Palm Coast Observer 05-30-24

Photos by Jake Montgomery Philip Cangialosi

WATCH

Fire Department dedicates engine in honor of U.S. Army soldier

The Palm Coast Fire Department dedicated a fire engine in memory of U.S. Army Sgt. Luke Stanford over the Memorial weekend.

The annual Gold Star Dedication ceremony took place at at Fire Station 23, locally known as Indian Trails, at 5750 Belle Terre Parkway. The department’s new 2024 E-One Typhoon engine was dedicated to Stanford and placed into front-line service, a PCFD press release said.

“We are incredibly proud that Sgt. Stanford’s memory will now accompany Palm Coast Fire Engine 23 as they strive to deliver the best service to our community every time,” Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill said. Local officials, Gold Star families and the family and friends of Stanford attended the ceremony held in Stanford’s honor. Stanford enlisted in the Army in 2004 and was assigned to assigned to the Charlie Company, 16th Engineer Battalion. He was deployed to Tal Afar, Iraq, in January 2006 and died on Oct. 4, 2008.

New program aims to accelerate swale maintenance

Palm Coast’s Stormwater department has launched a pilot program to help with swale regrading.

During the City Council’s May 28 budget workshop meeting, the Stormwater & Engineering Department provided an overview of its projects and needs for the next budgeting session. Stormwater & Engineering Deputy Director Lynn Stevens said the pilot program, launched on May 1, is meant to provide support for the city’s regular swale maintenance crew.

“The purpose is to improve swale functions in more areas, to be able to touch more issues, more areas, by removing just those high spots that create blockages in the swale system,” Stevens said.

Palm Coast has 1,222 miles of swales that are cleaned and dug out on a rotating basis, Stevens said. When the swale maintenance crew goes to a new rotation, organized by letter sections of Palm Coast, the crew will complete as much swale maintenance as possible in that area over a two-month period.

The way the pilot program works is that staff will go out on site and evaluate a swale for high spots, Stevens said. Sometimes, an entire swale does not need to be fully regraded, she said.

Most high spots form where new construction meets an existing home, on either side of a culvert or near a vacant lot, she said.

Stevens only had two full weeks of data to present to the council, since the program only launched on May 1. In that time, she said, the crew touched seven work orders, regraded 3,300 linear feet and improved approximately 6,685 feet of swales.

In comparison, the crew running full swale maintenance, in the same time period, cleared eight workers, regraded 2,941 linear feet and improved approximately 4,971 feet of swale.

But spot regrading will not work everywhere, she said.

“Some swales around the city will still require the full swale run to be regraded,” Stevens said.

In an interview with the Observer in January, Stevens said Palm Coast

had 950 outstanding swale maintenance requests from residents.

At the May 28 meeting, Stevens told the council that in fiscal year 2023, the stormwater department had 2,193 new cases opened on Palm Coast Connect while the department resolved 1,676 cases. The remaining 748 outstanding cases are in line to be reviewed, she said.

These cases cases do not include the infill lot cases, which are still open and being reviewed as well, she said.

Most, but not all, of the cases submitted to the stormwater department are about swale maintenance, Stevens said. What most people don’t realize, she said, is that the swale system is actually at the bottom of the list as far as how the city’s stormwater system runs. To run efficiently, the city canals must be in working order first, then its ditches and, lastly, the swales.

“The first thing the resident thinks about is the swale in the front yard,” she said of the stormwater system. “The reality is that our system is massive, and the major components

of the stormwater system are elements that are downstream of the swales.

Part of the struggle the department has is addressing the increasing number of Palm Coast Connect complaints while maintaining its swale maintenance rotations, she said.

Going into the fiscal year 2025 budget session, Stevens said, as far as the swale maintenance program goes, the department was requesting a second ditch crew in the fiscal year 2025 budget.

A second culvert crew, she said, could also be added before the beginning of fiscal year 2025 in September if the council agreed to use a loan approved in the 2024 budget to purchase another vacuum truck instead of the pontoon excavator it was slated for. Then the city would only need to hire one additional person to help run the machine.

The council agreed to the change.

Mayor David Alfin thanked the department for its work.

“You’re responding to an issue of critical importance,” he said.

1,222 miles of swales in Palm Coast.

177 miles of ditches in Palm Coast.

58 miles of canals in Palm Coast are part of the stormwater system.

2 swale maintenance crews work for the city. The city also has one ditch crew and one culvert crew.

35 miles of swale were cleaned out in 2023. This is less than in 2022 and projected for 2024 because delays from hurricanes.

44 miles of swales projected to be completed in 2024.

60 days allotted per each section in the swale maintenance rotation.

2,193 new cases were submitted to the Stormwater department in fiscal year 2023. Many were about swale maintenance.

1,676 submitted Stormwater cases were resolved in fiscal year 2023.

748 submitted Stormwater cases are still outstanding from fiscal year 2023.

Swales are residents’ prime concern, but they are impacted by the flow in ditches and canals. Photo courtesy of the city of Palm Coast

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

‘He was my big brother’

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Thirty-six east, row nine:

That is where the name of Julia Moore’s brother, U.S. Army Cpl. Owen Niel Garnet, lies on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.

It’s been 56 years since Garnet died during the Vietnam War, but Moore said she never imagined he wouldn’t come back from war.

“I always loved him and knew that, even if he didn’t show it, he loved me and looked out for me,” she said.

“He was my big brother.”

Garnet was honored for his sacrifice at the Flagler County Memorial Day Ceremony on May 27. Moore and her daughter Flagler County Court Judge Melissa Distler

Moore said her brother joined the Army alongside his friend who had been drafted.

She said she remembered how Garnet loved to play baseball and played catcher in little league and in high school. To this day, her favorite position is catcher, she said.

— the niece Garnet never got a chance to meet — spoke in Garnet’s honor during the ceremony.

Moore said she wishes Garnet were still alive and able to meet his niece and Moore’s grandchildren. She still misses him, she said.

“Our dad, who was a World War II veteran, grieved in silence,” Moore said. “I don’t know that our mother ever recovered.”

Flagler County Veterans Service Officer David Lydon said Garnet was assigned to the second battalion, 47th mechanized infantry. At just 20 years old, Garnet was

killed in Bien Hoa, Vietnam on Jan. 31, 1968.

“His friends still miss him, especially on Memorial Day,” Lydon said. “Scholarships have been awarded in his name.”

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Mark Thieme, executive director of the Florida State Guard, was the county’s guest speaker for the ceremony. During his service, Thieme earned the military honors the Legion of Merit,

Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, among other honors, accord ing to a press release from Flagler County.

the national anthem and local Boy and Girls Scout

Palm Coast honors nation’s heroes

Flagler County Memorial Day Ceremony honored the fallen. An Honor Walk around Heroes Memorial Park followed the ceremony.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The city of Palm Coast’s Memorial Day Service on the morning of May 27 honored fallen military members and first responders with the traditional presentation of wreaths.

The ceremony at Heroes Memorial Park also included a new tradition that the city hopes to establish. With the closing of the ceremony, residents and other guests were invited to join an Honor Walk around the park. Flowers were passed out to be placed at the

Troops 400 and 2314 lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to open the ceremony. Veteran Vince Cautero closed the ceremony with a rendition of “God

ed colors. The Communicty chorus of Palm Coast sang the national anthem and performed a musical tribute that

included “Unsung Hero” and “God Bless America.” The Marine Corps League Detachment 876 carried out

a three-volley salute. Retired Senior Airman Lisa Cone of Bugles Across America played Taps.

