Palm Coast Observer 05-16-24

PALM COAST

on a FCSO airboat. Back row: Clayton York and Mckinlee Alameida. Front row: Kinsey Pattin, Waylon Alameida, and Harlee Subers. Photo by Sierra Williams

Alicha Subtyl Courtesy photo

Jack Ferguson Photo by Brent Woronoff

Ava Muldoon took first place in Scenario Writing Senior Division at states.

CITY WATCH

In reversal, search for new city manager will be delayed till after 2024 election

Palm Coast’s search for a new city manager will likely not begin until late summer and the city manager will be chosen by the council members elected in the fall.

As three of the five council members are running either for reelection or for a Flagler County Commission seat, council member Theresa Carli Pontieri originally suggested in an April meeting that the new council be the one to decide on a city manager. At the time, all four other council members agreed to move forward with the search themselves instead of waiting.

But Vice Mayor Ed Danko changed his mind in the May 14 City Council meeting, saying after much thought he agreed with Pontieri’s original point. Danko suggested to the council that the city wait to continue the search until after the newly elected members are installed.

“Lauren [Johnston, acting city

manager] with the help of Jason [DeLorenzo, chief of staff] and our staff have done a wonderful job,” Danko said. “I think we can push this out.”

Both Danko and council member Nick Klufas are running for seats on the Flagler County Commission, meaning at least two new faces will join the City Council in November. Mayor David Alfin is also running for reelection.

Council woman Cathy Heighter, also switching from her previous position, sided with Danko, agreeing that Johnston, as acting city manager was doing a great job.

Klufas disagreed with the idea of waiting to begin the search process, saying that the council “should fulfill our responsibilities now instead of deferring this important decision to the next electoral cycle.”

Alfin pointed out that choosing either a firm to round up candidates

or deciding to send out a bid for a firm is different from choosing a city manager. Danko argued he wasn’t so sure this council should even decide how the search is conducted, and instead leave all of it in the hands of the future council.

Human Resources staff presented three options for the council to consider adopting at a later business meeting for the search. Two of the options were to piggyback on existing search firm contracts with different cities while the third was for the council to begin its own bid process to find a search firm, which takes around 45 days.

One contract would be to piggyback a St. Johns County contract with the search firm Colin Baenziger & Associates. The city would be able to immediately begin the search with this contract.

The other piggyback option was with New Smyrna Beach and the firm Strategic Government Resources. HR Manager Tim Wilsey said the firm would not be able to begin searching for a Palm Coast city manager candidate until the late summer.

Pontieri, attending the meeting virtually while on maternity leave, said that while she still felt that the newly elected council should choose the city manager, there wasn’t anything wrong with the council beginning the search process.

Pontieri said her preference was the New Smyrna contract, namely because of the price: the contract, she told the Observer, is for $25,400, and not to exceed $27,900. Because the firm cannot start the work with Palm Coast until late summer, it almost guarantees the city will not have city manager candidates to review until the fall, regardless.

The rest of the council also agreed, giving consensus for the HR staff to move forward with the New Smyrna contract. The council will still need to review and approve the contract through a vote in a future business meeting.

Because of lack of rainfall, city relying on groundwater to meet demand

The city of Palm Coast is responding to the challenges posed by the current dry conditions, which have led to significantly increased water usage and heightened demands on the water supply, according to a city press release. As a result, residents may notice a change in the color of their water, particularly throughout the summer months. Due to the lack of recent rainfall, the city has relied on groundwater wells that are not typically utilized for extended periods. These wells naturally contain higher levels of organic color, which is only marginally reduced during the lime-softening water treatment process at Water Treatment Plant 1. However, the city reported, this does not compromise the safety of the water supply. More information about water quality can be found here: https://www.palmcoast.gov/ utility/water-faq

The city stated that its Utility Department is taking proactive measures to mitigate the impact of water coloration. These include managing the usage of highcolor wells, prioritizing their shutdown when demand decreases and water storage needs are met. Additionally, efforts are underway to conserve water by reducing demand, with water pressure leaving the water plants set at 50 psi. The city is exploring treatment solutions to address the coloration directly at the well sites. To learn more about the city’s water conservation tips, visit https://www.palmcoast. gov/water-tips

Vice Mayor Ed Danko. Photo by Sierra Williams

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Never forgotten

Flagler Sheriff’s Office remembers fallen officers

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Elected officials, residents and law enforcement agencies from across Flagler County were in attendance at the Flagler County Sheriff Office’s annual memorial for fallen officers.

The memorial recognized six FCSO officers who died in the line of duty, as well as one Bunnell Police Department officer, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a Federal Bureau of Investigation officer. Representatives of each of the nine fallen officers placed red roses on a yellow, star-shaped flower wreath in their honor.

“We must always recognize the families of our fallen. Standing with every fallen hero is a family that also bears the burden of their loss,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Tonight we

acknowledge and thank the families of our fallen heroes for their sacrifice and resilience.”

“Although our fallen heroes are no longer with us,” Staly continued, “their legacy lives on in the memories of their colleagues, friends, family and community they served.”

Staly said so far in 2024, 55 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty across the nation, including one Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a canine officer.

Staly said whenever an officer is killed in the line of duty, he signs two cards to send out: one to the officer’s agency and one to their family.

“I do this so the agency employees and family know their loved one, their partner, their child, their parent, brother, sister or spouse … did not die in vain, that they touched people they never knew across the country,” he said.

HONORED OFFICERS

„ Sheriff Perry Hall, End of Watch Aug. 21, 1927

„ Deputy George “Son” Durrance, End of Watch Aug. 25, 1927

„ Sheriff Homer Brooks, End of Watch March 23, 1965

„ Deputy Charles T. “Chuck” Sease, End of Watch July 5, 2003

„ Sgt. Francesco L. “Frankie” Celico, End of Watch Sept. 9, 2011

„ Deputy First Class Paul Luciano, End of Watch Aug. 26, 2021

„ BPD Sgt. Dominic Guida, End of Watch Nov. 9, 2021

„ FHP Trooper Darryl Haywood Sr., End of Watch Oct. 2, 2004

„ FBI Special Agent Daniel Alfin (son of Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin), End of Watch Feb. 2, 2021

“We must always recognize the families of our fallen. Standing with every fallen hero is a family that also bears the burden of their loss.”

STALY, Sheriff

RICK

Bunnell Police Department promotes Groth, honors life-saving officers

One officer was promoted at the May 13 Bunnell city meeting while two others were recognized for their efforts over the last quarter.

OBSERVER STAFF

The Bunnell City Commission and Bunnell Police Department recognized several police officers at its May 13 meeting for their efforts over the last quarter.

Officer Shane Groth was ceremoniously promoted from detective sergeant to lieutenant, making him the second in command in the BPD. Groth, with 11 years on the BPD’s force, will oversee the patrol and investigative functions of the department, a BPD press release said.

Officers Alex Kilpatrick and Micheal Fansler received a Life

During the award ceremony, Fansler was also recognized as the Bunnell Police Department’s Officer of the First Quarter

Several Bunnell Police Department officers were promoted or given awards for their work on May 13. Photo courtesy of the Bunnell Police Department

Sheriff Rick Staly at the annual FCSO Memorial service for fallen law enforcement officers.

People and organizations across the county attended the annual FCSO Memorial service for fallen law enforcement officers.

FHP Lieutenant Jennifer Marcoux placed a flower for FHP Trooper Darryl Haywood Sr.

Finita Celico places a rose in honor of her son, FCSO Sgt. Francesco Celico.

Andi Feagle places a rose in honor of her brother, BPD Sgt. Dominic Guida.

Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin.

Food Truck Tuesday is back in Central Park on May 21! This month benefits the Hispanic American Cultural Society.

Feedback sought on flipflops, pajamas, phones

School Board to vote on Code of Conduct changes on July 23.

BRENT WORONOFF

EDITOR

ASSOCIATE

Flagler Schools is looking for feedback on revisions to the elementary and secondary schools’ Codes of Student Conduct for the 2024-25 academic year.

Among the recommended changes the district is considering are:

„ Allowing middle school students to wear flip flops and slides. Currently, only high school students are allowed to wear footwear without heels or straps.

„ Removing a section that says pajamas shall not be worn as clothing on campus while keeping criteria on what bottom attire is acceptable.

„ Adding to the elementary school code discipline directives for minor theft of an item valued at less than $25.

„ Changing cheating and plagiarism section to academic dishonesty, including artificial intelligence misuse, to keep up with current tech-

nology.

„ Changing skipping class from a period of 10 minutes or greater without staff approval to five minutes or greater.

„ Prohibiting elementary school students from using personal electronic devices on a school bus without advance permission from the driver.

John Fanelli, the school district’s student support and behavior coordinator, presented an update to the School Board at a May 7 workshop on recommendations, feedback and a timeline.

An updated revision draft will be presented to the board at a July 9 workshop with final board approval scheduled for the July 23 business meeting.

Through May 6, the district received 80 responses for feedback on code of conduct changes with the majority coming from parents (45%) and faculty/staff (36.3%).

Nearly half of the responses (43.8%) pertained to secondary schools. The largest area with recommended changes (42.5%) was discipline. People can provide feedback on the Codes of Student Conduct at https://www.flaglerschools. com/students-families/ behavior-discipline.

UF Whitney Lab begins $41.2 million construction

The new research building and sea turtle hospital will more than double current research space.

BRENT FOSTER

GUEST WRITER

The Whitney Lab has begun the construction of the longawaited Marine Research Institute Building and Sea Turtle Research Center and Hospital. Once complete, the

Faith in Flagler

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church 4600 Belle Terre Pkwy (386) 445-2246 For mass times, visit seaspcfl.org/mass. Building faith

strengthens our community.

In the midst of our daily challenges and sufferings, God’s love weaves a thread of divine affection, binding us to him with an unbreakable bond. Through prayer, reflection, and acts of kindness, we can nurture this connection, fostering spiritual growth. In drawing nearer to God, we find solace, purpose, and an enduring joy that permeates every aspect of our lives, illuminating our journey with divine light.

Jose Panthaplamthottiyl, pastor

new facilities will bring hightechnology and science education outreach to the shores of St. Johns and Flagler counties.

University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, on A1A near Marineland, is a research institute specializing in the basic biology of marine organisms. The current building — once reported as “squat and durable enough to withstand a hurricane, but hardly a posterboard for aesthetics” — is showing the wear and tear of over 50 years of scientific discovery.

“Our existing building is dilapidated with small rooms, poor lighting, and insufficient airflow,” said Director Mark Martindale back in 2021. “We’re looking forward to filling [the new building] up with more of the best and brightest scientists in the country!”

The construction site was previously occupied by Whitney Hall (used as event space, dormitory and offices over the years) and two modular homes. With a project budget of $41.2 million and over 38,000 square feet, the new building and Sea Turtle Research Center and Hospital overlooking the Matanzas estuary will more than double current research space.

