Palm Coast Observer 10-5-23

CITY WATCH

$3 million splash pad repairs to begin

Construction work to repair the James F. Holland Park splash pad could begin in just a few weeks and end next summer.

The Palm Coast City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 3 to approve a $3 million contract with Saboungi Construction to fix the park’s splash pad. Sabounji Construction’s Mohammad Mounir Khabazeh said Sabounji’s team has spent almost a month reviewing the project to determine the best way to move forward.

“I will be there if we have a problem,” Khabazeh said.

City to implement EV charging fee

Palm Coast will begin charging people to use electric vehicle charging stations on city property beginning on Nov. 1 for a sixmonth trial period.

The city will charge an initial 50-cent connection fee, then 18 cents per kilowatt hour. Once the connected vehicle is fully charged, the owner will have 30 minutes to disconnect the car before they are charged a fee of $5 per hour until the disconnection.

Chief Sustainability and Resiliency Officer Maeven Rogers will return to the City Council in six months to present an update on the use of the chargers and the fee revenue they generate.

The City Council’s Oct. 3 meeting agenda documents about EV chargers referred to fees only for the Chargepoint charger at City Hall, with another coming to the Southern Recreation facility, but the council unanimously agreed to amend the resolution to include all chargers on city property.

The City Hall charging station had 108 sessions in September, 109 in August and 102 in July, Rogers wrote in an email.

Palm Coast Stormwater and Engineering Director Carl Cote and Khabazeh said they hope to have the repairs completed by July 1, 2024. Khabazeh told the Observer he hopes to break ground in the next few weeks to meet that deadline.

Several council members and members of the public asked what steps the city would take to ensure the repairs would not fail like the original work did.

Cote said the contract includes several oversight and quality control methods, including limitations on how much concrete can be poured at one time, almost full-time inspections from the project designer, and staff oversight.

The project will include modifying and replacing several parts of the pad’s flooring and a new code-compliant surface material, according to the bid documents.

The entire council was adamant that city staff members stay on top of the repairs as the project goes forward.

“It’s vital. We cannot repeat the same mistakes,” council member Theresa Carli Pontieri said. “The splash pad is great for families, and we owe a duty to our families to provide certain amenities like this.”

The city invested $5 million in the splash pad. It opened in May 2021 but closed that October because the “poured-in-place,” or PIP, surface material, cracked and peeled, becoming a trip hazard.

The city decided to sue the companies involved in the pad’s construction in November 2022 after Trevor

Arnold, the attorney leading the case for the city, said mediation between the parties had reached an impasse.

Arnold told the city council in the November 2022 meeting that the city was seeking $1.4 million for construction costs, involved labor costs and lost revenue. The opposing parties only offered 10% of that.

The lawsuit originally only involved four companies: designers S&ME, builders BBI Construction Management, Westfield Insurance Company and subcontractor No Fault, LLC.

Since then, eight more companies have been listed on the lawsuit, according to Flagler County Clerk of Courts website: Turnsole Builders, LLC, a Florida construction company; COST of Wisconsin, a theme-design and construction company; KDK Concrete of Volusia, which specializes in constructiongrade concrete; A W Safety Surfacing LLC, specializing in playground surfacing; 4CS Trucking and Excavation, Inc., in Bunnell; American Recycling Center, Inc., which sells rubber recycled surface materials; Rep Services, Inc., which supplies playground equipment; and Weller Pools, LLCS, a water park and commercial pool designer.

Vice Mayor Ed Danko at first said he would not support the contract. He said he felt the city should wait until litigation is complete before starting repairs, to recoup the costs so far.

“We don’t know if we are going to recoup a penny at this time,” Danko said. “I just think that we will be throwing good money after bad money if we do this.”

When the council discussed including the repair project in the 2024 budget during an Aug. 29 City Council meeting, Pontieri said having a firm number for how much the repairs would cost could help during litigation.

Because of the pending lawsuit, Saboungi Construction’s project bid was the only one the city received, Cote said in the Aug. 29 meeting.

Saboungi has been in business since 1982 and has worked with the city on multiple projects over the years, including the Palm Coast Post Office built in the late eighties, the Indian Trails Sports Complex and the recently completed Waterfront Park improvements.

Saboungi’s involvement was the reason Danko ultimately changed his vote in support of the repairs.

“I trust this man,” Danko said, “and while I’m not happy with all the money we’ve lost … I know that there is a need for this in our community.”

BY THE NUMBERS

$3 million

the total expected cost of the James F. Holland Park splash pad repair project

$2.6 million

the bid amount Saboungi Construction has been awarded for the splash pad project. The project also includes $100,000 in design costs and $300,000 in contingency funds.

$5 million

the amount the city invested in the splash pad when it was first built

July 1, 2024

the date by which the city hopes the work will be complete

$1.3 million project planned for Long Creek

Palm Coast is planning $1.3 million in amenity improvements for Palm Coast’s Long Creek Nature Preserve. Funding would come from impact fees and grant money.

The improvements would add new shell paths, boardwalks and overlooks and four new gazebos. A future phase will include a nature center, classrooms, exhibit spaces, a restroom building and other site improvements.

The nine-acre preserve on Palm Harbor Parkway is surrounded by 225 acres of protected, environmentally sensitive land.

The proposed work would make up the second of three construction phases the city has planned for Long Creek.

The City Council unanimously approved the project at an Oct. 3 council meeting.

The work is expected to cost the city $1.3 million, including Parks and Recreation impact fees and a $325,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The council awarded a construction contract of $1,031,000 to Saboungi Construction and a contract of $32,490 to Pegasus Engineering for construction engineering services, and budgeted $150,000 for contingency funding, according to City Council meeting documents.

When the city bought the nine acres in 2008, it did so partly through a Florida Community Trust grant. City architect Eric Gebo said the grant required the city to make several commitments to improving the site.

The Phase 2 improvements are expected to be completed in April 2024.

Courtesy photo Holland Park splash pad.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Finding McPhail

FLAGLER COUNTY’S COLD CASES

There are 21 cases under the purview of the FCSO’s Cold Case Unit. Information on 18 of those cases is available to the public. Here are summaries of some of those investigations.

ROBERT “BRUCE” MCPHAIL

Reported: Sept. 10, 1997 — the Intracoastal Waterway, near Sea Ray Canal

Classified as: Homicide

Genealogy

helps Sheriff’s Office ID remains from 26-year-old case.

Of Flagler County’s 21 cold cases, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sarah Scalia said, she prefers to work with the older, unidentified remains first.

The longer a case is open, she said, the more leads close: memories fade, relatives and friends age and die, and evidence could deteriorate.

“I’m still going through all the cases,” she said. “Things degrade over time, also, if it (the evidence) wasn’t stored in the right bag — like, say, we put it in plastic years ago, when nobody realized that wasn’t a good idea.”

DNA evidence in cold cases is important for identifying victims and solving the cases, Scalia said. The case of recently identified Robert “Bruce” McPhail is one such example, where a private lab was able to identify some of McPhail’s distant relations through DNA testing.

In 1977, FCSO deputies recovered the body of an unidentified man floating in the Intracoastal Waterway. The man had multiple stab wounds in his abdomen and had been shot. His body had been bound and weighted down.

When McPhail’s body was found, no one could identify him, Scalia said. She sent his remains to Othram, a private forensic genetic genealogy corporation, earlier in 2023. In August, the FCSO announced McPhail’s identification.

GENETIC TESTING

Othram co-founder Kristen Mittelman said Othram is unique in forensic DNA testing.

DNA is a consumable resource during testing, Mittelman said: Part or all of a sample is destroyed as it is tested. In forensics, especially cold cases, investigators may only have a limited sample of DNA to test.

“That’s what’s missing in forensics thus far, is that predictability that I will not consume your sample or your budget unless I know I can bring help to your investigation,” she said.

Othram scientists use a different testing method, building a genealogical profile by comparing a DNA sample to Othram’s DNA database of both human and non-human DNA.

That lets them filter out contaminant DNA and build out the genetic markers of the DNA sample to create a genealogical profile. The process can take six to eight weeks, she said.

“We get the DNA and we compare it to everything we’ve done before, and we can tell law enforcement with certainty whether or not we can build on these profiles, and whether it’s something we’ve done previously,” Mittelman said.

Once the DNA has been extracted, Othram’s genealogists begin searching for common ancestors in Othram’s DNA database. Law enforcement can then use that genealogical information to track down and interview potential relatives of the individual, she said.

The McPhail case was difficult because of how long McPhail’s body was in the water, Mittelman said.

“There’s a lot of extra contamination that comes along from being in water for so long,” she said. “But we’ve worked with skeleton remains that have been floating off the coast of Australia for 95 years. So for us, it’s not something we haven’t seen.”

Scalia said Othram was able to identify someone in Canada who shared a great-grandparent with McPhail. When she received Oth-

ram’s results with the possible relative, she called the woman to explain the situation.

The woman turned out to be McPhail’s first cousin, once removed — she and the victim shared a greatgrandparent, and their grandparents were siblings — and didn’t remember too much about the man after almost 30 years.

“I spoke to them and they were like, ‘Yeah, we haven’t heard from Bruce since about the mid-1990s.’

I’m like, okay, can you tell me about Bruce,” Scalia said. “The more things they told me … There’s no other people [it could be.]”

From there, it was a process of elimination: Were there any other male family members the right genetic distance? Were there any unaccounted-for siblings, or other cousins? Was there a way to test the victim’s DNA against his parents’ remains?

His parents had been cremated, Scalia said. But after extensive research, law enforcement could finally identify the man as McPhail.

INVESTIGATING COLD CASES

In the three years since Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly formed the Cold Case Unit, its detectives have managed to arrest a suspect in one case and identify McPhail’s remains.

A case is considered “cold” when all leads have been exhausted, Scalia said.

In missing persons cases, the case is considered long-term after 90 days, and, by state statute, must be entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, she said. At that point, law enforcement retrieves DNA samples and dental records for future identification.

Flagler County has 21 cold cases. The details of three cases, Scalia said, are not available to the public, but the other 18 are — a mix of homicides and missing person cases spanning from 1980 to 2022.

Scalia is the second detective to work the unit. Her predecessor, Cpl. Andrew Cangialosi, worked the Cold Case Unit from 2020 until late 2021, when he was promoted to the Community Policing Division.

Scalia said Cangialosi did most of the leg work of organizing and modernizing case files. All of the case files and evidence had been stored at the Sheriff’s Office’s old operations building and needed to be reorganized and digitized.

Still, Cangialosi was able to mostly resolve the 2018 homicide case of Frances King, 85, who died of starvation. The suspect, Kim Zaheer, is King’s daughter. Her trial was scheduled to begin last April, but in May, the court ruled Zaheer incompetent to proceed.

When Zaheer was arrested in 2021, three years after a medical examiner

ruled King’s death a homicide, it was the first arrest in the Cold Case Unit since its creation in 2020.

Cangialosi said he chose King’s case first because, at the time, it was the most recent of the homicides.

“It was a more recent case. ... The detectives that were handling it before were already up to date on today’s standards,” he said.

Staly said it is important to keep investigating these cases and dedicate the necessary resources to them. As time passes, people and relationships change, and some people may be more willing to talk now than when the crime was committed, he said.

“I think that there are leads in all of those cases that need further investigation,” Staly said. “We have to be the voice for the victims that aren’t here anymore.”

Scalia said she has just sent out the remains of a 1980 cold case — the county’s oldest open homicide —to Othram for review. In that case, unidentified skeletal remains were found in a culvert on the side of State Road 11. The case has been unsolved for 43 years.

While she waits on those results, she tries to work on other cases, she said.

“I don’t want to do too many at once,” Scalia said. “You have to know everything, so if you do 20 cases at once, you’re going to get stuff mixed up. It’s going to be overwhelming.”

Cangialosi said the biggest difference between working cold cases and working active cases is that there is more time to process and investigate cold cases — reading and re-reading case files and, if they’re still around, talking to the former detectives on the case, as well as the suspects, witnesses and the victim’s family.

“With cold cases, you have obviously more time to deal with it because it’s already been sitting for such a long time,” he said. “You have a lot more time to really play the chess game, to think about your next move.”

DNA is the key to solving these cases, he said. As technology advances, there are more and more ways to pull DNA from fibers, from bones. And good detectives save everything, even for use in the future use when technology might become more advanced, Cangialosi said.

“It’s really a big deal, in the cold case world,” he said.

CLOSURE

Identifying McPhail has opened up new avenues of investigation, Scalia said. Now, she knows where he is from and when he moved to Florida — in the mid-’90s, to South Florida — and several people called in with photos after they recognized him.

At this point, Scalia said, detectives don’t have a solid explanation for how McPhail ended up in Flagler

An unidentified man was found floating in the Intracoastal Waterway, tied down with weights. The man was shot and stabbed multiple times in the abdomen. For almost 26 years, the man found in the Intracoastal Waterway was unidentified. Thanks to DNA testing, FCSO detectives were able to identify the victim as Robert “Bruce” McPhail last August. His case remains open.

GEORGE CONTOS

Reported: May 17, 2015 — Apricot Avenue, Palm Coast Classified as: Homicide George Contos was last seen on May 9, 2015. Though his vehicle was later found in St. Joe Plaza, his body was never found. The FCSO has identified suspects in the case, but no one has been charged, and the investigation is still pending. His case has been open for eight years.

ROBERT PICARD

Reported: Sept. 30, 1997 — West County Road 2006

Classified as: Missing person

Robert Picard was reported missing, and during the investigation, law enforcement found a large amount of dried blood in his home. Picard’s home was burglarized multiple times by a juvenile suspect leading up to Picard’s disappearance. His case has been open for 26 years.

MARY LOU COMBS

Reported: Aug. 19, 2003 — Armand Beach Drive, Palm Coast Classified as: Missing person Mary Lou Combs was reported missing after she was missing for six weeks. She had two children and a history of drug abuse. Her case has been open for 20 years.

UNIDENTIFIED

Reported: May 28, 1980 — State Road 11, Bunnell

Classified as: Homicide Unidentified skeletal remains were found on the side of S.R. 11 in a culvert. The case has been unsolved for 43 years.

UNIDENTIFIED

Reported: Jan. 10, 1993 — Seaship Place, Palm Coast

Classified as: Death Skeletal remains were found in the wood line of a vacant lot in a cul-de-sac by two children. The victim is an unidentified black woman, though investigators previously believed her to be Native American. A rendering was created of what the woman may have looked like. The case has been unsolved for 30 years.

IRENE FIRDA

Reported: May 20, 1992 — Karren Place, Palm Coast

Classified as: Homicide

Irene Firda’s body was found in a wood line with several knife wounds to her neck. She was from Deltona and last seen with her son, who has since died. Her case has been unsolved for 31 years.

County from South Florida.

“There’s some theories,” she said, “but we’re not ready to share.”

For Staly, getting closure for victims’ families is the most important thing and the reason he opened the Cold Case Unit in 2020.

Creating the unit allowed him to dedicate resources and staff specifically to cold cases, he said.

“These cases take a long time and, you know, you make small steps with these cases,” he said. “No case

should go unsolved, especially a serious case like a homicide or a missing person.”

Staly said the families deserve closure and the victims deserve justice, and he wants these cases solved just as much as Scalia does.

“Detective Scalia is very dedicated,” he said. “Eventually, she’ll get us there. There’s no doubt in my mind: If the case can be solved, Detective Scalia will get us there.”

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Photo by Sierra Williams

FCSO Detective Sarah Scalia, the detective heading the Cold Case Unit

“There's no doubt in my mind: If the case can be solved, Detective Scalia will get us there."

RICK STALY Flagler County Sheriff

School district investigates possible fraudulent transfer of funds

The School Board also agreed to pay a law firm $5,000 to analyze options for ending Board Attorney Kristy Gavin’s contract.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Flagler County School District is investigating an electronic transfer of funds to a possibly fraudulent vendor bank account.

The district announced in a press release the evening of Oct. 3 that Superintendent LaShakia Moore reported the incident to the School

Board and launched an internal investigation upon discovery.

The release went on to say that the district “is now working with the FBI and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office,” and that because the investigation is active, the district would have no further information.