Daniel Keirns, a 31-year Navy veteran, salutes during the national anthem, next to his wife, Kay Keirns, at the Flagler Coounty Memorial Day Ceremony. Photos by Sierra Williams

American Legion Post 115’s Joseph Licata rings the Lost Roll Call bell for Flagler County veterans who died over the last year.

Veteran Vince Cautero salutes the flag during the national anthem.

Melanie DeMartino sings the national anthem.

Giovanni Torres, a United States Army first sergeant with the second battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade in Palm Coast.

Julia V. Moore and Flagler County Court Judge Melissa Distler spoke in honor of Moore’s brother, U.S. Army Cpl. Owen Niel Garnet, who died in the line of duty in 1968

DAV Auxillary Cmdr. Marty Feidler escorts Palm Coast City Council Member Cathy Heighter back to her seat from the Military Memorial where she placed a wreath in honor of her son, Army Spc. Raheen Tyson Heighter.

Retired Senior Airman Lisa Cone of Bugles Across America plays Taps.

Palm Coast Fire Department Lt. Patrick Juliano plays Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.

Charles W. Hanger, a Purple Heart recipient, hands out a brief history of the medal by the Purple Heart Memorial

The Marine Corps League Detachment 876 carries out the three-volley salute.

Rev. Dr. Mark J. Schreiber delivers the invocation.

FPC team set to tackle global issue

Four students heading to Future Problem Solving internationals for Global Issues Team Writing.

BRENT

Four Flagler Palm Coast High School sophomores solved the autonomous vehicle problem at the Future Problem Solving state competition. Now they will try their hand at solving the air quality conundrum.

Ava Mello, Victoria DaSilva-Carvalheira, Arianna Slaughter and Liam Lafferty won first place at state in the Global Issues Team Writing Senior Division and are heading to the International Conference on June 5-9 at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

The International Competition will bring together over 2,000 champion problem solvers from over 14 countries, including 40 competitors from four Flagler County schools. This is the third in a series on the Flagler students who were invited to Internationals.

The Global Issues team, coached by Melissa Castaneda, will have two hours to come up with a solution to a future scenario involving air quality, this year’s international topic, using the problem solvers’ six-step process.

“We just go through the process where we identify challenges and then find a main one,” Mello said. “And then we identify solutions and we rank (them). We write a whole action plan based on the solution that scored the highest.”

Their solution to the autonomous vehicle problem?

Magnet brakes.

“The magnet brakes would be installed on every autonomous vehicle on the road,”

DaSilva-Carvalheira said.

“And then if a collision was inevitable, the magnets would be activated to repel the cars away from one another.”

The team members admit they don’t take the competition too seriously. They just enjoy the process.

“Honestly, before states we didn’t do much research,” Slaughter said. “We did some the day before, but I think that kind of helps us because we can figure it out while we’re doing it. You could research everything and still not have a good solution, because it’s really about problem solving skills and working together as a team.”

Slaughter and Mello have been working together on FPS teams since they were fifth graders at Old Kings Elementary School.

“In the beginning, we started with Community Problem Solving. But in middle school we transitioned to writing Global Issues,” Mello said.

As they work to come up with their action plan, the four throw out ideas.

“We take them like, there’s no stupid ideas,” Mello said.

“Our group is just full of

giggles,” DaSilva-Carvalheira said. “I think we’re probably one of the louder groups when we’re in competition. We just have to quiet each other down, because we don’t want to get in trouble.”

Lafferty was absent from the interview for this article. DaSilva-Carvalheira said he is very creative when they bounce around ideas. He is the only one of the team who has been to the International Conference before.

“He’s told us that he really wants to do the talent show and sing Buddy Holly,” DaSilva-Carvalheira said. “That’s about all he’s giving us, but he went for Scenario Writing last year, so he doesn’t have much advice pertaining to Global Issues.”

Another activity the group is looking forward to is gift trading. Each state or country brings a gift to trade. The Florida teams, they said, are bringing plastic and rubberducky flamingos.

“I’m looking forward to meeting people,” Mello said. “I’ve never really gone this far away for a competition. So, I think it’s going to be a fun experience, and we’re probably going to learn a lot, and hopefully it’ll help us improve, because this won’t be our last time going.”

Flagler Palm Coast’s Victoria DaSilva-Carvalheira, Arianna Slaughter, Ava Mello and Liam Lafferty will compete in Global issues Team Writing at internationals. Courtesy photo

Rymfire Elementary sends two FPS groups to international competition

Vocab Lab helps students improve their vocabulary with theme days and other resources; Team WINS eases transition for new students.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Rymfire Elementary School’s Future

Problem Solving teams swept first and second place in the Community Problem Solving Junior Division at the state competition in March.

Both teams of fifth graders are headed to the International Conference on June 5-9 at Indiana University in Bloomington. The two projects are related, both helping to solve problems that are somewhat unique to their school.

Rymfire regularly receives large numbers of new students, many of whom are English Language Learners. One group helps them and other students with language skills. The other group helps make the new arrivals feel welcome.

Vocab Lab, coached by Caryn Taylor, has helped improve vocabulary levels school-wide by getting Rymfire’s teachers to participate in three vocabulary themed days a week.

Team members Kenan Davis, Elissa Griffin, Evelyn Sheifer, German Kabaloev and Elisei Volkovskiy won first place at state in CmPS.

“Our project is about how we want to increase exposure to reading and vocabulary because 71% of the (students) were not on grade level,” Elissa said.

The group started “Wear A Word Wednesday,” in which the teachers attach an index card to a lanyard that they wear around their neck. Each teacher’s word of the day is written on the index card.

“When a student asks them about their word, (the teachers) give a definition and they explain about their word and they give examples,” Kenan said.

Other theme days include Morphology Monday and Figurative

Language Friday.

“We went to the SAC and faculty meetings to present our ideas,” German said. “With the money, we bought figurative language books for all the classes in our school.”

They also bought index cards, lanyards and posters.

“When the kids go to the faculty meetings, the teachers are very supportive of their projects,” Taylor said. “You want to do it for the kids.”

The results speak for themselves.

From the team’s first diagnostic to the third, test scores improved from 27% on or above grade level to 54%.

Taylor, the team’s teacher/coach said there are 97 English Language Learners at Rymfire. Two of them are on the Vocab Lab team.

“For me and German, English is not our first language,” Elisei said.

“For me it’s my third and for him it’s his second. So we also use this project for our needs.”

Elisei, who speaks Ukranian and Russian, came to Rymfire in VPK and couldn’t speak any English at the time. German, whose first language is Russian, has only been in this country for a year and a half, he said.

“I only knew the alphabet and a couple of words,” he said. “Our Vocab Lab group helped me a lot because English vocabulary is a lot different than Russian vocabulary.”

On Literacy Night, Elissa said, the group passed out newsletters and

vocabulary games. The group made posters with prefixes and suffixes, Elisei said. They have a wall of idioms in the school, Kenan said, where people can add idioms or take them off.

Through teacher surveys, the group discovered that Wear a Word Wednesday was the most beneficial of the theme days. In fact, Principal Travis Lee said Wear a Word will stick around next year, after the Vocab Lab team members move on to middle school.