Twelve state-of-the-art collaborative faculty laboratories will include specialized research areas, such as space for advanced microscopy training and a natural products chemistry suite for drug discovery from our environment. Plans also include an interactive Marine Research and Conservation Discovery Lobby designed so visitors can learn about the Whitney Laboratory’s research programs, surrounding environment and efforts in sea turtle conservation.

Construction is slated for completion in summer 2025. The building is planned for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certification, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and the most widely used green building rating system.

The building design was created through a collaboration with Whitney scientists, UF Planning, Construction and Design and the architecture firms Lord Aeck Sargent (Atlanta) and TTV Architects (Jacksonville). DPR construction firm, centered in Jacksonville, is providing construction managers for the project.

“The significant philanthropic support from the community has been instrumental in partnering with the state to support and push science and education forward through Whitney’s new building,” said Jessica Long, senior director of advancement for the Whitney Lab.

“We are excited to be at the precipice of a new chapter for the lab’s next 50 years.” There are still interior naming opportunities available. For more information, contact Jessica Long at jessicalong@ whitney.ufl.edu, Heather Krumholtz at heather@whitney.ufl.edu or Brent Foster at brent.foster@whitney.ufl.

Artist rendering of Whitney Lab’s new Marine Research Institute Building. Courtesy photo

Bunnell

Commission approves first step in 2,700-acre development

The development would have over 5,000 residential units, 44 acres of commercial space and add 14,500 people to Bunnell’s population.

SIERRA WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

The city of Bunnell has approved the first step for a future 2,787-acre development west of Highway U.S. 1. The development would be a large-scale project with a mixture of commercial, public, single family and multifamily with a village center. A summary of the project describes a range of housing types, from townhomes, garden homes and condominiums, according to city documents.

The development will be called the Reserve at Haw Creek, and is located between State Road 100 West and State Road 11. Bunnell Community Development Director Joe Parsons said a representative of the applicant — Northeast Florida Developers LLC — estimated 5,000-6,000 residential units were planned for the Reserve.

But the Reserve is a long way from breaking ground, Parsons said.

“This first part of the process — we’re looking at, realistically, six to seven months. And then once that’s all approved, you still have a lot of work ahead of you before you even get to break ground,” he said. “You’re talking about years, to be honest with you.”

The additional housing units will bring an estimated 14,500 people to Bunnell — around four times its current population of 3,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

At its May 13 meeting, the City Commission approved in a 4-0 vote, with commissioner Pete Young absent, to approve changing the 2,700 acres’ land use designation to allow for development.

From here, the application will be reviewed by several state agencies, Parsons said, to examine the potential impact it will have on things like the city roads, the environment and city infrastructure. Once it has those approvals, the item will return to the City Commission for another vote.

According to the city meeting documents, the Reserve will have, among other land uses: 1,437 acres of singlefamily low density, another 95 acres of single-family medium density, 212 acres of

“This first part of the process — we’re looking at, realistically, six to seven months. And then once that’s all approved, you still have a lot of work ahead of you before you even get to break ground. You’re talking about years, to be honest with you.”

JOE PARSONS, Bunnell Community Development Director

multifamily use, 44 acres of commercial and 216 acres of industrial land.

The applicant is also applying to be a planned unit development and will have certain responsibilities to its impacts on the city’s infrastructures, Parsons said, namely sewer, water, traffic and schools. For example, the Reserve is also expected to introduce around 860 students to the area, according to meeting documents.

The meeting documents said the development will require multiple access points along S.R. 100 west, S.R. 11 and on County Roads 302 and 65 and buildout having “significant impacts on the number of trips” on those roads.

Old Kings widening to begin in 2025

Old Kings Road North is one of several road improvement projects the city is planning.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Palm Coast is readying to implement several road improvement construction projects over the next three years, including widening Old Kings Road North.

The Old Kings Road North project — which will stretch from Farragut to Farnum Lanes — is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2025. It is one of multiple projects planned, including intersection improvements, resurfacing projects and lane widenings.

Senior planner Phong Nguyen said the projects altogether total $229 million. Of that, $127.88 million comes from state appropriation funding, $67.55 from the Florida Department of Transportation, $1.60 million from local agency programs and just over $32 million from impact fees and developer fundings.

Mayor David Alfin said that without the support of the various entities, the city wouldn’t be able to move forward with so many projects at once.

“These numbers are record breaking for our community,” Alfin said.

Phong said the city is also working on multiple microsurfacing projects. Several of the projects listed over the next three years will be resurfacings, either performed by the FDOT or by the city.

“It’s a mind-boggling number of projects that you’re juggling,” Alfin said.

project to replace existing bridges with sidewalks will begin July 2026, with FDOT providing $13.5 million.

U.S. 1-Old Kings Road roundabout: This project is under construction and will be completed by November 2024. It is paid for by the developer.

U.S. 1-Sawmill Branch traffic signal installation: A traffic signal, paid for by the developer, will be installed at this intersection in fiscal year 2026.

Interstate 95 interchange: At the Matanzas Woods Parkway-I-95 exit, the FDOT will be paying for traffic signals to be installed at the ramps. There is not a specific projected start date yet.

lion in state appropriations for it. Another $6.4 million comes from the city.

Intersection improvements along Belle Terre Parkway: Beginning fall 2024 and ending in the fall of 2025, the city will be improving seven intersections along Belle Terre. It is primarily funding through $4.5 million in state appropriations and another $503,000 from the city.

OBSERVER

Cornelia

position and 40 years of business attracting commercial and industrial tax base, according to a press release. This is Manfre’s third run at a Palm Coast City Council position, having run for the District 3 seat in 2020 and in a special election for mayor in 2021. Manfre is a real estate professional with Sotheby’s International Realty and the wife of former Flagler County

Sheriff James Manfre. Manfre said she believes in a transparent government based on customer service that solves problems for its residents.

The last three years under Mayor David Alfin has been “chaos and confusion,” she said.

Manfre said poor planning has caused the city’s swales and roads to be ignored and placed the city’s sewer capacity in an “emergency situation,” the press release said.

“I represent the change the citizens of Palm Coast are demanding at City Hall,” she said.

Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo said the reason it takes some of these projects to get off the ground is the funding. The city waits to gather the funds first, before beginning the projects.

“We’re a pay-as-you-go community,” he said. “So we have to collect up those dollars.”

Here are the major projects the city is planning over the next three years, not including resurfacing projects:

STATE ROADS

Highway U.S. 1 bridge replacement over Pellicer Creek: The

State Road A1A traffic signal: In fiscal year 2026, the FDOT will provide funding for a traffic signal to be added at Camino Del Mar and Yacht Harbor Drive. Installation will begin sometime in fiscal year 2027.

S.R. 100 traffic signal: At McCormick Lane, where the new BJ’s Wholesale Club main entrance will be, the BJ’s Wholesale developer is funding an additional traffic signal. This is currently under construction.

CITY ROADS

Old Kings Road North widening: From Farragut to Farnum Lane, Old Kings Road will be widened to four lanes, beginning in fiscal year 2025, and ending in fiscal year 2027. The city has received $18.38 mil-

Whiteview Parkway improvements: This project will add turn lanes, multiuse paths and other safety modifications. It is scheduled to begin in the fall. The city funding $5.8 million of it, with another $1.6 million from the FDOT. Citation Boulevard extension: This is under construction and likely to be completed in the fall. Road impact fees are funding $4.5 million of the project.

Lake Avenue extension: Within the next three years, a town center developer will extend Lake Avenue in Town Center.

Westward extension and loop connector projects: The city is designing a westward extension of Matanzas Woods Parkway, which will begin construction in the fall, and is funded by $25 million in state appropriations and $6.5 million in city funding. The Matanzas Woods-Palm Coast Parkway loop connector road will follow but is awaiting state appropriation approval from the governor from this year’s budget.

The planned Old Kings North widening project. City image

Cornelia Downing Manfre has announced she is running for mayor of Palm Coast. Photo courtesy of Manfre

COPS CORNER

APRIL 29

12:16 p.m. — 700 block of South Nova Road, Ormond Beach Grand theft. Superheroes fight crime — and one local comic book store employee did his part in preventing it. When a frequent customer brought two comic books up to the register to purchase, the employee noticed something odd. The price tags were much lower than the true price of the comic books: One was supposed to cost $1,200 and the other $200, according to a police report; instead, the sleeves stated they cost $12 and $5.

BRIEFS

VSO deputies adopt dogs rescued from DeLand home

Three dogs recently rescued from a house in DeLand have been adopted by the deputies who responded to to their case.

The employee confronted the customer, who then left the store. The customer was then contacted by the store’s owner who advised him he was no longer welcome at their store, police report.

MAY 6

CONSTRUCTIVE OR DESTRUCTIVE?

12:29 p.m. — 1400 block of West Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach Battery. Police arrested a 35-year-old Daytona Beach woman who, according to witnesses in a shopping plaza, hit a man and chased him in her car after he criticized her driving. When the reporting officer arrived on the scene, the pair were standing in the corner of the road in the plaza, according to the woman’s arrest report. Upon approaching them,

A Volusia County press release reported that 12 malnourished and emaciated animals were receiving medical treatment and care at Volusia County Animal Services after their rescue from a home in the 300 block of East Beresford Avenue in DeLand. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office reported that 37-yearold Ashley Taryn Boucher was arrested on 20 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and eight counts of confinement of animals without sufficient food, water or exercise on May 6.

Three dogs — Dutch, Ariel and Odie — were rescued from the home, along with two cats, three snakes, one tortoise, one gecko, one lizard and a tarantula. However, a young Basset hound, two cats, two birds and three geckos were found dead, according to the county. Boucher is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on a $54,000 bond. On Wednesday, VSO report-

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA will hold a Public Hearing as authorized by law at 7:00 P.M. on the 28th day of May 2024, for the purpose of Second and Final Reading of Ordinance 2024-07, before the City Commission, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Building (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110.

ORDINANCE 2024-07

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA AMENDING THE CITY OF BUNNELL LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENT TO SECTION 18-52 WETLANDS; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENT TO VARIOUS SECTIONS WITHIN CHAPTER 34 – ZONING; PROVIDING FOR LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTING PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND APPLICABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE as may be legally permitted on the day of the meeting. Instructions on how to participate by electronic or other means, if legally permitted, would be found on the City of Bunnell’s website at www.bunnellcity.us on the homepage. The public is advised to check the City’s website for up-to-date information on any changes to the manner in which the meeting will be held and the location. The failure of a person to appear during said hearing and comment on or object to the proposed Ordinance, either in person or in writing, might preclude the ability of such person to contest the Ordinance at a later date. A copy of all pertinent information this ordinance can be obtained at the office of the Bunnell Customer Service Office, 604 E. Moody Blvd. Unit 6, Bunnell, FL 32110. Persons with disabilities needing assistance to attend this proceeding should contact the Bunnell City Clerk at (386) 437-7500 x 5 at least 48-business hours prior to the meeting.

