Palm Coast Observer 8-31-23

OBSERVER STAFF

John Walsh and his brother Matt Walsh have sold the Palm Coast Observer and Ormond Beach Observer. The buyers may be familiar to readers: Former editor Brian McMillan and his wife, Hailey, will take over as co-owners, effective immediately.

“I couldn’t be more comfortable, or more proud, with Brian and Hailey McMillan carrying the Observer forward,” said John Walsh, who will be retiring as co-owner and publisher. “We’ve built this together, and we know that quality local news will continue to serve our communities.”

Seeing a need for hyper local news in Palm Coast, in 2010, John Walsh partnered with Matt Walsh and Lisa Walsh, co-owners of Sarasota-based Observer Media Group Inc., to start the Palm Coast Observer, with Brian McMillan as editor. The Ormond Beach Observer was founded in 2012. The newspapers went on to win dozens of awards as members of the Florida Press Association.

Brian McMillan left the Observer in 2022. When the opportunity arose, the McMillans formed McMillan Ink LLC and bought the Observers this week. Hailey McMillan, 41, will continue as the newspaper’s awardwinning page designer.

“I’m back because I believe in the mission of these newspapers,” said Brian McMillan, 43. “The Walshes have been gracious and wise mentors, and Hailey and I consider them to be family.”

“It’s a sad day and a great day — sad because my wife and business partner, Lisa, and my brother, John, are sad to be selling the Palm Coast and Ormond Beach Observers . But it’s a great day because we could not be happier to have Brian and Hailey McMillan as the buyers,” Matt Walsh said.

“Family and health circumstances made Lisa and me reach this tough decision to sell. But we do so with great pride in what John, Brian and our Palm Coast and Ormond Beach colleagues contributed to Palm Coast and Ormond Beach over the past 13 years of our ownership.

“They helped make their communities better by keeping people informed and helped make the local economies better by helping local businesses promote their products and services — the essential roles of a local newspaper.

“I know, because of Brian’s and Hailey’s talents and values, they will take the Observers and Observerlocalnews.com to new, higher and better levels,” Matt Walsh said.

Flagler prepares

storm

BUILD OR NOT?

ILA Oversight Committee cautious in face of school district’s projected growth.

PAGE 4A

BOMB SCARE

No explosives found at home of Blare Drive homicide after chest of ammunition sparks investigation.

PAGE 11A

HALL OF FAMER FPC’s Duane Hagstrom inducted into Florida Strength and Power Hall of Fame. PAGE 6B

Mainland transfer Micah McGuire ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns in Matanzas’ 30-8 season-opening win at Groveland South Lake. PAGE 6B

Trophies for FPC

The Bulldogs’ boys were second and the girls were third at the Spikes and Spurs Classic cross country meet.

PAGE 5B

TURTLE TRACKS

New nests: 7

Total nests: 854 Loggerhead nests: 577 Kemp’s Ridley Nests: 0 Green sea turtle nests: 271

nests: 6

Beach: 63

Beach: 248

Debbie and James Bellino, pastors with Church of the Rock, and Rev. Terry Wines of First United Methodist Church of Bunnell hold encouraging signs as students arrive at Bunnell Elementary School

Photo by Brent Woronoff

Photo by Lauren Newman

CITY WATCH

Palm

Coast prepares

Palm Coast gave out sandbags, opened a 24-hour assistance line and used its social media channels to push out storm-related information to residents early this week as Hurricane Idalia approached.

Flagler County issued an evacuation order effective 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, for people living in mobile homes, recreational vehicles, trailers and unsafe structures, and opened an emergency shelter at Rymfire Elementary.

PCFD announces promotions

The Palm Coast Fire Department has announced several promotions and hired eight new firefighters.

The city honored the individuals in a ceremony at the Community Center on Aug. 22, according to a city press release.

Driver Engineer Jeremy Barton was promoted to lieutenant, succeeding Lt. Matthew Stevens. Stevens is now the lieutenant of Fire Prevention. Firefighters

Katelyn Baller, Fortunato Damiano, Joshua Meeker and Oleksandr Nikolayev were promoted to driver engineer.

The PCFD’s new firefighters are Bruce Adams, Timothy Auerbach, Caleb Dann, Veronica Fernandez, Zachary Mahaney, Gunner Pemberton, Cameron Sena, and Jericho Taylor. All eight joined the ranks in 2023.

Mayor David Alfin said public safety is a priority.

“As we recognize the contributions of retiring fire officers and welcome our newly promoted leaders, we also extend our congratulations to the career firefighters who embarked on their journey through our firefighter intern program,” Alfin said.

Officials expected Flagler County to see tropical storm-force winds throughout Wednesday, Aug. 30, with sustained winds of 57 mph and gusts up to 70 mph, along with up to 3 inches of rain, scattered power outages, potential wind debris and the potential for tornadoes, Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord said at an Aug. 29 press conference.

They did not expect significant flooding, but the northeast coastline down to the Flagler-Volusia County line could see storm surge of 1 to 3 feet, according to a National Hurricane Center report, leading to possible minor flooding.

Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill told City Council members at an Aug. 29 workshop that the Fire Department would not send out personnel at sustained winds of over 50 mph. At that speed, he said, it is no longer safe to be on the roads, and personnel would go into a holding pattern for emergency calls.

“We haven’t had [winds that speed] since Hurricane Irma,” Berryhill said.

Palm Coast and Flagler County set up sandbag locations for residents on Monday and Tuesday at the Indian Trails Sports Complex, Hidden Trails Community Center and Bay Drive Park.

Palm Coast’s 24-hour customer service line at 386-986-2360 opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, and the city planned to keep it open until the storm subsides, according to a Palm Coast press release. Residents can also submit a case through Palm Coast Connect. Flagler County opened a call center line at 386-3134200.

for

Idalia City reviews budget

PALM COAST 24HOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE

Palm Coast’s customer service phone number is 386-9862360. Residents can also reach out through Palm Coast Connect at palmcoast.gov/ Connect.

FLAGLER COUNTY 24-HOUR CALL CENTER

Flagler County’s Call Center number is 386-313-4200. A team of Flagler County staff expect to operate it through the storm.

The city closed parks, trails and facilities on Tuesday and expects to reopen them after conducting safety assessments later in the week.

Garbage pickup and yard debris service were canceled for Wednesday, Aug. 30, but may resume on Aug. 31.

Flagler Schools canceled classes for Wednesday. Additional cancellations may follow depending on the aftermath of the storm, according to an announcement from Flagler Schools.

The National Hurricane Center had predicted that Idalia would make landfall in Florida early on Wednesday. A tropical storm warning was issued for much of the northeast coast of Florida, including Flagler and Volusia Counties, on Monday, Aug. 28. As of an 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, update from the NHC, Idalia was moving northeast at around 14 mph, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 85 mph.

Throughout the day on Monday, Idalia had strengthened, developing into a Category 1 hurricane overnight. It was projected to become a Category 3 hurricane by Wednesday morning before it made landfall, according to a report from the NHC.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an

executive order on Aug. 28 placing 46 counties — Flagler and Volusia Counties among them — under a state of emergency, and later expanded that to 49 counties. He also suspended tolls across Florida’s west coast, beginning 4 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, to aid evacuations.

DeSantis likened the storm to Hurricane Michael, which hit the panhandle as a Category 5 hurricane in 2018, according to a story by the News Service of Florida.

“We’ve seen this before with something like Hurricane Michael, that continues to gather strength,” DeSantis said. “So, this is going to be a major impact, and Floridians should expect that this storm will be a major Category 3-plus hurricane.”

The NHC classifies major hurricanes as any with wind speeds greater than 110 mph.

For up-to-date information from the county, residents can follow Flagler County Emergency Management at the social media handle FlaglerEOC on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter. Information from Palm Coast can be found on its social media pages, PalmCoast.gov and Palm Coast Connect at palmcoast.gov/Connect.

Palm Coast’s City Council reviewed the city’s proposed $357 million 2024 fiscal year budget in a workshop on Aug. 29. The workshop was the final one scheduled before the council adopts the budget during two meetings on Sept. 7 and Sept. 20.

The General Fund will make up $55.8 million of the total budget, with $35.2 million of the city’s revenue coming from ad valorem taxes.

The City Council had voted 3-2 on July 18 to adopt a rolled-back millage rate of 4.2570 — or $4.2570 per $1,000 in taxable property value — as the city’s maximum millage rate, with council members Ed Danko and Cathy Heighter dissenting.

Even using the rolled-back millage rate, the city’s ad valorem revenue will be $2 million higher than in 2023 at the 4.6100 rate, because of increasing property values.

The city has budgeted for 13 additional General Fund employees: six for the Palm Coast Fire Department, five for Public Works, one for Parks and Recreation and one for the city manager’s office.

The city’s Water and Wastewater Capital Projects Fund is the largest section of the budget, totaling $70 million. The city is budgeting $7.6 million for its Streets Improvement Fund for fiscal year 2024, a $780,000 decrease from the 2023 budget.

BY

THE NUMBERS

$357 million

Palm Coast’s total budget for fiscal year 2024

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

‘Horrible, horrific mistake’

Bunnell Elementary principal and teacher placed on administrative leave over assemblies that singled out Black students.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Six days after Bunnell Elementary School held two assemblies exclusively for Black and biracial students, Flagler County School Board Chair Cheryl Massaro and Interim Superintendent LaShakia Moore apologized during a hastily called news conference.