Monday’s theme of morphology (the study of word parts) had the least participation, the group mem-

bers said. But Figurative Language Friday has also been a hit.

“Some people like firefighters walked into the lower grades and read figurative language books to the classes,” Kenan said.

“Some of the teachers said they loved the figurative language books,” Coach Taylor said. “Just saying it’s Figurative Language Friday reminded them to hit some figurative language, because that’s an area that we usually score poorly on in state testing.

“These are things we can continue,” she said. “It’s a sustainable project.”

PROJECTS WINS

The other Rymfire group competing at internationals is Pronject WINS — “Welcoming In New Students.”

The group includes Ryan Sugart, Jaycob Griffin, Gia Rego and Allijah Pressley and is coached by Judy White.

“We did some research,” Ryan said, “and we thought that new students didn’t feel as welcomed as they should, because everyone should feel welcome at school, and that’s something we all kind of relate to.”

The group makes goodie bags containing supplies and snack tickets for new students.

“To make the new students feel welcome,” Gia said, “instead of adults walking them to class, we walk them to class ourselves.”

“We meet them in the front office,” Alijah said. “And we walk them to the class and introduce them to the teacher and give them a goodie bag.”

Robin Alverson, Rymfire’s cafeteria manager, helped resupply the group’s goodie bags and shared the project with other schools, the group members said.

The group also made videos showing virtual tours of the school.

“So instead of just learning on the way, they can watch it and learn more about our school,” Jaycob said.

Rymfire Elementary School’s Team WINS: Jaycob Griffin, Gia Rego, Ryan Sugart and Alijah Pressley.

Rymfire Elementary School’s Project Vocab Lab: Elissa Griffin, Kenan Davis, Evelyn Sheifer, Elisei Volkovskiy and German Kabaloev. Photos by Brent Woronoff

COPS CORNER

the police. When officers arrived, the man was still in the bushes in front of the residence, according to a police report. The man told them he couldn’t speak English, so one of the officers spoke to him in Spanish, and the man complied with their commands.

the medians. The man’s pants were below his waist, and his zipper was unzipped, but he was not exposed, according to a police report. The man, a 60-year-old from Deltona, told the officer that he was sleeping when he approached. The officer asked if he had been at the bar in the plaza and the man initially didn’t know what bar the officer was referring to; then, he saw the bar’s sign and said, “Oh yeah, I was there.”

The man told them that he was not from the neighborhood and that he had walked from Jacksonville to Kissimmee. He told officers he used methamphetamines about four hours before getting to Ormond Beach. After police found the drugs on his person, the man told them that he uses meth because “he is crazy and it’s the only way he can properly function,” according to the report.

He was taken to jail.

MAY 19

QUICK TURNAROUND

possession charge — police identified the suspect and came to his residence.

The suspect’s roommate told police the man was already in jail, as the roommate had driven the suspect to the jail to turn himself in. The officer then went to the jail to interview the suspect, where he admitted to stealing the teas.

MAY 24

NO EXPIRATION DATE

The man was unable to remember anyone’s address, other than his own, and couldn’t remember any phone numbers for family members. He didn’t know what date, day or year it was, and couldn’t answer who the president of the U.S. was correctly, the report notes. He was also unable to find his wallet or phone.

He was placed into protective custody under the Marchman Act; police later found his wallet in his back pocket.

MAY 18

THE WALKER

7:19

a.m. — 100 block of Bo nita Place, Ormond Beach Drugs. When a woman looked out of her mother’s window while visiting, she spotted a man crouched down in the bushes. He smiled at her and then nodded. She, in turn, called

8:53 p.m. — 1100 block of County Road 305, Bunnell Retail theft. A Bunnell man stole two 12-packs of alcoholic teas just two days before he was sentenced for a drug possession charge.

This was the man’s second time stealing the same drink from the same general store in two months, according to his arrest records. A police officer was called out to the general store after a man walked into the store’s receiving area and stole the two 12-packs, totaling $38.

6:56 p.m. — 200 block of South Ocean Shore Boulevard, Flagler Beach Trespassing. A Flagler Beach man was arrested after he was caught drinking along the pier boardwalk, but not because of the open container of alcohol.

A police officer saw the man drinking a beer as he walked along the boardwalk and pulled over to tell him that was not allowed, according to the suspect’s arrest report. The suspect chugged the remains of the beer and threw the can away before continuing along his walk.

The officer, though, recognized the man and ran a background check — only to find out the suspect had been trespassed from the pier and boardwalk area last August. The officer caught up to him and asked him why he was near the pier when he was trespassed.

The suspect said the trespassed had expired because it “was over a year ago.” The officer told him it was, in fact, not expired and placed the suspect under arrest.

Residents ‘blindsided’ by Bunnell project

The development, Reserve at Haw Creek, is proposed to span 2,700 acres. Locals say they were unaware of the proposal.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Bunnell residents came out in force to express their concerns to the Bunnell City Commission about a massive 2,700acre, 5,000-home development being considered by the city.

“Most of us are angry that we were blindsided,” Bunnell resident Peter Vega said. “This is going to destroy that area. An area that we love.” At its May 13 meeting, the City Commission approved the first steps in the development approval process — a zoning change. After being approved by the city’s planning board and the commission approving the change on first reading, the development application is now being reviewed by multiple state departments. If approved, the application will return to the City Commission for a second reading regarding the zoning change.

On May 28, the commission’s meeting was packed with residents concerned about the approval. Mayor Catherine Robinson told the crowd that nothing was decided with the previous meeting’s vote.

“Our vote last week, or two weeks ago, was to simply to approve to send it to the state for comments and discussion,” she said. “This is a long term process.” If approved, the development will be called the Reserve at Haw Creek, to be located between State Road 100 West and State Road 11. If the zoning change is approved on second reading, the application would still need to go through further plan design approval before it can break ground.

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

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, like sewer, water, traffic and schools.

Bunnell residents were concerned about how such a large development would change the city. Resident Barbara Maloney said that residents she spoke to had no idea this was being considered.

“It felt like they are — the majority of the people I spoke to were totally unaware of it until it came out the paper in the news,” she said. Most of the residents urged the commission to exercise caution while considering the application. Chelsea Herbert, a resident with a development and construction related business, said while she was not advocating against the development, she had multiple concerns in the application: the lack of conservation land on the site, lack of tax diversity in that only a small amount of the land is planned for commercial development, and the concern of a bottleneck effect on S.R. 11 among

TRIBUTES

James L. Harter, Sr

November 25, 1932 - May 17, 2024

James L. Harter, Sr., 91, of Palm Coast, FL entered the Kingdom of Heaven on May 17, 2024. He was born on November 25, 1932, in Allentown, PA to the late Stanley L. Harter and Ardath M. (Lessig) Harter. Preceded in death by his brother, David Harter, and sisters Joyce (Robinson) and Ardath (Rodale). He is survived by his wife of 67 years Shirley M. (Kozelnicky), as well as their sons James L. Harter, Jr., wife Patty, Keith A. Harter, Andrew S. Harter and Michael T. Harter, wife LeAnne and grandsons Joshua G. Harter and Adam L. Harter.

