Imagine School’s robotics team heads for international competition

This is the first competition year for the Electro-Lions team students.

The Electro-Lions robotics team is the pride of Imagine School at Town Center as the team prepares for an international competition that will take place in June.

The Lions are part of the FIRST — “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” — Lego League, a youth robotics competition.

The team will go to Worcester, Massachusetts June 9-11 to compete against 95 teams from 16 different countries.

Six of the students — Peyton Smith, 14; Mollie Smith, 11; Caleb Cook, 11; Quinn Boudreau, 11; Brayden Cook, 12; and Nolin Daley, 11 — are all rookies competing for the first time. Ady

Kirks, the team’s seventh member, competed twice before at a different school.

Kristen Cook, the Electro-Lions’ coach, is Imagine School’s Robotics Club facilitator. She teaches STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) courses at the school. The Lions have raised $14,000 of the $15,000 necessary for the trip through local sponsorships and fundraising, Cook said.

“This is my 10th year coaching and being involved in FIRST, so I know what it takes,” Cook said. “I know how hard these kids have worked. And I’m excited.”

Over the course of the season, from August to April, the Lions have competed in a practice competition, the qualifiers, the regional tournament and the state championship. They have even taken home several trophies already.

The FIRST Lego League encourages innovation, problem-solving and teamwork: Students must work together to earn points. The competition is judged on four elements: innovation, core values, and robotics design and performance.

For the design and performance scores, the teams design their robots to complete various missions, earning points for how many missions are completed successfully. A team can earn up to 345 points for the performance. The Electro-Lion’s highest score is 295, Cook said.

The innovation project includes research and a presentation in which the teams propose solutions to a problem that meets the year’s theme.

This year’s theme is “Super Powered,” and the Electro Lions’ project focuses on the millions of birds and bats that die every year from hitting windmills, Cook said.

For the “core values” element, the team must show its process of discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion and teamwork. Cook said the core values element of the competition encourages the team to work together and even support the success of their fellow competitors.

“The core values are the most important part for me, — and, hon- estly, the main reason why I’ve been doing robotics for so long,” Cook said.

At the qualifiers, the team took the first place Champion’s Award and the Robot Performance Award for the highest score. At regionals, the Lions placed fourth overall, earning a spot at the state championship, and took home first place in the core values category.

Ashleigh Kirk, the mother of Electro-Lions team member Ady Kirks, said the family transferred Ady to

Imagine Schools mainly for the team and robotics club after she competed for two years at Wadsworth Elementary.

“This Robotics Club has been the best thing for her,” Kirks said.

Kirks and the parents will be driving to Massachusetts with their kids and will dress up in costumes to support them. She said all the parents are amazed at what the students have accomplished and the life skills the FIRST competition is instilling in the kids.

Public speaking, teamwork, responsibility, sportsmanship, accountability — these are all skills the students have had to learn to succeed, Kirks said.

Cook said she knows that the skills her students are learning will help them throughout their lives, whether they continue in robotics or not. “A great person once told me building robots builds good people,” Cook said. “And I truly believe that these kids are learning so much more … than just building robots.”

MAY 9

MAN REPORTS STOLEN WHEEL AND TIRE, FINDS IT ON FACEBOOK

10:39 a.m. — Palm Coast Residential burglary. A man reported his American Racing wheel and tire stolen, only for a similar wheel to pop up for sale on Facebook marketplace.

The man said he left his $400 wheel outside his house and returned the next day from work to find it missing, according to an incident report.

When a deputy arrived, the man told the deputy that his brother had found what appeared to be his missing wheel on Facebook Marketplace, priced for $40.

The man’s chrome-colored wheel had a scratch on the tire caused by the wheel and the one pictured on Facebook Marketplace also had a similar scratch, the report said.

The deputy looked at the poster’s profile and noted that it appeared to be a spam profile. The theft is under investigation.