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

the woman walked away toward an Asian restaurant, and the officer spoke with the man, who denied that the woman hit him.

But a witness then told police that he had watched the woman hold the man by his head while repeatedly smacking him in the face and yelling, the report states. The man tried to walk away, but the woman kept chasing him, the witness said, and eventually did so, using her car.

The man and woman both told police that the argument started when he criticized her driving, and that “it escalated from there,” the report states. However, neither admitted that the argument got physical and the man had no visible marks.

The woman was taken to jail.

ed on its Facebook page that the Deputy Kletus Stubblefield had adopted Dutch, Deputy Juston Schramm had adopted Ariel and Sgt. T.J. Pullin had adopted Odie. As for the rest of the animals, Volusia County said reported that nine had found foster homes or have been adopted, including the dogs. The cats were transferred to the Southeast Volusia Humane Society. One ball python is still available for adoption.

Palm Coast woman hit by car on S.R. 100

A Palm Coast woman is in critical condition after she was struck by a sedan. The crash happened at 12:38 a.m. on May 13, on State Road 100 just west of North Forsyth Street, according to a Florida highway Patrol report. The sedan was driving east on S.R. 100 when the woman attempted to cross the road directly in front of

MAY 10 ‘HANGRY’ CRIMES

9:26 p.m. — 6200 block of State Road 100, Palm Coast Shoplifting. A Palm Coast man was arrested after he stole two pieces of pizza and a frozen yogurt from a gas station.

The stolen food totaled $8.98, according to the suspect’s arrest report. The suspect initially told a Sheriff’s Office deputy he only had one bite of a pizza because he did not have the money to pay for it at the time, but promised the clerk he would return with the money.

The store clerk who called law enforcement said the man had taken three items, and, when told he needed to pay for the food, the suspect then threatened to fight the employee, the arrest report said.

the sedan, the report said. The woman was airlifted to Halifax Hospital in critical condition. Neither the passenger nor the driver of the sedan were injured.

Palm Coast man arrested in connection with 2022 pipe bomb

On May 9 at approximately 10 p.m., the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Palm Coast man at his residence on Bronson Lane. He is accused of creating a pipe bomb that exploded outside a home on Poppy Lane in January 2022. Following a two-year joint investigation between FCSO’s Homeland Security section, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, Jason Burns, 49 was arrested on felony charges of arson in the first degree and making/placing/

The suspect was arrested and trespassed from the gas station. When told he was trespassed, the suspect said he would return to the gas station and “defecate on the property” once he was released.

MAY 11

SMOKING BREAK-IN

1:25 a.m. — 100 block of Brittany Lane, Palm Coast Burglary. A Palm Coast man was caught breaking into vehicles in a neighborhood and, in one car, allegedly decided to take a smoke break.

Another resident on the street called the Sheriff’s Office when his doorbell Ring camera alerted him to movement in his driveway, according to an arrest report. The camera caught the suspect attempting to enter a car in the driveway.

possessing destructive device with property damage.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 27, 2022, the Flager County Sheriff’s Communications Center received two 911 calls reporting a loud explosion, followed by a bright light and smoke which seemed to originate outside a home at 30 Poppy Lane in Palm Coast. Upon arrival, responding deputies smelled a strong odor of gas and smoke in the air and observed remnants of a blast from an improvised explosive device. Fortunately, the residents were unharmed, but both the home and an adjacent home were damaged. Investigators determined the explosion was created by a home-made pipe-bomb that left a 1-inch-deep crater, 12 inches wide, only several feet from where the residents of both homes were sleeping. During the investigation, the resident of 27 Poppy Lane, Jason Burns, was identified as a person of interest due to his hostility toward the victims. Burns was also known to the

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425092-1

After the suspect left and deputies were called, the man then drove around the neighborhood looking for the suspect. That’s when he saw the suspect leaving a neighbor’s driveway, the report said.

Deputies found the man as he was walking and smoking a cigarette and detained him, interviewing the first victim and waking up the homeowner at the the second house. The second homeowner showed deputies her car, where they found cigarette ash on the driver’s seat. The homeowner said no one had ever smoked in the car before. The suspect was arrested on two counts of attempted burglary.

Send news tips to jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com.

Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and local businesses for being a prolific writer who wrote, distributed and mailed rambling rants about various claims against government, elected officials and businesses.

During the investigation, Burns denied any involvement and said he was sleeping in his truck at Flagler Beach with a friend at the time of the explosion. However, detectives obtained phone records and GPS data that placed him in the area at the time of the explosion. When confronted with this discrepancy, he claimed a friend had his phone.

On Jan. 4, 2023, detectives obtained a search warrant for Burns’ DNA. The DNA sample was sent to ATF’s National Laboratory Center in Beltsville, Maryland, which determined the DNA found at the scene of the blast was a match for Jason Burns. In addition to the two felony charges connected to the explosion, Burns also faces an additional charge for violating his probation that stemmed from a 2023 arrest for stalking his ex-wife. In that case, he placed multiple letters in her mailbox, one containing white powder. He is currently being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on $75,000 bond.

Former Mainland football coach sentenced to 21 years in prison

A former Mainland High School football coach and teacher was sentenced to 21 years in prison for child sexual abuse crimes committed while he was employed by Volusia County Schools, the State Attorney’s Office reported.

Arin Hankerd, who was most recently a football coach and teacher at Atlantic High School, was arrested in May of 2023 and charged for two different sexual abuse cases. The charges included include two counts of child molestation, traveling to meet a minor, exhibition via computer, sexual activity with a minor and two counts of committing an offense against a student by an authority figure. Hankerd was initially arrested for crimes committed while he was the coach at Atlantic; the second victim came forward after his arrest, according to the the State Attorney’s Office. That crime was committed when Hankerd was a coach and teacher at Mainland in 2019.

“Coaches have significant sway over the athletes and students they serve,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said in a press release. “The defendant chose to use his influence to sexually exploit and manipulate our victims. His betrayal of their trust and vulnerability makes him a predator of epic proportions.” The cases were investigated by the Port Orange and Ormond Beach Police Departments. Hankerd will also serve 30 years of sex offender probation and will be designated as a sexual predator.

VSO Deputy Juston Schramm has adopted Ariel. Photo courtesy of VSO's Facebook Page

BRIEFS

Flagler Free Clinic expands eligibility for services following new legislation

The Flagler Free Clinic in Bunnell has expanded eligibility for its services, thanks to a bill passed recently by the Florida Senate, according to a press release.

The legislation, focusing on a vast array of health care improvements across the state, will significantly increase the number of Floridians eligible to benefit from the clinic’s nocost health care services.

The bill, which directs hundreds of millions in state and federal dollars towards enhancing Florida’s health care workforce and access, raises the maximum income eligibility for free clinic services from 200% to 300% above the federal poverty level. This change means a family of three earning up to $74,580 can now access the Flagler Free Clinic’s range of diagnostic and nonsurgical treatments.

“This legislation marks a monumental step forward in our mission to provide highquality health care to those in need,” said Terri Belletto, the clinic’s executive director. “With this expansion, we can reach more people than ever before, ensuring that our community’s most vulnerable members have access to the essential health services they deserve.”

The bill also introduces significant investments in mental and maternal health care, loan repayment programs for health professionals and initiatives to fill medical residencies and bring foreign doctors to Florida. These measures are poised to address the critical health care worker shortage in the state and improve access to

care for all Floridians. In addition to raising income eligibility, the legislation allocates $10 million for the Department of Health to establish a grant program for nonprofits to fund nocost health care screenings, further supporting the vital work of free clinics like Flagler Free Clinic.

The Flagler Free Clinic invites the community to learn more about the expanded services and eligibility criteria by visiting https://www. flaglerfreeclinic.org/newsevents/. For more information on the Flagler Free Clinic’s services, how to donate or to become a volunteer, visit FlaglerFreeClinic.org or email lwest@flaglerfreeclinic.org

VITA program helps provide $2 million in tax refunds to Volusia, Flagler residents

As the 2023-2024 tax season comes to a close, the VITA program provided by the Community Foundation and United Way of VolusiaFlagler Counties has provided $2,018,746 in tax refunds for Volusia and Flagler County residents.

In total, the VITA program transmitted over 2,000 federal and state tax returns. Over 85 VITA volunteers dedicated over 3,500 hours to serve the community.

“None of this would be possible without our dedicated VITA volunteers, who generously contribute hours of their time each week to ensure qualifying community members receive free tax assistance,” said Lawrence Anderson, community partnership manager at United Way VFC.

The Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties are dedicated to supporting the ALICE (Asset Limited Income

Constrained Employed) populations through initiatives like the VITA program. These efforts aim to assist individuals who face the risk of falling into poverty due to unforeseen circumstances, a press release stated.

The VITA program can give those individuals a break and potentially ensure a refund into their hands to pay their bills or deposit into their savings account to invest in their future, the press release said.

Kennedy Landscaping expands to Flagler County

Kennedy Landscaping, a leading provider of landscaping services in Ormond Beach, announced the expansion of its business to Flagler County, Spearheading the expansion is owner Daniel Kennedy’s son, Daniel Kennedy II.

Daniel Kennedy II, has been working alongside his father since he was 14. Daniel II, has played a pivotal role in the growth and reputation of Kennedy Landscaping.

“It’s an honor to lead Kennedy Landscaping into this new chapter of expansion,” Daniel Kennedy II said.

“Working alongside my father for the past 10 years has been an incredible journey, and I am excited to bring our expertise and dedication to the residents of Flagler County.”

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

A house in Seaside Landings tops sales list

Ahouse in Seaside Landings was the top real estate transaction for March 21-27 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. Joshua and Frances Carlson, of Palm Coast, sold 104 Seaside Point to John Michael Wright, of Flagler beach, for $1,025,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/5 and has 2 half baths, an outdoor kitchen and 3,418 square feet.

ALEXIS MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Condos

Robert Black, of Loxahatchee, sold 300 Bella Harbor Court, Unit 112, to Richard and Kathleen Houghton, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, for $380,000. Built in 2006, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,804 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $387,500.

Annmarie Murray and Thomas Scott Murray, of Bangor, Maine, sold 55 Riverview Bend South, Unit 2033, to Charles Goupil and Lisa Oliveri, of Palm Coast, for $372,500. Built in 2007, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,575 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $353,000.

Janey Barresi, a trustee, sold 104 Surfview Drive, Unit 1505, to Amy Pipoly, a trustee, for $470,000. Built in 1992, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,158 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $242,500.

James and Kathleen Howard, of Palm Coast, sold 35 Riverview Bend South, Unit 1843,

to Maralee Walsh McDaniel, of Palm Coast, for $400,000. Built in 2006, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,575 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $247,300.