Jim began his journey knowing what he wanted to pursue at an early age. It is these early years that set him on his path to his multiple accomplishments, awards, and civic endeavors. He became an Eagle Scout in 1949 and would later serve as a Scoutmaster for 10 years, guiding over one hundred boys, ten of which became Eagle Scouts. Jim graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1955 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and was a member of Phi Kapp Sigma fraternity.

He began his architectural career serving in the US Navy then returning to civilian life and

County, city split over funding deputies

Half of the elected officials wanted to explore a half-cent sales tax to pay for 37 more deputies.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Flagler County Commission and the Palm Coast City Council were divided on implementing a half-cent sales tax to pay for the additional deputies the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office says it needs to keep up with with increasing call volume.

“If we fall behind, you’ll never get caught up,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “And that just doesn’t affect law enforcement.”

“Yes, growth is a double edged sword. But we have to have some growth, we need the growth for sustainability. We just need to control the growth and make it smart growth.”

her specific concerns.

“We only get one shot at this, and we will inevitably shape the future of our community for our children,” she said.

Robinson told the residents that there will be more public meetings once the application returns from the state agencies. The commission will review all of the residents’ concerns as well as all the information that comes out of the state agencies, she said.

The commission wants residents to be a part of the process, Robinson said.

“Yes, growth is a double edged sword,” she said. “But we have to have some growth, we need the growth for sustainability. We just need to control the growth and make it smart growth.”

On March 20, the commission and council heard from Staly, FCSO Chief of Staff Mark Strobridge and Palm Coast Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston, who presented an in-depth analysis of FCSO deputy staffing needs over the coming years. The analysis showed that, for the FCSO to keep up with a proactive patrol rate, the county would need 37 more deputies for the current population. If — and when — the county’s population continues to grow, more deputies will be needed to service the gap.

Johnston presented a tentative funding split to pay for the deputies over the next five years: In fiscal years 2025, 2026 and 2027, Palm Coast funds nine new deputies while the county funds three. In fiscal years 2028 and 2029, they each fund five.

The problem? How to fund these positions.

Several members of both boards — Commissioners

Greg Hansen, David Sullivan and Leann Pennington and Council members Theresa Carli Pontieri and Nick Klufas — were in favor of exploring a half-cent sales tax to go toward all public safety needs, including fire departments and fire rescues as well.

A half-cent sales tax would only be voted on by the County Commission. The funds from the tax would come from everyone who spends money in the county, including tourists, and the revenue would be divided up between the municipalities. Pontieri pointed out the county could earmark the funds for public safety to ensure transparency.

The other option is to use property tax revenue, either by cutting funding elsewhere, or increasing the millage rate.

But Commissioners Donald O’Brien and Andy Dance and Mayor David Alfin were not convinced a half-cent sales tax would be the best option.

Council member Cathy Heighter said her objective would be to do whatever is in the best interest of the county’s first responders.

Alfin suggested the boards should discuss the options amongst themselves first when all members were present before decisions were made. Vice Mayor Ed Danko was the only elected official absent from the meeting from either board, and he was also absent from the March 20 presentation. Danko was present in the May 28 City Council meeting that morning.

Neither Pennington nor Pontieri — whose presence at the joint meeting was her first in-person appearance to an official City Council meeting since giving birth in late April — felt decisions should be held up for someone who declined to be present.

Alfin said he did not feel the details of the service level going to the city and county had been discussed in detail. He said he did not want to agree to funding a specific number of deputies over the next few years if the city could not afford to do so.

Staly said the number of deputies either government would fund would be reviewed each year during the budget season. The formula presented would allow the FCSO’s budget requests and asks to be more consistent, he said, but it would depend on what can be afforded each year.

O’Brien called the halfcent sales tax “political heat,” especially without presenting the idea to the public first. The reason the school board’s half-cent tax passed, he said, is because it had a lengthy strategy and education campaign ahead of the vote.

Pennington said that she believes the public doesn’t want to see its public safety go downhill. Using property tax revenue, she said, also isn’t the solution.

“All the broken things that we have to deal with and can’t fund are because somebody wasn’t brave enough for the political heat of it,” she said. “... People love the public safety here. I don’t think they’re [the public] going to have an issue with a half-cent sales tax.”

becoming a registered architect in eleven states. He received many national and regional professional awards and positions including The Pennsylvania Society of Architects Board and the American Institute of Architects National Environmental Education Committee. He won Interiors Magazine Best in Energy Efficient Design and PP&L’s Award for Design Excellence in Management of Electrical Energy Resources for his design of the Rodale Press Operations Center, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives Recommendation of Achievement, Design for Excellence for The Downs of Lehigh Valley, and City of Allentown’s Mayor Award for outstanding community involvement “James L. Harter Day” Dec 13, 1994. Jim invented and patented an open space planning assembly called Pulse, which was used in the Rodale Press Operations Center in Emmaus, Pa. In Allentown, PA, Jim served on many civic and professional boards. American Arbitration Association, PA Society of Architects Board, First Chairman of PP&L’s Professional Cooperative Committee, 5 years as a juror on the National Council of

Architectural Review Board, 6 years as founder and member of the City of Allentown Historical Architectural Review Board, and 4 years as founder and member of the City of Allentown Public Building Review Board. Jim taught architectural subjects as an adjunct professor at two local community colleges and the Penn State University, Allentown Campus. Was President of the Allentown/Salisbury Kiwanis Club, Girls Club of Allentown Board, and the Penn State Alumni Association of the Greater Lehigh Valley. Many of you will remember him for the Penn State Football Bus trips he organized for twenty years.

He served on the boards of the Boy Scouts of America local Council Board, The Lehigh County Homemakers/Health Aid Services Board, The Lehigh Valley Environmental Federation Board, The Cerebral Palsy Board of the Lehigh Valley, the Allentown YMCA Board of Directors, and the Little Lehigh River Watershed Association Board. He served as Chair of the Allentown Planning Commission for 16 years, was Vice Chair of the Allentown Arts Commission for 18 years. 3-year Planning Commission member in West Manchester Township (PA). He was a founding partner and President for the first 8 years of the Lehigh Valley Conservancy, later to become the Wildlands Conservancy. Jim was the principal architect and designer for the Lehigh Valley Cycling Center - Trexlertown Velodrome. He was Director of Architecture at BASCO Association, York, PA from 1994-1999. Jim had been a writer since 1950 and is a published author of ten books of poetry under the titles Mindsongs and Heartfelt Thoughts. He has written over 1400 poems, vignettes, essays and won an award in a 1969 contest with his poem “The Awakening”. He served as President of the Lehigh Valley Writers’ Guild. He had a poem

“Airborne” put to music and performed by a high school choir and full orchestra in Bethlehem, PA.

In Palm Coast, FL, Jim spent 6 Years on the City of Palm Coast Architectural Review Committee. He was a 2-year Chairperson of the Community of Grand haven Member of the Members’ Board, Recreational Facilities. He volunteered for the Flagler County School Board as a substitute teacher and writing coach for 4 years. He was a Founder and VP of Trustees of the Palm Coast Arts Foundation until 2023. Jim designed the Performing Arts Center of Palm Coast of which only the stage is constructed.