With television news crews, reporters and members of the community jammed into the School Board’s workshop room on Aug. 24, Massaro called the assemblies a “horrible, horrific mistake.”

The school made national news with the Washington Post, CNN and USA Today running stories about the assemblies that were designed to persuade students to improve their standardized assessment scores.

Moore announced that an investigation into the assemblies “from the beginning stage all the way to the implementation” is ongoing. She said Bunnell Elementary Principal Donelle Evensen and Fifth Grade Support Facilitator Anthony Hines have been put on paid administrative leave.

“The purpose of this (news conference) is really to offer an apology to our students, to our families, all of our families, and to this community,” Moore said. “And that’s where

the two assemblies — one for each grade. The district released the presentation’s PowerPoint, which described “The Problem,” “The Solution” and a challenge. Ironically, the PowerPoint had several typos and grammatical errors.

“The Problem” stated that “AA” (African Americans) were underperforming on English and math standardized assessments tests, with 32% receiving a Level 3 score or above. “We are supposed to have at least 41%”, the PowerPoint stated.

The solutions included commitment to earning “at least a Level 3 or higher” and concentrating on passing all curriculum assessments “with at least a 75% or higher.” The challenge would pit students against each other in attaining the higher assessment scores. The winners would be rewarded with meals from McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A.

Alexis Smith, whose 10-year-old son was pulled out of class to attend the fourth-grade assembly, said the match-up challenge “was almost like a Hunger Games.”

TRAUMATIZED BY PRESENTATION

Parents said the students were told that if they weren’t responsible in school they would be in danger later in life of getting shot and killed or going to jail.

The parents were not informed that the assemblies were planned, and they did not learn about them until their children came home that day.

Jacinda Arrington, Smith’s sister, has a 9-year-old daughter who was in the fourth-grade assembly. Arrington and Smith said their children were traumatized by the presentation.

through it all over again.”

Nicole Aviles told the Observer on Aug. 21 that her fifth-grade son was in his second day at Bunnell after transferring from Wadsworth Elementary School when he was called into the assembly. She said her son came home, told her about the assembly, and said, “Yeah, Mom, this school is racist.”

Jeff Reaves, the district’s director of Teaching and Learning, told the that school presentations such as this one do not have to be pre-approved by the district.

Parents who spoke to Evensen said she told them she approved the PowerPoint, but had not approved the statement about getting shot or going to jail. Evensen was finishing her first full week as principal on the day of the assemblies. She was the district’s Assistant Principal of the

The assemblies were not limited to underperforming African American students. Both Arrington and Smith’s children had received Level 3 scores and were on the honor roll last year, the parents said. The students in the groups with the highest assessment scores of 4s and 5s were called up on stage.

“They paraded them in front of other students. That’s stupid,” said Pastor Jearlyn Dennie, who attended the news

‘YOU ARE CAPABLE’

Dennie organized a support group on the morning of Friday, Aug. 25, outside of Bunnell Elementary School. The participants prayed and sang “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” and walked along the sidewalk to the bus dropoff area carrying signs with positive messages for the students, such as, “You Are Capable,” “You are Smart,” and “Please Remember You Dennie, of Jearlyn Ministries and

INTERVIEW CANCELED

The School Board’s scheduled retreat on Aug. 24 to interview Interim Superintendent LaShakia Moore for the permanent position was canceled less than half an hour before its scheduled 9 a.m. start.

“Mrs. Moore told the board that her immediate attention was needed at Bunnell Elementary School, meeting with families, students, and staff,” the district said in a release.

A rescheduled date has not been determined. The board had suspended its superintendent search to give Moore the opportunity to interview first.

About 35 minutes after the retreat was canceled, the district scheduled a press conference for 11:30 a.m. to “discuss the events” at BES.

Reverse Church, held up a sign that read, “I Love Your Skin.”

“We are here praying love and mercy of Christ. We are not here to protest,” said Betty Anne Perch, a retired school teacher who taught at several Flagler Schools, including BES.

Massaro and Moore were flanked by the other School Board members — Will Furry, Christy Chong, Sally Hunt and Colleen Conklin — when they spoke at the Aug. 24 news conference. While Moore took questions, Massaro had a scripted statement. She said the district offers no excuses, “but extends our apology, all of our apologies. It should not have happened. If we had known about it, it wouldn’t have happened.”

Flagler Schools was the last district in the state to end segregation. Black school George Washington Carver High closed in 1970 after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a court order requiring full integration. The district previously had a policy of “voluntary integration.”

“The Flagler School Board does not support segregation,” Massaro said. “It has not for many many, many years. So, please understand, yes, a horrible, horrific mistake was

“They’re super clingy. They don’t want to sleep in their rooms.”

JACINDA ARRINGTON, BES parent

Flagler Schools Interim Superintendent LaShakia Moore answers questions at an Aug. 24 press conference about Bunnell Elementary School assemblies that included only African American students.

Photos by Brent Woronoff

“This should not have happened. But it did, and as the interim superintendent of Flagler Schools, it is my responsibility to identify, why did this happen?”

LASHAKIA MOORE

Jearlyn Dennie, who organized a show of support for the students, holds up a sign outside of Bunnell Elementary School as students arrive.

School Board member Will Furry gave Bunnell Elementary School students high fives as they stepped off the bus and walked onto campus.

BES principal and teacher placed on leave

made. This district will do all that it can to get us back on track.”

Districts are required to collect data on how subgroups — such as students with disabilities, students for whom English is not their first language and African American students — perform on the assessments. Moore told the Observer on Aug. 21 that a teacher (Hines) suggested that they try talking to the students directly to encourage them to improve their grades.

AN APPEAL TO WORK TOGETHER

At the news conference, Moore appealed to families and the community to work together to help improve the academic performance of all the students in Flagler County.

A community forum that was scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the G.W. Carver Center in Bunnell was postponed on Aug. 28 due to Hurricane Idalia, which was expected to make landfall on Aug. 30.

“This will be an opportunity to have an open dialogue with Flagler Schools administrators, local officials, community-based organizations, families, stakeholders and students,” according to a district news release about the forum, which the

district said will be rescheduled.

Moore said the Flagler County NAACP and the African American Mentoring Program were among the local organizations that were scheduled to participate in the forum.

“There are members of the community, I don’t know if it’s our community or the greater community, that feel when I ask for support from the community that I am deflecting this,” Moore said. “I am not deflecting this. I own this. But I’ve been a longtime educator here in Flagler Schools. I am committed to the success of these students, not only because I am the educator, but because I am a member of this community.

“I need every community member,” she said. “I need our business partners. I need our faith-based (leaders). I need everyone to come together. Let’s have a hard conversation. Let’s identify what happened here and what we need to go forward.”

Moore said she has spoken to most of the families involved in the assemblies since she heard about them on the afternoon of Aug. 18.

“I am committed to calling each and every one of those families,” she said. “We will continue to move forward. We will get more information,

Committee cautious in face of school district growth

Committee members are not confident that new student population projections warrant building more schools.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Though a study projects Flagler Schools could hit capacities in five to six years, members of the Flagler Schools Interlocal Agreement Oversight Committee are not sure the school district needs to begin building new schools.

“The Flagler School Board does not support segregation. It has not for many many, many years.”

CHERYL MASSARO, School Board chair

and we will respond according to the information that we have.”

Moore also said she is making sure that teachers and staff are empowered to say something if they feel like something isn’t right.

“How do we address that?” she asked. “We address that through continuous professional learning, and we address that by me making that statement to them and demonstrating that that is the expectation of Flagler Schools.”

Conklin, who has been a School Board member since November 2000, said she doesn’t remember the district holding a press conference like this before.

“But I think it was warranted given the situation,” she said. “It should have never happened, and we need to send the message loud and clear that it is not acceptable. It will be interesting to see what comes out in the investigation.”

Smith, the mother of a fourth grader, was asked if she thought the district dropped the ball.

“They not only dropped it,” she said. “They rolled it across the floor and dunked it.”

A study by the Davis Demographics firm predicts that student enrollment in Flagler County’s high schools and middle schools could exceed the district’s capacity by 2029. The firm also predicts that every 100 residential units built in the county will bring around 24 new students to the school district.

District Intergovernmental Planner William Whitson told the Oversight Committee at its first annual meeting Aug. 24 that the district can expect 1,000 more students over the next four to five years.

“It shows pretty clearly that we’re going to need more schools,” he said.

“The good news is, we have a window. We have a horizon of the next five to six years to make those kinds of critical decisions.”

The growth stems partly from the projected birth rate and partly from people moving in from outside the county, Whitson said.

The ILA Oversight Committee —

created in 2022 with representatives from the Flagler School Board, the County Commission and the cities of Palm Coast, Bunnell and Flagler Beach — discusses policies, reviews reports and provides recommendations for changes to an interlocal agreement between those government bodies on school district funding.

County Commissioner David Sullivan was one of several members skeptical about the projected student population increase. He said he didn’t know how many of the homes being built would be filled by families with children.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that there are a lot of buildings being built and a lot of houses,” he said. “A lot of them are not going to be for people that have little kids.”

In 2022, the county government and the governments of Palm Coast, Bunnell and Flagler Beach issued 2,990 residential building permits, according to the committee’s annual report. The county is expected to reach a population of 148,000 by 2030.