MAY 12

OCALA MAN IMPEDES EMERGENCY SAND WORK, TRIES TO BITE OFFICER

2:24 p.m. — 3300 block of North Ocean Shore Boulevard, Flagler Beach Breach of peace. An Ocala man allegedly blocked construction workers placing emergency sand on the beach at a local beach park and tried to bite a law enforcement officer.

The man was visiting the beach with his friends but jumped in front of dump trucks and refused to move.

The man was intoxicated, according to his arrest report, and later tried to bite a Sheriff’s Office commander

Because of the advertising and messaging around hearing aids and hearing care in general, many people tend to think of hearing aids like a commodity; in which regardless of where or how you get one, which one you get, the outcome is much the same. “One size fits all”, right? Actually, that’s NOT right. When it comes to treating your hearing loss, it is not that simple.

Last month we covered how important getting the “right” hearing aid is to your success. This month we are going to talk about how important it is to make sure that your audiologist has the training and expertise to ACCURATELY fit your hearing aids. Specifically, making sure your audiologist is fitting your hearing aid to your prescription, and that he/she is using the proper equipment to VERIFY that the settings in the hearing aids match your prescription.

Many people do not know that hearing aids are fit to a prescription; like your eyes when you get an eye exam, the doctor evaluates not only the overall health of your ears but also determines the prescription that drives the sounds that your hearing aids produce. When you get glasses, the doctor is using the prescription from the eye exam for your glasses- if you pick up someone else’s glasses, even though they may be very nice, very fancy designer glasses, if the prescription isn’t right, you won’t see very well! Hearing aids are similar except even more complex, because the way that the brain processes sound is more complex than how it processes vision. Unlike hearing aids, glasses are not constantly changing and adapting to what you see...your eyes do the “focusing”. Hearing aids however, are constantly changing the way the microphones and circuits react, doing most of the “focusing” for you. Also, unlike glasses, today’s prescription hearing aids can be re-fit and adjusted when your hearing changes. You don’t need to get new hearing aids - if your vision changes, you have to get new glasses.

When your hearing aids do not fit properly, it could be as simple as feeling like you aren’t hearing as well as you should. Or overseeing the construction.

The Sheriff’s Office commander attempted to persuade the man to return to his spot on the beach, but the man refused to move.

The two began to struggle, and the man threatened and tried to bite the commander.

A deputy arrived on scene and helped the commander arrest the man.

MAY 13

MAKING A RUN FOR IT

2:45 p.m. — 500 block of South Nova Road, Ormond Beach Resisting an officer without violence. A 48-year-old Daytona Beach man complained of a previous arm injury while being detained by police.

The complaint gave him a chance to pull away and flee through a parking lot.

The man had spoken to deputies earlier that day regarding a burglary in unincorporated Volusia County, according to a police report. During the investigation, deputies discovered that the man had given them a false name. He was also wanted on other related charges.

As the man ran from local police, a bystander tackeld him to the ground. The man was taken to jail.

MAY 20

TIME TO CHECK OUT it could be as serious as damage to your hearing and ears (i.e., sore ear canals, discomfort and pain with certain sounds, etc.). Unfortunately, there are no legal requirements for providers who dispense hearing aids to be trained in the proper verification of the hearing aid fitting in the state of Florida. If you are seeing a Doctor of Audiology, then you can be assured that they have had the training and rigorous certification process that includes fitting and verification of hearing aids. They use Real-Ear Measures to fit and verify your hearing aid prescription. Your provider should perform real-ear measures at the time of the hearing aid fitting and every time your prescription changes, to make sure your prescription is correct. Simply connecting your aids to a computer and changing the settings is not real-ear measurement. REM is special test that is done both with and without your hearing aids, so the provider can compare what you are hearing with and without your hearing aids, and they compare those measurements to your prescription. Want to learn more about RealEar Measures? Go to www.newsmyr nahearingcen ter.com/blog. If you already have hearing aids, and you aren’t hearing well, call and sched -

10:20 a.m. — First block of South Beach Street, Ormond Beach Trespassing. Police arrested a 41-year-old St. Augustine man who had been trespassed from a local library but returned anyway.

Police responded to the building, where the man was found using a computer.