Jim enjoyed camaraderie with his friends and competing in quoits, horseshoes, croquet, tennis, golf, hearts or just about any competitive challenge. Jim will be remembered by his friends and family for his whimsical and quick-witted sense of humor, sense of adventure, creativity, spirituality, love of nature, and inquisitive nature. Memorial donations for Jim may be made to the Wildlands Conservancy, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus, PA 18049. https:// www.wildlandspa.org/

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. Photo by Sierra Williams

Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson. Photo by Sierra Williams

BUSINESS OBSERVER

Swillerbees to open in Ormond

Co-owner Dakota

Wehde said he and his family hope to open the new store sometime in July.

Here’s the latest buzz on the beachside: Swillerbees Craft Donuts is coming to Ormond.

The Flagler Beach doughnut and coffee shop is opening a third location in the former Donnie’s Donuts space at 200 E. Granada Blvd., which has been vacant since January. Palm Coast resident Dakota Wehde — who co-owns Swillerbees with his parents, Mike and Holly Wehde — said the expansion into Ormond Beach felt like a “God thing.” Soon after the owners of Donnie’s Donuts closed their Ormond location and consolidated operations at One Daytona, Wehde said they were approached by the landlords, who thought Swillerbees would be a good fit for the space.

“We felt like that was a partnership that really made sense,” Wehde said. “If we were ever going to move into Ormond, it seemed like that would be the time and place for us to do it.”

The Wehdes took over Swillerbees three years ago.

Last year, they opened a second location at 85 Cypress Point Parkway in Palm Coast. It’s been an exciting venture, Wehde said. He and his parents also own the Waffle Cone ice cream shop in Flagler Beach, which has a second location in Jacksonville.

Prior to taking over Swillerbees, Wehde worked for Germfree Laboratories in Ormond Beach. However, as he and his wife started their family — they now have two sons — and the job demanded more travel out of state, Wehde decided to head in a different direction, career wise.

And that direction led him to a “hole” lot of doughnuts. Since taking over Swillerbees, the shop has gone from producing about 200 doughnuts a day to 1,800 to 2,000 daily, he said. Any leftover doughnuts are regularly donated to local businesses, police and fire departments, hospitals and shelters.

Swillerbees’ arrival in Ormond Beach is being met with “overwhelming support and excitement,” Wehde said. They recently participated in Taste of Ormond and received positive reactions from attendees.

“Obviously, Donnie’s was very loved in the community

“If we were ever going to move into Ormond, it seemed like that would be the time and place for us to do it.”

DAKOTA WEHDE, Palm Coast resident

and it seemed like everyone knew who they were and where they were,” Wehde said. “... It definitely seems like we’re filling a gap that was left by Donnie’s there, in a good way.”

Wehde said he and his parents are hoping to open the Ormond location in July.

“When we come into a community, we want you to feel like when you come into our business, you’re part of our family,” Wehde said. “We want you feeling loved, valued and known when you leave. We’re here to bring light to the community and love people and show the love of Christ to people.”

The Island Grille in Flagler has new owner

Flagler Beach local Karen Dion said she plans to add a new martini lounge and update the menu.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Flagler Beach’s fine dining restaurant The Island Grille at the Topaz Motel in Flagler Beach has a new owner — the second in less than a year.

The restaurant, located at 1224 S. Ocean Shore Blvd., has changed hands multiple times over the years, new owner and local resident Karen Dion said. She said she has spent 30 years dining at the many iterations of The Island Grille and now plans to embrace the restaurant’s character that locals love.

Dion said she remembers when the restaurant was called the Topaz, back in the mid-1990s.

“It was the first time I was

ever introduced to fine dining,” she said. “And I fell instantly in love with it.”

Dion said the previous owners bought The Island Grille in November and changed the name to Rise at the Island.

Dion was then hired in the new year to help with the restaurant’s marketing.

She pitched the idea of adding a brunch menu, which she began to run in April. That’s when she heard the owners were looking to sell; they asked Dion if she would be interested. After all the time she had committed to the restaurant over the years, she said it was a good fit for her.

The Island Grille is a unique, historic and eclectic spot, Dion said, and she wants to embrace that.

But that doesn’t mean Dion won’t be adding anything new to The Island Grille. First, to bridge the gap between all the name and ownership changes, she is going to change the name to “Rise at Island Grille.”

Down the line, Dion also plans to add a martini lounge

at the back of the restaurant, to be named “Before and After.” She plans to market one of the larger dining room spaces for events, like rehearsal dinners and other celebrations, she said.

Dion also wants to reach out to hotel guests. Because The Island Grille has been a fine dining restaurant, she said, often, the tourists who stay at the hotel don’t eat there. To connect with them, Dion said she plans to put together a hotel-guest-only menu that will be available for takeout only.

The restaurant will be open from Thursday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for brunch, and from 5-9 p.m. on Tuesday to Saturday for dinner service. But if someone has a special event planned, she said, Dion is willing to work with the customer and open outside of those hours. But none of this would be possible without the staff, Dion said, and especially the chefs. Chef Chris Maacks has worked at the restaurant for over 12 years, on and off since 2002. He and Dion said they will be working together to update to the dinner menu, too.

Maacks said he’s looking forward to putting his own twist on the food.

“I’ve never really had a chance to do that before,” he said. “Our menu right now is really not what it should be. We’re going to be changing the whole thing.”

Dion said she also could not do this without Chef Pina, who runs the brunch hours and helped created its menu. “I couldn’t do it without her and the staff and everybody,” Dion said.

Dakota Wehde said opening a location in Ormond Beach felt like what he and his family were meant to do. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Owner Karen Dion said she could not be successful without her staff. From left to right: Emily Pitcole, owner Karen Dion, Olivia Franco, Greg Prompovitch and Antionette Allen. Photo by Sierra Williams

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Condo in Hammock Beach tops Flagler sales list

Acondo in Hammock Beach was the top real estate transaction for April 4-10 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. Timothy and Kimberly McKendry, of Hinckley, Ohio, sold 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Unit 743, to Hanes Property Holdings, LLC, of Orlando, for $1,180,000. Built in 2007, the condo is a 3/3.5 and has 2,246 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $923,000.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Condos

Steven Berger and Laura Tedesco, of Ormond Beach, sold 500 Canopy Walk Lane, Unit 525, to Robert John Pritchet and Kerri Pritchet, of Hopewell Junction, New York, for $545,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,712 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $297,000.

Peter Wrobel, of Waycross, Georgia, sold 102 Yacht Harbor Drive, Unit 179, to George and Patricia Casimates, of Rockville, Maryland, for $625,000. Built in 2006, the condo is a 3/3 and has 1,918 square feet. It sold in 2007 for $619,000.

Robert Parnell Jr. and Beverly Parnell, of Palm Coast, sold 60 Surfview Drive, Unit 802, to Stephen and Kathryn Ballou, as trustees, for $615,000. Built in 2004, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,455 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $343,000.

Robert and Jane Mead, of Palm Coast, sold 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Unit 516, to RSW Clear Water LP, of Montreal, Canada, for $725,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/3 and has 1,676 square feet. It sold in 2003 for $581,000.

Todd and Lynna Rooks, of Celebration, sold 3600 South Ocean Shore Drive, Unit 415,

to Linda Schwall, of Flagler Beach, for $310,000. Built in 1984, the condo is a 1/1 and has 715 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $299,000.

Stacey Doolin, of Palm Coast, sold 35 Ocean Crest Way, Unit 1125, to Brian Rivotto, of Long Boat Key, for $550,000. Built in 2002, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,696 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $565,000.