Sullivan said the Davis report also does not consider recent legislative changes that impact education. School Board member Colleen Conklin and several other committee members said they were concerned about building multiple new school buildings when population trends may later change.

The committee also met to review the first annual ILA report, as required under guidelines included in the new ILA approved last year. The committee elected to bring the report to the respective governing bodies for consideration before approving it.

The Oversight Committee will meet again no later than Nov. 15 to vote on the report and review final district enrollment numbers, due in October.

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Circulation

Photo by Sierra Williams District Intergovernmental Planner William Whitson speaks at an Aug. 24 ILA Oversight Committee meeting.

Citizens hold up encouraging signs for students as children are dropped off at Bunnell Elementary School.

Magistrates could weigh school book disputes

Parents may request a special magistrate ‘to determine whether a school district properly considered a parental objection’ to materials in classroom or school libraries.

RYAN DAILEY

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

State education officials on Wednesday, Aug. 23, approved two rules that could help set the stage for special magistrates to hear disputes about issues such as parents’ objections to school library books.

The rules stem from a controversial new law (HB 1069), which, in part, expanded a prohibition on instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. The rules, approved by the State Board of Education, also came amid debates across Florida about attempts to remove or restrict access to books in schools.

BIZ BUZZ

INTRACOSTAL

BANK HIRES NEW RISK OFFICER

Robbie Wilson is Intracoastal Bank’s new controller and risk officer and will support the bank with accounting, financial functions and risk management, according to a press release. Wilson comes to Intracoastal Bank with 20 years of business experience in accounting and finance and was previously

Paul Burns, chancellor of the state Department of Education’s Division of K-12 Schools, said the purpose of the rules — one new and one an update of an existing rule — is “to further ensure the health, safety and welfare of Florida’s students.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature, which approved the law this spring, have intensified scrutiny of books and other materials in schools in recent years. The new rule includes laying out a process for parents to request a special magistrate “to determine whether a school district properly considered a parental objection” to materials in classroom or school libraries.

Special magistrates could be administrative law judges or people appointed by the state education commissioner who have at least five years of administrative law experience.

Burns said the special magistrate process would be used “if a dispute could not be resolved locally.”

State Board of Education Chairman Ben Gibson said disputes over library and

principal/owner of RCW Group.

SPHERION OFFERS REWARDS PROGRAM

Spherion Staffing and Recruiting Ormond Beach has launched a new employee rewards program.

The Orange Vault four-week program aims to retain current temporary employees and increase redeployment through weekly cash rewards leading up to a grand prize in conjunction with National Staffing Employ-

classroom materials should be solved at the local level.

“I think the point here with this rule is that we want these decisions to be made locally. We want these decisions to be made in consultation with the parents, the teachers, the superintendent and the school board,” Gibson said.

Critics of the rule described it as one-sided, favoring people who have requested that materials be removed from classrooms or libraries.

Amy Perwien, who spoke in opposition to the rule at Wednesday’s state board meeting in Collier County, said she is a parent of public-school students and that her “parental rights are being trampled by lone book objectors who may not even have children in our public schools.”

“This law refers to a parent disagreeing with a school board’s decision. However, the Department of Education has written a rule that only allows the book objector to file an appeal. The proposed rule skews the appeal process to those who have viewpoints based in … limiting speech,” Perwien said.

ee Week, according to a news release.

Spherion employees active on assignment and in good standing with their local office as of Aug. 21 are eligible to receive cash prizes of $100, $200, or $300.

Spherion will select winners from 200-plus offices nationwide each week, with one employee receiving a grand cash reward of $10,000 at the end.

Every local office is guaranteed to have at least three winners.

Esther Byrd, a member of the state board, disputed assertions that the rule is designed to be “one-sided.”

“From my perspective, the decision that is made … could be on either side of the issue,” Byrd said.

To get a special magistrate involved, parents would have to fill out request forms and demonstrate that objections were first filed with their local school boards. Parents also would have to prove that “the school board has either ruled on the objection or has failed to timely process the objection” and describe how the district didn’t properly establish or follow policies to resolve the objection.

Special magistrates would issue recommendations about “whether a parent has demonstrated that the school

Florida limits college bathroom access based on sex at birth

Florida public colleges will be required to update policies on restrooms and changing rooms to have separate facilities “based on biological sex at birth” under a rule approved by the State Board of Education on Aug. 23.

district has failed to create an adequate policy” or a district “has materially failed to follow that policy.” The recommendations would go to the state education board.

Meanwhile, the board on Wednesday approved a rule change that deals with a form parents can use to request special magistrates in “unresolved student welfare complaints.” The form was changed to reflect the 2023 law’s broadening of the prohibition on instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity.

The law expanded the prohibition to include grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The law previously barred such instruction in kindergarten through third grade.

The rule stems from HB 1521, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May. Under the rule, college restrooms and changing facilities must be “designated for exclusive use by males or females,” or unisex facilities must be available.

The rule also applies to campus housing.

The measure calls for colleges to establish disciplinary procedures for staff members who violate the rule. It requires that a second violation “must result in a termination.”

Former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, a senior policy adviser for LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida, said the rule “will only worsen the current culture of fear and intimidation against the transgender community.”

— THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

COPS CORNER

continued west, veering in and out of the road. The officer, afraid the woman would cause a head-on collision as the road nar rowed to two lanes, continued following from afar. When the woman approached a tractor trailer, she stopped on the side of the road, and the officer spotted her throwing a cup out of her front passenger window.

Security camera footage showed a group of approximately 10 people — seemingly led by a 60-70-year-old woman — taking turns backing three cars into the home’s garage, possibly loading the stolen items in the trunk.

The next day, the smaller safe was gone.

The missing safe contained $1,400. The manager told Sheriff’s Office deputies that employees were recently upset about the firing of another manager and could have stolen the safe for that reason, according to the report.

AUG. 13

ERRATIC DRIVER

9:08 p.m. — Intersection of State Road 40 and State Road 11, DeLeon Springs Fleeing/eluding police. While driving on Granada Boulevard on the west side of town, a local police officer noticed the car behind him flashing its high beams.

The driver was driving erratically and changed lanes abruptly before passing the officer’s patrol car, according to a police report. The driver was driving at 80-90 mph; the speed limit in the area is 60 mph.

The officer tried to stop the driver, a 34-year-old Daytona Beach woman, but she

An officer who searched her vehicle found eight grams of marijuana. When asked what she had thrown out, the woman said, “It could have been anything. It could have been weed,” according to the report.

The woman admitted that she drank alcohol before driving. Officers retrieved the cup she’d thrown, which contained alcohol.

AUG. 14 AIR B&E

5:30 p.m. — 6900 block of State Road

A1A, Palm Coast Grand theft. Guests at a rental property stole $4,300 worth of miscellaneous items as they checked out from their weekend stay, according to a Sheriff’s Office incident report.

A Roomba, TV, vacuum and iPad Mini were among the items stolen.

A man who looks after the property for its owner called the Sheriff’s Office when he checked the property after the renters had checked out the morning of Aug. 14. He told the deputy the property is rented out through a third-party website.

Working with the rental website, an FCSO deputy tracked the suspect listed on the account to the St. Augustine area.

AUG. 19

BREAK ROOM BREAK-IN

12:55 p.m. — 1500 block of West Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach Battery touch/strike. Police arrested a 39-year-old Palm Coast man who pushed his way into a big box store’s employee break room, then began taking off his clothes and placing his things in the room’s refrigerator.

An employee took an arriving police officer to the break room, telling her that the man had a pocket knife in his front pocket, according to a police report. As the pair got closer to the break room, they could hear an employee shout that the man was becoming violent with the employees in the room with him: He’d shoved a manager against a door repeatedly, the report states. The officer ordered him to get on the ground, but the man began climbing on the counters and spinning around instead. The officer used a Taser on him, but he still kicked and swung his arms to keep her from detaining him, the report notes. Other police officers arrived and handcuffed him.

Officers took the man to the hospital for medical clearance, then took him to jail.

Penalties considered for students who record fights

Does a new state law banning cellphones in schools cover consequences for students who take videos of fights on campus?

JARLEENE ALMENAS

SENIOR EDITOR

Volusia County Schools continues to update its student code of conduct in the wake of recent legislative changes, but questions remain about the state’s new cellphone law.

In May, the governor signed House Bill 379, which prohibits students from using cellphones or other wireless communications devices during instructional time, unless directed to do so by a teacher. At an Aug. 22 School Board meeting, board members approved advertising updates to 22 of the district’s policies.

Board member Ruben Colon asked if the new law covers students who film fights on

campus — particularly high school campuses, where students are allowed to use cellphones during lunch period.

“We’ve said we hold that student accountable too,” Colon said. “... One of the things that has happened with the recording is that [students] fight like Rocky, because they’re being recorded.” Would that infraction now be a criminal act? Colon asked.

Patty Corr, VCS assistant superintendent for student services, said students who record would likely face con-

CRIME REPORT

Ammunition leads to bomb squad investigation

A St. John’s County bomb squad called out to a house that was the site of a recent homicide in Palm Coast found no explosives.

Family members at the house, at 20 Blare Drive, came across a trunk they believed might contain explosives and called a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office detective just before 2 p.m. Aug. 23, according to an FCSO press release.

BRIEFS

OBPD takes part in pedestrian safety program

Volusia County ranks in the top 25 counties in Florida for traffic crashes that cause serious and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists.