Jeff Rolczynski, Sherry Rolczynski and Alice Seitz, of Palm Coast, sold 31 Summerwind Circle to Emilio and Clarisse Redondo, of Boca Raton, for $255,000. Built in 2005, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,143 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $191,000.

Antonine Boerger and Maria Friedrich Boerger, of Berlin, Germany, sold 500 Canopy Walk Lane, Unit 532, to Glenn Mark Gregory and Sharon Lynne Gregory, as trustees, for $350,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,377 square feet. It sold in 2014 for $195,000.

Ronald Kolka and Carol Lynn Haley, as trustees, sold 45 Riverview Bend South, Unit 1944, to Lori Curtiss, of Palm Coast, for $369,000. Built in 2006, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,254 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $245,000.

FLAGLER BEACH

Palma Vista Mary Elizabeth Young and Dennis Young, of Pomona Park, sold 318 11TH Street North to Scott and Jaimie Gearhart, of Flagler Beach, for $640,000. Built in 1979, the house is a 4/3 and has a fireplace, a boat house, a boat dock and 2,439 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $427,000.

PALM COAST

Palm Harbor Alton and Barbara Kirker, of Palm Coast, sold 1 Flarestone Court to Fred and Jacqueline Dieckhaus, as trustees, for $470,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,715 square feet. It sold in 2010 for $213,000.

Marilu Monterosso and Daniel Bruno, of Palm Coast, sold 73 Fortune Lane to Julie and William Weaver, of Palm Coast, for $395,000. Built in 1993, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a pool and 1,757 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $225,000.

Pine Grove INB Fund 2 LLC, of Orlando, sold 33 Pinwheel Lane to Adesh and Thalia Roopnarine, of Davenport, for $320,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,500 square feet.

Quail Hollow Arnold and Michelle Burlingame, of Palm Coast, sold 104 Laguna Forest Trail to Brian and Ashley Dato, of Palm Coast, for $342,000. Built in 2017, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,564 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $190,100.

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

Daniel Kennedy II and Daniel Kennedy

Go, girl! Professional Women of Flagler County turns 4

LaShakia Moore was the keynote speaker on May 13. Abby Baker is the Humanitarian of the Year.

BRIAN MCMILLAN

PUBLISHER

LaShakia Moore rose from humble beginnings — her grandmother was illiterate — to become superintendent of Flagler Schools. Today, she is one of the community’s most prominent women and most sought after public speakers. But, in her address to about 100 women on the fourth anniversary of the Professional Women of Flagler County, she said, “As women, we are not called to be famous but to be impactful.”

Moore encouraged the women in the audience May 13, at Hammock Beach Resort, to impact each other in a simple way: by looking at each

other across the table and smiling.

There were some laughs as the ladies, wearing sun hats and floral dresses in the tea party theme, followed Moore’s direction.

“Acknowledge that you see her and are with her,” Moore said. “Give her a little bit of hope.”

PWFC has given hope in the past, in the form of grants, to help women business owners pay for things such as computers, advertising, or professional classes. On May 13, two of last year’s recipients shared their success

stories.

Amy Dumas, a broker with Watson Realty Corp. in Palm Coast, said her grant paid for a professional certification that enables her to better serve first-time home buyers.

Lauren Ramirez, owner of Salus Medical Training, used her grant last year to help her qualify as a training site for CPR and AEDs. As a result, one graduate from one of her recent classes took action to treat someone during an emergency on a camping trip. Without the grant, the outcome

may have been different.

“This grant grows businesses, but it also saves lives,” Ramirez said.

PWFC President Diane Vidal announced that the organization will be giving a record amount in scholarships and Go Girl Grants this year: over $20,000.

Vidal’s own story showed her motivation for encouraging women in business. She was the first woman in her family’s history to earn a bachelor’s degree. She went on to earn a juris doctorate and now is an attorney at Chiumento Law.

Vidal praised the women who have defied expectations and taken prominent roles in business, even as they continue to excel in their family roles.

Mayor David Alfin also celebrated the women’s accomplishments, saying that more than 1/3 of the businesses in Palm Coast are owned by women.

“You have been a pillar on which this community is growing,” he said.

To conclude the event, Sue Freytag and Jacqueline Sales Davis were recognized as finalists, and Abby Baker was announced as winner of the PWFC Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Visit https://professionalwomenflagler.org.

FPC Thespians perform ‘The SpongeBob Musical’

The show ran through May 11 at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center.

The Flagler Palm Coast High School

Thespians performed “The SpongeBob Musical” at the Fitzgerald Per-

forming Arts Center May 9-11.

The SpongeBob Musical is a family friendly show about saving Bikini Bottom with lots of energetic dances, songs and fun. The cast, in alphabetical order, included: Hailee Bedard, Lola Bell, Zaid Evensen, Caleb Flinn, Samantha Funari, K’imani Gervin-McCoy, Regan Goff, DeErra Jones, Lorelei Killmer, Natalie Lawrence, Chloe

Lendzion, Rebecca Lodato, Makena Lukasik, Kian Mahoney, Annabelle McDermott, Samantha Meckert, Caleb Monroe, Dominic Paciulli, Phaedra Payton, Cheyanne Phillips, Sophia Purdy-Lenz, Lola Quiles, Valeria Real, Nando Rivera, Mackinzie Rogan, Mariana Sanchez, Cody Senn, Curtis Seppala, Madelyn Shader, Olivia Slaughter, Logan Walden and Lacey Ward.

The tech crew included: Kelly Rivera (FPC drama teacher), director; Jack Neiberlein, technical director; Emily Effert, stage manager; Veronica Succarotte, assistant stage manager; Jordan Rogers, microphones; Yarieliz Morales Rio, lights; DeErra Jones and Rebecca Lodato, choreographers; and Lola Bell, Samantha Jonas, Makena Lukasik and Han Tran, costumes.

“If we are to

policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944 PALM COAST

Publisher Brian McMillan, brian@observerlocalnews.com

OBO Managing Editor Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@observerlocalnews.com

Associate Editor Brent Woronoff, brent@observerlocalnews.com

Staff Writer Sierra Williams, sierra@observerlocalnews.com

Design Manager Hailey McMillan, hailey@observerlocalnews.com

Director of Engagement Kaitlyn Stier, kstier@observerlocalnews.com

Operations Manager Bonnie Hamilton, bonnie@observerlocalnews.com

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McMillan Ink LLC 50 Leanni Way, Unit C3 Palm Coast, FL 32137

VETERAN OF THE WEEK

Scott K. Nieminen

 Branch of military: U.S. Marine Corps

 Dates of service: 1985-1992

 Rank/occupation: Corporal / Rifleman, Transportation Specialist

 Hometown: Palm Coast

Scott Nieminen was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, but grew up in Flagler County. While in high school he worked as a lifeguard at Flagler Beach. Nieminen followed in his father’s footsteps into the real estate business at the age of 18 and became a sales associate.

That same year he enlisted in the Marine Corps reserve and went to boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. He is a combat veteran of Operation: Desert Shield / Desert Storm and was deployed to Southwest Asia in 1990-1991.

Nieminen drove ammunition trucks laden with 30,000 pounds of explosives to the front lines in Kuwait on missions nicknamed “Baghdad Express”. He earned the National Defense Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Medal. Nieminen, still a real estate broker, and his wife, Diane, are owner operators of one of the area’s original real estate companies, Palm Coast Flagler Beach Realty, founded in 1982.

NEED HELP WITH VETERAN SERVICES?

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

Elway, 5

Charlie, 3 Jimmy, 3

The entire cast performs a scene during a dress rehearsal for The SpongeBob Musical at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center. Courtesy photo

Dr. Erika Equizi, Nina Guiglotto, Mayor David Alfin, Diane Vidal and Vanessa Cole, at the Professional Women of Flagler County’s tea party May 13, at Hammock Beach Resort. Other board members not pictured are as follows: Tracie Cotto, Kara King, Christine Maplica Bennett, Michelle Gordon, Sarah McPherson, Lora Fickett, Krystal DeWind, Kathleen Rivera, Kelly Chapman, Diane Campbell. Photos by Brian McMillan

Fern Hailey, Allyson Rucci, Derin White and RosaMaria Vitoria.

Flagler County Judges Melissa Distler and Andrea Totten

Chazz Palminteri

Items Under $200

CABBAGE PATCH Doll Original, w/original clothes $100 386-585-0257

SUGAR GLIDERS, newborn, hand fed, male and female, $150 each 386-492-3357

CURIO CABINET 6’ all glass, enclosed, curved, lighted, bowed front $150 201-647-3912

CUVII FLOOR elliptical, pedal to exercise feet, calfs, thighs, like new $75 386-585-4291

EXERCISE BIKE TEC TRIX, good condition $15, basketball hoop system $10 386-283-9782

GOLF CLUBS used 10 years old Golf bag included $100 (386)-986-7361

GOLFING SETS Bags and full set of clubs, 5 sets in all $60 each Bill (414) 852-2620

K AYAK, 12.5 ft., berglass, with life jacket and paddle, excellent condition $125 712-223-2181

2 CUSTOM mini-blinds w/hardware, for side door windows, ex cond, $40 386-627-6569

BLACK & Decker vacuum/blower combo, canvas shoulder bag and strap $35 386-206-9006

RUBBERMAID NEW garbage can w/wheels $25, Brute rubbermaid recycle round bin $25 814-574-6387

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PATIO FURNITURE 7-piece Patio Set, Farm Table $200 ea. TV stands (407) 388-4238

PEACH FACE offspring baby love birds available 386-931-9159

Garage/ Moving/ Estate Sales

21 FAMILIES + Food Truck Sat May 18 8:00-2:00-Pineland Neighborhood-Get treats from TenneSteve Trash Food Truck & shop 21 sales. Handcrafted tumblers & signs, military, fabric, 10x12 rug, dishes, art, cribs, car seats, swings, gol ng, furn, antiques, Harley parts, prof. hair care products, suitcase, formal gowns, scuba gear, outdoor heater, grill, blank tees/hoodies for printing, bullet novelties, 4 pc King bdrm set, workout equip. Granada to Tymber Creek to right on Airport to left on Pinetrail to right on Sandoval. Sponsored by Pam Harvey/1st Florida Realty & Dylan Smith/Waterstone Mortgage

49 BARKELY LANE, 5/18, 8am1pm furniture, nautical decorations, household items too much to list

ESTATE SALE Friday May 17, 7:30 AM-3:00 PM, Saturday May 18, 7:30 AM-3:00 PM, Rain or Shine

1 Freneau Lane Palm Coast, FL 32137 HUGE ESTATE SALE, EVERYTHING MUST GO! PRICED TO SELL! 1966 Olds Toronado classic car, ex condition, 60K actual miles, a rare nd. 12 Curio Cabinets, all sizes, over 1000 pieces glassware collection, Bedroom Suite, Den Furniture by Stressless, Garage Tools, Oil paintings, Yard Tools, 2 and 3 wheeled bikes, garden fountains,

YOUR NEIGHBORS

SURPRISE!