PALM COAST

Hammock Dunes

Renee Alter, of Dover, sold 13 Montilla Place to Monte Engler and Joan Mannion, of Palm Coast, for $1,410,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool, a hot tub, a fireplace and 2,671 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $515,000.

Indian Trails Palm Coast Communities, LLC, of Palm Coast, sold 27 Barrington Drive to Ashley Nakano and Regina Tente, of Palm Coast, for $369,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,900 square feet.

Ocean HammockGregory and Christine Federline, of Palm Coast, sold 26 Kingfisher Lane to Gary and Sharon DeCet, of San Antonio, Texas, for $1,100,000. Built in 2008, the house is a 4/4.5 and has a pool, a hot tub, a

Plantation Bay home sells for $689,000

A house in Plantation Bay was the top real estate transaction for April 14-20 in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea. Daniel Walker Jr. and Sherry Walker, of Athens, Alabama, sold 1325 Sunningdale Lane to Ryan Whidden and Li Min Teng, of Ormond Beach, for $689,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, a hot tub, a fireplace and 2,360 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $303,000.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fiesta Heights

107 Pinion Circle sold for $230,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,486 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $180,000.

Lake Walden Cove

Lynn Marie Koller, of Citrus Heights, California, sold 10 Lake Walden Trail to Ryan jack Sebra and Shianne Patricia Frank, of Ormond Beach, for $388,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,815 square feet. It sold in 2006 for $262,500.

Pineland

207 Sunset Point Drive sold for $410,000. Built in 2021, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,334 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $311,500.

Southern Pines

50 Chrysanthemum Drive sold for $405,000. Built in 2010, the house is a 4/2 and has a hot tub and 1,963 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $232,500.

Village of Pine Run

Richard Dupon, of Ormond Beach, sold 3 Magnolia Lane to Louis Martinez, of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, for

fireplace, an outdoor kitchen and 4,731 square feet.

Pine Grove Joshua Rogers and Susan Diane Rogers, of Hoschton, Georgia, sold 82 aPilgrim Drive to Scott and aSheri Aiosa, of Palm Coast, for $410,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 4/2 and has a pool and 1,811 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $369,000.

Pine Lakes Gary and Christine Jones, of Ormond Beach, sold 5 Village Lane to Cindy Orlando, of Palm Coast, for $419,900.

Built in 1986, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool, a fireplace and 2,021 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $189,000.

Wynnfield

Opendoor Property Trust I, of Tempe, Arizona, sold 66 Woodbury Drive to Wendy Walker and Ronald Taylor, of Palm Coast, for $445,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 4/3 and has a pool, a hot tub and 2,441 square feet. It sold in 2023 for $441,800.

Toby Tobin, of gotoby.com, contributed to this 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 10th day of June 2024, for the purpose of First Reading of Ordinance 2024-12, 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 2024-12

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 31,174 + ACRES WITHIN THE CITY OF BUNNELL LIMITS AS DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT “B”; PROVIDING FOR THE TAKING OF IMPLEMENTING ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF MAPS BY REFERENCE; REPEALING ALL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR NON-CODIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

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

Family Art Night is back! Bring the whole family on Friday, May 31 from 4:30-6:30pm at the Palm Coast Community Center to participate in an art project.

$535,000. Built in 1982, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool and 2,050 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $350,000.

Adams, Cameron & Co. Realtors, contributed.

Faith in Flagler

church

Building faith strengthens our community. Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God. He died to pay for the sins of the world. He was resurrected to give us the free gift of eternal life. There is no deed you can do to earn it. Salvation is through faith in Jesus alone.

Kyle Holmgren, Campus Pastor

Brought to you by:

LETTERS

Take a fresh look at our area’s Black history

Dear Editor:

Recently, more than a dozen members of Seeking Insights for Solutions from Flagler County (including myself) met with David Nolan, one of the founders of the ACCORD Civil Rights Museum in St. Augustine’s historic Lincolnville neighborhood. What none of my Black nor white colleagues and I had previously known was that St. Augustine has

one of the most consequential Black histories in the nation spanning more than 400 years, beginning in 1565, (more than a half-century before settlers founded Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619). We were also amazed to learn that St. Augustine was the most important place in Florida in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested there, and the campaign in which he participated led directly to the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. Dr. King went directly from St. Augustine to the White House for the bill’s signing which until then its passage had been held up in one of the longest Senate filibusters in

U.S. history. July 2 marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act into law, one day after a state task force is scheduled to finalize its selection for the location of Florida’s Black History Museum. (The task force voted on May 21 to move forward with St. Augustine as its recommended site).

As you make plans for your summer and July 4th celebrations, SIS encourages you to take a fresh look at our nation’s history, including its rich Black history in St. Augustine. To make this easy for visitors, ACCORD has established a Freedom Trail project. Brochures and maps are available at the Visitor Informa-

tion Center. And on July 1, ACCORD is hosting a free film festival and book signing open to the public.

St. Augustine is a national treasure, rich in history. But it is so much more than what we learned in school or gleaned from tourism ads. SIS believes its Black history is precious and worthy of a new look.

SUSAN MOYA Palm Coast

Send letters to brent@observer localnews.com. Include first and last name, as well as city of residence. Editor may alter the letter for clarity and/or length.

“If we are to

truly progressive 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

Office Coordinator Kay Raymond, Kay@observerlocalnews.com

Bedtimes, they are a-changing

The routine continues, but it’s about to end, and I don’t fight it anymore. Make yourself at home

you’ll fall asleep.”

When they weren’t paying attention, I would stand up and back away slowly, trying to not make any sudden movements, as if I were escaping from a wild beast in a forest.

Before they knew it, I was next to the door, ready to sneak out into the hallway — until the child would call out something like this: “Dad!

BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER

When they were small, each of my children “needed” a parent to sit with them in their bedrooms to “help them” fall asleep. I would usually sit in a chair and wait. And wait some more.

“It’s OK,” I would say to the child. “Just keep your eyes closed, and

YOUR TOWN

Flagler middle school, high school students complete Life Skills classes at Carver Center

Inspiration of Hope Community Resources, Inc., recently completed the last of several Life Skills training sessions with students in middle and high school.

The final five weeks of this school year consisted of working in the areas of communication, conflict resolution, financial literacy, goal setting and time management. Sessions were led by Dr. Timothy King and held after school at the George Washington Carver Center in Bunnell.

Students completing the class were awarded certificates with service hours and earned a stipend. New Life Skills sessions will begin in the fall and registration can be made now, as enrollment is limited. Contact Donna Easterling, IOHCR president, at IOHCR125@gmail.com or call 386-585-3450.

Do you think I don’t see you? We’re going to have to start this process all over again, young man!”

So I would obediently return to my original position and wait for the next opportunity.

Didn’t these children know that I have my own life? My own hobbies and interests?

The tradition has continued with my youngest child, 6-year-old Luke. Except now, after doing this routine with his four older siblings,

Meet the Humane Society’s adoptable pets

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

6

Performers light up stage at Spotlight on Youth Talent Show

Performers dazzled the audience at the 2024 Spotlight on Flagler Youth Talent Show on May 23 at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center at Flagler Auditorium. The winners and runners-up were: Junior Division — Winners: An-

I don’t fight it.

Just about every night, Luke asks me not just to sit next to him, but to lie next to him in his twin bed as he winds down and tries to fall asleep.