To help reduce those crashes, the Ormond Beach Police Department is participating in the Florida Department of Transportation High Visibility Enforcement Program, which teaches motorists, cyclists and pedestrians about traffic laws. Starting this month through May 2024, OBPD will place extra officers in corridors with a high number of pedestrian and bicycle crashes, according to a press release. Officers will look for drivers speeding, failing to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, conducting improper turns or signal violations and using hand-held devices while driving. Officers also will watch for pedestrians and bicyclists who break traffic laws.

Officers will issue warnings and citations only when appropriate.

Ormond Beach offers sandbags at Nova Rec

In preparation for Hurricane Idalia, the city of Ormond Beach has offered a self-serve sand pile and fillable sandbags at the Nova Community Center, located at 440 N. Nova Road. The city opened the site at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, an hour earlier than the usual schedule.

The city’s Streets Department assisted residents.

About 200 people filled sandbags on Monday, Aug. 28, according to staff members, and they expected many more to do so Tuesday.

Ormond Beach residents are required to present ID to receive up to 10 bags and must bring a shovel to fill and load the bags into their cars.

sequences, but the consequences may not be as severe as those for students who fight. For example, she said, students who fight may be suspended for five days; a student who records may only be suspended for three.

“That’s part of the discretion of the administrators on the scene processing the event,” Corr said.

Though he acknowledged that recordings might help district staff see what happened during a student fight, Colon said he worried about the videos being shared on social media.

“Our kids need to know that you’re a part of the problem if you’re not a part of the solution,” Colon said. “And I think that the cell phones are leading to those increased fights ... and there has to be a consequence for that.”

School Board Chair Jamie Haynes mentioned a fight at the Seabreeze High School campus, where students positioned their phone cameras to record before the fight began, she said.

“I have real issues with vid-

eotaping of fights, or children being harmed, especially when it’s premeditated,” she said. “... The Seabreeze thing, we saw the cameras sitting right there on the ledge to tape what they were going to do.”

Haynes agreed with Colon that there should be strict consequences for sharing fight videos.

Superintendent Carmen Balgobin directed staff to look into how other school districts handle fight recording by students. She reminded the board that high school students’ use of cellphones during lunch is a privilege.

“I think we addressed that [that] also can be taken away,” she said.

Volusia County Schools has a total of 149 policies. Of those, the district has reviewed 56 in the last three years. The batch of 22 proposed policy changes approved for advertisement on Aug. 22 would put the district on schedule to have all the policies that were created before 2016 updated by the fall of 2024.

firearm to school.

Deputies evacuated six homes, including 20 Blare Drive, and closed Blare Drive from Oak Trails Boulevard to Black Alder Drive. The FCSO called St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office’s Bomb Squad to investigate. The bomb squad found “a large amount of ammunition” in the trunk contained, but no explosive devices, the press release said.

Residents were allowed back into their homes at around 7:45 p.m. The 20 Blare Drive home was the site of a homicide on

Aug. 14 when the homeowner, Charles Kidd Jr., 85, shot and killed his roommate, Mark Ruschmeier. Kidd was known to FCSO deputies as paranoid and a “doomsday prepper,” according to FCSO CAD notes from previous calls to the home.

Kidd has been charged with second-degree murder and remains at the Flagler County jail.

Student arrested for bringing gun to school

A 15-year-old Mainland High School student was arrested Friday, Aug. 25, for bringing a

A Mainland school resource officer was alerted on Thursday, Aug. 22, to an Instagram post that showed a student holding a handgun in a bathroom, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department.

The officer confirmed that the video was taken in a building at Mainland, according to the boy’s arrest report.

The officer identified the boy with the help of other students, found him in class and arrested him.

Additional arrests may follow, according to the DBPD.

LETTERS

Support bills that promote Alzheimer’s research, services

Dear Editor:

Alzheimer’s is silently devastating our communities. According to a new report released at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, more than

BIZ BUZZ WE SELL RESTAURANTS NAMED TO ‘CULTURE100’ LIST

The local franchise business We Sell Restaurants has been named to the Franchise Business Review’s fourth annual “Culture100” list.

The list recognizes the top 100 franchise brands out of over 360 to participate in the Franchise Business Review’s research on franchise cultures, according to a press release from We Sell Restaurants.

The franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about leadership, core values, franchisee community and engagement, and the brands selected received the highest overall ratings.

We Sell Restaurant’s survey data showed the brand exceeded the Franchise Business Review’s benchmarks across several categories: training and support, franchise system, leadership, core values, franchisee community,

PETS UP FOR ADOPTION

The Flagler Humane Society is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1 Shelter Drive in Palm Coast.

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 Flagler Humane Society at 386-445-1814 or apply online at

11% of our loved ones in Flagler County age 65 and up are living with Alzheimer’s. Thousands of our loved ones are being robbed of their memories while caregivers, friends and families feel the impact on their financial, physical and mental wellbeing.

I observed firsthand the difficulty my family had taking care of my grandmother, who passed away from Alzheimer’s. In addition, as a certified geriatric care manager,

self-evaluation, financial opportunity and general satisfaction, according to the press release.

HAMMOCK DUNES CLUB CHEF TO TAKE MASTER CHEF EXAM

Hammock Dunes Club executive chef

Lance Cook will be one of 11 chefs to take the prestigious master chef exam in September. Cook is already a certified executive chef.

The exam — hosted by the American Master Chefs Order — is known for its rigorous standards, according to a press release from American Master Chefs Order.

It will take place Sept. 16-18 at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan.

The master chef exam is designed to evaluate participants’ organization, planning, menu writing, technical skills, creativity, teamwork, and ability to perform under pressure, according to the press release.

I’ve worked with many families who struggle to find resources to assist their loved ones who live with this devastating disease. Our leaders must act to reduce the burden of this disease on our community. Congressman Mike Waltz, please co-sponsor H.R. 619, the NAPA Reauthorization Act, as well as H.R. 620, the Alzheimer’s Accountability & Investment Act. These bills would promote rapid research and improve care and

VETERAN OF THE WEEK

John L. Morris

 Branch of military: U.S. Army

 Dates of service: 1966-1968

 Rank/occupation: First Lieutenant/Transportation and Logistics

 Hometown: Newark, Delaware John Morris attended the University of Delaware and was commissioned through the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. Upon graduation, he was to be shipped to Vietnam. In transit, orders were changed, and he was instead assigned as a transportation officer at Naha Port in Okinawa, Japan, where

services for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

I hope Congressman Waltz understands his actions to support these bills will make a significant impact on those in our community living with Alzheimer’s and their care partners.

CINDY FLOWERS Palm Coast

he managed materials and supplies transiting the Pacific for operations supporting the war in Vietnam. Morris had to delay his marriage to his fiancée, Sally, due to his military commitment. However, Sally traveled to Japan, and they were married in March 1967. Following his honorable military service, Morris worked for many different shipping companies, which took him around the world. Morris and his family spent many years living in Montclair, New Jersey, and he worked in New York City. He and his wife, Sally, moved to Palm Coast in 2017. Morris volunteers for the Flagler County Library Palm Coast branch bookstore and is a lay reader and choir member at the Saint Thomas Episcopal Church. Morris is a past president of the Flagler Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and is a current delegate to the Flagler County Veterans Advisory Council.

NEED

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

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NASCAR Xfinity driver Garrett Smithley tours Ormond manufacturing facilities

Smithley has been a spokesperson for the FAME program since 2017.

SUZANNE MCCARTHY

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

NASCAR Xfinity driver Garrett Smithley visited Daytona State College’s Advanced Technology Center to meet FAME students, sign autographs and tour classrooms on Thursday, Aug. 24.

The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education program is a nationally recognized paid training experience that prepares students for manufacturing careers. DSC is the first Florida chapter of FAME, a collaboration between DSC and local manufacturers developed to connect students pursuing associate degrees in engineering technology with local jobs.

Smithley has been a FAME spokesperson since 2017, and said his cousin went through the program with Toyota in Georgetown, Kentucky.

After the meet and greet at the Advanced Technology Center, Smithley visited three Ormond Beach manufacturers, meeting employees and touring the facilities of Germfree, Ameritech Die and Mold, and ABB Installation Products.

Dennis Dio Parker, developer of FAME, and NASCAR driver Garrett Smithley

Larry Rosenberg, engineering manager at ABB, speaks with NASCAR driver Garrett Smithley.

NASCAR driver Garrett Smithley talks to students in the FAME program’s Advanced Manufacturing Lab.

NASCAR driver Garrett Smithley signs autographs for students and faculty at Daytona State College’s Advanced Technical Institute.

NASCAR driver Garrett Smithley and Steve Rotman, president of Ameritech Die and Mold, in Ormond Beach

Photos by Suzanne McCarthy

YOUR NEIGHBORS

BOOM, there it is

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Flagler Beach resident Chris Dalessio, 49, stepped off the boom lift amid claps and cheers at precisely 2:01 p.m. on Aug. 27.

Dalessio spent exactly 45 hours 40 feet in the air — from 5 p.m. Aug 25 to 2 p.m. Aug 27 — in a boom lift at Veteran’s Park in Flagler Beach. He said that while he was happy to step up to the plate — or rather, go up in the air — to help out kids, he was glad to be down on the ground again.

“I enjoyed it. The weather was perfect,” he said. “I should have used more sunblock, like my wife said.”

