 square feet.

Quail Hollow Grace Black, of West Haven, Con necticut, sold 18 Zinzendorf Place to Timothy Allala, of Palm Coast, for $265,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,412 square feet. It sold in 2003 for $125,000.

Continental Acquisitions, LLC, of Palm Coast, sold 3 Zephyr Lily Place to Erica Santiago and Bernard Goodial, of Palm Coast, for $270,000. Built in 1994, the house is a 3/1 and has 1,008 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $150,000.

Brite Properties of Florida, LLC, of Orlando, sold 42 Kathleen Trail to Gino and Carmelina Impellizzeri, Marina Impellizzeri, and Jessica Impellizzeri, of Brentwood, Tennessee, for $458,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,306 square feet.

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

ID: 01-13-30-0000-01010-0020 FROM CONSERVATION-1 TO AGRICULTURE & SILVICULTURE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION. ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE as may be legally permitted on the day of the meeting. Instructions on how to participate by electronic or other means, if legally permitted, would be found on the City of Bunnell’s website at www. bunnellcity.us on the homepage. The public is advised to check the City’s website for up-todate information on any changes to the manner in which the meeting will be held and the location. The failure of a person to appear during said hearing and comment on or object to the proposed Ordinance, either in person or in writing, might preclude the ability of such person to contest the Ordinance at a later date. A copy of all pertinent information this ordinance can be obtained at the office of the Bunnell Customer Service Office, 604 E. Moody Blvd. Unit 6, Bunnell, FL 32110. Persons with disabilities needing assistance to attend this proceeding should contact the Bunnell City Clerk at (386) 437-7500 x 5 at least 48-business hours prior to the meeting. NOTICE: If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board on this matter a recording of the proceeding may be needed and for such purposes the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made which includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is based. (Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes)

April 20, 2023 23-00079F

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF MEETING DATE CHANGE TOWN CENTER AT PALM COAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

The regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors (“Board”) of the Town Center at Palm Coast Community Development District (“District”) scheduled for Friday May 12, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. has been rescheduled to Tuesday May 9, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Palm Coast/Town Center, located at 55 Town Center Boulevard, Palm Coast, Florida 32164.

There may be occasions when one or more Supervisors will participate via telephone.

Any interested person can attend the meetings at the above location and be fully informed of the discussions taking place. The meetings may be continued to a date, time and location to be specified on the record at the meetings without additional publication of notice.

Any person requiring special accommodations at these meetings because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Office at (954) 603-0033 at least 48 hours prior to the meetings. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service at 7-1-1, or 800-955-8771 (TTY)/800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Office.

Each person who decides to appeal any action taken by the Board at these meetings is advised that person will need a record of the proceedings and accordingly, the person may need to ensure a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

Bob Koncar District Manager April 20, 2023 23-00069F

FIRST INSERTION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Notice is hereby given that the following vehicles will be sold at public auction pursuant to F.S. 713.585 on the sale dates at the locations below at 9:00 a.m. to satisfy labor and storage charges.

2007 BUIC

2G4WC582171246845

Total Lien: $2,148.49

Sale Date: 05/08/2023

2005 FORD

1FTRF12265KC74423

Total Lien: $3,834.00

Sale Date: 05/15/2023

Location: BATTS & PEREZ ENTERPRISES LLC. DBA: FLY BY NIGHT

AUTOMOTIVE

6020 E HIGHWAY 100

FLAGLER BEACH, FL 32136

(954)817-4522

Pursuant to F.S. 713.585 the cash amount per vehicle would be sufficient to redeem that vehicle from the lienor. Any interested party has a right to a hearing prior to the sale by filing a demand for the hearing with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Flagler and mailing copies of the same to all owners and lienors. The owner/lienholder has a right to recover possession of the vehicle by posting bond pursuant to F.S. 559.917 and if sold any proceeds remaining from the sale will be deposited with the Clerk of Circuit Court for disposition.