“We want to assure the public there has been no data breach on our part and that all district information remains secure and protected,” the district said in its statement.

Earlier in the day, Board Chair Cheryl Massaro told the Observer that a School Board executive session scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 3 was canceled because School Board Attorney Kristy Gavin and Superintendent LaShakia Moore were called away on

a “legal issue.” Moore did attend the board’s 3 p.m. workshop, but Gavin was not present.

The board is proceeding to hire a law firm to look into options to terminate Gavin’s contract. Board member Will Furry was charged with selecting an employment attorney to review the contract.

Furry selected Tallahassee firm Shutts & Bowen. The firm will charge the board a flat fee of $5,000, for which it will “draft a memorandum analyzing potential options for terminating the contract,” according to a letter to Furry from Daniel E. Nordby, a partner with the firm. Included in the fee is a total of three hours of individual consultation with board members. Any additional services

would be charged at the firm’s hourly rate of $570.

The board, by policy, does not have to formally approve the engagement of legal counsel because the fee is less than $10,000. But, following the suggestion of Chief Financial Officer Patty Wormeck, the board will now hire another outside attorney to review the engagement of counsel with Shutts & Bowen before the board signs with the firm. The board will hire one of the outside attorneys the district already works with to review the terms of engagement with Shutts & Bowen.

The board wants Shutts & Bowen to complete its report by Oct. 17, with the intention of discussing the options in a workshop that afternoon

and potentially voting on terminating Gavin’s contract at that evening’s business meeting.

Furry said he reached out to Gavin about the possibility of a mutual agreement. He said Gavin indicated she might agree to terminating her contract if she would be allowed to take another position within the district. Gavin has been the School Board’s attorney for 17 years.

The four board members who were present at the workshop said they might want to contract a law firm to handle the board’s legal business in the future, with the district hiring its own full-time attorney.

Board member Colleen Conklin did not attend the workshop due to a personal matter.

Is the Bible ‘appropriate’? Flagler Schools hears complaint

Flagler superintendent to review complaint that the Bible is too ’sexually explicit and graphically violent’ for school media centers.

A local resident’s challenge to the Bible in Flagler County Schools’ media centers is now in appeal and awaiting Interim Superintendent LaShakia Moore’s decision to retain it or take it off library shelves.

Bob Gordon’s challenge of having the Bible available for checkout by students was submitted in June and sat until district staff returned from summer break in August, Moore said.

Since then, the Bible has been reviewed by a panel of secondaryschool media specialists, which voted to retain it in district libraries. Gordon has appealed.

He said the Bible is not appropriate for students to check out from school libraries because of passages that

reference “rape, incest, prostitution, beastiality, etc.” Gordon also wrote in a letter to the district that the Bible “promotes a hate-filled homosexual bias and contains graphic, vengeful, often sadistic violence, genocide and infanticide.”

He wrote that the Bible also contains science misinformation regarding evolution and the age of the Earth.

Moore did not say when she will announce her decision. She told the Observer it will take time to review the list of passages that Gordon used as examples of sexually explicit and graphically violent material, including promoting death and punishment of homosexuals.

Moore also said the challenge is complicated by the fact that portions of the Bible are part of the Florida Department of Education’s B.E.S.T. Standards for English Language Arts.

B.E.S.T. stands for Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking. The reading lists include passages from the Book of Esther (seventh grade), 2 Samuel (10th grade) and the Book of Psalms (11th grade).

Gordon, who is retired, has been a

resident of Flagler County for nine years.

He said his challenge is based “on the notion that all books in student libraries or any text used as learning material should be held to the same standards of appropriateness for school-age children and should not be immune to a challenge.”

He said he plans to continue his appeal process if necessary, including going before a special magistrate if his district appeals run out. He said he knows he has little chance of succeeding through district appeals but believes his arguments should be upheld by a state magistrate.

Gordon’s challenge follows last year’s 22 challenges of Flagler County library books based on sexually explicit, sexually implied or violent material.

“It has to do, certainly, with a little hypocrisy mixed in here,” Gordon said of the Bible challenge. “You can’t hold the Bible to a different standard. That’s not fair play. The violence in the Bible is probably more damaging to kids.”

He said calling for the killing of homosexuals and proclaiming that “they are to expect an eternity in

BOAT SUPER CENTER

hell” is dangerous because the Bible is considered “the unquestioned truth and an undeniable moral doctrine.”

PASSAGES INCLUDED IN CURRICULUM

In an email from Gordon to Moore, dated Sept. 1, Gordon noted that he received a response from Celeste Ackerman, the district’s supervisor of K-12 media, stating that the district team reviewed his request for reconsideration of the Bible.

Gordon quoted Ackerman as saying, “Portions of the Bible are part of our B.E.S.T recommended reading list and cannot be challenged in this format, however, a parent may elect to not have their child read this material.”

Gordon wrote that he disagreed with the decision.

“I am not aware of any reading list exemption to a book challenge or caveats to the submission of a Request For Reconsideration form. None appeared on the form and none were described to me by the various senior Flagler school district discussions as to how to proceed with a book challenge.”

TRIBUTES

Catherine Mildred Huff 1945-2023

Catherine M. Huff, 78, died peacefully at her home on Sunday, September 17, 2023. She was preceded in death by her mother Mabel Master, father George Master and brother Gregory Master. Born March 14, 1945 in Pittsburgh, PA, the daughter of the late George and Mabel (Irving) Master. A graduate of Gateway High School, Monroeville, PA, Montefiore Hospital School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, Governor’s State University, Park Forest South, IL with a Bachelor in Nursing and the College of St. Francis, Joliet, ILbwith a Masters in Health Administration. Cathie worked as a High School Nurse and Coach for Porn-Porns and Cheerleading at Bolingbrook and Romeoville High Schools and as the Director of Health Services for the Valley View School District. She worked for Advent Health in Illinois and Florida for 30 years as an ER, Intensive Care, Coronary Care and Inpatient Hospice R.N. Cathie was a volunteer for the American Heart Association, the Red Cross and a dedicated member of the United Presbyterian Church of Romeoville and Trinity Presbyterian Church of Palm Coast. Cathie enjoyed being a summer camp nurse at Stronghold Summer Camp in Oregon,

Florida Statute 1003.45 permits the study of the Bible and religion, stating, “The district school board may install in the public schools in the district a secular program of education including, but not limited to, an objective study of the Bible and of religion.”

In an addendum to his challenge, Gordon wrote that the presence of the Bible in school libraries “does not rise to the level of a secular objective program.”

Moore can overturn the district’s decision or agree to retain the Bible on library shelves. If she accepts the district’s decision to retain the Bible in school media centers, Gordon can appeal to the School Board.

Moore said she is reviewing Gordon’s list of objectionable passages.

“I know he is a little disappointed about the time it has taken,” she said. “We have so many other legislative requirements our team is working on, like cataloging and approving books by statute.”

Moore said this is not the first time the Bible has been challenged in Flagler Schools. It was also challenged two years ago, but that challenge was withdrawn.

IL for many years. She is survived by her husband Rev. John Huff, daughter Shirley and husband James Lassiter, daughter Karen Huff, son Andrew and wife Lisa (Finley) Huff, grandson Donato Coglianese, grandsons Cleyton and Chas Huff, granddaughters Alicia and Elliana Lassiter. Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 11:00 am at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 156 Florida Park Dr N, Palm Coast FL 32137 and on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 3pm at United Presbyterian Church, 2 Belmont Dr, Romeoville, IL 60446.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

After the assemblies: Moore works to reconnect school district with community

Superintendent LaShakia Moore discussed the district’s response to Bunnell Elementary’s segregated assemblies during a forum on Sept. 27.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Schools Superintendent

LaShakia Moore said the goal of the district’s Community Connection Forum was for the community to come together and have frank conversations about education.

“For so many years, we’ve had to take on other things that have caused us to not focus on the goal of educating our students,” Moore said at the beginning of the forum on Sept. 27 at the G.W. Carver Center. “We’ve taken on responsibilities that are not appropriate for the school district to take on.”

She said that during the last few months, she has heard “over and over” about a disconnect between the school district and the communities of Flagler County.

Perhaps the greatest example of that disconnect was the impetus for the forum — the assemblies for African American students at Bunnell Elementary School on Aug. 18 to discuss low standardized test scores. The segregated assemblies outraged parents who were not informed about them ahead of time and drew national media attention. A district investigation resulted in the resigna-

tions of the teacher who presented the assemblies and the school principal who approved them.

The assemblies included all African American fourth and fifth graders — those whose assessment scores were below grade level, as well as those whose scores were at grade level or higher.

Moore said that since the incident, students involved were offered resources ranging from tutoring to counseling services. Some parents asked to have their children transferred to a different school, and the district was accommodating their requests, she said.

A series of trainings for staff were being arranged through several entities, including the Office of Civil Rights, she added.

Moore alluded to a stigma within the district that may have prevented school or district staff from saying something before the assemblies occurred.

“People are fearful to speak up,” Moore said. “We have to give them methods to speak up and not fear retaliation.”

Moore said she does not believe there was any bad intention in organizing the assemblies.

“The principal (Donelle Evensen) is someone I have high regard for, someone I’ve worked with and I love. But (what happenend) was not appropriate for those students and not something we can support,” Moore said.

BLOCK PARTY AND DISCUSSION

Citizens filled the bleacher seats and rows of folding chairs placed in the Carver gym for the forum. The forum followed the Bunnell Block Party, which was organized by the schools in the area — Bunnell Elementary, Buddy Taylor Middle School and Flagler Palm Coast High School.

Among the tables set up in the gym for the block party was Kristin Frank’s “The Reading Tree” table, stacked with children’s books. Frank, the district’s Teaching and Learning English Language Arts K-5 specialist, distributes children’s books at events and at Grace Community Food Pantry.

“Bringing literacy into the home includes support for the parents,” she said. Frank receives book donations from teachers and community members and also pulls books that are no longer in circulation at the media centers.

Deanna Dempsey and Brandon Stewart manned the “#MIP: Me, In Progress” table. #MIP is a free program in Flagler County funded by Flagler Cares and developed by Easterseals Northeast Central Florida to provide behavioral health services to teens. Students at the block party painted rocks with positive messages. “Some took them home. If they leave them, we’ll place them around Flagler County,” Stewart said.

FIRST IN A SERIES OF FORUMS

Community members were encouraged to ask questions during the forum. Marian Irvin-Reddin asked about tools that can help parents support their children.

Moore said there are many organizations in the community that parents can contact, such as the Flagler County Education Foundation,

Faith in Flagler Schools and the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia.

She emphasized that the district needs support from community organizations and faith-based leaders so the schools can focus on academics.

“Education is a community thing. We cannot do it without you,” Moore said.

She encouraged people to get involved by becoming a mentor to students or a school volunteer to take on peripheral duties to help teachers focus on educating.

Moore said it’s important for parents to understand what the graduation requirements are and the different programs available to students.

“Our students should be coming out with industry certifications or degrees if they want, or AICE diplomas,” Moore said. “We base our (Career and Technical Education programs) on what the workforce in the community needs. Our job is to save our families money by providing opportunities to earn certifications, advanced diplomas or AA degrees.”

Moore said the district will have community forums on a regular basis, with the next one to be on the north side of the county in conjunction with a block party.

“What I’ve heard is it’s necessary to have conversations in our community,” Moore said after the forum. “What I will walk away from is this is one step in moving Flagler Forward.”

Photos by Brent Woronoff

Kristin Frank, a Teaching and Learning specialist with the district, picks out books to hand out to students at the Bunnell Block Party.

Brandon Stewart and Deanna Dempsey, who lead #MIP: Me, In Progress, asked students to paint positive messages on rocks, which they will place around the county.

Carl Jones, president of the African American Mentoring Program, told parents, “Don’t shortchange yourself.”

Superintendent LaShakia Moore urged parents and community members who don’t have children in schools to get involved.

“People are fearful to speak up. We have to give them methods to speak up and not fear retaliation.”

LASHAKIA MOORE

COPS CORNER

SEPT. 13

VIDEO EVIDENCE 12:30 a.m. — 100 block of North Ocean Shore Boulevard, Flagler Beach Disorderly conduct. A woman was trespassed from a local bar and then arrested when she immediately returned.

A police officer was called to the bar because the woman, who was drunk, had refused to pay a $42 tab for a round of four drinks she offered to buy for a man, according to her arrest report. The bartender told the officer that the man had paid for his two drinks on the tab, but the woman would not pay for her drinks.

The woman’s friend ultimately paid the $13 for the drinks, but the bartender asked the officer to trespass the drunk woman. The officer walked the woman and her friend outside to talk to the drunk woman about the trespass, the report said.

As he read the trespass information to her, the woman recorded the interaction and then signed the trespass warning. Both she and the officer left.

But fifteen minutes later, the officer returned to the bar and arrested the woman, who had returned there to smoke a cigarette and yell at her friend.

SEPT. 19

PUTRID PICKUP

7:24 a.m. — First block of Brookwood Court, Ormond Beach Suspicious vehicle. A police officer found rotting deer carcasses in the bed of a pickup truck after a resident complained of a bad smell coming from the vehicle.

The truck had been parked in front of the resident’s home for about 24 hours, and the

resident had not seen anyone entering or exiting the truck during that time, according to a police report. The officer tried to contact the truck’s registered owner, but was unsuccessful.

Because the truck was also blocking traffic, police towed the vehicle.

SEPT. 21

UNGODLY

12:12 p.m. — 2000 block of North Beach Street, Ormond Beach

Vandalism. A city pump station was vandalized with graffiti depicting a “possible satanic symbol” in at least one area, according to a police report.

Police spoke with the city’s chief water plant operator, who said he was notified of the graffiti by a field tech who forwarded him photos of the damage, estimated at $1,700. He told police this wasn’t the first time the pump station, inaccessible to the public without a four-wheel drive vehicle, had been vandalized.

The reporting officer noted that while there is a “No Trespassing” sign on the property, the trail that leads to the pump station is a common shortcut for fishermen going to the Intracoastal Waterway. He advised the plant operator, who plans to put a fence around the pump station, to place cameras on the trail.

SEPT. 22

SEVERED CONNECTION

12:58 p.m. — 400 block of River Square Lane, Ormond Beach Vandalism. A 42-year-old Ormond Beach woman called police to report that her exhusband had ripped out the wires for her internet.

The woman said her ex was seen by a neighbor pulling the wires out from the cable box shortly before she lost her internet

connection, according to a police report. She then saw him in her bushes before he left on his motorcycle. A company repairman restored her internet and confirmed to police that the cables appeared to have been cut.

The company informed her she would not be billed for the damage. But if she was, she told police, she would pursue charges.

SEPT. 23

LATER, LOANER

7:20 p.m. — Palm Coast Grand theft. An Arizona man is wanted for stealing his roommate’s Hyundai Sonata after the owner told him he could borrow the car to move in July.

The suspect packed up the Sonata and drove to his brother’s home in Falmouth, Kentucky, where he has been staying since, according to a charging affidavit.

When Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke to the Sonata’s owner in July, he told them he initially thought his roommate needed the car to either get a moving truck or to move his belongings himself. He did not know the man was moving to his brother’s home in Kentucky, the report said.

Because the car owner initially gave his permission, a deputy said, the FCSO could not press criminal charges at the time. When the car owner followed up with the deputy in September, he told the deputy he repeatedly asked his former roommate to return the vehicle to no avail.

The suspect offered to buy the car’s title for $500, then stopped answering the phone, the car owner said.

The deputy has since filed a charging affidavit with the State Attorney’s Office, and the Sonata has been registered as stolen.

“I was very impressed by the whole operation... I just turned 78 years old and they made everything so easy!!!”

-David M.

Whale beaches near Marineland

The whale was male and measured 12 feet and 6 inches long.

SIERRA WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

A male pygmy sperm whale beached on the shoreline just north of Marineland in St. Johns County on Sept. 27 and was later euthanized.

Beachgoers came across the whale sometime before 10 a.m., while it was still alive. Kelly Richmond, a communications coordinator with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, said the whale measured 381 centimeters long — roughly 12 feet and 6 inches. Richmond said FWC called an expert to the field and decided to euthanize the sick animal in the early afternoon.