As we listen to a story, I wait for him to stop tossing and turning. The best part is that I often get to doze for 10 minutes myself, a sort of appetizer nap before the entree of a good night’s sleep to come.

Sometimes, we talk.

“I was thinking,” Luke said one night. “You’re always touching something.”

“Meaning what?” I asked, yawning in the dark.

“If you’re eating, you’re touching food,” he said. “If you’re sitting there, you’re touching your clothes. Even if you’re swimming, you’re touching water.”

We were quiet for a long while, before I responded with a fatherly

grunt: “Huh.”

It was a moment when I was hyper aware that Luke, despite his bony knees and little high-pitched voice, is not a little kid anymore.

He’s a big kid.

The toddler Luke who whined when I tried to escape from his room a few years ago has dissolved into this larger, deep-thinking Luke who doesn’t really need me to help him fall asleep.

This Luke is now humoring me, sensing my eagerness to spend time with him, just the two of us, as we let the day unpack itself in our minds. Now, with Luke being the last of our five children, I realize that I’m hanging onto this tradition even more fiercely than he is, holding onto the balm of being invited into the bedtime routine a few more times.

What are bedtime routines like with your children or grandchildren? Email brian@observerlocalnews. com.

Historical Society gives movie fans a Garfield lesson

With “The Garfield Movie” playing at Epic Theatres of Palm Coast, the Palm Coast Historical Society took the opportunity on Saturday, May 25, to remind residents that this is not the fictitious feline’s first visit to the city.

Children and adults posed with Garfield — actually Margaret Leon dressed in a Garfield costume — in the theater lobby before two matinee showings of the movie. They also learned about the cartoon cat’s connection to Palm Coast.

ITT Community Development Corporation signed an exclusive agreement with United Feature Syndicate Inc. and cartoonist Jim Davis in 1985 to use Garfield in promotional material. He was Palm Coast’s mascot for four years.

nabelle Kocher, Emma Duncan and Sarah Duncan. Runner-up: Anniston Goetsch.

Middle Division — Winner: Sophia Paige. Runner-up: Jade Hreib. Senior Division — Winner: K’imani Gervin-McCoy. Runners-up: Ayoalaja Akinbo and Mackinzie Rogan.

Correction

Flagler County School Board Chair Will Furry did not vote in favor of an employee health care center. He was the lone dissenting vote.

“He is one example of our uniqueness,” said Kathy Reichard-Ellavsky, president of the Palm Coast Historical Society. “Palm Coast is the only municipality to have a licensing agreement with Jim Davis.”

The Historical Society brought memorabilia, including a Garfield phone which was gifted to new Palm Coast home buyers in the late ’80s. Reichard-Ellavsky said a lot of people don’t know about the Palm Coast Historical Society and its museum at Holland Park. Garfield is a way to get the word out, she said, just as he did nearly 40 years ago. For more information about the Palm Coast Historical Society, go to palmcoasthistory.org or the Palm Coast Historical Society’s Facebook page.

Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida presents Flagler Schools Poster Contest winners

The Board of Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida presented the Flagler County winners of the Crime Stoppers Poster Contest at the Flagler County School Board meeting on May 21.

The first-place winners earned $200, second place $150 and third place $100. Matanzas swept the high school division with freshman Christopher Picerno winning first place, senior Chloe Crews second place and freshman Cline Hansen third place.

Indian Trails swept the middle school division with eighth grader Amanda Wu winning first place, eighth grader Sophie Castro second place and Aaron Perry third place. Old Kings swept the elementary school division with fourth grader Bernardo Andrade winning first place, fourth grader Miles Foster second place and fourth grader Kennon Bonner third place.

TO ADVERTISE

Will your customers remember you when they need you? Call the office at 386-447-9723. We can help!

Locally Owned / Publishers of the Palm Coast Observer McMillan Ink LLC

VETERAN OF THE WEEK

Douglass G. Wood

 Branch of military: U.S. Air Force

 Dates of service: 1961-1984

 Rank/occupation: Colonel / Command Pilot

 Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas

Douglass Wood is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was born in Texas but spent much of his early years in Havana, Cuba, where his father, an Army Air Corps veteran and founder of Braniff Airlines, relocated in 1948 to establish the new company’s South American flight routes. While growing up in Cuba and attending school there, Wood met his future wife, Glenn. They have been married now for almost 63 years.

Wood graduated college in 1961 and through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) he was commissioned a second lieutenant. He attended undergraduate pilot training at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, and received his wings in 1962. The first aircraft he was assigned to fly was the C-124 Globemaster, a heavy-lift cargo transporter. He flew the C-124 while assigned in Japan from 1963-1966. Wood left Japan for an assignment at Robins Air Force, Georgia, and transitioned to the C-141 Starlifter, a larger cargo transport jet aircraft that replaced the prop-driven C-124. He served a tour in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971 as the command post duty officer in Da Nang. Following this tour, he was assigned to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, in 1971 and transitioned to the C-140 Jetstar, an 8-10 seat “business jet”. Among his duties was personal pilot for President Richard Nixon’s daughters. Later in his career he returned to flying the C-141. He also served two separate tours at the Pentagon in Washington D.C, working for the U.S. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff. During his career he earned and received numerous awards and decorations. The Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and Air Medal are just a few. After his retirement in 1984, he joined the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation as Director of U.S. Government and International Marketing. He left that position and in 1992 and took a position as director of Washington Operations for the Cessna Aircraft Company. Wood retired from Cessna in 1998, and he and Glenn moved to Palm Coast. He is a long-time member of the Military Officers Association of America and belongs to the Flagler Chapter.

NEED HELP WITH VETERAN SERVICES? Call 386-313-4014.

Rudy, 1 Meme, 11

Palm Coast Historical Society’s Priscilla Netts, Mery Gable, Margaret Leon (in Garfield costume) and Kathy Reichard-Ellavsky at Epic Theatres of Palm Coast.

Photo by Brent Woronoff

Spotlight on Flagler Youth Talent Show winners Annabelle Kocher, Emma Duncan and Sarah Duncan (Junior Division); K’imani Gervin-McCoy (Senior Division); and Sophia Paige (Middle Division).

The Flagler County Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida Poster Contest winners: Christopher Picerno, Cline Hansen, Sophie Castro, Bernardo Andrade and Miles Foster with Flagler Schools Coordinator of District Safety Thomas Wooleyhan (left), Assistant State Attorney Spencer Hathaway (second from right), Crime Stoppers board members and School Board members. Winners not pictured: Aaron Perry, Amanda Woo, Chloe Crews and Kennon Bonner. Courtesy photos

Adoption fees vary. Dagur,

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Class of 2024 Flagler Palm Coast

Matanzas

Addisynne Perdue told her fellow Matanzas High School graduates to, "fight for what you believe in, break ceilings, engineer new paths and create the world you want to live in."

Perdue was one of several student speakers at the 2024 Matanzas graduation on May 22 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.

Superintendent LaShakia Moore also spoke to the class.

Principal Kristin Bozeman noted that the graduates began their high school careers during the height of the pandemic. Many began high school as remote learners and some didn't come on campus until their sophomore year.

Yet as a class they accomplished and contributed a great deal, she said. They recorded a combined 16,745 community service hours. They belonged to over 30 clubs.