All of the proceeds from Dalessio’s “Perch-A-Thon” fundraiser will go to Bunnell Elementary School. The Perch-A-Thon raised $7,000, plus 80 pounds of food donations and about eight boxes of school supplies.

Dalessio said his church, Salty Church in Flagler Beach, had inspired him to do a fundraiser when it adopted BES as its project school. But it wasn’t until he talked to his friend and the former BES Principal Marcus Sanfilippo about the school’s $15,000 in unpaid lunches that Dalessio knew how he could help.

The Perch-A-Thon didn’t meet its goal, but Dalessio said that’s OK: The money raised will still help free up funding for other needs the school and kids might have.

Dalessio said he reached out to businesses and community members to sponsor and volunteer for the fundraiser.

Perch-AThon raises $7,000 for Bunnell Elementary School.

The To-Do Dudes, a college and high school student company founded by Flagler County high school graduates, was one of the businesses that volunteered to help.

Founder Erik Libby said the To-Do Dudes regularly partner with the Flagler County Education Foundation, so helping with the Perch-AThon was a no-brainer.

Libby heard about it because he and Dalessio both attend Salty Church.

“[Chris] has such a heart for people and just the community and wanting to raise money for students,”

Libby said. “[This is] a great way to do it and get the community involved around it.”

To-Do Dudes employees stood on the sidewalks and corners around Veteran’s Park with donation buckets and sold raffle tickets. Isabella Pitts and brothers Michael and Matthew Johnson, all 17-year-old FPC students, said it was a great opportunity to help their community.

“We all agree that giving back to our community is really important,”

Michael Johnson said. “Not only as our mission as our company, but also the mission in ourselves.”

The community regularly comes together in times of need, Dalessio said, and the support for the PerchA-Thon just makes him think about what his next project could be. He said the event would not have been possible without support from the community and Flagler Beach businesses.

“When I went there and spoke to [the business owners], there was no hesitation,” Dalessio said. “Flagler Beach is known for taking care of each other and taking care of their community.”

Cameron Coats, 21, gives his best shot with the water ball.

Sawyer Fink, 9, throws a water ball at the Perch-A-Thon basket.

Chris Dalessio, 49, looks down at the Perch-A-Thon sponsor list.

Photo by Sierra Williams Chris Dalessio gives the thumbs up signal after stepping off the Perch-AThon. He spent 45 hours in the air.

Photo by Sierra Williams Annmarie Dalessio hits the switch to lower her husband, Chris, back down to Earth.

Photo by Sierra Williams

The Full House Band played at Veteran’s Park on Aug. 27, at the Perch-A-Thon.

Photo by Sierra Williams The To-Do Dudes volunteered to help with the Perch-A-Thon fundraiser: Erik Libby, Michael Johnson, Isabella Pitts and Matthew Johnson.

Photo by Jake Montgomery

Photo by Jake Montgomery

Photo by Jake Montgomery

LOCAL EVENTS

FRIDAY, SEPT. 1

MOVIES ON THE HALIFAX

When: 8-10 p.m.

Where: Rockefeller Gardens, 26 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a showing of “13 Going on 30,” rated PG-13. Movies are weather-sensitive. Call 386-676-3216 for rainout information.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 2

ORMOND BEACH ELKS

LODGE DUCK DROP

When: 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, and Monday, Sept. 4

Where: Ormond Beach Elks Lodge No. 2193, 285 Wilmette Ave., Ormond Beach

Details: The Elks are hosting a duck drop fundraiser, where rubber ducks will be dropped from a helicopter for a chance to win prizes. Ducks cost $5 each. There will be food, music, games, face painting and more on Saturday, Sept. 2 and Monday, Sept. 4. The duck drop will happen on Saturday, but will be rescheduled

Memorial Art Museum and more on the first Saturday of each month for art openings and art events.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 3

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

When: 8 a.m. to noon

Where: Social Hall at St. Brendan Catholic Church, 1000 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: The Father Eamonn Gill Council 13018 Knights of Columbus will serve a pancake breakfast at the Social Hall. The breakfast includes all the pancakes you can eat, scrambled eggs, a sausage link, orange juice and coffee. The breakfast costs $6 for adults, and children under 12 eat free. All are welcome.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 8

MOVIES IN THE PARK

When: 7:50-9:50 p.m.

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

Details: Bring your blanket, lawn chairs and picnic baskets and watch “Ghostbusters,” rated PG, at Central Park. This event is presented by Palm Coast Parks and Recreation.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 9

REGROW THE LOOP 9:30-10:30 a.m. Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Church, 152 Fairview Ave.,

Daytona Beach

Details: Moms of Pre Schoolers is a free faith-based program for moms, moms-tobe and their preschoolers for support and encouragement. Breakfast is provided, as well as a video with discussion and crafts. Playtime offered for children, with adult supervision. Call 386-255-2588.

‘THE CHOSEN’

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

Where: Central Baptist Church, 152 Fairview Ave., Daytona Beach Details: “The Chosen,” a TV series on the life of Jesus, will be aired at Central Baptist Church every Thursday, beginning with Season 1. Free admission. Discussion and light refreshments will follow the showings. Call 386-2552588.

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.

WALK When: 3-7 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach MainStreet Arts District, 128 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: Join Ocean Art Gallery, Frame of Mind, Art Spotlight, The Studio by Artist Angel Lowden, the Ormond

Learn how to attract wildlife, pollinators and birds to your yard during this free workshop sponsored by Volusia County’s ReGrow the Loop initiative. Speakers will share landscape design techniques. Registration is required. Visit tinyurl.com/ regrowtheloop.

ONGOING MOMS OF PRE SCHOOLERS

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

Where: Central Baptist

MOAS EXHIBITIONS

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

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

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

Student-led group grows fruits and vegetables

Volusia Giving Gardens gives produce to people who have limited access to fresh foods.

EMMA BRUGNA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Spruce Creek High School students and grads have established two community gardens and are working on their third.

Graduates Ella Moore and Lana Jackson and current senior Connor Wiles joined together two years ago to form Volusia Giving Gardens, building community gardens to distribute produce to people in need.

Moore, of Port Orange, said she hopes to mobilize more of the Volusia County community — including Ormond Beach — through the initia-

tive.

“I want to be able to provide more access to healthy food to everyone in the community, not just those in underserved populations, and then also be able to bring in more than just our couple of students that we have now,” Moore said. “We want to be more active in the community and show gardening and its benefits.”

VGG started its garden initiative using grant money to provide pesticide-free produce in food deserts. The group has partnered with Generation Impact from the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, raising thousands of dollars for its projects, according to VGG. VGG aims to assist the local population that United Way designates as “ALICE” — “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed” — helping people who have jobs but cannot afford fresh produce gain access to healthy food.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA will hold a Public Hearing as authorized by law at 7:00 P.M. on the 11th day of September 2023, for the purpose of First Reading of Ordinance 2023-09, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Building (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110. ORDINANCE 2023-09

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA

PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING OF REAL PROPERTY

TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 32,583 + ACRES WITHIN THE CITY OF BUNNELL AS DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT

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

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE as may be legally permitted on the day of the meeting. Instructions on how to participate by electronic or other means, if legally permitted, would be found on the City of Bunnell’s website at www.bunnellcity.us on the homepage. The public is advised to check the City’s website for up-to-date information on any changes to the manner in which the meeting will be held and the location. The failure of a person to appear during said hearing and comment on or object to the proposed Ordinance, either in person or in writing, might preclude the ability of such person to contest the Ordinance at a later date. A copy of all pertinent information this ordinance can be obtained at the office of the Bunnell Customer Service Office, 604 E. Moody Blvd. Unit 6, Bunnell, FL 32110. Persons with disabilities needing assistance to attend this proceeding should contact the Bunnell City Clerk at (386) 4377500 x 5 at least 48-business hours prior to the meeting.

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

VGG board members Shea Bryan and Reid McComb also assist. Bryan, an Ormond resident and a senior at Spruce Creek, said she’s passionate about environmental science and hopes to become a teacher.

Growing fresh fruit and vegetables for people without easy access to them has made an impact on her, she said.

“The whole goal is to not only help those who need it, but it’s also to mitigate climate change in kind of the best ability that we can,” Bryan said.

Other VGG volunteers help water, weed and maintain the gardens, plant the fruits and vegetables and build the garden beds.

The group works with shelters and community partners to create new gardens and donate the produce efficiently. The organization’s first and most successful is at Beacon Center, a domestic violence shelter in Daytona Beach.

“They have first access to harvest, and then we’ll also sometimes harvest and donate back to them,” Bryan said.

The second garden is at the First Step Homeless Shelter, and the third garden will be at the Port Orange Recreation Center, where VGG hopes to place educational signs and interactive garden simulators and host monthly educational events for children in the community.

Quinn Hemmerle, Ella Moore, Gavin Dain, Lana Jackson and Meghan Cahil donate produce to Hope Place homeless shelter.

Courtesy photos Shea Bryan, of Ormond Beach, harvests collard greens to be donated to Hope Place homeless shelter.

Net gain

Continuity has helped FPC volleyball team’s growth.

WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Senior Lily Puritis has played for three different head volleyball coaches in her four seasons at Fla gler Palm Coast. For the first time in her high school career, she has the same coach for a second straight season.

It has brought continuity. And further helping in familiarity is the fact that the coach is her mom. Nicole Puritis did not take the job last year simply because her daugh ter is on the team. She says she’s in it for the long haul.