BRIEFS

Man dies in crash at Palm Coast Parkway I-95 exit

A 22-year-old Jacksonville man died after his car veered off the Interstate 95 exit ramp and slammed into a tree in the early morning hours of Monday, Oct. 2.

The man was taking the southbound Exit 289 ramp at about 1:09 a.m. when the sedan he was driving swerved to the left, leaving the roadway, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol.

The car’s driver’s side door struck the tree. There were no passengers in the car.

Volusia launches webpage on fuel terminal project

Volusia County has initiated a dedicated series of updates about the proposed Belvedere fuel terminal in Ormond Beach. Residents can access these updates at volusia.org/ fuelterminal or directly from the county’s homepage.

The new webpage, requested by the County Council, provides updates on the proposed project.

These updates will delve into topics such as the history and conception of the proposed project, relevant documents, the status of

The carcass will be taken to the FWC’s St. Petersburg Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory for study, she said.

Richmond said figuring out what made the whale sick will require scientists to run tests, which could take a long time. This is the third whale to beach in the Flagler County

developments, upcoming stakeholder meetings and collaborative endeavors with the city of Ormond Beach and other partners.

Peter Johnson files for Palm Coast mayoral

Palm Coast resident Peter Johnson, 30 and a self-employed handyman, has filed to run for mayor.

“This is an extremely grassroots campaign, and one that truly started after hearing resident after resident say that someone needs to step up to the plate,” he said. “So I’m doing just that.”

Johnson said the key points he hopes to tackle are the “mismanagement” of the city’s growth and funds, the conservation of the city’s land and waterways, and drawing younger families and businesses to the area.

Johnson has lived in Palm Coast since 2010. He said he considers his youth and his lack of experience in the political field among his qualifications for the job.

“I’m a resident. I’m not a developer. I’m not a politician,” he said. “I am beholden to absolutely nobody but my constituents and the people that elect me.”

Johnson also served as a volunteer firefighter for Flagler County Fire Rescue from

Roof Repairs & Re-Roofs: Shingle, Metal & Tile

Woman sentenced for fatal shooting

A woman has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for her role in a 2021 robbery in which her fellow robber was shot and killed by their victim.

Taylor Manjarres, then 18, had plotted with 24-year-old Kwentel Moultrie and 23-yearold Zaire Roberts to rob a drug dealer at the dealer’s R-Section house in December 2021.

area in 2023. In January, an orca washed ashore — the first known killer whale beaching in Florida’s history — near Jungle Hut Park, and in March, a deep-sea beaked whale was euthanized after it beached near Gamble Rogers Park.

2010 to 2013, he said. He filed to run on July 27 and received the necessary signatures by Sept. 20.

Johnson is working on getting his campaign website up and running but can be reached at peterjohnsonforpalmcoast@gmail.com or his campaign’s Facebook page, Peter Johnson for Palm Coast.

Flagler County’s unemployment rate rises

The unemployment rate rose from 3.7% in July 2023 to 3.9% in August, according to a press release from the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce. The data comes from a report from FloridaCommerce, the press release said.

Greg Blosé, president and CEO of the Regional Chamber of Commerce, said 3.9% is the highest unemployment rate the county has seen since January 2022, and 1.2% higher than the state’s rate.

The county’s workforce is increasing and outpacing local hiring, Blosé said: The number of job-seeking residents in Flagler County rose to 2,121 in August, up from 1,977 in July.

“As population continues to grow, we will experience an increase in the labor force and see more people standing in the unemployment line as they search for jobs after relocating here,” Blosé said.

The plan was for Roberts to distract the drug dealer the night of Dec. 29, 2021, while Manjarres and Moultrie stole drugs. But it didn’t work: Roberts twice shot the dealer in the leg, and the dealer shot back, killing Roberts, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. The drug dealer lived, and law enforcement officers determined that he’d fired his gun in self-defense. Under Florida law, people involved in certain felony crimes that lead to a death can be charged with felony murder for that death.

Manjarres pleaded guilty to second-degree felony murder and armed burglary in May 2023. Circuit Judge Terence Perkins sentenced her during a hearing on Sept. 26. She will receive credit for 579 days already served in jail, according to court records.

Moultrie pleaded no contest to second-degree felony murder and was sentenced on Sept. 14 to 35 years in prison, which he will serve consecutively with 10 years for an unrelated charge of sexual battery.

Man arrested over threats to Volusia County deputy

A Pennsylvania man who messaged a social media account of the TV show “On Patrol: Live” stating he would kill a Volusia sheriff’s deputy has been arrested for making written threats to kill.

Jason Senseman, 51, was taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police Wednesday evening in Jonestown, Pennsylvania, where he admitted to sending several threatening and/or vulgar messages to the show via Facebook Messenger.

One of those messages was, “I would kill Royce James,” a VSO deputy who was featured on the show. Previous messages stated,

“I am not scared of killing anyone,” and, “Some of your officers are worthy of death.”

“On Patrol: Live” notified VSO on Sunday, Sept. 24, and detectives contacted law enforcement in Pennsylvania, where officers were aware of the messages and familiar with Senseman.

When contacted by a state trooper, Senseman said he did send the messages while watching the show and drinking, and that no one else uses his phone or his Facebook account.

Senseman’s charge is a second-degree felony that carries a bond of $100,000. He will be extradited to Volusia County at a later date, and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood plans to meet him, alongside James, before transport to the Volusia County Branch Jail.

Detectives use genetic data to ID homicide victim

More than 30 years after her remains were found in a wooded area of Daytona Beach, a homicide victim has been identified using forensic genetic genealogy.

On Thursday, Sept. 28, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office detectives notified the family of Roberta “Bobbie”

Lynn Weber of the new DNA match in the April 1990 homicide investigation.

A passerby on a wooded trail found Weber’s remains in the woods east of Clyde Morris Boulevard and about a mile and a half north of Strickland Range Road on April 23, 1990.

Weber would have been 32 at the time. Her remains were not identifiable, and no clothing or personal property could be found. Her DNA was entered into a national database, but there were no matches.

This year, the VSO Major Case Unit consulted with Othram Laboratories, a forensic genetic genealogy lab in Texas, and worked with the Medical Examiner’s Office to have the DNA samples submitted for analysis.

Several weeks later, Othram Labs said they’d reconstructed the victim’s family tree using data from public genealogical sites. That family tree included a Missouri woman, likely the victim’s sister.

Detectives contacted the woman in Missouri, and she

confirmed that she hadn’t seen her sister since 1989. She said Weber had divorced her husband in 1989 and disappeared. She believed her sister was either dead or living in California.

Detectives also identified and contacted three of Weber’s children, all of whom hadn’t seen their mother since 1989.

The sister and a daughter provided DNA samples, and on Sept. 28, Othram Labs confirmed that they matched to Roberta “Bobbie” Lynn Weber, maiden name Headley.

The homicide remains unsolved, but with the victim finally identified, detectives are asking anyone who might have information to come forward. Contact the Major Case Unit at 386-254-1537 or ColdCaseUnitTips@volusiasheriff.gov.

Woman flees crash with victim on car hood

A 76-year-old Palm Coast woman drove away from the scene of a crash at almost 50 mph with a crash victim clinging to the hood of her car, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

Cheryl Henderson was arrested on Sept. 30 and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and leaving the scene of a crash. The crash happened near the Aspen Dental in the 4800 block of Belle Terre Parkway, according to Henderson’s arrest report.

When Henderson tried to leave the scene of the accident, the victim moved his truck to block her exit. He got out of his pickup truck and was telling Henderson not to leave the scene when she drove toward him.

To avoid being run over, the man jumped onto the hood of Henderson’s Ford SUV. Henderson then drove two miles south down Belle Terre Parkway, reaching an estimated speed of 50 mph, with the man clinging to the hood of her car, the report said. Someone who witnessed the original accident followed in his own car and eventually forced Henderson to pull over.

Henderson told FCSO deputies that she left the scene of the accident because she needed to get gas. When asked why she didn’t stop when the man jumped on her hood, she said she was trying to pull over but couldn’t, according to the report.

386.439.7156 stephenmrende@yahoo.com

Photo courtesy of the FWC

pygmy sperm whale beached just north of Marineland.

Local teen arrested in anti-shutdown protest

Flagler youth organizer Cameron Driggers was arrested at thenHouse Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s office with 17 others.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

JONATHAN SIMMONS

MANAGING EDITOR

A Flagler County youth organizer who helped lead last year’s “Say Gay” student walkouts was arrested with other student protestors at then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s office in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 28. The students, members of the U.S. climate action group the Sunrise Movement, were protesting a potential government shutdown

“I was just arrested inside Kevin McCarthy’s office for telling House Republicans to quit playing political games when our planet is burning,” Driggers wrote in a post on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, the afternoon of Sept. 28. “I should be in school, not in handcuffs for fighting for my future.”

After making bail, he told the Observer , “Although we don’t expect it to change the minds of Kevin McCarthy or his cronies, we do expect it to put pressure on them and make them aware that the American people, and especially young people, are watching and are taking notice of his complete disregard for our concerns and for the things we’ve been fighting for for many years now.”

Congress reached a deal on

Sept. 30 to avoid a shutdown after McCarthy sided with Republican moderates and backed a bipartisan stopgap funding bill.

Driggers said he has a court date next month for criminal trespass.

“You know, the Capitol police, I understand they’re just doing their job. They’re nice folks,” he said. “So I wouldn’t say it was terrible. It was a memorable experience, to say the least.”

He added, “We have some great folks helping us out legally. So we expect (the charges) to be dropped or reduced to a misdemeanor offense, which would be the equivalent of a traffic citation.”

Capitol police arrested 18 of the estimated 150 students protesting at McCar-

Courtesy photo

A Capitol police officer restrains student protestor Cameron Driggers outside House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s office.

Driggers was one of over a dozen student climate activists arrested during the protest.

“Although we don’t expect it to change the minds of Kevin McCarthy or his cronies, we do expect it to put pressure on them and make them aware that the American people, and especially young people, are watching and are taking notice of his complete disregard for our concerns and for the things we’ve been fighting for for many years now.”

thy’s office the morning of Thursday, Sept. 28, after the students blocked an entrance and refused to leave unless McCarthy would agree to support bridge funding to keep the federal government open, according to reporting by The Guardian and The Hill.

Driggers, a Flagler Beach resident, graduated from Flagler Palm Coast High School last June and is now studying business administration at the University of Florida.

He was taking a train to Baltimore late in the afternoon when he spoke to the Observer, and was scheduled to catch a plane to Orlando. He had been in Washington for two days.

“Although this action was was more orientated towards our disgust with the way this government shutdown is being forced down our throats, we are also in Washington unveiling the Green New Deal for Public Schools

Act,” he said. The students were joined by Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, who is sponsoring the bill in the House.

“We’ve been lobbying members of Congress; we’ve been demonstrating and working towards that ultimate goal, which is a multifaceted Green New Deal for the United States that makes sense.”

In addition to helping organize the student protests last year against Florida’s law restricting LGBT content in schools, Driggers also campaigned for local candidates and wrote letters to the editor, including one published last year in the Observer.

Driggers is planning to start up a nonprofit with other Flagler County student activists, called Youth Action Fund.

“It’s basically a platform to support young organizers and activists in Florida,” he said. “I have found it and will serve as the executive director.”

Courtesy photo

Cameron Driggers, center, protests at then-House Speaker Kevin McCathy’s office on Sept. 28.

CAMERON DRIGGERS, Flagler Beach resident

To adopt any of these animals, visit the Flagler Humane Society at 1 Shelter Drive in Palm Coast or apply online at flaglerhumanesociety.org.

PETS UP FOR ADOPTION

Coco, 3, is a female chocolate Labrador mix.

Doug, 1, is a male cat.

Diogi, 10, is a male miniature pinscher and Chihuahua mix.

Ellery, 10, is a female cat.

Judge cancels trial, sends Captain’s BBQ, county government to mediation

The judge is trying to avoid a complex trial that would pit the BBQ restaurant against its landlord, the county government, according to the Flagler County government’s attorney.

JONATHAN SIMMONS MANAGING EDITOR

A jury trial pitting Captain’s BBQ against the Flagler County government — which owns the restaurant’s building at Bings Landing park — is off the docket.

A trial in the long-running case was scheduled to begin

Feb. 19, 2024. But the case has been turned over to a new judge who has ordered the two sides to return to mediation on Oct. 27, Flagler County Attorney Al Hadeed said at a commission meeting on Oct. 2. The county opposed the return to mediation, Hadeed said, “not ... as a matter of principle, but as a matter of fact — saying, ‘Look, we spent a lot of time attempting to mediate this.’”

But, he added, “The court has ordered it and we’re going to obviously respect, we’re not going to question, the court’s wisdom that we should engage in the mediation.”

The judge is avoid a “very complex trial” involving cross-claims from someone who sued after being injured

in the building, Hadeed said. Judge Christoper France issued the mediation referral on June 29 after taking over the case from Judge Terence Perkins.

Captain’s BBQ filed a lawsuit against the county government in June 2019, saying the county had breached its contract with the restaurant by reneging on a lease agreement the county had approved in November 2018.

The County Commission had voted 3-2 in November 2018 to approve a lease that would have let the restaurant’s owners build a new, larger restaurant building at Bings Landing. The size increase would have made it easier for Captain’s to receive approval for a liquor license.

The commission’s decision

was predicated on the belief that the restaurant building had serious structural problems that would have been costly and time-consuming to repair.

Allowing Captain’s to construct a new building would have let the restaurant continue operations at the existing building during construction, then move to the new structure with minimal interruption, rather than shutting down for weeks while the county repaired the existing building.

But the decision triggered an uproar from residents who thought the business would be benefitting at the county’s expense. And just weeks after the 3-2 vote — and in the next meeting after the county had signed a new lease with Cap-

tain’s based on that vote — new county commissioners were sworn in, and the commission voted 4-0 to reconsider its previous decision.

The commission later decided to have the Captain’s BBQ building inspected to see if it was truly beyond repair. Later inspections performed at the county’s behest showed that the building was durable and didn’t need reconstruction, Hadeed said.

The commission decided to repair the existing building at the county’s expense unless repairs would exceed 50% of its value, in which case the county would build a new building for Captain’s BBQ.

Captain’s BBQ sued.

The county and Captain’s BBQ have tried two mediation sessions already, he said.

“We could not come to an amicable resolution,” he said. “The primary pivot point was they wanted to build a new facility. And our position was, ‘Well, the building is holding up. We’re abiding by our end of the lease; there’s not a need for a new building.’”

Another mediation session will be expensive because the county will have to pay a professional mediator.

Still, Hadeed said, “It is better if we can to try to settle it. So we’re going to enter into this with an open mind.”

Hadeed asked commissioners to hold an executive session meeting so commissioners could give Hadeed and the rest of the county’s legal team direction on the pending litigation.

300-unit complex planned for Town Center Council OKs 66 houses off Central Avenue

The 27-acre development, called The Legacy at Palm Coast, sits at the corner of Town Center Boulevard and Lake Avenue, north of Imagine School.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Palm Coast City Council unanimously approved a site plan application for a 300unit apartment complex next to Imagine School at Town Center at its Sept. 19 meeting. The complex — called The Legacy at Palm Coast — will

be on the vacant 27-acre lot at Town Center Boulevard and the north side of Lake Avenue, across from the school. It will have a main entrance on Town Center Boulevard and a secondary entrance on Lake Avenue.

Curt Wimpée, from Alliant Engineering and representing the developer, Landmark Communities and MG Palm Coast, LLC, said it’s a project that will fit in well with Palm Coast. “We worked with staff extensively to make sure this is a quality project for Town Center,” he said. “Town Center is obviously, you know, one of the premier areas here in Palm Coast.”

The 300 units will be spread throughout eight buildings — four three-story buildings

and four four-story buildings — and will have one- to three-bedroom units, according to meeting documents. There will be 128 one-bedroom apartments, 140 twobedroom apartments and 32 three-bedroom apartments.

The Legacy apartments’ amenities will include a clubhouse, pool, pickleball court, two dog parks, a kayak launch, a fire pit and two gazebo areas.