Organizations drop by Flagler County graduating seniors’ homes and drop off 186 scholarships

OBSERVER STAFF

Educators and community members came together this past week to celebrate the achievements of Flagler County’s graduating seniors through the Flagler County Education Foundation’s 38th annual Senior Scholarship Program.

This year, the Ed Foundation’s Drive By and Surprise event was held on two nights: May 7 dedicated to Flagler Palm Coast High School seniors and May 8 for Matanzas High School seniors.

The first night began at FPC High School. “It was a symphony of anticipation and joy,” an Ed Foundation news release stated. “Caravans of cars adorned with balloons and pom poms wound their way through the streets.

Educators and community members carefully placed yard signs at each stop and presented scholarship information to surprised (FPC) seniors and their families.”

The celebrations continued the next night with the second Drive By and Surprise event that began at Matanzas with educators and community members awarding Matanzas seniors.

“It was truly inspiring to witness the generosity of 57 organizations and individuals who, through their support, are shaping the futures of graduating seniors,” the press release stated.

A total of 186 scholarships were awarded for collegebound students and those pursuing trade school. Over 100 volunteers participated during the two nights, presenting scholarships, planting yard signs and congratulating the recipients and their families.

The Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club gave out 18 scholarships totaling $40,000, with the awards ranging from $500 to $8,000. Six were for technical study, two for education or media study, two for first responder study and eight were general scholarships. The education/ media scholarships are new this year, honoring the late Dr. Richard Conkling, a longtime Kiwanian and educator. The Brothers and Sisters of Flagler County, a group of retired educators, friends and family of former high school guidance counselor Carue Davis, created The Carue Kimberly Davis Scholarships this year. The initial winners of the award are FPC’s Maxwell Lee and Matanzas’ Kymya Thompson and Phillip M. Congialos Jr.

The memorial scholarships recognize the dedication of Davis, who was a guidance counselor at both FPC and Matanzas high schools. “She will forever be known as a dedicated, loving and kind counselor who saw goodness in all the students she counseled,” organizers said.

“The Senior Scholarship Program is not just about the present,” the Ed Foundation release stated, “but about creating lasting memories and a legacy of support that will guide these seniors for years to come.”

Matanzas High School’s Ciara Gordon leaps for joy after winning a number of scholarships. Courtesy photos

FPC’s Zoey Gotera received a Coastal Fellowship Scholarship.

FPC’s Savannah O’Grady won a Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic Scholarship.

Matanzas’ Arjay Shaw won a Quantum Electrical Contractors Kelly Wright Scholarship.

FPC’s Mara Rush won a Kiwanis Key Club Scholarship

FPC’s Leila Jackson won the Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club’s Senior of the Year Scholarship. She also won a Flagler Tiger Bay Club Scholarship

FPC’s Evan Williams won a Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Dr. Richard Conkling Memorial Scholarship

Matanzas’ Chloe Irving won the Heiser Foundation Scholarship.

Matanzas’ Rilee Whitmore won a Rotary Club of Flagler County Student Athlete Scholarship and a Knights of Columbus Scholarship.

FPC's Glynnis Gong received a Quantum Electrical Contractors Joseph Reynolds Memorial Scholarship.

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY,

Savino.

ORMOND BEACH AREA

DEMOCRATIC

CLUB MEETING

When: 7 p.m.

Where: 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: The Ormond Beach Area Democratic Club’s May meeting will feature Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis as its guest speaker. Check-in and socializing begins at 6:30 p.m.

Like minded nonmembers are welcome to attend as guests. Visit ormondbeachdems.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 17 GARDEN CLUB OF PALM COAST YARD SALE

When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17; and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 18 Where: 180 Westhampton Drive, Palm Coast

Details: The Garden Club of Palm Coast is hosting a yard sale with mixed items. No furniture.

SATURDAY, MAY 18

FLAGLER COUNTY MASTER GARDENER ANNUAL

PLANT SALE

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Flagler County Fairgrounds, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell

Details: Join the Flagler County Master Gardeners for their annual plant sale. Free admission.

HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR IN FLORIDA

When: 9:30-11 a.m.

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

Details: Author Robert Redd will speak at this free presentation, hosted by the Ormond Beach Historical Society. He will speak of the lesser-known aspects of Florida in the Civil War.

VFW POST 8696 FUNDRAISER

When: 5:30-9 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 19

LOW-COST PET SHOT CLINIC

When: 9-11 a.m.

Where: Big Lots plaza, 122 N. Nova Road, 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. Clinic is open to everyone. Proceeds benefit abused animals. Call or text 748-899

TASTE OF ORMOND

When: 4-7 p.m.

Where: Rockefeller Gardens, 26 Riverside Drive, Ormond

Beach

Details: Enjoy samples from two dozen of Ormond Beach’s best restaurants along with craft beer and wine at this foodie event. Ticket holders may sample as many restaurants as they like, and there is no additional charge for each food item. S.R. Perrott will offer a tasting area with wines and craft beers. Each table also receives two bottles of wine to share. Additional wine and beer is available for sale. Single tickets cost $75 per person, with VIP seating available at $85 per person. Tables seat up to 10 and can be purchased for $700 for regular seating or $800 for a VIP table. Visit https:// buytickets.at/ormondbeachmainstreet/1087246.

TOUCH-A-TRUCK

When: 12-4 p.m.

Where: Port Orange City Center, 1000 City Center Circle, Port Orange

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

Details: Help VFW Post 8696 of Palm Coast raise funds with a pasta buffet diner. Jack Berrios will perform a tribute show to Neil Diamond. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. The show will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $30 per person. Visit vfw8696.org.

Details: See Puppy Pals Live, as seen on America’s Got Talent. Tickets cost $10; kids under 12 are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

ONGOING

‘THE JOY OF COLOR’ When: May 11-31

Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: See this exhibit by the Florida Women’s Arts Association, featuring almost 50 local artists. Free. Visit flwaa. com.

Details: Attend this event presented by the Junior League of Daytona Beach. There will be free books, a craft tent, inflatables, balloon art, food trucks, a scavenger hunt, and first responder vehicles, of course. Free event.

MUSIC IN THE GARDENS

When: 2:30-5:30 p.m.

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

Details: Spend a jazzy afternoon at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. See the Mainland High School Jazz Band perform, along with Bennie Yarbrough on saxophone, Jeanine McAdams on keys and Phil Reed on drums. There will be food trucks and a kid zone. Bring a blanket or chair to sit. Entrance into the park costs $5 per vehicle. The event is presented by the Ormond Beach Jazz Society, the Friends of the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center and the friends of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park.

CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY PRESENTS ‘MUSIC FROM THE STAGE’

When: 3-4:30 p.m.

Where: St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 5400 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: See the Choral Arts Society perform some musical favorites and join their 25th anniversary celebration. Free, but donations are accepted to help provide scholarships to high school seniors. Visit casfl.org.

MONDAY, MAY 20

NARFE CHAPTER 2247

: Houligan’s, 1643 U.S.

: The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Chapter 2247 of Ormond Beach will meet for lunch. The program will be on astrology. For more information, email billdenny105@gmail.com

TUESDAY, MAY 21

FOOD TRUCK TUESDAY

When: 5-8 p.m.

Where: Central Park, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast

Details: Food Truck Tuesday is back. Order appetizers, main dishes, side dishes and desserts. Registration is not required. Presented in partnership with the Observer.

THURSDAY, MAY 23

16TH ANNUAL MEET

THE MAYORS When: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where: Flagler County Association of Realtors, 4101 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell

Details: Meet representatives from the town of Beverly Beach, city of Bunnell, city of Flagler Beach, town of Marineland, city of Palm Coast and the Flagler County Commission. The forum format will include updates from all city, town and county representatives, including a Q&A, if time permits. Lunch is provided. The event is open to the public but registration is required. Visit https://bit. ly/3wCXUiO.

FRIDAY, MAY 24

PUPPY PALS LIVE

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, 5500 E. Highway 100, Palm Coast

BAM SENIOR FITNESS CLASS When: 9:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays Where: Palm Coast First Baptist Church, 6050 Palm Coast Parkway NW, Palm Coast Details: Join this Balance and Motion class and develop strength and endurance, core stability and balance. Taught by senior fitness specialist Artie G, the class is open to all fitness levels and free with most insurances. A donation is accepted for those without coverage. See full schedule at synergyseniorfitness.com or call 386-931-3485.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB When: 12:30-2 p.m. every Tuesday, beginning Jan. 9 Where: Central Baptist Church, 152 Fairview Ave., Daytona Beach Details: Join this book club, which will study “Love Stories of the Bible Speak” by Shannon Bream. The book club will meet in the Marchman Building, room 117. Contact Sylvia Meincke at 386-451-5223.

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-tobe and their preschoolers for support and encouragement. Breakfast is provided, as well as a video with discussion and crafts. Playtime offered for children, with adult supervision. Call 386-255-2588.

MOAS EXHIBITIONS When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Where: Museum of Arts and Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach Details: Want to spend a day looking at fine art? The Museum of Arts and Sciences has the following shows on display: “Tide Pools: Exploring Coastal Communities” ; “Waves & Reels: An Ocean Story through Photography Waves & Reels: An Ocean Story through Photography” ; “The Lure of Florida Fishing” ; and “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived.”

Stephen Chicca, of Sovereign 63, prepares Korean pear and Asian plum marinated short rib bao buns during Taste of Ormond on Sunday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Matanzas sends 13 Future Problem Solvers to international competition

Project Won, Project Spill the Tea and Ava Muldoon in Scenario Writing all and received invites to internationals at Indiana.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

About 40 Flagler County students will be competing at the Future Problem Solving International Conference on June 5-9 at Indiana University in Bloomington. This is the second in a series featuring the students and their projects.

Matanzas High School’s Future Problem Solving club is sending two teams and an individual to the International competition.

Six freshmen collaborated on Project WON (World Oriented News), which placed second at the state competition in Community Problem Solving Civics and Culture Middle Division with an invite to the international competition.

Six sophomores have put together a weekly podcast they call Spill the TEA (Teaching, Entertaining and Advising), which won the CmPS Senior Division at state.

Ava Muldoon placed first in Scenario Writing Senior Division for her story, “The Edge of it all.”

PROJECT WON

William Wells, Tony Pacilli, Carter Ives, Dmytro Sanchenko, Landen Cangialosi and Cline Hansen are putting to rest the assumption that

journalism is dying. Or at least they’re doing their part to convince their peers that it’s essential for them to know what’s going on in their world.

“In Flagler County, less than 50 percent of people actually watch the news,” Pacilli said. “It’s 49. Granted, that’s one percent, but still that’s under half, so we saw that as a bit of a problem.”