Three games into the 2023-24 season, the Bulldogs’ improvement is noticeable.

“Our mentality is so much differ ent. We’re trying to improve every little bit we can,” said Lily Puritis, who is the Bulldogs’ co-captain along with Natalya Pilasky.

For the first time since the 201920 season, FPC has opened with two straight wins. The Bulldogs defeated Deltona 3-1 in their season opener on Aug. 23 and then followed the next day with an intense five-set battle with Mainland, winning the final set 16-14.

Their winning streak ended on Aug. 25 in their third match in three days and their first on the road, a 3-0 loss at Orange Park. They opened the season with four matches in six days.

“We’ve grown so much,” Nicole Puritis said. “Last year we had a lot of new players, and I was a first-year head coach. I encourage them to not be afraid to make mistakes, because that’s the only way you learn and get better.”

The Bulldogs have new additions again this year with two out-ofstate transfers, including senior libero Kenna Kirshy.

FPC started out strong in both of their victories.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 14-1 lead in their first set against Deltona and then held on to win the set 25-8. After losing the second set 25-21, they won the next two sets, 25-21 and 25-11, to close out the match.

Outside hitters Puritis and sophomore Marina Carlisi led the team in kills with 14 and 13, respectively. Carlisi also led the team at the serving line, serving 29 times. Puritis had five aces — tying with sophomore setter Faith Dailey for the team lead — and 16 passes.

“Our energy was very positive,” Lily Puritis said after the match. “Everyone’s more involved.”

FPC won the first two sets against Mainland by identical 25-18 scores before the Bucs came back to tie the match, winning 25-20, 25-20. The Bulldogs needed to go an extra point before winning the final set.

Puritis had 19 kills against Mainland. Carlisi had 13 kills and 10 aces. The Bulldogs had a total of 25 aces against the Bucs.

“We’ve been working really hard on our serves,” Nicole Puritis said. “I think that’s the most important skill in volleyball.”

But perhaps the most important factor in the Bulldogs’ improvement has been their team chemistry. Nicole Puritis said each varsity player is a “big sis” to a player on the JV squad, which had helped strengthen the players’ bond with each other.

“Each year we continue to grow,” Lily Puritis said. “I’m real excited. Even after I graduate, I want to see how this program grows.”

Natalya Pilaski (16) serves for FPC.

FPC’s Marina Carlisi battles Deltona’s Kadence LueYorke (7) and Morgan Noell (2).

FPC fans show their support for the Bulldogs.

FPC head coach Nicole Puritis talks to her team between sets.

The Bulldogs celebrate their four-set victory over Deltona.

BRENT

Photos by Brent Woronoff

“Last year we had a lot of new players, and I was a first-year head coach. I encourage them to not be afraid to make mistakes, because that’s the only way you learn and get better.”

NICOLE PURITIS, Flagler Palm Coast volleyball coach

FPC's JV team watches their varsity counterparts win their season opener against Deltona on Aug. 23.

Flagler Palm Coast boys second, girls third at Spikes and Spurs

FPC’s Braedyn Wormeck placed fifth among boys, while Arianna Slaughter ran 10th in the girls race.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Last year, Flagler Palm Coast’s boys and girls cross country teams finished among the top three at the Spikes and Spurs Classic for the first time. On Saturday, Aug. 26, the Bulldogs repeated the accomplishment, with the boys finishing second and the girls finishing third for the second year in a row.

This year, the top-three finishes were expected. Both teams are better than they were last year, FPC coach Dave Halliday said. And while some of the Bulldogs’ runners were pleased with their efforts at the 12th annual season-opening meet at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, others were hoping to post better times.

“It was a solid opening weekend,” Halliday said. “Some were displeased, but that’s OK. They’ve got big goals, and they know they can do better.”

Ponte Vedra won the boys 5K race with Lake Mary’s Nathan Henning crossing the finish line first in 16 minutes, 31.7 seconds. Ponte Vedra’s Miles Wicks was second in 16:35.0.

FPC had six runners to finish among the top 30, led by junior Braedyn Wormeck, who placed fifth with a time of 16:55.0.

Last year, Wormeck placed sixth in 17:42 on a muddy course. He ran a personal record 16:51.1 to win the Bulldogs’ next race, but he would miss most of the rest of the season after suffering a burst appendix after the third race. He returned for the state meet and had a great track season, placing third in the 2-mile run at district to qualify for regionals. Now, he’s hoping to make up for lost time in cross country.

“I’m feeling really good now,” he said. “I trained really hard in the summer.”

Wormeck ran out fast, running third at the first kilometer before dropping down to sixth before finishing fifth, about three seconds behind fourth-place Connor Stromberg, of Lake Mary.

“I wanted to get in good position,” Wormeck said. “I love getting out fast, getting my confidence rolling.”

The Bulldogs’ other top-30 runners were Jack Gilvary (13th, 17:30.4); AJ Dayton (21st, 17:57.7); Evan Williams (25th, 18:06.1); Haydon Herndon (28th, 18:13.3); and Justin Gilliam (29th, 18:13.4).

Seabreeze sophomore Hunter Shuler also likes to get out fast, which is important in this event with 17 teams and 265 runners starting in a relatively confined space. Shuler led at the first kilometer and finished 16th with a time of 17:42.4.

“The first mile was really easy. It got tougher toward the 2-mile mark. There were a lot more turns, and it got a little hilly,” he said. “I was going at a very fast pace. I like to stay with the leaders. My breathing was fine, but my legs got kind of weary. But it was not too bad for a first meet.”

Matanzas sophomore Blaine Vogel finished 23rd in 18:01.7.

FPC GIRLS THIRD, MATANZAS

FOURTH

Sophomore Arianna Slaughter led the Bulldogs with a 10th-place finish in

the girls 5K race with a time of 20:55.9.

Cassidy De Young was 17th (21:34.7), and New York State transfer Madison Lagarde was 27th (22:32.8).

Slaughter finished less than two seconds behind Satellite’s Reagan Cancro (eighth, 20:54.1) and Celina Coryell (ninth, 20:54.5).

“I usually kick up at the end, but I didn’t do it,” Slaughter said. “Me and Cassidy started out in front of the pack, then we slowly faded back. We were third last year too (as a team). We were hoping to move up, but I’m proud we placed.”

Matanzas finished one spot behind the Bulldogs in fourth place. Three Matanzas runners finished among the top 25, each earning a medal.

Senior Sierra Howard led the Pirates with an 18th-place finish (21:47.0).

Freshman Lupita Galleano placed 23rd (22:21.20) in her first high school race, while senior Nina Rodriguez was 24th (22:24.6).

“I knew Lupita was solid, but I didn’t know she’d run this well in her first race,” Matanzas coach Tim Kane said. “We were missing two of our top five runners, so our girls are going to be strong. We don’t have anyone who’s going to win a race, but we have a bunch of girls who are going to run together.”

SPIKES AND SPURS

BOYS

Top teams: 1. Ponte Vedra 79. 2. Flagler Palm Coast 92. 3. Lake Mary 126. 4. Satellite 128. 5. Melbourne West Shore 134. 12. Seabreeze 328. 15. Matanzas 354. 16. Mainland 497.

Winner: Nathan Henning, Lake Mary, 16:31.7.

TOP 50 (1-25 RECEIVED MEDALS; 26-50 RECEIVED RIBBONS):

FPC: 5. Braedyn Wormeck (16:55.0). 13. Jack Gilvary (17:30.4). 21. AJ Dayton (17:57.7).

25. Evan Williams (18:06.1); 28. Haydon Herndon (18:13.3); 29. Justin Gilliam (18:13.4). 34. Jevin Luna (18:25.2).

Seabreeze: 16. Hunter Shuler (17:42.4).

Matanzas: 23. Blaine Vogel (18:01.7).

GIRLS

Top teams: 1. Satellite 29. 2. Ponte Vedra 45. 3. Flagler Palm Coast 113.

4. Matanzas 138. 5. Lake Mary 143.

10. Seabreeze 320. 15. Mainland

412.

Winner: Daisy Ross, Ponte Vedra, 19:09.3

TOP 50

FPC: 10. Arianna Slaughter (20:55.9). 17. Cassidy De Young (21:34.7). 27. Madison Lagarde (22:32.8). 32. Isabella Tarsitano (22:45.7). 37. Taylor Novak (22:53.5).

Howard said the only trouble she had was at the tight start.

“We were getting pushed and elbowed. You have to fight for it,” she said. “You have to get out fast. You can’t hope to catch up to people after the first half mile.”

Satellite won the girls race with five runners finishing among the top 10. Second-place Ponte Vedra took the top two places, with Daisy Ross winning in 19:09.3 and Hilaree Vega placing second in 19:28.5.

Matanzas: 18. Sierra Howard (21:47.0). 23. Lupita Galleano (22:21.20). 24. Nina Rodriguez (22:24.6). 41. Maria Phillips (23:08.4). 46. Noemi Malinowski (23:20.7). 49. Mariah Mills (23.28.5). 50. Megan Rhee (23:35.2).

Seabreeze: 44. Riley Hale (23:17.4).

MIDDLE SCHOOL (3K, Aug. 25):

Boys — 1. Douglas Seth, Imagine Town Center, 11:05.4. 2. Owen Stackpole, Imagine Town Center, 11:55.9. 3. George Biedenbach, Indian Trails, 12:44.7. Girls — 1. Peyton Cerasi, Indian Trails, 12:01.4. 2. Lila McGowan, unattached, 13:06.5. 3. Hailey Brennan, Imagine Town Center, 15:08.3.