When the city’s Planning Board approved the site plan application on Aug. 19, Alliant Engineering engineer Adam Oestman said prices had not yet been set, but the apartments could cost around $2,000 a month for a threebedroom, based on similar properties the developer built in Kissimmee.

The Retreat at Town Center will have 66 single-family residential lots located across from the Publix plaza at Palm Coast Town Center.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The first phase of a threephase development in Town Center has been approved for construction.

The Palm Coast City Council unanimously approved a final plat application — the final step before development begins — at its Sept. 19 meeting for the first phase of The

Retreat at Town Center. The first phase of development has 66 single-family residential lots across 39.74 acres of land.

The Retreat is located on Market Avenue, north of the Publix at Town Center and east of Belle Terre Parkway. When all three phases are complete, The Retreat will have a total of 161 units, according to City

from City Council meeting documents

Retreat at Town Center’s first phase will have 66 units.

Council meeting documents. It is part of the Town Center at Palm Coast development. The applicant, Toll Southeast LP Company, began developing the infrastructure on the property after the preliminary plat and construction plans were approved in December 2021, Deputy Chief Development Officer Ray Tyner said.

Flagler Health+ is excited to share we are now UF Health St. Johns. Building on a 130-year legacy of caring for the community, our dedication to delivering high-quality and patientcentered care has never wavered. With enhanced access to the latest medical breakthroughs, expanded treatment options, clinical trials and world-renowned comprehensive care through UF Health, this change marks the dawn of a bright new beginning for health care in St. Johns County.

Image

BUSINESS OBSERVER

Best friends open store in Ormond

Coastal Character is a furniture resale shop specializing in redesigned pieces.

ALEXIS MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Ever thought about owning a business with your best friend?

Michelle Arnold and Tracey Lopez turned that thought into reality when they opened Coastal Character, a furniture resale shop located in Palm Plaza at 600 S. Yonge St., Suite 1A & B, in Ormond Beach.

Arnold and Lopez have been best friends for almost 20 years, and their friendship grew stronger as their kids grew up together. With a long-distance friendship from Georgia to Colorado, the women dreamed of living near the beach. One day they decided to pack up and take a road trip to find the perfect spot.

“We went from Daytona Beach all the way to the Outer Banks in North Carolina and tried to make our mind up of exactly where to move along the coast,” Arnold said.

After careful consideration and a previous option not working in their favor, the best friends decided to move to Ormond Beach.

Lopez began painting and restoring furniture around her house over six years ago when her husband gave her the idea of selling her work. Immediately, she found old furniture and started selling her pieces online. After that, the couple

began selling in a consignment shop in Crescent Beach to see if their products would sell in a store.

“Every piece you see is something that has been given a second life,” Lopez said. “Everything comes from donations, or we buy it second hand.”

Arnold, who previously worked on designing largescale events and marketing for companies, said all of Coastal Character’s marketing is done in-house. Arnold said this ensures their marketing is always exactly what they want it to be.

Within the first week and a half of opening, 70% of the pieces in the shop had sold, causing excitement, but also worry as they needed more items quickly.

“It was one of those situations where the greatest thing would be if we sold everything,

Stoked Poke is ‘stoked’ to be in Ormond

EMMA BRUGNA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Stoked Poke, a food truck that has now gone brick-andmortar, will be opening a restaurant in Ormond Beach.

The Hawaiian-style restaurant was launched out of a small green trailer in October 2018. Now, Stoked Poke has four restaurants, with the Ormond Beach location at 347 W. Granada Blvd. becoming the fifth.

but the worst thing would be if we sold everything and had no product left to sell,” Arnold said. “We were able to come a long way over the past three months and we got some pretty cool vendors too.” Arnold and Lopez don’t do all the work for their store alone. They have handymen that repair the furniture before the pieces are taken to the shop to be painted, as well as other artists who display their work in Coastal Character. They have eight vendors and artists that sell from the shop.

“It became very important to us that we kind of a mentor and supporter for local artists,” Lopez said. “We know how hard it is to start something new and how much money big investments cost.”

Coastal Character is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In the November following their food truck debut in 2018, the business attended its first major event, Ormond Mainstreet’s Riverfest Seafood Festival. Stoked Poke had been working with the MainStreet for some time before appearing at this event.

“We saw immediate success there, it was really great,” said Eric Jackson, Stoked Poke owner and founder.

Jackson said the idea of opening a location in Ormond has always been on his mind.

As soon as a spot in the area piqued his interest, he immediately jumped at the opportunity. Jackson has opened Stoked Poke restaurants in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach and Flagler Beah.

Stoked Poke serves customizable poke bowls, acai bowls and tacos.

The concept for the business formed during Jackson’s surfing trip to Hawaii where

BIZ BUZZ NEW BUSINESSES OPEN AT ONE DAYTONA

One Daytona has added two new tenants: Foxtail Coffee Co., which opened on Sept. 19, and Crumbl Cookies, which will open on Oct. 6 at Shoppes at One Daytona. Foxtail offers a menu of craft and slow bar coffee and it is the second location in Volusia County. The first location opened in Ormond Beach in April. Crumbl Cookies will offer cookies inspired by popular flavors, foods and desserts, according to a press release. A location opened in Palm Coast in June.

“The wait is over for everyone in our community looking for quality craft coffee or the infamous cookies that have unique flavors from week to week,” One Daytona President

Photo by Alexis Miller

Residential

Roxanne Ribakoff, said in the press release. “Both tenants are excellent additions to our One Daytona campus. We are confident this is the start of a successful business venture for both Foxtail Coffee Co. and Crumbl Cookies.”

The One Daytona Foxtail location will serve a variety of beer and wine, breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, egg bites, quiches, pastries and sweet treats.

Crumbl Cookies will be located between Painting with a Twist and Crab Knight at Shoppes at One Daytona, located at 1808 W. International

he fell in love with the food. As he and his friends returned to Florida, he realized there were not many places to indulge in poke. This sparked his inspiration to create the restaurant.

The restaurant in Ormond will continue to follow a similar menu and keep the overall coastal feel of its previous locations, Jackson said. However, the location will also have details differing from its counterparts, allowing each restaurant to remain unique in its own way.

“We’re stoked to be here and stoked to keep growing,” said Jackson.

coming soon to One Daytona is Consumer Cellular, to be located between Guitar Center and Elements of Design. Consumer Cellular plans to open before the end of the year.

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Tracey Lopez and Michelle Arnold, owners and creators of Coastal Character

Courtesy photos

Stoked Poke owner and founder Eric Jackson, alongside Kinzie Hicks and Kolson Jackson.

One of the current hand-painted pieces for sale

ASK THE MAYOR

Alfin answers your questions on growth, infrastructure

of smart planning financed by strict and efficient use of taxpayer dollars. I am confident we will achieve financial sustainability for the continued success of our quality of life.

DAVID ALFIN PALM COAST MAYOR

Question from Elizabeth Affourtit Shanahan: Honorable Mayor Alfin ... Why are you and council approving all of these new developments without planning for the infrastructure needed to support them? ... What are you doing to attract professional businesses to our community?

I, for one, am against building apartments in any single-family residential neighborhoods. Addressing infrastructure for new development is a complicated challenge. The natural beauty and amenity-rich lifestyle attract many new residents. I remain committed to making our lifestyle a first priority, along with public safety. We have nothing to build on unless we continue to invest in upgrading, renovating, replacing, and repairing the aging bones of our young city. The 2023-2024 budget, along with a “rollback” in tax rate, sets a good precedent for continued investment in our roads and utilities.

Palm Coast is currently ranked as the 18th fastest-growing city in the United States and the second-safest city in the entire state of Florida. The challenge accompanying growth requires a masterful balance

LETTERS

Bible’s violence inappropriate for schools

Dear Editor: One takeaway from the Observer’s recent story about a local challenge of the Bible as being inappropriate learning or reading material for our school-age kids is that extreme violent content in any book could be viewed as more of a problem than sexual content.

The Bible, as pointed out in the challenge, indisputably is full of graphic and vengeful, often sadistic, violence, including genocide, infanticide, rape and calling for the killing of homosexuals.

Most of the books that have been reviewed and removed by school boards as inappropriate for students have been done so based on sexual content, depiction of sexual activity, and dirty words. And sexual content, as a basis for “book banning”, is what our governor and the laws he championed are fixated on while graphic violence takes a back seat, if any seat at all. In terms of potential societal harm or harmful influence on school-age kids, it is difficult to make the case that exposure to sexual content is more damaging than exposure to horrific, hateful violence.

But given that the Bible is also not lacking in sexual content depicting incest, rape, bestiality and prostitu-

The challenge of growth also offers opportunities for business recruitment. Businesses require trained and local workers. Our increasing population statistics are attractive to business owners who are dependent on a steadily growing workforce to grow their own business. Economic development will remain a funded priority in our budget to ensure that we continue contacting companies that can enjoy success in Palm Coast while enriching our local tax base and providing goods and services desired by residents.

The city of Palm Coast has invited all residents and business owners to participate in a review of the “Comprehensive Plan.” The Comp Plan is a blueprint and description of all items relevant to development and growth. The original plan was written more than a quarter century ago. It is time now for all who will volunteer to help us formulate a

SEND QUESTIONS

Mayor David Alfin’s new weekly column in the Observer addresses resident questions on city government. Email your questions to Managing Editor Jonathan Simmons at jonathan@observerlocalnews. com.

tion along with the horrific violence, it seems very reasonable to conclude that it’s inappropriate in a K-12 school setting, and our School Board should concur.

MARGARET MINUTAGLIO Palm Coast

Bible contains R-rated level violence

Dear Editor:

After reading stories in both the Observer and FlaglerLive about the recent Bible book challenge here in Flagler, I began imagining that the Bible with its graphic sexual and violent passages detailed in the challenge was a movie with that kind of content.

It appears that most movie theaters would likely give it an “R” rating. And such a rating designation would not allow anyone under 17 years old from entering the theater to see it without being accompanied by an adult over 21 years of age with identification. So, that would disallow almost all K-12 students from going alone to the movie version depicting the graphic passages that the book challenge detailed.

Yet, apparently any student can check the Bible out from a school library unaccompanied by a parent. And this is a conundrum our local School Board should consider in its review of this book challenge. Seems they have uncomfortable

Make yourself at home

plan for the future of Palm Coast. We invite everyone to bring forward suggestions and comments to describe our best future forward. Housing and zoning will be key factors in the planning process.

Question from Jessica ForteMatthews: (The) city website says Fire Station 26 is in design phase since May. Where are we at with that?

Fire Station 26, to be located in the Seminole Woods subdivision, is currently in design phase. City staff meets regularly with both the design firm and engineering group as the project moves forward. The design process is well underway and has been making consistent progress since May. We are looking forward to an on-time project completion during the fourth quarter of 2025.

Question from Corey Udell: I’ve been in Palm Coast for over 30 years when my parents moved us here. I am a proud local business owner here for over 20 years, have grown up in Palm Coast and now a family with two kids. I would love to see something to come to Palm Coast for our kids and youth! ... There is a growing population of youth in our city that needs things to do. Please explain as the city has done nothing for our youth in the last 30 years I’ve been here!

I am so pleased to correspond with one of Palm Coast’s long-term proud business owners, and I am also glad that your children have the opportunity to grow up and thrive

choices … redact the problematic passages, have an adult over 21 accompany kids at checkout time or simply remove the book. I would vote for the latter.

MARY ZITO Palm Coast

Citizen input crucial to solve traffic issues

Dear Editor: I appreciated the guest letter regarding Pine Lakes Parkway published Sept. 28. While there might be a case for widening sections of Pine Lakes Parkway in the future, I would be careful to caution against “induced demand,” the hellish cycle of constantly widening a road only to invite more traffic congestion. I fully applaud the call for trafficcalming measures along neighborhood “shortcuts” such as Whippoorwill and Whirlaway Drives. Citizens should take the opportunity to identify other such shortcuts where local roads are utilized by non-local traffic, often blowing through stop signs or driving too fast for neighborhood conditions. In my own neighborhood I live next to a classic collector road, which is one of only two avenues into and out of the neighborhood. Despite the relative quiet, morning traffic is surprisingly loud and unnecessarily jammed up because of the inefficiency of the road

in our emerging, promising city environment and culture. Here are a few of our Parks and Recreation opportunities I recommend for your children.

1 – Robotics – construction and problems solving with Legos

2 – Indoor rowing classes

3 – Kayak rentals at Waterfront Park

4 – Tennis and golf lessons

5 – Cooking lessons for 8–12-year olds

6 – Palm Coast Youth Swim Team for non-competitive fun activities in the pool

Please consult our city’s Parks and Recreation Activity Guide located on our website for more specific details about these activities and so many more.

I am very well aware that a city needs balance in both age demographics and age-appropriate amenities to shape a quality of life for all residents. The city’s strategic action plans will continue to support capital improvement projects and activities that appeal to younger residents in the future. We are decidedly behind at the present time but the announced construction of a new state-of-the-art ‘Y’ with a full aquatic program is a good first step from which we can build a future for young and old alike!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are solely that of the author in his personal capacity and do not necessarily represent the opinions or the views of the city of Palm Coast or the Palm Coast City Council.

system.

Laying out future development of Palm Coast in a grid pattern versus the hierarchal series of the endless loop roads, cul-de-sacs, and dead-end streets the city currently consists of would go a long way in providing better street connectivity, easier navigability, safer intersections, and what has been a premium to this point: coveted sidewalks.

The city of Palm Coast begins public discussion regarding Imagine 2050: City on the Rise, an update to the region’s comprehensive plan, Oct. 10 at City Hall and Oct. 11 at the Palm Coast Community Center. Citizen input is crucial, and everyone should have the opportunity to raise issues and lend their opinions.

Palm Coast is a beautiful coastal community and unique place to live. Like much of Florida, the phenomenal population growth presents a challenge and growing pains. Through these public meetings, citizens have a rare opportunity to engage with their government during the planning process, before the comprehensive plan is updated and adopted.

More information can be found at the city’s website: palmcoast.gov/ imagine2050

CASEY C. CHEAP Palm Coast

Send letters up to 400 words to jonathan@observerlocalnews.com.

Just desserts: greed and Frosties in the moonlight

the universe had different plans.

A beam of moonlight, lately of the sun, ricocheted off a small piece of plastic in the compartment next to the cupholder, drawing my eye to a white piece of plastic shaped in the shape of a Frosty, entitling its bearer to one free Jr. Frosty — about half the size of a small Frosty — with any purchase. It was a coupon good for a whole year’s worth of free Jr. Frosties, in fact, and I don’t believe it had been used even once.

BRIAN MCMILLAN

PUBLISHER

We were at the Wendy’s drive-thru one night last week, and I had an excruciating decision to make: How many Frosties should I buy?

There were six McMillans in the minivan: my wife and I, and four of our children. Six small chocolate Frosties was the natural choice. But

Is this a sign that I should get not only six small Frosties but also a free Jr. Frosty, even though the universe had provided no obvious candidate to consume it?

Then, like a monolith appearing on the moon, it occurred to me that I could give the Jr. Frosty to my 5-year-old son, Luke, and I could casually eat two small Frosties myself without anyone notic-

ing. Luke typically didn’t finish his Frosties anyway. A few minutes later, my plan was working beautifully. I was halfway through my first Frosty and eyeing my second, thanks to my giantsized spoonfuls, while everyone else was savoring theirs via normalsized spoonfuls. And then, the law of entropy transformed from a theory into a melted, goopy reality.

“Oh no,” my 19-year-old son, Jackson said.

My wife, Hailey, turned around.

I couldn’t bear to look. I could see it well enough in my mind’s eye.

“It’s face down,” Jackson reported.

“How bad is it?” Hailey asked.

“About two-thirds is gone,” Jackson said.

About this time, I finished my first Frosty. My energy level was spiking due to the sugar, but my heart was sinking due to the carnage.

“We’re going to need the Bissell for this,” Jackson said.

“Just do your best,” Hailey said, handing him the napkins we had just received from our purchase, as well as the glove compartment stash of napkins from purchases past.

Helpfully, from the back seat, 8-year-old Kennedy said: “Bounty Paper towels pickup two-thirds more than competitors.”