So the group decided to create video news clips that are engaging and relatable to their peers. They post them on their instagram account, project_won_mhs. The segments are five minutes or less and cover a variety of topics with each group member providing a specialty.

Sanchenko does school news. Ives reports on international affairs, which these days focuses on foreign wars. Cangialosi presents “Today in History.” Pacilli delivers the sports report, and Wells is the weather guy.

“We watch the news ourselves,” Pacilli said. “We spend hours watching segments and going over multiple news articles, and then, because we’re 14, 15 years old, we figure out how to make it as digestible as possible but still not miss the mark with what’s being presented.”

What makes their reports different is they are not connected. For example, if you’re only interested in Matanzas school news, you can go directly to Sanchenko’s videos.

“I really love the idea of this project,” said Amy Kopach, Flagler Schools’ instructional technology specialist, who coaches the FPS club at Matanzas. “I do think that kids nowadays don’t really watch

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the news. A lot of people don’t even have cable anymore. We started talking at the beginning of the year, ‘Are they getting their news from reliable sources? It was a little bit of a challenge, because you have to tell them, news is not supposed to be biased. So I do think it is an interesting topic for freshmen to be passionate about. I’m really proud of them.”

For the International Conference, the group plans to dress up: Cangialosi wearing a George Washington outfit, Sanchenko wearing Matanzas gear, Pacilli wearing Gators attire, Ives wearing a military uniform and Wells wearing a suit, just like a weatherman.

They’ve all stayed up till 2 or 3 in the morning editing their videos, they say. And while they make the material fun — other than the war news — they are very serious about their project.

Pacilli likens it to Project MESS (Math, English, Science and Social Studies) a tutoring project he and Wells were involved in last year in middle school that also received an international invite.

“That was kind of a similar project where we saw there was a lack of knowledge,” Pacilli said. “I guess it hits home with all of us. This year, we’re teaching common sense stuff, what’s going on, because you don’t want to live in your own bubble where you have no idea what’s happening around you.”

SPILL THE TEA

April Goebel, Megan Rhee, Lily Lisowski, Eva Luis, Brianna O’Malley and Olivia Chochev produce a weekly podcast that provide information geared to their peers.

“We talk about relatable teen things,” Luis said. “So, our first official episode was “Procrastination Nation.” We talk about ways to not procrastinate.”

Another episode was “Hit the brakes,” discussing students’ driving experiences.

“We are able to gather these topics through surveys and from personal encounters with peers at our school,” O’Malley said. “With “Hit

the Brakes,” many freshmen are getting or have their permit and trying to get their license. So, being worried about, am I going to pass? They will communicate that with us and we’ll make a podcast, telling them it’s OK, it’s very normal to be worried about these things.”

They have had guest speakers talking about specific topics such as financial literacy, Rhee said.

They post every Saturday. The podcats can be accessed on Spotify.

“Being teenagers, they know what they want to hear,” Kopach said. “If they have a problem, they want to talk to their peers. And there’s a lot of kids that don’t have other people to talk to, so they thought that if they had real teen issues brought to you by teens, listened to by teens, that would reach a wider audience, and I think that they’ve done a really good job at coming up with some of their topics.”

At the state competition, they had a bucket where FPS students from other schools could fill out information cards.

“We had people put in suggestions for the podcast,” Lisowski said, “so that we can get a range of episodes for more people included in them.”

SCENARIO WRITING

Kopach has been coaching FPS projects since 2012, her first year as a teacher at Rymfire Elementary School. She and her teaching partner were volunteered for the position. Now she is on the FPS Board for

Florida’s Northeast District.

As long as she’s been coaching, she had never coached Scenario Writing before.

“Ava approached me and said, ‘I really want to do this.’ So I said ‘OK, let me learn something new too so we learned along the way,” Kopach said.

In Scenario Writing, the student writes a creative piece set in the future. The topic that the international competitors will be writing about is air quality. Muldoon has done a lot of research on the topic, Kopach said. When she gets to internationals, she’ll be give a future scene, and she’ll have two hours to write a story based on the scene.

“She’ll have to read the (scene), develop all of her characters and then write a creative piece.”

Kopach said she never heard of FPS before she was chosen to coach.

“Now I tell anyone who will listen that if this program is not at your school, you need it to get it. I have had parents come up to me and say their kids went through the program that are now in college and use these skills every day. And I know that my son (Ben, who is now in college) says the same thing, that this program developed who he is now. It’s helped him with talking to people and thinking critically about problems.

“So the program is more than just what these kids are doing in projects every year. It really does teach them how to take this system and apply it to their lives.”

Spill the TEA — Lily Lisowski, Megan Rhee, Olivia Chochev, Eva Luis, Brianna O’Malley and April Goebel — placed first in Community Problem Solving Senior Division at state. Courtesy photos

Front: Tony Pacilli and Dmytro Sanchenko.

Back: Landen Cangialosi, Cline Hansen and Carter Ives. Not pictured: William Wells.

Project WON placed second at states in Community Problem Solving Middle Division.

Vettes for Vets completes new roof for Palm Coast veteran

Local businesses donated the supplies and labor to give retired U.S. Air Force veteran Christopher Preveziotis a new roof.

SIERRA WILLIAMS

The national nonprofit Vettes for Vets has replaced the roof on a Palm Coast veteran’s house, using donated materials and labor.

U.S. Air Force veteran Christopher Preveziotis, who retired in 2017 after 20 years in service, received his new roof on May 10. Vettes for Vets reached out to Preveziotis for free home repairs in October, and this is the first project the nonprofit has completed for him.

Preveziotis said he has no idea when his roof was last replaced. He purchased the home in 2019, and, since then he said, storms over the years have damaged the roof, even causing a leak on one side. Having the roof replaced is a relief, he said. “I feel pretty good, I’m very grateful,” Preveziotis said.

The roofing materials were supplied by Suncoast Roofing Supply in Flagler Beach while the local Bunnell roofing business R&K supplied a team of roofers to install the new shingles.

R&K is co-owned by four members of the Reed family, including business founder Kenneth, an Army veteran and his son, Don, a Navy veteran. Both father and son said knowing the troubles veterans across the nation face, it was nice to be able to support a fellow veteran.

“We’re proud to do it,” Kenneth Reed said.

Don Reed said the statistics of veteran suicide and the lack of services available to veterans are “atrocious.”

“We have so many veterans in desperate situations, and they’re being marginalized,” he said. “So we have to step up and do our part.”

Vettes for Vets Florida Director Ron Boisvert said that any other repairs completed at Preveziotis’ home will depend on what help the nonprofit can organize through local businesses.

“It’s all volunteer businesses,” Boisvert said. “So that’s what I’m still doing, is going around and getting volunteer businesses to help Christopher and the family out [to see] what we can actually get done.”

Vettes for Vets began as a helpinghand volunteer group to help a South Carolina veteran get a new roof. It has since expanded to include the Washington, D.C., area, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.

Suncoast Roofing Supply Branch

Manager Billy Grimsley said the national company is a big supporter

of the U.S. military and its veterans. It’s a corporate initiative to give back to local communities, Grimsley said, and when his branch was contacted by Vettes for Vets, the team was happy to help.

“Immediately we were on board to try to help someone out in the community and get back where we could,” Grimsley said. “Personally, it just feels good to do the right things for the right reasons.”

fall. In a statement from DAV

ter 86 Commander Bill May, May said “Chapter 86 is honored to work with Vettes for Vets to support this very deserving veteran and his family.”

Preveziotis retired as an E6, or technical sergeant, specializing in healthcare administration. He initially enlisted in 1990 but left the service in 1994. In the summer of 2001, he returned to the Air Force and remained enlisted for the next 16 years. Preveziotis is now a disabled veteran who is unable to work. Palm Coast’s Disabled American Veterans Chapter 86 connected Vettes for Vets with

Preveziotis last

Chap-

Suncoast Roofers’ Billy Grimsley, Vettes for Vets’ Ron Boisvert, veteran Christopher Preveziotis, DAV Cmdr. Bill May and R&K co-owners Kenneth and Don Reed. Photos by Sierra Williams

The Bunnell construction company R&K donated the labor needed to install the new shingles.

The Suncoast Roofers Supply team: Michael Ottlein, Davian Jerrel Lopez, Nick Rutter and Branch manager Billy Grimsley.

Touch-A-Truck revs up Town Center

Palm Coast event had over 75 service vehicles from across the county, plus the Saltwater Privateers.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Palm Coast hosted its fourth annual Touch-A-Truck event on May 11, taking over Town Center with over 75 service vehicles from across the county. The family-friendly event lasted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a designated “horn free” hour from 10-11 a.m. Multiple emergency vehicles from the Palm Coast Fire Department, Flagler County Fire Rescue and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office were present, including the Fire Flight helicopter, fire trucks,

a SWAT armored vehicles and an FCSO air boat.

Several city departments from Palm Coast also participated, as well as local businesses and organizations, like the East Flagler Mosquito Control District, which showed up with its own helicopter.

A new addition to the event this year included a pirate ship: the Seawolf Privateers, a nonprofit that raises money to help foster and displaced children, show cased its infamous parade float pirate ship, allowing the children in attendance to take the helm.

TRIBUTES

Daniel “Dan” Martin Goddard

July 29, 1955 - April 11, 2024

Daniel “Dan” Martin Goddard, 68, passed away Thursday, April 11th in Palm Coast, FL.

Dan, one of 6 brothers, was born in Arlington, VA to Helen and Thurman “Buddy” Goddard on July 29, 1955. He grew up in Cocoa, FL, attended Cocoa High School, lived in Merritt Island, FL and retired in Palm Coast, FL. In 1974 Dan entered the U.S. Army and served for 7 years. He also married his high school sweetheart Janet (MacIntyre) in 1974. The two celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this February.

Dan was a dedicated family man. He was always there for his daughter, Brenda, and even though he was busy with work he never let it stop him from attending all of her events. Dan was most proud of his granddaughter, Delaney. She brought him great joy and he spoiled her to no end!

Professionally, Dan had a very successful career in the boat-building industry. In 1981 he began working in the engine station at Sea Ray Boats, Inc. in Merritt Island, FL. He rose up through several departments, from line-worker to the Vice President and General Manager, helping the company become one of the largest manufacturers in North America during its prime. In 2003 he took over as Vice President and General Manager of the Palm Coast facility where he worked until retiring in 2015. He was a leader, mentor, and friend to all of his employees and took great pride

in his Sea Ray family. His hobbies included taking his ‘32 Ford coupe to car shows as part of the Bad Ass Car Club and Florida Dream Cruisers, rooting for the Florida State Seminoles, and of course spending time with family.

Dan is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Steve, John, and Larry. He is survived by his wife Janet Goddard, daughter Brenda Sullivan (Andrew Sullivan), granddaughter Delaney Sullivan, and his brothers Mark and Jim. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the American Cancer Society in his honor.