Matanzas senior Sierra Howard was pleased with her first meet this season.

“I wanted to get in good position. I love getting out fast, getting my confidence rolling.”

BRAEDYN WORMECK

Seabreeze runners Madison Burch, Noelle Harris, Ginger Feigenbaum and Madison Wilson stay together in the girls race.

FPC’s Evan Williams received a medal after finishing 25th.

Matanzas’ Nina Rodrigues and Lupita Galeano finished within three seconds of each other and placed 24th and 23rd, respectively.

FPC’s Jack Gilvary (1059) fnished 13th overall with a time of 17:34.

Photos by Brent Woronoff

SIDELINES

FPC weightlifting coach inducted into Hall of Fame

McGuire gives Pirates an added dimension

Micah McGuire took a handoff in practice and mowed down teammates. It was a sight not recently seen on the Matanzas High practice field. Not from a full-time running back.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a big back, a big punisher like that,” said Matt Forrest, the Pirates’ fourth-year head football coach.

Seabreeze team learns ‘defense’

Defense is important in sports as it can be in life.

Seabreeze High School’s volleyball players took part in a team bonding activity on Aug. 24 by taking a selfdefense class together. The Sandcrabs participated in the SLAP (Self defense for Ladies and Assault Prevention) program at the Ormond Beach Police Department.

Two days earlier, the Sandcrabs opened their volleyball season with a 3-0 loss at Pine Ridge. Emily Glass and Sarah Noel Randolph led Seabreeze with eight kills apiece. Kira Shurbin had a total of five blocks. Freshman Lilli Litz had 10 digs. Seabreeze (0-1) was scheduled to host Matanzas on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.

Flagler Palm Coast High School weightlifting coach Duane Hagstrom has been inducted into the Florida Strength and Power Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame’s Rick Bucinell wrote a letter to Hagstrom informing him of the honor.

“We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted for induction in the Florida Strength and Power Hall of Fame,” the letter stated. “On behalf of the Strength and Power Hall of Fame, we acknowledge

In his first game as a Pirate on Aug. 25, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound McGuire ran for 98 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns as Matanzas trounced Groveland South Lake 30-8 on the road.

“He’s a heavy runner,” said quarterback Dakwon Evans, who was practicing for the first time on Monday, Aug. 28, since suffering a wrist injury during summer weightlifting.

“It’s exciting to have somebody like Micah.”

McGuire, a senior, moved to Florida from Danville, Illinois, during his sophomore year. He played for Mainland last sea-

your efforts as a prominent Strength Sports Athlete. We welcome you to the rolls.” Hagstrom set a plethora of state, national and world records as a competitor. He has also led his high school girls and boys weightlifting

son but carried the ball just 12 times for 51 yards as the Bucs had three players who rushed for more than 500 yards. His family moved to Palm Coast earlier this summer and joined the Pirates in preseason camp. He’s still learning the plays.

“We’re just trying to catch him up,” Forrest said. “Our offense is simply complex. Once you know it, you know it.”

McGuire said he’s almost there.

“Just give me a couple more weeks and I’ll have it down pat,” he said.

McGuire will try to build on his performance at South Lake when Matanzas (1-0) plays at Tocoi Creek (1-0) on Friday, Sept. 1, pending the weather.

“It was pretty cool to show what I can do,” he said. “I love it out here. I love the coaches. I love Coach Forrest. I just love the game of football.”

Forrest said McGuire and running back Zach Furey

teams to 11 conference championships, six district championships, three regional championships and a state championship. He has been involved with strength training since the age of 9. He has been coaching since 1996, but didn’t begin competing until he was in his 30s and was inspired by one of his athletes.

“I have competed in every aspect of strength sports including strongman, Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting and bodybuilding,” he wrote in his Hall of Fame bio. “Olympic weightlifting is what I am most passionate about, having competed in over 50 competitions over a 15-year span including eight state championships and six national/American

complement each other with Furey running outside of the tackle box and McGuire running between the tackles.

“Having two good running backs is not a luxury we’ve had,” Forrest said. “Micah gives us a different dimension. He’s just a steady presence, an every-down guy if he has to be. He gets us into a flow. We may run an air raid offense, but we still want to run the football.”

Although Evans is practicing this week, there is no guarantee he will suit up against the Toros, Forrest said.

“We’re not going to rush him,” Forrest said. “We’re not going to risk a kid’s long-term health. If there’s any question, we’ll start Jackson Lundahl. He’s had a lot of experience. He’s started eight games for us now.

Lundahl passed for 125 yards against South Lake, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to tight end Daniel DeFalco.

championships.”

In a post on its Facebook page, the Strength and Power Hall of Fame wrote: “The leaders, legends, and heroes of the Strength and Power Hall of Fame are honored to induct Duane Hagstrom into the class of 2023 as a prominent athlete in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting.”

DSC hires flag football coach

Daytona State College named former Mainland High assistant coach Brian Colubiale as its first women’s flag football coach. Colubiale coached both football and flag football at Mainland. He was the flag football team’s wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator from 2019 to

FPC LOOKS FOR A QB STARTER

The Flagler Palm Coast football team will try to find a starting quarterback during its early bye week.

The Bulldogs again played three quarterbacks in their 33-13 seasonopening loss at Live Oak Suwannee on Aug. 25.

Caden Gonzalez had the most success of the trio, which also includes starter sophomores La'Darius Simmons and Cole Walker. Gonzalez led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives. He put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Mikhail Zysek. Jai'Quan Grimes scored the other TD on a 3-yard run. FPC will host Orlando Bishop Moore on Sept. 8.

2023. The Bucs advanced to the state final four in his final season.

DSC will begin its junior college women’s flag football program in 2024-25.

“We are happy to welcome Brian to our Falcon coaching family and look forward to him getting to work recruiting our first flag football team,” DSC athletic director Will Dunne said in a press release.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity Daytona State College has given me to start up this program,” Colubiale said. “Girls flag football has grown so much over the last few years, and it’s only just getting started.”

Email Associate Editor Brent Woronoff at Brent@ observerlocalnews.com.

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Courtesy photo

The Seabreeze volleyball team participated in a SLAP self defense class at the Ormond Beach Police Department on Aug. 24.

File photo

FPC’s Duane Hagstrom was inducted into the Florida Strength and Power Hall of Fame.

REAL ESTATE

House in Hammock Dunes tops sales list

Ahouse in Hammock Dunes was the top real estate transaction for July 13-19 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. Karl Holly, of Palm Coast, sold 7 Valencia Court to Lisa Watts, of Palm Coast, for $1,555,600. Built in 1999, the house is a 5/5 and has a pool, a hot tub, a fireplace, an outdoor kitchen and 4,275 square feet of space. It sold in 2019 for $710,000.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

BUNNELL

Grand Reserve and Golf

Club

Lois Duncan, as trustee, sold 61 Birdie Way to Debra and Ronald Brown, of Bunnell, for $400,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,986 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $309,000.

Cory and Tiffany Strickland, of Dallas, Georgia, sold 34 Grand Par Court to Roger Douglas Cowie and Karen Elaine Cowie, of Bunnell, for $375,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,858 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $350,000.

Sawmill Estates

Michael and Krista Drock, of Ormond Beach, sold 917 Galberry Court to Matthew and Carrie Van Name, of Bunnell, for $439,000. Built in 1987, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,286 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $325,000.

Condos

Robert Allen Robertson, as

trustee, sold 400 Cinnamon Beach Way, Unit 355, to Christopher Malone and Patricia Karen Malone, of New Hope, Pennsylvania, for $875,000. Built in 2005, the condo is a 3/3 and has 2,003 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $570,000.

W & H Lohse Holdings, LTD, of Ontario, Canada, sold 11 Ave. De La Mer, Unit 1506, to The Eileen Alexon Living Trust and The John Alexon Living Trust, of Ponte Vedra Beach, for $530,000. Built in 1992, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,490 square feet. It sold in 1993 for $242,000.

Tammy Narcho, as trustee, sold 1601 North Central Ave., Unit 902, to Elisa Jannes, as trustee, for $995,100. Built in 1984, the condo is a 3/3 and has 2,430 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $788,300.

FLAGLER BEACH

Fuquay

John Walter Cody and Linda Hall Cody, as trustees, sold 1339 South Daytona Ave.

to Thaddeus and Augusta Slocum, of Flagler Beach, for $626,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 1,675 square feet. It sold in 2013 for $282,900.

Sunrise Beach

Donna Bright and Christopher Kikelhan, of Flagler Beach, sold 2000 North Central Ave. to Slade and Tynsley Smith, of Flagler Beach, for $1,175,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 3/3 and has an elevator and 2,768 square feet. It sold in 2011 for $480,000.

PALM COAST

Beach Haven

Richard Hall and Lisa Howell, of Bean Station, Tennessee, sold 48 Sandy Beach Way to Tim Schmachtenberger Jr. and Michelle Lea Schmachtenberger, of Palm Coast, for $615,000. Built in 2015, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,656 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $327,200.

Cypress Knoll

Carol Lazzano, of Palm Coast, sold 188 Eric Drive to Donna and Joseph Venuti, of Palm Coast, for $440,000. Built in 1999, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 2,026 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $50,000.