Jackson, his patience fraying, his hands sticky, asked, “Where did you learn that, a commercial?”

“Science experiment,” Kennedy said, confidently.

All the while, Luke was silently, slowly eating his final third. In hindsight, perhaps the universe did not plan on Luke getting that Jr. Frosty.

Or, perhaps, it was the universe’s gift to us all: It could have been worse — he could have spilled my second small Frosty instead.

PALM COAST

“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.”

Publisher Brian McMillan, brian@observerlocalnews.com

Managing Editor Jonathan Simmons, jonathan@observerlocalnews.com

Senior Editor Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@observerlocalnews.com

Associate Editor Brent Woronoff, brent@observerlocalnews.com

Staff Writer Sierra Williams, sierra@observerlocalnews.com

Design Editor Hailey McMillan, hailey@observerlocalnews.com

Director of Engagement Kaitlyn Stier, kstier@observerlocalnews.com

Senior Media Specialist Susan Moore, susan@observerlocalnews.com

Advertising Coordinator Jessica Boone, jessica@observerlocalnews.com

Operations Manager Bonnie Hamilton, bonnie@observerlocalnews.com

Circulation Coordinator, Draven Owens, dowens@observerlocalnews.com

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VETERAN OF THE WEEK

Jack Pitman

 Branch of military: U.S. Air Force (Retired)  Dates of service: 1957-1995

 Rank/occupation: Colonel / Administration  Hometown: Melrose, Massachusetts

Jack Pitman graduated from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1957 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps and designated an administrative officer. He was assigned in England and then France at Toul-Rosières Air Base. It’s there he met his future wife, Ann Marie, in 1962; she worked as a civilian base employee. Pitman left active duty in 1962 and remained in the Air Force Reserve. As a reservist, he had various assignments. He was attached to the Pentagon for three years. He was the reservist to the base commander at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, and lastly, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where he eventually retired. One of his collateral duties was U.S. Air Force Academy liaison officer, interviewing potential candidates for admission. In his civilian life, Pitman was a chief chemist with various companies during his career. When employed by Massachusetts Electric, he was their environmental compliance officer, ensuring the company met environmental protection standards. He and his wife of 61 years, Ann Marie, have owned a home in Palm Coast since 1987 and moved here permanently in 1995. Pitman was a member of the exploratory committee to investigate whether Palm Coast should incorporate into a city. He also sat on the committee that helped open a county library in the fledgling city. He is a past president of the Flagler Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and former treasurer of MOAA’s Florida Council of Chapters. The Pitmans have two sons: Michael, still residing in Massachusetts; and Mark, who lives in Palm Coast.

NEED HELP WITH VETERAN SERVICES?

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

YOUR TOWN

PALM COAST RESIDENT TURNS 109 YEARS OLD

Palm Coast resident Mabel Dunbar turned 109 years old on Sept. 5. Dunbar was born in 1914 in Jamaica and has lived in Florida since 1994. She lives with her only daughter, Minora Rosenthal, in Palm Coast and has four grandchildren and “almost too many great-grandkids to count,” Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal has lived with her mother for almost 50 years, since Rosenthal and her husband brought Dunbar to live with them in New York in the 1960s.

Nowadays, Rosenthal said, her mother doesn’t get out much but is still a very religious person and loves to cook — she even makes her own breakfast every morning. Rosenthal said her mother still has a good memory and loves to share her stories.

“She’s a very pleasant person and a big talker,” Rosenthal said. “If you come here, you don’t get a chance to say very much.”

GARDEN OF THE MONTH

October 2023: Scott and Elise Mead

NANCY IANDOLI GARDEN CLUB SELECTION OF THE MONTH COMMITTEE

The garden of Scott and Elise Mead, of Francis Lane, is The Garden Club at Palm Coast’s Selection of the Month for October 2023. Originally from South Dakota for 30 years, the Meads moved to Palm Coast five years ago.

GARDEN CLUB MEETING PLANNED FOR OCT. 9

The Garden Club at Palm Coast holds its meetings on the second Monday of each month from September to May at the VFW Hall at 47 Old Kings Road N. in Palm Coast.

Lunch can be purchased at the VFW starting at 11:30 a.m.; the plant sale in the pavilion is from noon to 1 p.m.; meeting signup begins at 12:30 p.m., and the meeting begins at 1 p.m. The public is welcome from 12:30 to 1:00. Visitors are welcome one time to preview the club.

The club’s October guest speaker is Sande Habali, past president of the Pawpaw Chapter. She is co-chair for membership and for the Council of Chapters of the Florida Native Plant Society. Her talk will be titled, “Your Local Pawpaw Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society” and will include tips for native gardening. There will be a raffle for a floral design and door prizes. For more club information, look up The Garden Club at Palm Coast, Inc. on Facebook or email info@gardenclubatpalmcoast.org.

SPONSORED STUDENT CONTENT

What am I?

I am not tangible, yet millions of people feel me daily. My unforgiving claws latch onto them, never letting go. I am never alone; I am always accompanied by other emotions: fear, determination, and anxiety. Yet what makes me special is that I can also cause physical pain; biting nails, ripping hair, and shedding tears are all indications that someone has been infected by the plague that is my being.

I don't think many people enjoy my presence, but I can’t seem to understand why. I may drive people crazy within their own minds during the task at hand, but at least they succeed in the end. That is, unless they cannot handle me, then they crack under the pressure. I like to think of myself as a test of worth; many break, but the disciplined will persevere.

I like to focus my attention on the weak and the easily manipulated. They require the least amount of effort, and I reap the biggest reward. With one simple thought, “What if you fail?” they are already infected.

My favorite victims are students. Some don’t bother with me, but the select few that do are at the extreme end of my spectrum. It's almost as if they do my job for me, and all I have to do is sit back and watch the chaos ensue in their developing brains.

While I realize I may sound unfairly evil, it is not always that way. I am actually quite useful sometimes, you see. Whether a final exam is coming up, a dream job interview, or even a simple social interaction such as ordering food, I am always lingering—never too far. A select few individuals are able to simply brush me off, so I give up on penetrating through their walls of self-worth tasks before deadlines or even give you the little extra worry needed to succeed.

After learning all about me, I bet you are wondering what I am. Well, I am a thing that people like to call stress, but I prefer the name motivation.

PROGRAM SPONSORED BY:

The writing prompt was supplied by Ms. Giuliano's class at Flagler Palm Coast High School. Keep an eye out for further topics contributed by additional students in her class.

They like planting mostly perennials and have a diversity of colorful plants. On the front left side of the house, you will find coreopsis, plumbago, mini-Mexican petunias, society garlic, variegated liriope, confederate jasmine, different types of crotons, a lady palm and red canna lilies.

The beautiful Sylvester palm in the center island provides a natural canopy for African bush daisy, cardboard palm (cycad), oyster plants, blue daze, Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum) and red fountain grass.

Heading towards the backyard, there are lavender trailing daisies, multicolor verbena, seaside petu-

nias, portulaca, periwinkle, golden shrimp plant and jatropha which attract hummingbirds, bleeding heart vine, blanket flower (Gaillardia), and a variety of succulents.

Their vegetable garden has climbing tomatoes, basil, chives and pineapples.

The gardens are bordered by either concrete or black landscape edging and mulched with tan river rock, giving the gardens a welldefined space.

The Garden Club meets monthly at the VFW on Old Kings Road, Palm Coast, at 1 p.m. every second Monday.

The Meads’ vegetable garden has climbing tomatoes, basil, chives and pineapples.

Lillian Ames

What’s next for historic courthouse? Historical Society proposes museum

The Christian school at the courthouse will move out by spring 2025. Commissioner Leann Pennington said it’s time to consider the building’s potential.

As the First Baptist Christian Academy prepares to move out of the old county courthouse, the Flagler County Historical Society is curating ideas for what to do with the building.

Historical Society President Ed Siarkowicz said that while nothing is set in stone, the society is preparing a presentation for the Flagler County Commission about turning the courthouse into a Flagler County history museum and learning center.

Grand Haven condos ready after 20-year wait

Zander Holding Group CEO

Zander Burger said he has spent almost $15 million purchasing and renovating the two buildings.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

After almost two decades standing stagnant, the condos at Grand Haven have undergone a renovation and are almost ready to sell.

Zander Holding Group of Palm Coast bought the two condo buildings — each with 12 units and now named the Grand Vista Condos — in June 2022 for $5 million. CEO Zander Burger said he has spent almost twice that amount — between $8 million and $10 million — renovating the 24 units. Prices for some of the units are expected to exceed $1 million.

“We had to gut [the buildings] down to the studs,” he said. “We basically just took the shell.”

Burger said that it’s been difficult to bring the building up to code, which has changed significantly since the condos were built in 2004. The units are all designed with highend luxury in mind and influenced by European styles, Burger said — including the closets, which do not have the wire racks most American homes have, but built-in wooden shelving.

“We wanted to bring luxury back because of the location and the way the building is situated,” Burger said. “There is really nothing in the county that can compete with this.”

The first building, on the east side, overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway, and the top floors have a view of the ocean. The west building abuts the golf course.

Burger said Zander Holding Group will host several viewing opportunities for the condos. Grand Haven res-

idents will have the first opportunity to view the condos, since they had to live next to the dilapidated buildings for almost two decades, he said.

The tours are only open for those who pre-register at https://grandvista.info/. The first of the two buildings will be available for viewing in the last few weeks of October, broker Gina Harding said.

The price for the condos in the first building will range from $699,000 to $1.4 million, Harding said. The second building is still a month away from completion, she said, so the

prices for those units have not been set yet.

Harding said that even though she tends to be conservative about sales, she believes the first building will sell out of units by the end of November.

“I would say that the first build

ing definitely, I think, [will sell out] within 30 days, and I would not even be surprised if it’s with the first week because of the amount of interest,” she said.

Burger said he conducted his first property transaction in real estate at age 16 in his home county of South Africa. As he grew older, he began expanding into the United States and began the process of immigrating here legally.

He said his story is an example of immigration done correctly, through the long, legal process — even though he had to leave in the middle of the Grand Vista’s development. Now, he and his wife live in Palm Coast.

“I bought the building, and we left,” he said. “We were out of the states for more than a year, fighting immigration to get back. And it all worked out beautifully.”

“This is a proposal; nothing has been approved,” he said. “What we’re seeking to do is to put together exhibits and collections that tell all of Flagler County’s history.”

Siarkowicz said the Flagler County Historical Society has been working on this proposal for the last four months and could be ready for the Flagler County Commission by November.

The society’s members have been reaching out to other historical groups in the county — like the Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, the Flagler Beach Museum, the African American Cultural Society, and more — to involve them in building the presentation.

“We brought in as many people as we could from different areas,” Siarkowicz said. “We want to make sure that we don’t get tunnel vision, and that we tell the best story possible.”

Bryanna Prunk, a business manager at First Baptist Christian Academy, said the school is renovating a building at the intersection of Pine Lakes and Palm Coast Parkways, next to their church, First Baptist Church of Palm Coast, to serve as the new school building.

The Christian Academy will move out of the old courthouse in the late spring of 2025, when that school year

ends, she said.

The old courthouse, located at 201 E. Moody Boulevard in Bunnell, was built in 1927. It served as the Flagler County courthouse until 1982, when cracks formed in the foundation during construction work to expand the annex, according to the Historical Society’s website. The building emptied for three years until the county shored up the foundation. In 2007, the court system shifted to a new building near the Flagler County Government Services Building complex.

Siarkowicz said the Historical Society rented a charter bus in August to drive down to the historic Polk County Courthouse, which has been turned into a history center as well. It was a great example of different exhibits that could be put together similarly in Flagler, he said.

A Flagler County museum would include exhibits ranging from prehistoric times to the eras of Native Americans, the Spanish period, and more, Siarkowicz said. It could also be a place for a genealogy library for residents.

County Commissioner Leann Pennington said she spoke to the society about the building’s potential. “We all want it to remain a historic building,” she said. “It has a lot of meaning for a lot of people in this town.”

The county has set aside funding in the budget to review the building’s integrity and address the cracks in the foundation, she said. Ultimately, any decision on what to do with the building will be a joint decision made by the commission, and funding must be found for it, Pennington said.

For Siarkowicz, the goal is not to just make a collection of stuff for people to look at, “but to teach people that this is how people endured,” he said. “This is how people overcame tragedy.”

Pennington said she hopes the building and surrounding historic buildings are turned into a learning center for the county’s history, arts and culture.

“I think it just makes the perfect place [for that],” she said. “I can see a lot hope and potential in that building. … I don’t ever want to see that building destroyed.”

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The old county courthouse building in Bunnell

Photo by Sierra Williams

Photos courtesy of Zander Holding Group

The Grand Vista Condos will sell for between $699,000 and $1.4 million, depending on the unit. Each unit is designed with “high-end luxury” in mind, developer Zander Burger said.

Granada Family Diner now open

Talaat El Bayomy and his family bring fresh, homemade cuisine to the community with the opening of their new diner.

MICHELE MEYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A new diner has opened its doors in Ormond Beach.

Restauranteur Talaat El Bayomy recently added the Granada Family Diner to his list of business ventures launched in the U.S. The restaurant opened its doors early Tuesday morning on Oct. 3, at the former Bodez Personalized Fitness Center building at 1140 W. Granada Blvd. in the South Forty Shopping Center.

The diner is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, and offers comfort foods and homemade dishes made from fresh ingredients. A full menu will be available to order online for takeout or no-contact delivery.

El Bayomy purchased the property in November 2021 and toiled with his family for two years to bring it up to restaurant specifications. Because the building previously housed a gym, it was necessary for El Bayomy to build-out the space “from scratch.”

“First of all, when we moved to the area, I wasn’t planning to open another business,” he said. “I was satisfied with whatever I had in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, but as a habit, I can’t stay with ‘not working’ so I decided we are going to open a business here.”

‘THE CLASSIC AMERICAN DREAM’

El Bayomy was born into a family of bakers in Cairo, Egypt. He learned the business from his father, who owned three successful bakeries.

In 1999, he moved to Enola, Pennsylvania, with his wife Gigi Amer. He worked as a dishwasher, became a “pizza man” then bought his first pizza shop — Pizza Fresca — which he owned for three years. He switched to the restaurant business and went into partnership with his three brothers. They opened two diners in Pennsylvania.

The Chambersburg Family Diner in Pennsylvania and the Hagerstown

Family Diner in Maryland were El Bayomy’s first independently owned restaurants. His brothers currently manage the family businesses while he focuses on the new restaurant.

“It’s literally the classic American dream,” El Bayomy’s oldest son Mohamed Talaat Mohamed said.

“This is all we know. In Egypt, we ran a bakery. It’s our lifestyle. So when we came here, we amplified it a little bit. Instead of a small shack in the corner bakery, we opened up a few restaurants.”

The restaurant business has always been about family for Amer and El Bayomy. They have four sons — 26-year-old Mohamed, 23-yearold Youssef Mohamed, 20-yearold Mo Mohamed and 16-year-old Adham Mohamed — who have all worked in the diners at some point in their lives.

The family travelled to Prescott, Arizona, where their oldest son Mohamed attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In 2017, they moved to Port Orange while Youssef attended ERAU in Daytona Beach. El Bayomy also opened a diner in Arizona.

After graduating from ERAU, Mohamed became a commercial pilot who delivers organs to hospitals for surgery and Youssef is now a survey pilot. They help with the restaurant when they visit their family.

AIMING FOR QUALITY

Mo has helped his father renovate the Granada Family Diner property for the last two years. He currently manages the day-to-day operations of the restaurant.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business since I could walk,” he said. “I started as a host and was promoted to cashier when I was 8.”

El Bayomy said he has designated himself as “quality control.” His position during restaurant hours will be at the window where the food comes out from the kitchen.

Mohamed Talaat Mohamed believes that the quality and freshness of the food will set them apart from the other restaurants.

“Most of the owners, they’re not right at that window checking how crispy those French fries are,” he said. “I think that’s what’s going to differentiate us. Quality of food is a big thing. Over the years, quality

has decreased. We are back to set a standard.”