April 20, 2023 23-00080F

FLAGLER COUNTY LEGAL NOTICES

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO: 2022 CA 000375 AVAIL 1 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Plaintiff, vs. THE HEIRS, DEVISEE, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING AN INTEREST BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THE ESTATE OF WAVEY DENNIS, DECEASED; VIVIANNE ANDREA

DAVIS A/K/A VIVIANNE WEIR; PETER WEIR; PAUL WEIR; SIMONE

WEIR; NATASHA WEIR; RENE REDWOOD; KEITH REDWOOD, JR.; LUCIEN REDWOOD; FITGERALD DENNIS; DAISY ROSE NUGENT; SONIA MCKNIGHT; RUTH VAZ; PAULINE COOKE; SHAWN DENNIS; NICOLE HANCOCK, NORMA

DANIELS AND ALL OTHER PERSONS

CLAIMING BY, THROUGH OR UNDER ANY OF THE NAMED

DEFENDANT AND ANY OTHER

PERSONS CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY WHICH IS THESUBJECT MATTER OF THIS ACTION BY AND THROUGH OR UNDER OR AGAINST THE NAMED DEFENDANTS HEREIN; UNKNOWN TENANT #1 AND UNKNOWN

TENANT #2, IF ANY,

Defendant(s). NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to the Final Summary Judgment of Foreclosure dated March 24, 2023, the Clerk of the Circuit and County Court of Flagler County, Florida will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash in/ on electronically/online at www.flagler. realforeclose.com, Flagler County, Florida on MAY 26, 2023 at 11:00 am (E.S.T.), in accordance with Chapter 45 Florida Statutes, the following-described property situated in Flagler County, Florida: Lot 9, of Block 19, of Map of BELLE TERRE-SECTION-13 PALM COAST, according to the plat thereof, recorded in Plat Book 7, Pages 1 through 10 inclusive, of the Public Records of Flagler County, Florida, as amended by instrument recorded in Official Records Book 35, Page 528 of the Public Records of Flagler County, Florida. With a street address at: 69 Bruning Lane, Palm Coast, Florida 32137. Any person or entity claiming an interest in the surplus, if any, resulting from the foreclosure sale, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens, must file a claim on same with the Clerk of Court within 60 days after the foreclosure sale.

DATED this 14th day of April, 2023.

/s/ Vivian A. Jaime, Esq. Vivian A. Jaime. Esq.

FBN 714771 RITTER, ZARETSKY, LIEBER & JAIME, LLP 2800 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 500 Miami, Florida 33137 Tel: 305-372-0933

Email: Vivian@rzllaw.com April 20, 27, 2023 23-00062G

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is April 20, 2023. Personal Representative: Constance Buchanan, PO Box 2045, Lake City,

FIRST INSERTION

Notice Under Fictitious Name Law

According to Florida Statute Number 865.09

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the Fictitious Name of Round Dance Council of Florida located at 12 Smith Trail, in the City of Palm Coast, Flagler County, FL 32164 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. Dated this 17th day of April, 2023 Carol S. Collins/Ellen Bell April 20, 2023 23-00081F

which the meeting will be held and the location. The failure of a person to appear during said hearing and comment on or object to the proposed Ordinance, either in person or in writing, might preclude the ability of such person to contest the Ordinance at a later date. A copy of all pertinent information this ordinance can be obtained at the office of the Bunnell Customer Service Office, 604 E. Moody Blvd. Unit 6, Bunnell, FL 32110. Persons with disabilities needing assistance to attend this proceeding should contact the Bunnell City Clerk at (386) 437-7500 x 5 at least 48-business hours prior to the meeting.

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

April 20, 2023

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF FORFEITURE

A 2020 Silver Ford Mustang, Florida tag#61BUXN (VIN:

SUBSEQUENT INSERTIONS

THIRD INSERTION

SECOND INSERTION

NOTICE OF FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER

of

of the

ARE

Circuit in and for FLAGLER County, Florida wherein REVERSE MORTGAGE FUNDING LLC, Plaintiff and CONSTANCE GOLDBERG AKA CONSTANCE LOUISE HOLT GOLDBERG, et al., are Defendants. Tom Bexley, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, will sell to the highest bidder for cash at http://flagler.realforeclose. com, at the hour of 11:00 A.M., on the 5th day of May, 2023, the following described

property: LOT 1, BLOCK 28, PALM COAST, MAP OF EASTHAMPTON, SECTION 34, A SUBDIVISION ACCORDING TO THE PLAT OR MAP THEREOF DESCRIBED IN MAP BOOK 11, AT PAGE(S) 30, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA

Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, must file a claim per the requirements set forth in FL Stat. 45.032.

having

or demands against

of the

other than those for whom provision for full payment was made in the Order of Summary Administration must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES

SECTION 733.702. ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this Notice is April 13, 2023.