Easthampton

Sergey and Anna Nevod, of Orlando, sold 16 Edgemont Lane to Jonathan Man gano, of Boynton Beach, for $525,000. Built in 2019, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 2,123 square feet.

Grand Haven

Linda Turner, of Sterling Heights, Michigan, sold 11 North Waterview Drive to Robert Brightman and Mar sha Cargill, of Palm Coast, for $549,900. Built in 2006, the house is a 4/3 and has a hot tub and 2,558 square feet.

Gary Archer Carson and Sue Berta Carson, of Marathon, sold 46 Riverbend Drive to David and Samantha Nacrelli, for $645,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 4/3 and has a pool, a fireplace and 2,831 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $400,000.

Hamptons Opendoor Property Trust 1, of Tempe, Arizona, sold 2 Tucahoe Way to John Klar and Marcy Elaine Klar, of Palm Coast, for $375,000. Built in 1994, the house is a 4/2.5 and has a pool and 2,164 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $423,100.

Lehigh Woods Nicola Erica Walker Hawkins and Leslie Hawkins, of Frederick, Maryland, sold 10 Ryan Drive to Randall and Jennifer Boss, of Palm Coast, for $340,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,236 square feet. It sold in 2007 for $230,000.

Matthew and Gail O’Malley, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, sold 33 Raleigh Drive to Rachel and Brandon Spear, of Palm Coast, for $292,500. Built in 2004, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,968 square feet.

Richard and Patricia Cox, of Ontario, Canada, sold 6 Raleigh Drive to Glenn and Randi Jones, of Palm Coast, for $301,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,342 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $186,000.

Marineland Acres Cody Jon Schouten and Amber Schouten, of Palm Coast, sold 5 Rollins Drive to Tron Equity LLC, of Winter Springs, for $850,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 4/2.5 and has 2,098 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $699,000.

Palm Harbor William Bird, as trustee, sold 53 Cottonwood Court

the house is a 3/2.5 and has a boat dock and 2,910 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $432,500.

Quail Hollow Maronda Homes, LLC, of Jacksonville, sold 14 Zelda Court to James William Lund and Lisa Kay Lund, of Palm Coast, for $351,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,052 square feet.

Sawmill Creek Joseph Nicastro Jr. and Maria Nieter, of Palm Coast, sold 93 Oakleaf Way to Diane Iacone, of Palm Coast, for $330,000. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,602 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $296,500. Toby Tobin, of gotoby.com,

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REAL ESTATE

House in Plantation Bay sells for $2.2 million

Ahouse in Plantation Bay was the top real estate transaction for July 16-22 in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea. Andrew John Olsen and Cheryl Klobe, of Ormond Beach, sold 1241 Castlehawk Lane to Michael Swaim, of Ormond Beach, for $2,200,000. Built in 2018, the house is a 4/4 and has a fireplace, a pool, a hot tub and 5,273 square feet of space.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Condos Gerald Londal, as trustee, sold 1295 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 2020, to Kevin Stephen Pardew, of Beilevue, Washington, for $425,000. Built in 1991, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,061 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $262,000.

James Haley and Terry Eby, of Altamonte Springs, sold 2750 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 22, to Lynn Pannell, of Overland Park, Kansas, for $362,000. Built in 1973, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,184 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $150,000.

Eugene Maule, of Edmond, Oklahoma, sold 1051 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 604, to Eugene Saladna, of Orlando, for $456,500. Built in 1980, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,200 square feet. It sold in 2002 for $175,000.

Shirley Ann Antonio, Samuel Antonio and Robert Antonio, as trustees, sold 89 South Atlantic Ave., Unit 1206, to Ruby Sta Romana Phan, of Orlando, for $310,000. Built in 1979, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,200 square feet. It sold in 1988 for $89,000.

Gail and Joseph Jancsar, of Apollo Beach, sold 2290 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 4060, to David and Kerry Mast, of TegaCay, South Carolina, for $397,500. Built in 1984, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,121 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $389,900.

ORMOND BEACH

Bosarvey Estates Jennifer Hart and Jonathan Macker, of Ormond Beach sold 95 Wye Drive to Charles and Angela Little, of Fleming Island, for $265,000. Built in 1955, the house is a 2/1 and has 1,060 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $134,000.

Breakaway Trails John and Diane Rodriguez, of Ormond Beach, sold 18 Coquina Lake Way to Claude Soto, Jr. and Karen Louise Carter, of Overland Park, Kansas, for $565,000. Built in 2012, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, a pool and 2,035 square feet. It sold in 2012 for $271,400.

Chelsea Place

Marjorie April Thurlow, a personal representative, sold 452 Nottinghill Street to Craig Harner and Kathy Fiscus-Harner, of Ormond Beach, for $750,000. Built in 2018, the house is a 4/3 and has a fireplace,

a pool, a hot tub and 2,876 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $635,000.

Halifax Plantation

Paul English, of Ormond Beach, sold 1440 Carlow Circle to Nicolle Dawn Marx, of Ormond Beach, for $335,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,684 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $195,500.

Taylor Morrison of Florida Inc., of Maitland, sold 1380 Arklow Circle to Ian Denali Barrick, of Ormond Beach, for $755,600. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/4.5 and has 2,921 square feet.

D.R. Horton, Inc., of Orlando, sold 2786 Fermoy Drive to Andrew Nabil Boshra Guindi, of Wappingers Falls, New York, for $399,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,828 square feet.

D.R. Horton, Inc., of Orlando, sold 1370 Cork Drive to William Christopher Plantamura, Jr. and Leigh Marie Plantamura, of Ormond Beach, for $356,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,504 square feet.

Not in a subdivision Travis and Nicole Hackney, of Ormond Beach, sold 7 Carmel Terrace to Joanne Pinzone and Mia Chirafesi, of Fort Lauderdale, for $460,000. Built in 1979, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,668 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $265,000.

Cleo and Antony Beaulieu, of Ormond Beach, sold 133 Shady Branch Trail to Ian Scott Altes and Shauna Leigh Altes, of Ormond Beach, for $694,000. Built in 1980, the house is a 5/3.5 and has a fireplace, a pool and 3,145 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $485,000.

Park Place

Gary Snerson, as trustee, sold 19 Park Place to Aleksej Legovod and Liza Petonio Dacian, of Staten Island, New York, for $260,000. Built in 1983, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 1,459 square feet. It sold in 2012 for $61,000.

Plantation Bay

Margaret Curtis, of Charlottesville, Virginia, sold 417 Long Cove Road to Frontierland Development, LLC, of Mount freedom, New Jersey, for $400,000. Built in 1992, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 2,175 square feet. It sold in 1999 for $161,500.

Gregory and Angela Chrones, of Ormond Beach, sold 1320 Hansberry Lane to Jon Hall and Sherri Lynn Hall, of Candler, North Carolina, for $363,000. Built in 2010, the house is a 2/3 and has 1,604 square feet. It sold in 2010 for $172,780.

Rio VistaGerry Vogt, of Tampa, sold 703 Buena Vista Ave. to Kristin Marie Mollo, of Ormond Beach, for $300,000. Built in 1950, the house is a 2/1 and has a fireplace and 1,064 square feet. It sold in 1994 for $61,000.

Tymber Creek

Taylor and Julie Unger, of Daytona Beach, sold 274 Bayridge Court to Edward Joseph Schoenig and Jamie Alyson Miner, of Ormond Beach, for $345,000. Built in 1984, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,645 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $205,000.

Woodmere South Debra Scudder, of Ormond Beach, sold 119 Sanchez Ave. to Victor Manuel Ruiz, of Ormond Beach, for $345,000. Built in 1972, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,757 square feet. It sold in 2011 for $142,000.

ORMOND BY THE SEA

Briana Karson, of Washington, DC, sold 29 Palm Drive to Jennifer Lynn Mollo, of Ormond Beach, for $339,000. Built in 1955, the house is a 2/1 and has 955 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $299,500.

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

NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA

CIVIL ACTION CASE NO.: 2022-CA-000631

mortgage being foreclosed herein.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following property:

LOT 8, BLOCK 7, OF PALM COAST,

MAP OF BELLE TERRE, SECTION 11,

ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF

RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 6 PAGE(S)

59-67, INCLUSIVE OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY

FLORIDA, AS AMENDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS BOOK 35, PAGE 528, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA.

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MERRILL LYNCH MORTGAGE INVESTORS TRUST, MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-HE1, Plaintiff, vs. SUSAN E. MUNGERSON-MALONE A/K/A SUSAN E. MUNGERSON, et al, Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated August 14, 2023, and entered in Case No. 2022-CA-000631 of the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for Flagler County, Florida in which U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, successor in interest to Bank of America, National Association, as Trustee, successor by merger to LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee for Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust, Mortgage Loan AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2007-HE1, is the Plaintiff and Susan E. MungersonMalone a/k/a Susan E. Mungerson, Laddy Cyril Malone, are defendants, the Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash in/ on online at www.flagler.realforeclose. com, Flagler County, Florida at 11:00AM on the September 22, 2023 the following described property as set forth in said Final

Judgment of Foreclosure: LOT 21 OF OAK RIDGE ACRES UNIT 2, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 26, AT PAGE 37, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA. A/K/A 354 BRIDLE PATH LN, ORMOND BEACH, FL 32174 Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim before the Clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed. ATTENTION:

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Court Administration, 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, 386-257-6096, within 2 days of your receipt of

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