He had been trespassed from the library six days earlier.

Police issued him a new trespass warning, according to a police report.

He was then taken to jail.

MAY 21

Drunk Confessions

9:04 p.m. — 300 block of Wimette Avenue, Ormond Beach DUI. A 50-year-old Daytona Beach man tried to woo a police officer as the man was being investigated for drunk driving.

Police had received a call about a reckless driver in the area and found the car parked on a sidewalk.

As the reporting officer approached, he could hear music coming from the rolleddown windows. The man was still in the driver’s seat, and the car’s interior smelled of alcohol, according to a police report.

The man appeared to be asleep, but the keys were in the ignition, and the car was running.

When the man finally responded to the officer, the man’s speech was initially unintelligible, the officer noted in his report, but the man did admit to drinking alcohol. He had to be helped out of the car by the officer, and when told to call someone to pick him up, the man started playing music on his phone instead.

The reporting officer soon discovered the man did not have a valid driver’s license.

Two officers arrived to help, and the man turned to the female officer said, “I would be the right man for you,” “You would love me” and “You’re my type.” ule an appointment to have real-ear measures performed on your current devices. If you are considering treating your hearing loss, make sure you ask “Do you verify your hearing aid fittings with REM? And where did you get your training?”

He was asked to complete a series of field sobriety exercises, which he didn’t pass.

After officers explained one of the exercises to the man for the third time, the man said, “I’m done. Arrest me,” according to the police report. Police found five bottles of banana-flavored alcohol inside the car. He was taken to jail.

Missed the first part of our educational series? Read them all at: www.ormondhearingcenter.com/blog.

At Palm Coast Hearing Center, our mission is to not only provide the best quality hearing care possible, but also to educate the community and help all patients make informed decisions so they can get the care they need and deserve.

Visit our website, www. palmcoasthearingcenter. com to learn more and schedule an appointment. We also have locations to serve you in Ormond.

Retired Army colonel to speak at Memorial Day Ceremony

A retired U.S. Army colonel will be the guest speaker at Flagler County’s Memorial Day Ceremony.

Col. Peggy Hengeveld is a member of the Honorable Order of St. Michael and a Legion of Merit recipient. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29, at the county’s Government Services Building on Moody Boulevard.

Local Boy and Girl Scouts will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, according to a press release from Flagler County. Daytona Beach singer Shannon Rae will sing the national anthem and later “God Bless America.” Veteran Vince Cautero will once again sing “God Bless the USA.”

Hengeveld has made a career of nursing, in and out of the military.

She served in the U.S. Army from 1978 to 2006 and, in 2002, became the first female soldier from the Pennsylvania Army Nation Guard to graduate from the United States Army War College, the press release said.

“Flagler County has a very strong community of veterans,” Veterans Service Officer David Lydon said. “It is a privilege and an honor to have a distinguished veteran like Col. Peggy Hengeveld help us pay tribute to those who lost their lives in service to our country.”

General surgeon joins AdventHealth in Flagler County

As an AdventHealth Medical Group physician, Marshall joins AdventHealth’s more than 400 physician providers, including 250 primary care doctors and specialists in Volusia, Flagler and Lake counties, according to a press release from AdventHealth.

Born and raised in the Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach area, Marshall returns to the area and will serve as Flagler County’s only female general surgeon.

Her services include laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), breast surgery and colon surgery.

“I am excited to join AdventHealth because of its stellar reputation and am looking forward to being a part of the Palm Coast community,” Marshall said. “The location brings me closer to my hometown, and closer to friends and family, which is very exciting for my family.”

Her office is currently located inside the medical office building at AdventHealth Palm Coast, 61 Memorial Medical Parkway, Suite 3806, in Palm Coast.

After AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway opens in August, her practice will relocate to the new facility, located at 3 AdventHealth Way, Suite 201, in Palm Coast.

Her office can be reached at 386586-1804.

Temple Beth Shalom Shavuot services to feature students

Temple Beth Shalom Palm Coast is planning a “Super Shavuot Weekend” beginning Thursday, May 25, through Saturday night, May 27.