Flowers for Imagine School teachers

During Teacher Appreciation Week, teachers ‘traveled’ to a different country each day, at Imagine School.

OBSERVER STAFF

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10, Imagine School at Town Center’s teachers were given mini passports as they “traveled” to a different country each day.

On Day 3, teachers and staff traveled to The Netherlands where they were able to visit a fresh flower market and create their own floral bouquets.

With the help of parent volunteers and a few eighth grade students, Imagine School set up the floral market for teachers and staff to make their own

TRIBUTES

Nathan Daniel Palmer November 9, 1983 - April 26, 2024

Nathan Daniel Palmer, 40, of Palm Coast, Florida, passed away unexpectedly on April 26, 2024, due to complications following surgery. He was born on November 9, 1983, in Harare, Zimbabwe. At the age of 5, he emigrated to South Africa, where he spent his formative years and pursued his passion for the sport of cricket. Nathan also studied Accounting at UNISA; University of South Africa, laying the foundation for a successful career ahead.

Nathan’s love for cricket took him around the globe, where he became a well-known professional player, gracing fields in Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and beyond. In 2006, at the age of 23, he embarked on a new journey, immigrating to the United States and settling in Flagler Beach. It was there that he encountered the love of his life, Jessica. Their connection was immediate, and within a month of meeting, they were engaged. Later that year, they exchanged vows and began a beautiful journey together.

The first years of their marriage were marked by adventure and exploration as they traveled the world hand in hand. Nathan’s zest for life extended beyond the cricket field; he found joy in culinary arts, particularly mastering the art of “Braai,” a South African BBQ technique. His skill behind the grill was matched only by his passion for bringing people together through food and fellowship.

Nathan leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories. He is survived by his devoted wife of 18 years, Jessica; their beloved son, Chase Isaac Palmer; his parents, Roderick and Valerie Palmer; his brother, Daniel, and sisterin-law Caitlin Palmer; his sister, Natalie Palmer; his grandmother, Gerri and a host of loving relatives, cousins, and dear friends.

In the hearts of those who knew him,

Nathan will forever be remembered for his infectious laughter, boundless spirit, a hug like no other and unwavering love for his family and friends. Though he may no longer walk among us, his light will continue to shine brightly through the lives he touched.

In lieu of flowers, our American family and friends are welcome to use the QR link and follow the directions below for a Zelle transfer directly to an account for Chase’s College Fund.

For our overseas and international friends and family, if you would like to make a donation please use the Go Fund Me https://gofund. me/a430f1e8 as we will be converting this to a college fund for Chase after the Celebration of Nathan’s life service and expenses have been settled.

The celebration of Nathan’s forty years of life will be held at Break Awayz; 819 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 June 15th at 6:00 pm followed by a ceremony on Flagler Beach directly across from the restaurant. Everyone is welcome to join us to celebrate Nathan, who is truly one of kind. Let’s make it big, let’s make it loud and let’s make it full of love just like he was.

bouquets.

It was just one of the ways the school showed faculty and staff how much they are appreciated.

Send money with Zelle to Jessica Palmer

Tabitha and David Wilkins with their son Kayden, 2. Photos by Sierra Williams

The Gregg family with the East Flagler Mosquito Control’s helicopter: father James with Madison 3, and Michael, 1.

Jasmine Vasquez with her daughter, Indigo Ben Noyes brought his family Hyden Noyes and Winter Ashby to Touch a Truck and tested out the motorcycles on display.

Liese Dudley, third grade teacher.

Laura Zehnder, sixth grade teacher.

Eighth grade student helpers Jordyn Carnelli, Madilyn Kolehmainen, Leya Affotey-Gaskin and Diego Roman. Courtesy photos

Fourth grade teachers Stephanie Reyes and Darla Beck and Pam O’Neal of the support staff.

Karla Cuthbertson, occupational therapist

Non Sequitur

Nancy

Mother Goose and Grimm

The Duplex

In the Bleachers Cornered Ziggy

The Fusco Brothers

SPORTS

Young Pirates

Youth movement continues for Matanzas High School football.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Matanzas football coach Matt Forrest is excited about his current freshman class — those players who will be sophomores in the fall.

He’s also excited about his incoming freshman class — eighth graders who have been coming over from middle school each day to participate in spring drills with the older players.

About 35 rising freshmen have joined Matanzas’ spring practice, and about 30 rising sophomores have flourished in their first full year in the Pirates’ football program.

“We’ve got more eighth graders and ninth graders than we’ve got juniors and seniors,” Forrest said. “That tells us our program is growing.”

He expects 10 to 15 sophomores to contribute on varsity this season.

“You stay somewhere long enough, you go through this type of transition,” said Forrest, who is beginning his fifth season with the Pirates. “We graduated a lot of seniors that had a lot of production for us and really set the foundation for what we’re doing here. And we got a lot of young kids, a lot of freshmen who have done a great job in buying into our culture and our standard.”

Rising sophomore linebacker Jack

Ferguson began his freshman season on the JV team and was moved up to varsity for the final four games, spelling older players on the field.

Receiver Brady Putis spent his freshman season on the JV team, but after a full year of working hard in the weight room, he’s ready to move up to varsity this year. They are representative of a freshman class that is expected have three more productive years in the program.

“Those guys have bought into the entire process,” Forrest said. “When the doors are open to the weight room, they’re here, whether that’s six o’clock in the morning or 3:40 in the afternoon. They’re always the first to show up and the last to leave.” Ferguson and Putis credit their older teammates with welcoming them onto the team and guiding them along the way.

“I think our freshman class is the next big class,” Ferguson said. “We’re

“I think our freshman class is the next big class. We’re all committed.”

JACK FERGUSON, linebacker

all committed.” Forrest agrees.

“Our outgoing seniors did a great job of creating that foundation of what our standard is, and what to expect,” he said. “And I think this freshman group has really taken that process and ran with it and elevated it.”

The soon-to-be sophomores also credit the Pirates’ coaching staff, especially assistant head coach Don LaFleur, who leads their sixth period weightlifting class.

“He lifts with us,” Ferguson said. “He counts us (freshmen) as his class.”

“Coach LaFleur is like a father to me,” Putis said. “He also helps us with our diet. We’re bigger and stronger now, and Coach LaFleur is the main reason.”

The Pirates will have only 10 to 12 seniors this season, Forrest said, but they do have some experienced positions. Left tackle Jaylon Owens, a rising senior, leads an experienced offensive line. There are several returning defensive backs. And quarterback Jackson Lundahl, who has been the primary backup the past two seasons, is competing with rising junior Caden Burchfield and rising senior Ethan Ellis, who’s family moved in from Nikiski, Alaska.

With a second large freshman class in a row, Forrest expects to have over 100 players in the program for the second consecutive year.

“For us being a 5A football team, to me our sweet spot is 100 to 115 players,” he said.

Matanzas finished 7-4 last season and made the playoffs for the first time in three years. It will have a more difficult schedule this year with

Jacksonville Bishop Kenny replacing South Lake to open the season, and Mount Dora replacing Winter Springs. The Pirates have also added Andrew Jackson High School from Jacksonville.

State finalist St. Augustine is off the schedule but has been replaced by state champ Mainland. The Pirates will be in a new three-team district with Mainland and Belleview.

The Potato Bowl game against Flagler Palm Coast moves back to the last game of the season, Nov. 1 at FPC.

“We had some teams that had

to make some decisions that were best for their program,” Forrest said. “That’s what happens. You got to step up your competition, and we’re certainly not afraid to do that. When your program thrives, so does everything with it.”

BLUE-WHITE GAME

Matanzas intrasquad scimmage, 7 p.m., Friday, May 17 at Pirates stadium

FPC’s Cronk, Matanzas’ Howard win region track and field championships

Mainland didn’t win an event at the Region 2-3A track and field championships on May 8. But the Buccaneer boys got contributions from a host of athletes to win the team title at Plant City High School.

The Mainland boys have qualifiers in seven events for the Class 3A state championships on May 17 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Flagler Palm Coast, Seabreeze and Matanzas each had an individual champ at regionals.

FPC’s Colby Cronk, who has been the top shot putter in Class 4A all season, heads into the 4A state championships on May 18 at UNF with a mark that is more than five feet farther than his closest competitor.

The junior won the Region 1-4A title at UNF with a personal record

throw of 17.96 meters (58 feet, 11.25 inches). Cronk also qualified for state in discus and has the third longest discus throw among 4A state qualifiers.

Seabreeze senior Chandler Mitzo won the Region 2-3A javelin title with a throw of 51.27 meters (168 feet, 2 inches). Mitzo placed third at state last season.

Matanzas’ senior Sierra Howard won the girls 800-meter title with a time of 2:18.24 in Region 1-3A at UNF.

Mainland’s boys qualified athletes in three jumping events with Marquis McCants placing second in long jump and third in triple jump and Zion Noralus placing third in high jump. Noralus placed third at state last year with a height of 6 feet, 3.5 inches, which he matched at last week’s regional.

Other state qualifiers for the Mainland boys team include Emmanuel Yisrael in 110 hurdles, Demond

Noelien in discus and the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. Yisrael placed second at region and has the third best time in Class 3A this season at 14.38 seconds in an April 19 meet. Kiera Williams placed second in the girls 400-meter run (58.67 seconds) to qualify for state along with the 4x400 relay team. Also qualifying for the FPC boys were Tanner Cauley-Bennett and Chase Magee in pole vault, Elijah Thero, Zeli Hayworth and Jacob Stevenson in javelin and the 4x800 relay team. Hayworth placed second in the Class 3A meet last year when he was throwing for Seabreeze.

Maya Tyson qualified in both shot put and discus for the FPC girls. Olivia Gaines qualified in triple jump. FPC’s girls team also qualified in the 4x100 and 4x800 relays. Matanzas’ Jordan Youngman qualified in the 400 hurdles placing second at regional. The Pirates also qualified in the girls 4x400

Quarterback Caden Burchfield (18) runs a keeper during a drill at Matanzas spring practice.

Matanzas defenders pursue a receiver after the catch in spring practice.

Rising senior Jackson Lundahl (3) is competing for the starting quarterback spot after being the primary backup the past two seasons.

relay.

Quarterback Cole Hardy is one of about 35 Matanzas incoming freshmen who is participating in spring practice. Photos by Brent Woronoff

Flagler Palm Coast’s Colby Cronk puts the shot at the Five Star Conference championships on April 4 at FPC. Cronk won the Five Star, district and regional titles and heads into state with the No. 1 seed. File photo by Michele Meyers

SIDE LINES

FPC basketball camp

The Flagler Palm Coast girls basketball team will host a basketball camp for boys and girls ages 6-13 on May 27-29. The camp, led by coach George Butts, will run three days from 8 a.m. to noon at FPC’s E.W. “Andy” Anderson Athletic Center. Cost is $130. Register at https://rb.gy/yjp6ca. For more information, call 386-437-7540.