Christopher Forrester said that fate and a mutual contact brought him to work for El Bayomy as his head chef. He comes from a culinary background and attended the hospitality management program at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“I think that synergy brings people together,” he said. “I am very, very passionate about food but service and taking care of others has always been my calling card. I love preparing food but I love to see the reaction of people when they eat something that I have prepared. That to me is like a drug.”

LOCAL SUPPORT

Daytona Beach resident Paul Lenic was the first customer to walk into the diner. He ordered biscuits and gravy, homemade corned beef hash and a cup of coffee. He gave the food and coffee a glowing review.

“It’s hard to find restaurants I like,” he said. “I was anxious to try this because it’s new and I like to sup-

port businesses in our local area. It’s hard to find good coffee in this town and this is a good cup of coffee. I’m a coffee connoisseur.”

El Bayomy gave Lenic a gift card for being the first customer in his restaurant.

“The restaurant needs to reflect the community,” Forrester said. “I think we are in a good spot where we

are going to bring fresh from scratch to the community with some unique dishes but also, (bring) the vibrant and open, welcoming atmosphere that we have here.”

In the future, diners will have the option of special weekly dinner nights, homemade pizza, catering and maybe even a bot server or two to deliver their orders.

Server Vanessa Hopkins laughs with the Granada Family Diner’s first customer, Paul Lenic, as he shows her the menu.

Granada Family Diner head chef Christopher Forrester

Granada Family Diner owner Talaat El Bayomy smiles as he demonstrates using the juicer on opening day. The diner will have fresh juice every day.

Photos by Michele Meyers

Mo Mohamed fills the pastry-cake display case at the Granada Family Diner. He manages the daily operations of the family restaurant.

Developer to replace 204 removed trees Student runs for School Board

KB Homes removed trees before it was authorized to do so, and Flagler Beach required it to submit a mitigation plan.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

KB Homes will replace 204 trees and pay $28,700 to a Flagler Beach tree fund after the developer removed trees before it was authorized to do so. The trees were in the Beach Park Village development. KB Homes had removed 8,689 inches of trees but was only permitted to remove 5,034 inches of trees. The developer must replace the difference, 3,655 inches of trees, as part of the mitigation plan.

KB Homes will also add 204 trees to the development at a cost of $130,480 according to commission meeting docu -

ments. The Flagler Beach City Commission approved a preliminary plat for the development in January on the condition that a tree mitigation plan would be submitted and approved by the city before any residential building permits were issued.

At a Sept. 28 commission meeting, the City Commission reviewed and unanimously approved the mitigation plan.

But Commission Chair Eric Cooley said there has been a lot of concern in the community about the development not acting as a “good neighbor.”

“I’m going to say this as a generality,” Cooley said. “Since the moment you’ve arrived, you have not followed the rules. And that’s not okay.”

The number of tree inches is calculated by taking the number of trees removed multiplied by the trees’ height and, separately, the number removed multiplied by the trees’ diameter, and adding

the two figures together.

The city’s land development code also allows a developer to pay a fee into a tree bank fund if it is “impossible or impractical” to replace trees, according to the meeting documents.

To that end, KB Homes will also pay $28,700, including an after-the-fact permit of $500, to the tree bank fund.

The trees planted will include 49 southern magnolias, 20 Eagleston hollies, live oaks, crape myrtles, bald cypresses, slash pines and a mix of different palm trees.

After the plan was approved, City Manager Dale Martin said the city has received several complaints from residents about the development’s drainage. The city also discovered that one subcontractor’s work is not up to code.

A KB Homes representative said the developer was working with the subcontractor and inspectors to resolve the code, drainage and other concerns.

DSC student Merrick Brunker, of Ormond-

BRIEFS

VMA celebrates Manufacturing Month in Volusia

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

A Daytona State College student majoring in elementary education is running for Volusia County School Board.

Merrick Brunker, of Ormond-by-the-Sea, filed to run to represent District 4 on the School Board on March 20. Brunker, who is 25, said he decided to run for office because he’s passionate about education and is concerned about the future of Volusia County Schools.

“I want to make sure my generation and the one in front of me is on track to succeed,” Brunker said. “The next generation needs protection and guidance, and it’s essential that I open my ears to the parents, children and taxpayers in this county.”

Brunker was born and raised in California and moved to Volusia County a couple years ago. His father, a retired adapted physical education teacher for over 20 years, played a role in inspiring Brunker to pursue a teaching career. It also got him interested in policy, and he said his age allows him to better relate to the students and young parents served by the district.

“Let’s give the young people a voice because they have every right in starting to make decisions for their future,” Brunker said. “We want a safer future. We want one that is inclusive. ... I want a more prosperous Volusia County.”

Courtesy photo Merrick Brunker, of Ormond-bythe-Sea, filed to run to represent District 4 on the School Board on March 20.

School safety and addressing the needs within exceptional student education are among the issues he’s most interested in.

When asked about addressing the nationwide issue of teacher shortages, Brunker said one approach would be to offer incentives, and those could come in the form of stipends for food or gas.

Brunker added that he is an advocate for parental rights in education and fighting against gender ideology and critical race theory.

“In this county, we should be focused on providing the students with a solid, traditional education rooted in the essentials — reading, writing and arithmetic,” Brunker said. “We need to return to a classical education model, and one of the first steps to doing that is denouncing and combating these perverse ideologies.”

Brunker is running against incumbent School Board member Carl Persis and former lobbyist Donna Brosemer, of Daytona Beach.

October is nationally designated as Manufacturing Month to recognize and promote the success of U.S. manufacturers in the global marketplace, and the Volusia Manufacturers Association will kick off the month by celebrating National Manufacturing Day on Oct. 6 with “We Make It Here!” Day.

Volusia and Flagler counties are home to over 500 manufacturing companies. Those companies employ over 12,000 people, pay an average annual wage of $61,354 and contribute over $1.3 billion to the gross domestic product, according to a press release.

Representatives from local manufacturers will speak at schools on “We Make it Here Day,” an initiative that will continue throughout the month.

ABB, an Ormond Beach maker of electrical connectors, will also display its products at the Ormond Beach Public Library during the month.

On Oct. 14, VMA will present the fourth annual Robot Brawl, a collaboration of students and manufacturers building robots together at Jackie Robinson Ballpark to compete in a battle for supremacy.

Then, on Oct. 19, CareerSource Flagler Volusia will host an interactive career showcase for local high school students at ERAU’s Mori Hosseini Student Union Event Center.

The VMA has worked since 1980 to inform the community about the diverse manufacturers in the region.

To get involved with VMA and engaged in the manufacturing community in our area, visit vmaonline.com.

Photo by Sierra Williams

The new Flagler Beach City Commission has been organized, with Commissioner Eric Cooley now serving as chair.

by-the-Sea, said he’s concerned about the future of Volusia County Schools.

YOUR NEIGHBORS Rein and Thunder

Mud and sheeting rain couldn’t deter cowboys, cowgirls and spectators from coming out to the Flagler County Pro Rodeo the weekend of Sept. 29.

Bronco riding, bull riding and barrel racing were among the rodeo events held at the Fla-

gler County Fairgrounds from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, and Saturday, Sept. 30. The event, the second Pro Rodeo held at the fairgrounds, was the final rodeo of the season for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. –OBSERVER STAFF

Dillon and Clay Green compete in team roping.

Parker Kempfer, of Deer Park, holds on tight during the bronco ride.

Young spectators chase calves with ribbons on their tails for prizes.

Treyson Antonick heads out of the gate in the bronco riding contest.

Paige Tibbets works to rope a calf.

Kaul Jackson Runfola works to hold the rope on his bronco.

Makayla Mack waits in the rain to return to the staging area.

Photos by Jake Montgomery

LOCAL EVENTS

FRIDAY, OCT. 6

10TH ANNUAL MAZE DAYZ

When: 5-10 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 6-29

Where: Cowart Ranch and Farms, 8185 State Route 100, Bunnell

Details: Cowart Ranch and Farms’ annual Maze Dayz are back. Get lost in the farm’s maze, enjoy a pumpkin patch and hayrides, buy local pro duce and participate in fun activities. Tickets cost $15. Children 2 and under are free. Visit MazeDays.com.

‘BLUE’ OPENING

ART RECEPTION

When: 5-7 p.m.

Where: Galerie Elan, 230 S. Beach St., Daytona Beach

Details: The Florida Women’s Arts Association’s latest exhibition, titled “Blue,” will run at Gallery Elan through Oct. 28.

PILGRIMS REST CEMETERY TOUR

When: 5:30 and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6-7

Where: Pilgrims Rest Cemetery, east of Nova Road on West Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach

Details: The Ormond Beach Historical Society will take you on a guided tour featuring a few saints and sinners buried at Pilgrims Rest. The evening will end with the firing of a Civil War cannon. Tickets cost $20 per adult. Children under 12 are free. Visit ormondhistory.org.

MOVIES ON THE HALIFAX/ COMMUNITY APPRECIATION

NIGHT

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Rockefeller Gardens, 26 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a showing of “Descendants.” Realty Pros will also host its annual Community Appreciation Night trunk-or-treat event. Movies are weather-sensitive. Call 386-6763216 for rainout information.

RAIN GUTTER REGATTA

When: 7 p.m.

Where: In front of Flagler Beach City Hall, 105 S. 2nd St., Flagler

Beach

Details: The 11th annual Rain Gutter Regatta boat race will be held as part of Flagler Beach’s First Friday celebration. Build your boat and battle the 3,048 millimeters of the rain gutter course. Open to all ages. Get your boat kit at City Hall in Flagler Beach. Call 386-517-2000.

SATURDAY, OCT. 7

PLAYING ON THE PORCHES: A FAMILYFRIENDLY CELEBRATION OF HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS

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

Where: Barberville Pioneer Settlement, 1776 Lightfoot Lane, Barberville

Details: Attend this celebration featuring live music performances, storytelling, living history demonstrations, trick-ortreating and more. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets cost $25 for a one-day family pass (two adults with children or grandchildren 18 and under); $10 for general admission; $9 for seniors, veterans and groups of five or more; $4 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. Visit pioneersettlement.org.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11

AARP MEETING 10 a.m.

Where: Unitarian Church, 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

ROSSMEYER RIDE FOR CHILDREN

When: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where: Destination Daytona, 1637 N. US 1, Ormond Beach

Details: Take part in this annual ride to fundraise for Camp Boggy Creek. Motorcyclists will be escorted by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office from Destination Daytona to Camp Boggy Creek, which provides camps for children with serious illnesses at no cost. Registration required. Visit hypersphere-snail-dtbd. squarespace.com.

PINK ON PARADE 5K

RUN/WALK

When: 7:45 a.m.

Where: Advent Health Palm Coast, 60 Memorial Medical Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: Help raise money for breast cancer awareness, education and screening. All of the proceeds from this event will go to supporting mammograms, breast ultrasounds, stereotactic breast biopsies, education and other specific diagnostic services to aid in the early detection of breast cancer. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. Costs $40. Visit runsignup.com/ Race/FL/PalmCoast/pink5k.

POTTERY CLASSES

When: 10 a.m. to noon

Where: Pineapple Art Gallery, 208 S. Central Ave., Flagler Beach

Details: Pineapple Art Gallery is hosting a series of pottery classes for all skill levels. Learn about pinch pots, terra sigillata and smudge firing. Classes will be held Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28. Costs $145. Sign up in person, call Don Davis at 386-241-2815 or email Audrey Scherr at audrey.scherr@ gmail.com.

18TH ANNUAL CREEKSIDE FESTIVAL

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Princess Place Preserve, 2500 Princess Place Road, Palm Coast

Details: Enjoy bluegrass and country music, arts and crafts, food and family fun at this annual festi val. Presented by Flagler Broadcasting. Tickets cost $10 per adult. Kids 12 and under are free.

ART WALK

When: 3-7 p.m.

HOOK, LINE AND SINKER

COMEDY NIGHT

When: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6 and Saturday, Oct. 7

Where: VFW Riders Post 8696, 47 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast

Details: Hookin’ Veterans will host two comedy nights featuring comedians Bobby Henline and Adam Keys. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $45. Contact hookinveterans@gmail.com.

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

LOWCOST PET SHOT CLINIC

When:

9-10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and 2:30-4 p.m. (three locations)

Where: Ice House Saloon, 810 State St., Bunnell; Cuddle Pet Grooming, 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Unit A111, Palm Coast; and Astro Skate, 251 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach.

Details: Get your pet vaccinated at a lower cost. Rabies shots will cost $5 for 1-year vaccinations. Other shots offered include dog distemper/ parvo combo, dog flu, cat distemper combo, feline leukemia and more. Heartworm prevention and flea control products will be available for purchase. All vaccinations are administered with a licensed veterinarian. No appointment needed. The first clinic is at Ice House Saloon, the second at Cuddle Pet Grooming and the third time slot is at Astro Skate. Clinic is open to everyone. Proceeds benefit abused animals. Call or text 386-748-8993 or visit spcavolusia. org.

DAYTONA SOLISTI’S ‘BEETHOVENFEST’

When: 3:30 p.m.

Where: Lighthouse Christ Presbyterian Church, 1035 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: The Daytona Solisti Chamber Orchestra presents “Beethovenfest,” an all-Beethoven concert to be performed by the Rickman-Acree-Corporon Piano Trio. A $20 donation is requested at the door. For more information, call 386562-5423 or go online at daytonasolisti.com.

Details: The meeting’s guest speaker will be Laura LaBeure, education and outreach coordinator for the St. Johns River Water Management District. Public is invited. An optional $5 light lunch will follow. For more information, call Jeff Boyle at 386341-9013.

PROBUS CLUB OF PALM COAST

MEETING

When: 11 a.m. to noon

Where: Social Club of Palm Coast, 51 N. Old Kings Road

Details: Probus Club, a social club for retired and semi-retired men and women, meets monthly with a guest speaker and other activities throughout the month.

This month’s speaker is Amelia Fulmer, director of the Flagler Auditorium. All are welcome to attend and explore the benefits of joining Probus, a social club that is a nonprofit, non-fundraising, non-political, local organization that is worldwide with 4,200 clubs in 26 countries.

The Probus Club of Palm Coast is twinned with a club in New Zealand. For information, contact Larry Wright at palmcoastprobusclub@gmail. com or 386-597-3055.

5900 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., Palm

Coast Details: Attend the 10th annual iFish Flagler in-shore tournament. Early registration costs $100 per angler; $50 per child 4-12. Visit iFishFlagler. com.

RIDE FOR RECOVERY

When: 9:30 a.m.

Where: Texas Roadhouse, 1298

Palm Coast Parkway SW, Palm Coast

Details: The Flagler County Drug Court Foundation will host its fall Ride for Recovery fundraiser to benefit individuals recovering from substance abuse. There will be a pig roast, ax throwing, paintball and a vendor fair Check-in for the two-hour ride begins at 8:30 a.m. at Texas Roadhouse. The ride will end at 2K Ranch in Bunnell. Ride costs $30 per driver and $15 per passenger. Contact Michael Feldbauer at 401-864-6997 or via email at

When: Friday to Sunday, Oct. 6-8. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday shows start at 2 p.m.

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

Details: The romantic and comic exploits of Dolly Gallagher-Levi, turn-of-the-century matchmaker, will thrill and entertain you in “Hello, Dolly!”, a musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder’s hit play “The Matchmaker.” The show features some of musical theater’s greatest songs. Buy tickets at flaglerplayhouse.org/hello-dolly.

IMAGINE 2050 KICKOFF EVENT

When: 4-7 p.m.

Where: Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway,

Palm Coast

Details: The Palm Coast city government is launching “Imagine 2050,” a comprehensive plan update that invites residents to have a direct hand in the destiny of Palm Coast. Head to the public engagement kickoff meeting to share your ideas for the city’s future.

FRIDAY, OCT. 13

VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOLS

STUDENT EXHIBITION ARTIST RECEPTION

When: 6-8 p.m.

Where: Gallery500, 1870 Victory Circle, Daytona Beach

Details: See art created by Volusia students during the opening reception. The gallery is also open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays from 12-8 p.m.

MOVIES IN THE PARK

When: 7:15-9:15 p.m.

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

Details: Bring your blanket, lawn chairs, picnic baskets and watch “Men in Black,” rated PG-13, at Central Park. This event is presented by Palm Coast Parks and Recreation.