The holiday of Shavuot commemorates Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai close to 4,000 years ago.

Jews have celebrated the holiday for thousands of years by holding evening-long Torah studies and enjoying seasonal fruits and dishes.

On May 25, the evening will start at 7 p.m. with Torah talk and evening-long study and discussion a “Kid-dish” with a special Oneg — a Sabbath delight — sponsored by the religious school in the form of an ice cream social.

Saturday services will begin at 10 a.m. with YizKor Memorial services, as ordained for this holiday, followed by an Oneg and Torah Talk. Havdalah will be held virtually, accessible via the Temple web page — tbspalmcoast.org — at 7 p.m.

For additional information, contact the Temple office Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 9 a.m. to noon or via the website above or hakol@tbspalmcoast.org.

What to expect for hurricane season in Flagler County

Flagler County Emergency Management urges residents to ensure their evacuation information is up to date for the 2023 hurricane season.

There have been changes to the county’s hurricane evacuation information and coastal island bridge closures, according to a press release from the county. Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord said there have also been some key changes in how the county will conduct its messaging.

“Last year, evacuation orders included neighborhoods and Zones

A-F,” Lord said. “To communicate with our community more clearly, this year we will only be announcing evacuations using neighborhood names or descriptions.”

The county has a new map to help residents understand who may need to evacuate, Lord said.

It is on Emergency Management’s website under “Hurricane Evacuation Zones.” Residents can enter their address to see if they are in an evacuation zone. Instead of announcing bridge closures, the county will instead communicate with the public about when it is not safe to be on the road or when bridge access is limited, the press release said.

Marine Science Center to unveil new shark exhibit

The Marine Science Center staff will spread the good word on sharks and host activities during Shark Conservation Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at 100 Lighthouse Drive in Ponce Inlet. Staff will also unveil a new shark exhibit at 2 p.m. Speakers will focus on shark conservation efforts, including how water quality in the Indian River Lagoon affects all marine species, how fishermen help provide data and input for fisheries management and how each of us can make a difference.

Visitors may also view the turtle hospital and stroll along the bird boardwalk, which houses recovering birds and permanent residents. For information, visit marinesciencecenter.com or call 386-304-5545.

Prep for the event with these fun facts on sharks:

„ Sharks are elasmobranchs, which means their body is made of cartilage instead of bones like other fish.

„ Their average lifespan is 25 to 30 years.

„ Their skin feels like sandpaper

„ Their fearsome jaws are made up of hundreds of small teeth. Each tooth lasts about 60 days before falling out, then a new tooth takes its place

„ When you flip a shark upsidedown, it goes into a trance-like state called tonic immobility.

„ One of the oldest living species, sharks have been cruising the oceans for more than 400 million years.

Health Department observes National Women’s Health Week

The Florida Department of HealthFlagler observed National Women’s Health Week on May 14-25 with a panel discussion on the Flagler Health Matters radio show, which aired May 20 on WNZF 94.9 FM.

A recording is available at flaglerbroadcasting.com/podcasts.

The panel included Jeannette Simmons of Flagler Cares, Health Department nurse practitioner Carmel Frawley and the department’s Mary Kauffman, who spoke about the department’s Women, Infants and Children program.

Jaffy Lee, the DOH-Flagler’s public information officer and preparedness planner and the host of Flagler Health Matters, said women are often caught in the demands of work and family and forego a healthy lifestyle.

The Health Department team said women should get active, get a regular checkup, eat a healthy diet, prioritize mental health and make daily decisions that make yourself a priority and influence overall health.

“Women’s Health Care Month (in May) is about raising awareness of how a woman can improve her health. … Contact your doctor for a full-body medical checkup and take steps to treat an ailment. Timely medical intervention can save your life,” Lee said. “The (Health Department) encourages you to take the pledge to take the best care of yourself medically, spiritually and emotionally and live the healthy, active life you deserve.”

General surgeon Dr. Jessica Marshall has joined AdventHealth Medical Group and will perform procedures at AdventHealth Palm Coast.