MHS soccer camp

Matanzas will host a soccer camp for boys and girls in grades 3-8 on May 29-31, 8:30-11:30 a.m. at Matanzas High School. Campers are asked to bring shinguards, cleats and a water bottle and wear athletic clothes. The camp will be led by Matanzas coaches and players. Campers will learn technical and tactical skills and participate in competitive drills and scrimmages. Cost is $100. To register, go to https://bit. ly/3wotGjO. For more information, email piratesoccerboys@gmail.com

FPC baseball falls

1-0

Flagler Palm Coast senior Kevin Maya kept his team in the game against Orlando Timber Creek in the Region 1-7A baseball quarterfinals, but the Bulldogs couldn’t get their bats going against Wolves pitcher Connor Mulready. Mulready tossed a three-hit shutout against FPC as top-seeded Timber Creek defeated No. 8 seed FPC 1-0 on May 7. Maya, who along with FPC teammate Connor May will play for Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, next season, scattered 11 hits in six innings against host Timber Creek. After giving up a run in the first on an RBI by Michael Thomas, Maya threw five shutout innings.

Successful season, successful road trip for Matanzas High

The Pirates lost 2-0 in a regional quarterfinal at Gulf Breeze, but the team gained a great deal as they closed out an outstanding season.

Even though Matanzas lost to Gulf Breeze 2-0 on May 9 in the Region 1-5A softball quarterfinals, the 420mile trip to the western end of the Panhandle was fruitful in a couple of ways, coach Sabrina Manhart said. First, the Pirates’ young players got a taste of the playoffs and a reward for a superb year. Matanzas finished the season with a 19-5 record with no seniors and only two players — juniors Leah Stevens and Ashley Sampselle — who had been involved in a regional playoff game before.

Both of those players got on base against Middle Tennessee State signee Leila Ammon.

“They were more seasoned and you could see that,” Manhart said. “I didn’t fear that we weren’t going to be able to hit, but nerves might have

had something to do with it. There’s no question (our players) will be back in these same moments next year and they’ll be ready for them. This was a chance for them to grow.”

Also, Manhart said, the Pirates got to witness her relationship with her former high school coach, Brenda Pena, who was in the Gulf Breeze dugout.

Pena had coached Manhart at Woodham High School in Pensacola through Manhart’s junior season in 1997 before becoming the head coach at Pensacola State College. Pena came out of retirement to fill in for Gulf Breeze coach Chelsea McGehee during McGehee’s maternity leave and remained with the team after McGehee returned.

Manhart got a chance to chat with Pena and introduce her players to her former coach.

“It was full circle for me,” Manhart said. “And it was cool for my players to see the lifelong relationships I’ve built, and the lifelong relationship they’ll have with me. You can always call on Coach Pena, and they’ll be able to call on me anytime too. We’re going to be here forever for those girls.”

Mulready, who has committed to Rollins College, struck out nine and did not walk a batter. Cody Clymer, Brenin Striplin and Marion Clayton each got a hit for the Bulldogs. Timber Creek (24-6) went on to beat Spruce Creek on May 10 and Creekside on May 13 to advance to the Class 7A state semifinals.

The Bulldogs struggled at the plate throughout the season, finishing with a .194 team batting average, but they advanced to the regional playoffs for the second straight year under coach Kyle Marsh, won the Five Star Conference tourney for the first time and finished with a winning record at 14-13. After losing five in a row in midseason, the Bulldogs won seven straight from April 4 to April 18 and closed the regular season with nine wins in 10 games.

Sculling squad brings home medals

The Marker 14 Sculling Squad, rowing out of the Intracoastal Waterway in Flagler Beach, brought home medals from the Florida Masters Regatta in Orlando on May 4.

Carole Phelan won gold in the Women’s Single catgeory, Carla Sallese Bice won silver in Women’s Single, Dan Bryant won silver in Men’s Single Novice, Tom Hury won bronze in Men’s Single Lightweight and Robin Jaeger placed fourth in Women’s Single Lightweight. Don Davis is the squad’s coach.

Manhart said her players traveled well. They broke up the trip with a dynamic stretching session at a rest area, stopped to eat and finally got in some batting and fielding practice in the area before arriving at Gulf Breeze. The game itself became a duel between two of the top pitchers in the state in Ammons and Stevens.

Stevens allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out 12 in seven innings. Ammons gave up two hits and a walk and struck out 13 batters (note: Gulf Breeze credited Ammons with a nohitter in its scorebook).

“We knew we were going to see a

Douglas Seth in

Seth, Cerace place at track championships

Douglas Seth finished in the top 20 in three events and Peyton Cerace finished among the top 11 in three events at the Florida Youth Running Association Middle School State Track and Field Championship on May 3-4 at IMG Academy in Bradenton.

good pitcher,” Manhart said. “We got on base a couple of times. Unfortunately, we didn’t have timely hits. Leah was lights out. She had prepared all season for postseason play. She hit her spots and moved the ball around in the zone well.”

Overall, Manhart said, the Pirates had a lot to be proud about this year.

“A lot of people questioned if we could make it this far, because we had lost so many players and we were so young,” Manhart said. “It took every single one of those young ladies and they bought into our culture and gave it their all. I’m very very excited about the future with this group.”

Seth, a seventh grader at Buddy Taylor Middle School who runs with Mike Pane’s Imagine School At Town Center club team, placed fourth in the 3,000-meter run with a personal-record time of 9:26.69, sixth in the 1,500 meters (4:22.57) and 19th in the 800 meters (2:15.65).

Indian Trails Middle School eighth grader Peyton Cerace placed fourth in the girls 3,000 meters with a time of 10:31.01, sixth in the 1,500 (4:53.62) and 11th in the 800 (2:26.26).

Seth won the 3,000 meters at the Middle School Indoor Championship on Feb. 10 with a state record time of 9:33.40. At the outdoor championship, he was the only seventh grader to finish among the top 11 in the 3,000 meters, the only seventh grader to finish among the top eight in the 1,500 and the only seventh grader to finish among the top 20 in the 800. Eighth grader Owen Stackpole of the Imagine School club also qualified for the FYRA Championship and finished 72nd in the 3,000 meters with a time of 11:08.30.

Email news and story ideas for Associated Editor Brent Woronoff at brent@observerlocalnews.com .

Campanella returns to Seabreeze as Sandcrabs’ new athletic director

Anthony Campanella was Seabreeze’s head baseball coach for 24 years. He also coached FPC for four years.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Anthony Campanella is returning home.

“Campy,” as he is known to hundreds of former colleagues and baseball players he’s coached over the years, will be the new athletic director at Seabreeze High School.

He spent 27 1/2 years at Seabreeze including 24 years as the head baseball coach before stepping down in 2017.

“I’m super excited,” he said. “Once a Sandcrab always a Sandcrab. It’s something new, but it’s nothing I’m unfamiliar with. Working with everybody in the community, the students, the parents, it’s going to be electric.”

Campanella was the assistant athletic director at Seabreeze for several years, working with longtime AD Jerry Chandler. As the head baseball coach, he led the Sandcrabs to seven district titles and 16 playoff appearances. His teams advanced to the state final four in 1999, 2001 and 2003. His 2001 team finished as the Class 4A state runner-up.

Campanella went on to coach at Flagler Palm Coast for four seasons, including three seasons as the Bulldogs’ head coach. He was the head coach at Deltona High School for the

past two years. He led the Wolves to the District 5-5A championship with a 17-2 win over Pine Ridge earlier this month.

In 29 seasons as a head baseball coach, Campanella compiled a record of 477-298.

Campanella said Seabreeze Principal Tucker Harris reached out to Deltona Principal Mike Micallef about the possibility of Campanella returning home.

Campanella said his job at Deltona as a teacher on assignment is funded by Title I money. Micallef, a Seabreeze graduate and one of Campanella’s former players, told Campanella that he couldn’t guarantee he’d have a job for his former coach next year.

“He said (Harris) might be looking for an AD, and this might be a good

thing for you,” Campanella said. “I talked it over with Mr. Harris with the blessing of Mr. McCauliffe.”

Campanella is committed to coaching the Orlando Scorpions club baseball team this summer. He begins his new job on July 1. He replaces Brad Montgomery, who has been the Sandcrabs’ AD since 2018. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to come back to Seabreeze,” he said. “The timing was perfect. I started my career there and I want to end it there. I’m looking forward to working with the coaches and making Seabreeze the best it can be athletically and of course educationally. I’ll still be working with players and hoping to enrich their lives in a different capacity. It’s something that is different and new.”

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Leah Stevens throws a pitch against Deltona in the district championship game on May 2. Stevens allowed one unearned run and struck out 12 in the regional quarterfinal at Gulf Breeze on May 9. File photos by Brent Woronoff

Ashley Sampselle drives a pitch against Deltona in the district championship game against on May 2. The junior went 1 for 3 in a regional quarterfinal at Gulf Breeze on May 9.

the lead at the FLYRA Middle School State Track and Field Championship. Courtesy photo

FPC’s Kevin Maya pitches against Spruce Creek in a game last season. The senior allowed one run in a 1-0 loss to Timber Creek in a Region 1-7A quarterfinal on May 7. File photo by Brent Woronoff

Anthony Campanella is returning to Seabreeze as the Sandcrabs’ new athletic director. Courtesy photo

FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2023 CA 000567 BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY MORRIS, DECEASED, et al. Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated January 05, 2024, and entered in 2023 CA 000567 of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH Judicial Circuit in and for Flagler County, Florida, wherein MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC is the Plaintiff and THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY MORRIS, DECEASED; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; DAWANA P. BURNS; MICHAEL K. MORRIS; KIM L. GREEN are the Defendant(s). TOM W. BEXLEY as the Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at https://flagler.realforeclose.com, at 11:00 AM, on June 14, 2024, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 6, BLOCK 32, OF PALM

COAST, MAP OF PINE GROVE, SECTION 28, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 9, PAGE(S) 51-66, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA. Property Address: 60 POINT

PLEASANT DRIVE, PALM COAST, FL 32164

Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 45.031. IMPORTANT

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES

ACT. If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to access court facilities or participate in a court proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. To request such an accommodation, please contact Court Administration in advance of the date the service is needed: Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste D-305, Deland, FL 32724, (386) 257-6096. Hearing or voice impaired, please call 711. Dated this 13 day of May, 2024. ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC

Attorney for Plaintiff 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33487

Telephone: 561-241-6901

Facsimile: 561-997-6909

Service Email: flmail@raslg.com

By: \S\Danielle Salem Danielle Salem, Esquire Florida Bar No. 0058248 Communication Email: dsalem@raslg.com 23-109518 - MiM May 16, 23, 2024

Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg. 1, Bunnell, Florida 32110. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS 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 demands 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

JNAI

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ABOVE WATER by Garrett Chalfin, edited by Jeff Chen

By Luis Campos