SATURDAY, OCT. 14

IFISH FLAGLER

When: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Bings Landing County Park,

MOMS OF PRE SCHOOLERS

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

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

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

EXERCISES FOR THE MATURING

BODY

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

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

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

MOAS EXHIBITIONS

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

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

Details: Want to spend a day looking at fine art? The Museum of Arts and Sciences has the following show on display: “Visions of Visionaries: Beaux Arts of Central Florida.”

Send your events to Jarleene Almenas at Jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com.

Realty Pros will host its annual Community Appreciation Night trunk-or-treat event on Oct. 6. File photo by Kristal DiSantis

Courtesy photo Scotty Jr. Cornelius holds up a fish he caught at the 2022 iFish tournament.

THE FINE ARTS

UPHILL CLIMB

As an artist, Tracy Lupanow said, she desires that her paintings connect with viewers on an intimate level — to bring forth emotions evoked from old memories, strong feelings and lived experiences.

“As an abstract artist who paints intuitively, I tap into feelings and situations to create my paintings,” Lupanow said in a statement to the Observer. “For this piece, my inspiration came from the emotions people experience when in a ‘blue state of mind’ and the often daunting task of emerging from that sadness to find a brighter, happier place.”

Lupanow discovered she had a talent for art when she was 10 years old, according to her bio. As an adult, she developed her artistic skills by taking college art classes and studying watercolor painting. But while she enjoyed painting florals and landscapes in watercolor, she

wanted to try something new.

Abstraction called to her.

“I discovered at a workshop in Sedona that painting intuitively and abstractly gave me the opportunity to paint what I was feeling with no image in mind,” Lupanow said in her bio. “That made my heart happy! My abstract journey began about seven years ago, and I know will continue for many years to come!”

In addition to showcasing her art in galleries, her art is also held in several private collections throughout the United States, according to her bio.

The Ormond Beach artist is among those Florida Women’s Arts Association members whose work will be on display at Galerie Elan at 230 S. Beach St. from Oct. 6-28.

The opening reception for the exhibition, titled “Blue,” will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6.

–JARLEENE ALMENAS

Stuck in the

“We felt like playing him tonight would put him at risk for the rest of the season, and we just weren't willing to do that.”

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ast year, Chase Magee kicked a field goal as time expired to give Flagler Palm Coast a 20-17 victory over Ponte Vedra. On Friday, Sept. 29, Magee was kept busy punting the ball as the Sharks throttled the injury-depleted Bulldogs 31-0 on a muddy and rain-soaked Sal Campanella Memorial Stadium field.

“It was a tough night for us,” FPC coach Daniel Fish said. “We’re banged up all over the place. We’re down five defensive linemen now. But we’ve got no excuses. Ponte Vedra is a great football team. They came out and they wanted it more. They were physical, they executed

better, and it was their night. It wasn’t our night.”

The Sharks (4-1) scored on their first two possessions and never looked back to win the District 4-4S opener.

“It definitely gives us a leg up,” Ponte Vedra coach Steve Price said. “It’s just like last year. They beat us and it gave them the leg up on the district championship.”

The Bulldogs (2-3) were playing without leading rusher Marcus Mitchell and several other injured players and lost three more players to injuries during the game.

“We lost another (defensive) lineman, and we lost a linebacker and a running back,” Fish said. “It’s unfortunate. With the field conditions and the weather, you know, injuries are going to happen. That’s not an excuse as to why we lost, but you can expect some injuries when you have these type of conditions. Unfortunately, we got it pretty bad.”

Mitchell, who rushed for 671 yards during the Bulldogs’ first four games, had a sore hamstring. The junior was dressed, but FPC’s coaches did not want to take a chance playing him in the mud.

“We felt like playing him tonight would put him at risk for the rest of the season, and we just weren’t willing to do that,” Fish said. “We love these kids and we’re not going to risk their futures or the rest of their season or even their careers to play when they’re not healthy enough to play.”

Price said the Sharks were expecting to see Mitchell, who has averaged about 24 carries a game and 7.3 yards per carry.

“It was surprising that he wasn’t there, but I hope he gets healthy and I hope they have a good season,” Price said.

Fish said Mitchell will be day-today heading into FPC’s Oct. 6 game at Eau Gallie, the state’s seventhranked team in Class 3S.

“We’ll try to get him some rest. We’ll try to get him some rehab and we’ll see where he’s at,” Fish said. “It hurt not to have him, but I would make the decision 100 times over. It’s just not worth risking him for the rest of the year or for even longer than that.”

Ponte Vedra running back Brian Case ran for two touchdowns, and quarterback Ben Burk threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score. Evan Redmond added a 38-yard field goal. “They are very well coached and they have a lot of talent,” Fish said. “Our youth showed. We had some guys playing in spots they’re not used to playing. (The Sharks) figured out where we were lacking some of our usual starters, and they took advantage. That’s what good coaches do. They had a good game plan, and they attacked us where we were weak.”

The Bulldogs have five games remaining and still have a chance to earn a playoff berth, Fish said.

“We’re going into the second half the season. We got plenty of games to get it done,” Fish said. “We got plenty of time to learn and get better, and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re not going to hang our heads. We’re just going to go back to the drawing board and get better. We got some big games ahead that can help us gain a lot of ground moving forward.”

Ponte Vedra topples Flagler Palm Coast on drenched and muddy field.

Defensive end Colby Cronk (34) brings down Sharks quarterback Ben Burk.

Bulldogs quarterback Caden Gozalez (13) dodges Ponte Vedra’s JP Dolan in the third quarter.

Bulldogs Kavi Tulsian (22) and Tyrion Smith (11) tackle Sharks running back Joseph Stephens in the first quarter.

Bulldogs tight end Roman Caliendo (81) fights for a first down early in the second half against the Ponte Vedra Sharks.

Bennie Garnett (42) was one of three running backs to carry the ball for the Bulldogs.

DANIEL FISH, FPC football coach on not playing running back Marcus Mitchell

Photos by Christine Rodenbaugh

Mainland, Flagler Palm Coast get swim meet in on a rainy day

The Bulldogs hosted their second and final meet of the season; both teams will compete in the Five Star Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 7.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Palm Coast swim coaches were happy to get in their home meet against Mainland on a rainy Wednesday, Sept. 27.

“We weren’t showing thunder and lightning activity, so we lucked out,” said FPC boys coach Tom Gillin.

FPC’s boys defeated Mainland 134-24, while the FPC girls defeated the Bucs 100-29.

The Bulldogs will close the regular season with their annual combined senior-day meet with Matanzas on Oct. 11 at the Palm Coast Aquatics Center.

FPC girls coach Rebecca Smith said the Bulldogs’ times are currently unofficial because they have been using stopwatches, but the Five Star meet will use touchpads, so those times will be official.

Smith said the Bulldogs’ girls team has been working hard and getting stronger. Smith said freshman Emma Gilbert, currently the team’s fastest breaststroker, has been displaying her versatility in the pool, both in her strokes and her sports. After swim practice, she remains at the pool for Synchro Belles practice.

“She swims the breaststroke in our “A” medley relay,” Smith said. “But I see her really growing in the 200 (individual medley).”

BULLDOG CHALLENGE

The FPC swim teams held their annual Bulldog Challenge earlier this season. Each swimmer had a goal of

swimming consecutive 100-yard freestyle sprints without breaks.

Two swimmers reached the maximum goal of 100 consecutive 100s, which comes to a total of 10,000 yards in 400 laps in the 25-lap Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club pool.

For the boys, junior Loris Eloyan swam a hundred 100s with an average time of 1 minute, 35 seconds for each 100-yard split. For the girls, senior Malina Hreib also swam a hundred 100s with an average time of 1:40.

Other swimmers swam 60, 70 or 80 100-yard sprints.

“We had 13 swimmers attempt the challenge, and all of them reached their goal,” Smith said.

FPC junior Meghan Hetzler swims the 100 backstroke.

FPC freshman Emma Gilbert swims the breaststroke.

Mainland’s Lorelei Shoaf swims the 100 butterfly.

FPC sophomore Matilda Noble reaches for the wall in the 100-yard butterfly.

FPC juniors James Payne and Loris Eolyan battle for first place in the 100-yard breaststroke.

FPC freshman Miles Diamond

FPC senior Alexandra Pitts swims the 100 butterfly.

Mainland’s Mateo Castillo swims the 500 freestyle.

Photos by Jake Montgomery

Cross Country runners have fun in the mud at Run Matanzas

The Matanzas High School girls placed second, with four runners finishing in the top 20.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The runners were slipping and sliding through the mud. They were enjoying every minute of it.

After several days of rain, the Matanzas High School’s cross country course was a mess for the Pirates’ annual Run Matanzas meet on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Immediately after the girls and boys high school races, the skies opened again. But at least it wasn’t hot, the runners said.

“There was a bunch of water and pits of mud everywhere,”

Mainland’s Kiera Williams said. “But a good breeze came out of nowhere, and it kind of dried you off.”

Matanzas sophomore Blaine Vogel, who placed sixth in the boys 5-kilometer race, said it was fun.

“It was the first race I had

TOP TEAMS

GIRLS

1. The Masters’ Academy 32

2. Matanzas 62

3. University 139

4. Oakleaf 141

5. New Smyrna Beach 156

6. DeLand 163

7. Father Lopez 176

8. Mainland 184

BOYS

1. New Smyrna Beach 84

2. DeLand 92

3. Oakleaf 126

4. Matanzas 139

5. Keystone Heights 168

11. Father Lopez 239

15. First Baptist 434

in a long time where I could get wet and muddy,” he said. “If you come out of a race muddy, you’re happy because it means you had a fun time getting dirty.”

The times were slow, but that was expected.

“I wasn’t stressing about the mud,” Matanzas senior Sierra Howard said. “I went in with the mindset that I’m just going to have fun.”

Howard finished fourth in the girls race with a time of 21 minutes, 43.39 seconds to help the Pirates place second behind The Master’s Academy. Four Matanzas runners finished among the top 20, with Nina Rodriguez placing eighth in 22:00.25, Chloe Irving 11th in 22:15.99 and Lupita Galeano 18th with a time of 23:11.59.

Irving finished less than a second behind 10th-place Morgan Wade of Oakleaf, who crossed the finish at 22:15.13.

Ava Wyant of The Master’s Academy won the girls race by 35 seconds with a time of 20:42.48. University’s Hannah Judge (21:13.37) and Morgan Harville (21:35.39) placed second and third.

“Maybe half the race I was right behind (the leaders),” Howard said. “Then we started spreading out a little more. A lot of the race it was me and Nina going back and forth.”

Mainland’s Williams placed 22nd with a time of 23:31.74. She said the Bucs’ plan was for each runner to run with a New Smyrna Beach runner, as it is the only team at the meet that will also be at their district meet. Williams and teammate

Taliyah Nixon (27th, 23:53.98) finished ahead of New Smyrna’s top two runners. New Smyrna Beach won

the boys title, with Matanzas placing fourth. Troy Winkler of Baker County took home the first-place medal with a time of 17:18.06. NSB’s Sam McDuffie was second in 17:47.69, just ahead of Ormond Beach’s Matthew Gazzoli of Father Lopez, who was third in 17:48.44.

Carlos Cerrud of Deltona (17:49.84) placed fourth; Felipe Paredes of Father Lopez (17:50.63) was fifth.

The Pirates had two top-10 runners, with Vogel (18:13.26)

placing sixth and Christian Norfolk (18:26.67) finishing ninth. First Baptist’s Chris Murdock was 15th with a time of 18:56.61. There were 19 teams and 203 runners competing in the boys race, while the girls race had 12 teams and 141 runners. Matanzas seniors Howard, Rodriguez and Irving said the meet meant a lot to them.

“We will be hosting the region meet, but this was our last fun meet at home,” Howard said.

Matanzas High School seniors Chloe Irving (11th place), Nina Rodriguez (eighth place) and Sierra Howard (fourth place) led the Pirates to a runner-up finish in the girls 5-kilometer race at Run Matanzas on Sept. 30.

Junior Kiera Williams led Mainland with a 22nd-place finish.

SIDELINES

Mainland quarterback D.J. Murray ran for two touchdowns and added a 10-yard touchdown pass to Marquis McCants. Corey Hill scored on a 45-yard run for the Bucs.

PIRATES IMPROVE TO 4-2

Playing in its second football game in four days, Matanzas roughed up host Deltona 42-13 on Monday, Oct. 2. The game had been postponed from Sept. 8 because of unplayable field conditions. The Pirates (4-2) were coming off a 49-9 loss at Class 3S, third-ranked St. Augustine on Friday, Sept. 29, in their district opener. Quarterback Dakwon Evans ran for two touchdowns and threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Mills in the win against Deltona (0-5). Cole Hash scored on a 64-yard run, and Zach Furey added two short touchdown runs in the third quarter. Matanzas is off this week, then hosts Gainesville on Oct. 13 in their first of three straight district games. The Pirates host Clay on Oct. 20 and travel to Menendez Oct. 27. Deltona, which had lost to Seabreeze 54-30 on Sept. 28, is in the middle of a stretch of four games in 15 days. The Wolves host DeLand on Oct. 6 visit Mainland on Oct. 12.

BUCS TROUNCE PINE RIDGE

Mainland, the top-ranked football team in Class 3S, improved to 6-0 with a 45-0 victory against Pine Ridge on Sept. 29. It was the Bucs’ third shutout of the season.

PRE-STATE: FPC RUNNERS SOLID

Last weekend’s FSU Invitational/Pre-State cross country meet at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee gave runners a preview of the state championship course. Flagler Palm Coast’s girls team had a solid meet with a fourth-place among 31 teams in the Girls Select Race. Spruce Creek juniors Mackenzie (19:00.3) and Arianna Roy (19:13.5) placed first and second in the race. Arianna Slaughter led FPC with a time of 20:27.5 for a 28th-place in the competitive race. FPC’s other top runners were Cassidy De Young (32nd, 20:36.0), Taylor Novak (52nd, 21:17.2), Madison Lagarde (53rd, 21:18.6) and Isabella Tarsitano (109th, 22:22.3).

FPC’s boys finished seventh among 38 teams in the Boys Select Race. Braedyn Wormeck ran a 16:41.5 to finish 26th. Hayden Herndon was 76th with a 17:24.9, while Jack Gilvary was 112th with a 17:42.1 and Evan Williams was 133rd with a 17:55.8.

Seabreeze placed seventh in the Boys Varsity B Race with Hunter Shuler plaing seventh with a 18:01.3. In

the Girls Varsity B Race, Seabreeze’s Riley Hale placed 19th with a time of 22:39 to help the Sandcrabs to a 12thplace team finish.

SEABREEZE BOWLERS WIN

Seabreeze’s boys bowling team improved won a tight 4-3 win over Spruce Creek on Sept. 27.

The Sandcrabs won both individual games, the second by six pins (806 to 800) with Leiten Lundell leading the way with a 245. The Hawks won the Baker points and total pins by seven (2,167 to 2,160).

The Sandcrabs won another tight 4-3 match against Matanzas on Oct. 2 to improve to 9-1, winning the two individual games by a total of six pins.

The Seabreeze girls, meanwhile, improved to 10-0 and have won 68 out of a possible 70 points.

PIRATES BREAK SWIM RECORDS

Matanzas swimmers broke two school records recently. Teddy Vanderbilt broke the record in the boys 100-yard butterfly with a time of 56.55 seconds, and Vanderbilt, Keaton Lasicki, Sam Peters and Leo Peters vbroke the record in the 100 medley relay with a time of 1:49.94.

WILDCATS HAVE 6-0 RECORD

The North Florida Wildcats’ 8-and-under tackle football team has started the season with a 6-0 record with six straight shutouts. The Wildcats have outscored their opponents 200 to 0 in the Central Florida Youth Football League. The team is coached by North Florida Wildcats President Durrell Preston. Have sports news? Email Brent Woronoff at brent@ observerlocalnews.com

Photo by Brent Woronoff Pirates quarterback Dakwan Evans.

File photo by Brent Woronoff

FPC’s Braedyn Wormeck

Photos by Brent Woronoff

Matanzas’ Blaine Vogel and Christian Norfolk finished sixth and ninth.