IMPORTANT

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to access court facilities or participate in a court proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance.

5XXGR4A64DG111721, which was seized because said property is alleged to be contraband as defined by Sections 932.701(2)(a)(1-6), Florida Statutes, by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Division of Florida Highway Patrol, on or about August 24, 2022, in Flagler County, Florida. Any owner, entity, bona fide lienholder, or person in possession of the property when seized has the right to request an adversarial preliminary hearing for a probable cause determination within fifteen (15) days of initial receipt of notice, by providing such request to Lindsay Michael, Assistant General Counsel, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 7322 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32205, by certified mail return receipt requested. A complaint for forfeiture has been filed in the above styled court. April 13, 20, 2023 23-00054G

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE Seventh JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 2023 DR 254 Division: 47 Giovanna Sharmel Lopez, Petitioner, and Reynaldo Jesus Mena, Respondent, TO: Reynaldo Jesus Mena YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for dissolution of marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Giovanna Sharmel Lopez, whose address is 43 Rolling Sands Dr., Palm Coast, FL 32164 on or before 4/20/2023, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 1769 E. Moody Blvd Blg #1 Bunnell, FL 32110 before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: None

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

23-00078F

THIRD INSERTION

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR Dissolution of Marriage IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 7 JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR Flagler COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 2023 DR 000228 Division: 47 Marcelia C. Brooks, Petitioner and Garrett S. Brooks, Respondent. TO: Garrett S. Brooks 2221 NE 164th St # 253 N. Miami, FL 33065 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Marcelia C. Brooks, whose address is 36 Round tree Dr, Palm Coast, FL 32164, on or before 04/22/23, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 1769 E Moody BLVD Bldg #1, Bunnell, FL 32110, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. {If applicable, insert the legal description of real property, a specific description of personal property, and the name of the county in Florida where the property is located} 36 Round tree Dr, Palm Coast, FL, 32164 - Flagler. Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the addresses on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: 03/03/2023.

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT (SEAL) By: /s/ Deputy Clerk April 6, 13, 20, 27, 2023 23-00052G

FOURTH INSERTION

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR PUBLICATION AND ADVISORY NOTICE OF HEARING IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA

Case No: 2022-DR-001007 IN THE INTEREST OF FAITH REED D:O:B: 4-14-16, Children JENNIFER REED and JEFFREY REED, Petitioner, and ERIN REED, Respondent/Mother, ALEX STOJEK, Respondent/ Putative Father.

TO: Alec Stojek 6 Plateau Place Simpsonville, SC 29681 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action for Emergency Petition for Temporary Custody by Extended Family and to Terminate Parental Rights has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to this action on petitioners or petitioner’s attorney: JONATHON H. GLUGOVER, ESQ. P.O. Box 2613 Daytona Beach, Florida 32115 on or before April 25, 2023 and file the original with the clerk of the Circuit Court at Kim C. Hammond Justice Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg. #1, Bunnell, FL 32110, before service on Petitioners, Attorney or immediately thereafter. A hearing has been set in this matter on May 2, 2023 at 11:30 before the Honorable Judge Christopher France in courtroom 403 at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center. If you fail to answer and/or appear at the hearing, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office notified of your current address. Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed to the address on record at the Clerk’s Office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, require certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: 03/23/2023.

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

(SEAL) By: T Strack Deputy Clerk Petitioner’s attorney, JONATHON H. GLUGOVER, ESQ. P.O. Box 2613 Daytona Beach, Florida 32115 March 30; April 6, 13, 20, 2023 23-00041G

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