Matanzas’ Chloe Irving, who placed 11th, runs behind Oakleaf’s Morgan Wade and Keystone Heights’ Olivia Griffin down the stretch.

REAL ESTATE

House in Whispering Oaks tops sales list in Flagler

Ahouse in Whispering Oaks was the top real estate transaction for Aug. 17-23 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. Scott Jackson, of Palm Coast, sold 8 Weldon Way to Ashley Ayres Senese and Frank Senese, of Palm Coast, for $1,250,000. Built in 1990, the house is a 4/4 and has a dock and 3,987 square feet of living space. The home sold in 2014 for $340,000.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER BUNNELL

Daytona North

Dennis and Betty Allen, of Palm Coast, sold 2403 Water Oak Road to Kolton and Tiffany Shamp, of Bunnell, for $100,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 3/1 and has 1,132 square feet. It sold in 2006 for $163,600.

Grand Reserve and Golf Club

Matthew Peter Batcho, of St. Augustine, sold 17 Grand View Drive to James Terrell Harper, as trustee, for $337,000. Built in 2022, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,779 square feet. It sold in 2023 for $312,900.

Elwood Everette Jr. Rees and Nancy Rees, of Bunnell, sold 685 Grand Reserve Drive to Allen and Cheryl Smith, of Port Saint Lucie, for $350,000. Built in 2021, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,698 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $277,900.

Condos

Arleen Kuzniar, as trustee, sold 43 Hembury Lane to David Micheal Elias and Christina Marie Elias, of Palm Coast, for $235,000. Built in 1988, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,338 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $123,000.

Debra and Mark Sellers, of Ames, Iowa, sold 3580 South Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 801, to William Preston Smithson and Sandra Rhodes Wallis, of Jarrettsville, Maryland, for $325,000. Built in 1982, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,121 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $214,000.

Gregory and Lynn Norman, of Flagler Beach, sold 3580 South Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 809, to Patricia and Richard Cassel, as trustees, for $495,000. Built in 1982, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,358 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $280,000.

Frank Patrick Glowczewskie and Marilyn Glowczewskie, of Palm Coast, sold 200 Bella Harobor Court, Unit 104, to Craig and Nancy Wiggin, of Meredith, New Hampshire, for $325,000. Built in 2006, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,745 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $280,000.

Patricia and Richard Cassel, as trustees, sold 3600 South Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 514, to Melissa Mason, of Flagler Beach, for $245,000. Built in 1984, the condo is a 1/1 and has 654 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $225,000.

Joseph Dobbs Jr. and Sandra Dobbs, of Marietta, Georgia, sold 700 Canopy Walk Lane, Unit 733, to

Daria Romanov, of Palm Coast, for $389,000. Built in 2004, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,238 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $347,000.

Marion Forest, of Palm Coast, sold 50 Club House Drive, Unit 202, to Jeanne and Kenneth Seybold, of Palm Coast, for $160,000. Built in 1977, the condo is a 1/1 and has 665 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $145,000.

FLAGLER BEACH

Fairchild Oaks

John and Laureen Neff, of Flagler Beach, sold 4 St. Charles Place to Kristen and Scott Drabczyk, of Flagler Beach, for $655,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 5/2.5 and has a pool and 2,908 square feet.

Palma Vista John and Courtney Davis, of Flagler Beach, sold 334 11th Street N. to Terry and Diane Wilcox, of Sanford, for $635,000. Built in 1975, the house is a 3/3 and has a fireplace, a boat dock and 1,470 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $425,000.

PALM COAST

Bayside

Elizabeth Anne Camacho, of Palm Coast, sold 25 Barbera Lane to Michael William McEachin and Angelea Marie McEachin, of Palm Coast, for $280,000. Built in 1992, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,315 square feet. It sold in 1992 for $74,600.

Bernard Meadows

Patricia Proulx, as trustee, sold 7 Blackfoot Court to Arun Kumar, of Farmington, Connecticut, for $350,000. Built in 1989, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,343 square feet. It sold in 1989 for $113,600.

Country Club Cove

Slava Shmelev and Olga Shmeleva, of Palm Coast, sold 12 Crossway Court W. to Diane Menken Dymond, Brent Michael Berry and Amanda Love Berry, as trustees, for $925,000. Built in 1995, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, a fireplace, a boat dock and 2,265 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $735,000.

Fairways Tom and Stephanie Fisher, of Palm Coast, sold 91 Lake Success Drive to Brett Thomas Blank and Constance Frances Blank, of Palm Coast, for $415,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 4/2.5 and has a pool and 1,793 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $245,500.

Hammock Beach Volusia Residential Construction, LLC, of Daytona Beach, sold 628 Mahogany Run to Brian Gilbertson and Meredith Anne Frick, of Palm Coast, for $785,933. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/3 and has an outdoor kitchen and 2,256 square feet.

Matanzas Lakes

Seagate Homes, LLC, of Palm Coast, sold 6 Tideway Trail to Jackie Bucci, as trustee, for $415,900. Built in 2023, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,905 square feet.

Matanzas Woods Daniela Tomescu, managing member of Guardian Property Investments, LLC, of Weddington, North Carolina, sold 72 Lema Lane to Brock and Mary Nicholson, of Palm Coast, for $590,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 4/3 and has a pool, a fireplace and 3,034 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $426,000.

Palm Harbor Florida Sun Partners II, LLC, of Orlando, sold 3 Flanders Lane to Michael Houk, II and Kristina Uzun, of Palm Coast, for $469,900. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,306 square feet.

Brite Properties of Florida, LLC, of Orlando, sold 40 Frederick Lane to Lyndon and Nancy Scott, of Palm Coast, for $489,900. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,306 square feet.

Pine Grove Founders Capital LLC, of Orlando, sold 8 Powder Horn Drive to Joseph Gerald Yuzzi and Gina Ann Dondona, of Palm Coast, for $449,900. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,306 square feet.

Pine Lakes Lorene Roberts, of Amityville, New York, sold 5 Westglen Place to

Matthew and Patricia Ryle, of Palm Coast, for $360,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,744 square feet. It sold in 1998 for $20,300.

Rose Morris Wallace, of Melbourne, sold 78 Westchester Lane to James Paterno, of Palm Coast, for $358,000. Built in 1988, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,313 square feet.

John and Victoria D’Amico, of Woodstock, Georgia, sold 35 Westrobin Lane to Kisle and Dale Lynn, of Palm Coast, for $410,100. Built in 1985, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,448 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $210,500.

Joseph Sweeney, of Deltona, sold 25 Westcliffe Lane to Sergey and Liliya Zatirka, of Staten Island, New York, for $420,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, a hot tub and 1,914 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $256,000.

Sawmill Branch D.R. Horton, Inc., of St. Johns, sold 7 Summerwood Road South to Nicolas Ortiz Perez and Stephanny Cardenas, of Palm Coast, for $304,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,698 square feet. D.R. Horton, Inc., of St. Johns, sold 22 Summerwood Road South to Henry Lee Reddick, of Palm Coast, for $311,100. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,698 square feet.

Seminole Woods Adams Homes of Northwest Florida, Inc., of Pensacola, sold 42 Sea Front Trail to Christopher Michael Holley and Lauren Kristie Holley, of Palm Coast, for $423,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,265 square feet.

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

celebrity cipher

By Luis Campos

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

“R ... SJV ST DCS YZ IFBA ZECCH YZ HTZZRWEC. ... OCKCJ ZXRH TO ZECCH; RS’Z BJYNV RIHTJSYOS.”

ZRODCJ WJRSSYOV ATLYJG

Puzzle

“IDLGSZLGI ZS’I HGSSGE SD HG BDUSGUS YZSR YRTS JDN RTWG ETSRGE

SRTU XDMMDY T PEGTL YRZBR UGTEMJ VZMMI JDN.” KMTSTU ZHETRZLDWZB

“OROUEYGWHD EXZ PX WH YGO HNLO XT YGO OHRWUXHLOHY HXY XHSE

KNROK EXZU GONSYG, WY KNROK EXZU KXZS.” NSWVWN KWSROUKYXHO

sudoku

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

“Power” and “Gator”

112 ___-Ball (arcade classic)

115 School commencement?

116 Language of Southeast Asia

117 High-end Canon offering (Abbr.)

A DYING ART by Jeff Chen, edited by Jeff Chen

REAL ESTATE

House in Breakaway Trails tops sales list in Ormond

Ahouse in Breakaway Trails was the top real estate transaction for Aug. 20-26 in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea. Wanda Deborah Murray and Andrew Richard Rossi, of Ormond Beach, sold 59 Shadowcreek Way to Devin Michael Abad and Sarah Vinceza Abad, of Ormond Beach, for $675,000. Built in 1989, the house is a 4/2.5 and has a fireplace and 3,227 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $415,000.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Condos

Robert Alan Rosenberg, as trustee, sold 1 John Anderson Drive, Unit 2080, to Barbara Rhees, of Ormond Beach, for $360,000. Built in 1996, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,428 square feet. It sold in 2009 for $160,000.

Mattaus Atkinson and Hope Fogarty, of Daytona beach, sold 3370 Ocean Shore Blvd, Unit 105B, to Linda and Brittany Boardman, of Palm Coast, for $200,000. Built in 1987, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,275 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $148,000.

Keith Pratt, of Ormond Beach, sold 210 Lemon Tree Lane, Unit 210H, to Joshua Morgan, Kaylee Morgan, Joel Roodvoets and Ellen Roodvoets, of Ormond Beach, for $235,900. Built in 1984, the condo is a 2/2.5 and has 1,286 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $137,500.

ORMOND BEACH

Charleston Square

Michael and Stacy Barnes, of Ormond Beach, sold 40 Charleston Square to Amber Harrell and Cory Ruettgers, of Ormond Beach, for

$366,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, a pool and 1,680 square feet. It sold in 2002 for $81,000.

Daytona Pines Alan Dixon, of Ormond Beach, sold 1108 Avenue I to Enna Avila, of Ocala, for $142,000. Built in 1990, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,012 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $85,000.

Daytona Shores Viktorr Pacal, of Ormond Beach, sold 719 East River Oak Drive to Brandon Harrison and Courtney Elizabeth Harrison, of Ormond Beach, for $350,000. Built in 1976, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,591 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $217,000.

Halifax Plantation Clifford Stern and Barbara Kreisberg, of Boca Raton, sold 1467 Carlow Circle to Jay McGowan, of Ormond Beach, for $339,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,658 square feet. It sold in 2004 for $213,000.

D.R. Horton Inc., of Orlando, sold 2788 Fermoy Drive to Daniel Alexander Mock, of Ormond Beach, for $396,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,828 square feet.

Hunters Ridge James and Lori Luton, of Palm Coast, sold 17 Abacus Ave. to Jason and Dao Hefner, of Ormond Beach, for $435,000. Built in 2016, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,340 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $384,000.

Lakes of Pine Run

Clay and Elaine Kisamore, of Ormond Beach, sold 306 Sawmill Creek Court to Waldo Jones, Jr., Helen Jones, Lee Baylor and Joseph Baylor, of Ormond Beach, for $325,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,365 square feet. It sold in 2023 for $340,000.

Laurel Oaks

Amber Harrell, of Ormond Beach, sold 37 Laurel Oaks Circle to Joseph and Larissa Schaaf, of North Ridgeville, Ohio, for $300,000. Built in 1983, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,189 square feet. It sold in 2011 for $90,000.

Misners Branch

Anthony and Olympia Eagan, of Wake Forest, North Carolina, sold 49 Misners Trail to Phoebe Ploucha, of Ormond Beach, for $320,000. Built in 1988, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,806 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $189,000.

Not in a subdivision Richard and Anchalee Santiago, of Ormond Beach, sold 1211 1/2

Arroyo Parkway to Diana Ogawa, of Ormond Beach, for $230,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,631 square feet. It sold in 2012 for $80,000.

Oak Forest Christopher Alexander, of Ormond Beach, and Jennifer Backlund, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, sold 1552 Poplar Drive to Pamela Burdick, of Ormond Beach, for $390,000. Built in 1981, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,932 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $299,900.

Ormond Terrace

Travis Lightfoot, of Ormond Beach, sold 94 Hernandez Ave. to Matthew and Tammy Gramlich, of Ormond Beach, for $300,000. Built in 1955, the house is a 3/1 and has 1,260 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $66,700.

Racquet Club Villas

Edna Weeks, of Ormond Beach, sold 4 Timberline Trail A to 1504 Virgina Avenue, #202, LLC, of Ormond Beach, for $180,000. Built in 1977, the house is a 1/1.5 and has 1,260 square feet. It sold in 2014 for $64,000.

Tomoka Estates

Ronald Commo Jr. and Deborah Commo, of Schertz, Texas, sold 1127 Roberts Street to Laurene and

Cynthia Patterson, as trustees, for $350,000. Built in 1991, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,598 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $215,000.

The Trails South Forty Edna Mims, as trustee, sold 87 Ox Bow Trail to Sally Hoffmann, of Manahawkin, New Jersey, for $324,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,606 square feet.

Village of Pine Run

Lawrence and Bonnie Edson, of Ormond Beach, sold 43 Village Drive to Richard and Anchalee Santiago, of Ormond Beach, for $615,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 5/3.5 and has a pool, an in-law suite and 3,242 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $477,000.

ORMOND BY THE SEA

Ocean Shores

Janet Wolff, of Jacksonville, sold 15 Hibiscus Drive to Matthew Paul McCoy and Tracey McCoy, of Ormond Beach, for $362,500. Built in 1953, the house is a 2/2 and has 910 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $245,000.

River Breeze Estates

William and Michele Tebbenhoff, of Ormond Beach, sold 1256 Riverbreeze Blvd. to Anthony Antoniades, of Ormond Beach, for $360,000. Built in 1958, the house is a 2/1 and has 1,019 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $193,000.

Roberta Heights

Kevin and Cheryl Gray, of Ormond Beach, sold 162 Roberta Road to Lisa Long, of Ormond Beach, for $350,000. Built in 1954, the house is a 2/1.5 and has 1,053 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $261,000.

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

Beautiful 3 bed/2 bath home with new carpet in bedrooms, updated bathrooms and features throughout the home. High ceiling throughout and an extra bonus room that can be a 4th bedroom, exercise room, office, extra dining or living space. Includes access to private lake in the back of the property.

MLS#1114156 $420,000

Call Natalie Wilds 813-394-3841.

AQUA VISTA CIRCLES

Highly upgraded & updated home steps to the river and deeded beach access (brand new beach walkover, car free beach!). Lovingly cared for, this large 2 bedroom & 2 bath offering boasts a NEW ROOF,AC, & paint, open floor plan with newer kitchen, upgraded baths, new windows, flooring, and garage door.

MLS#1114280 $444,999

Call Todd Hammond 386-233-5957.

TAMPA

MOTIVATED SELLER! Use this property as a primary, short term, or AirBNB. Prime Investment opportunity awaits! 2 Units on nearly 3/4 of an acre near the river. The front house is a 2/2 and the back house is a 2 car garage with a 1/1 apartment upstairs, with peek-a-boo views of the river.

MLS#1113860 $484,900

Call Cheryl Gray 386-316-7808.

HOMES ARE SELLING FAST! WE NEED MORE LISTINGS TO SELL!

Photo courtesy of Doug Gernert/RE/MAX

AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or de

mands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE,

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CIRCUIT CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO.: 2019 CA 000222 THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWALT, INC. ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2006-OA18, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-OA18 Plaintiff(s), vs. DMITRI LOZOVSKY A/K/A D. LOZOVSKY; MARINA LOZOVSKY; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF DMITRI LOZOVSKY A/K/A D. LOZOVSKY; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF MARINA LOZOVSKY; Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, pursuant to Plaintiff’s Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered on August 4, 2023 in the above-captioned action, the Clerk of Court, Tom Bexley, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash www.flagler. realforeclose.com in accordance with Chapter 45, Florida Statutes on the 3rd day of November, 2023 at 11:00 AM on the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment of Foreclosure or order, to wit: Lot 7, Block 102, Palm Coast, Map of Easthampton,

NOTICE OF ACTION IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL

filed against you, and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to