Thirty-three Matanzas seniors received their associate degrees from Daytona State College at the same time as their high school diplomas. Thirty-nine completed their requirements for the AICE Diploma, and 113 received one or more industry certifications through Matanzas' career technical education. There were 137 cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude honor graduates achieving a 3.75 weighted GPA of above.

Principal Bozeman recognized graduates who participated in the school's arts and athletics programs and those who will be joining the military. She also recognized the seniors' parents and Matanzas' faculty and staff. She gave special recognition to faculty and staff who are retiring, including Assistant Principal Fred Terry who has been with Flagler Schools since 1989.

Finally, she told the graduates to "make good choices, hold yourselves accountable and always strive for excellence."

—JAKE MONTGOMERY SEE MHS PAGE 2B

Senior Class president Ella Oshri welcomed her classmates at Flagler Palm Coast's 2024 graduation ceremony on May 22 at the Ocean Center. "Welcome is the perfect word

as we take everything we learned to embrace the new experiences, achievements and wisdom that await us all," she said. "Bulldogs, let's welcome a future where our passion opens doors to possibilities."

Principal Bobby Bossardet presented some of the many achievements of the 2024 graduating class which included 174 students with a weighted GPA of 3.7 or higher, 25 with a weighted GPA above 5.0, four students who earned National Merit recognition, 43 who graduated from the International Baccalaureate program, 28 who also earned associate degrees from Daytona State College, 24 who earned dualenrollment credits from the University of Florida, 85 who earned one or more industry certifications through career technical education and four who have enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces.

—JAKE MONTGOMERY

LOCAL EVENTS

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

VENDOR SHOW AND FOOD DRIVE

When: 10 a.m.

Where: Flagler County Fairgrounds, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell

Details: Peruse wares by over 100 local vendors and food trucks. There will also be a DJ. The event is aimed at helping filling the Grace Community Food Pantry. Bring food items for donation.

FLAGLER HUMANE SOCIETY SPECIAL ADOPTION EVENT

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Flagler Humane Society, 1 Shelter Drive, Palm Coast

Details: Looking to adopt? The Flagler Humane Society is offering an event spotlighting pets that have been at the shelter for over 30 days. These pets’ adoption fees will be half off, and there will be ice cream treats and photo booths for people and their pups. There will also be free heartworm testing for the first 100 dogs.

SUNDAY, JUNE 2

CELEBRATE RECOVERY ANNIVER-

SARY CELEBRATION

When: 4-7 p.m.

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

Details: Join First Baptist Church of Palm Coast as it celebrates the first anniversary of Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered, 12-step recovery program. Enjoy food, fun and fellowship with a cook-out, worship, speakers, bounce houses and more. All are welcome.

MONDAY, JUNE 3

PALM COAST ASTRONOMY CLUB

When: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Where: Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway NW, Palm Coast

Details: Join the Palm Coast Astronomy Club for its next meeting, titled “The Search for Life in the Universe.” Anyone interested in astronomy is welcome. Meeting room is located immediately to the right after entering the library.

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

ATLANTIC COAST CHAPTER AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE RALLY

When: 4-5 p.m.

Where: Northwest corner of Belle Terre and Pine Lake parkways, Palm Coast

Details: Members and friends of the Atlantic Coast Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State will gather to rally for women’s reproductive rights. Rally is open to the public. All are welcome. Participants are invited to bring US flags and their own signs promoting religious freedom, separation of church and state, and reproductive rights. For more information, email atlanticcoastau@gmail.com or call 804-914-4460.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

THIRD HANG 8 DOG SURFING EXTRAVAGANZA

When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: 105 S. 2nd St., Flagler Beach

Details: Hang 8’s third annual dog surfing competition in Flagler Beach will raise money and awareness for local animal charities and dogs in need. There will also be a costume contest, children’s activities, vendors and a dog kissing booth. Funds raised will benefit K9s for Warriors, Flagler County Humane Society, and Saving Missing Animals Response Team of Flagler County.

ONGOING BAM

Senior class president Ella Oshri speaks

Photos by Jake Montgomery

Matanzas graduating senior Alexa Wingfield performs the national anthem. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Matanzas Student Government Association president Rilee Whitmore and senior class president Lexi Hixon share a speech to the graduating class.

Peter Austin

April Bonilla

FPC Matanzas

DOUBLE TALK by Paul Coulter, edited by Jeff Chen

By Luis Campos

Gabriella Abreu

Felix Castro

Finn Graifer

Carly Hyers receives her diploma.

Air Force JROTC color guard presents colors.

The Flagler Palm Coast High School seniors of 2024 celebrate their graduation.

FPC Student Government Association president Leila Jackson addresses the class of 2024.

SPORTS

Stars aligned

Colby Cronk and Marcus Mitchell are leading the way on and off the field for Flagler Palm Coast.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

From his first high school football practice, it became clear that nobody was going to outwork Colby Cronk.

So, it was no surprise that Flagler Palm Coast’s defensive standout snuck onto the field in the second half of the Bulldogs’ 38-7 spring game victory against Pine Ridge on May 23 at Sal Campanella Stadium.

Cronk, fresh off a state shot put championship (he also was runnerup in discus), didn’t get to fully participate in spring football drills while he was competing in track, so even though he was supposed to sit out during the second half, coach Daniel Fish let him have his fun — for one more drive.

“Colby snuck out there. He’s hard to miss, so I noticed it right away,” Fish said. “I let him have his shine, and then I was like, ‘I see you go in there again, I’m going to take you to the practice field after the game.’”

Fish did not want to risk injury to his two stars — defensive end Cronk and running back Marcus Mitchell. Cronk, who has committed to play for North Carolina State in 2025, was in on three sacks, including a solo sack in the first quarter that caused a fumble at the Pine Ridge 2-yard line.

Mitchell ran 11 times for 70 yards and a 9-yard touchdown for the Bulldogs’ first score of the game. He also had a 2-yard score called back following Cronk’s strip-sack.

But in the second half, Mitchell was happy to watch his teammates perform.

“You got to spread the ball around,” he said. “It is a spring game, you know. I like everybody to have fun. I

definitely had fun. I know everybody else did too.”

Mitchell has been a workhorse the past two seasons carrying the ball 264 times for 2,480 rushing yards while playing through a variety of injuries.

Unlike last spring, Mitchell is healthy, and that’s a testament to how hard he’s been working to prepare for his senior season, Fish said.

“He’s shed some unwanted pounds off his body. He knows it’s ‘my last year, my last opportunity to break school records, my last opportunities to get some offers,’ and he’s just put in the work,” Fish said. “He’s eating healthy. He stays after practice and runs a mile every day. He’s taking care of his body, taking ice baths after every practice.”

Having two star players who set the tone in the weight room and on the practice field can be transformative for a football program, Fish said.

“Cronk is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around. But when you see a guy like Marcus who just has so much God-given talent, and then you see him buy in and start working his butt off, that’s very contagious for our program and it’s pushed a lot of other guys to follow his lead, especially on the offensive side,” Fish said.

The Bulldogs’ overall growth was evident in the spring game victory. Quarterback Cole Walker passed for 180 yards with three touchdowns and ran for an 8-yard score. He also had two interceptions, mistakes he realized right away, Fish said.

“Cole has all the tools to be successful. He’s just got to continue to learn defensive coverages and when they’re moving, and the numbers game. I think once he gets that down, he’ll be pretty unstoppable,” Fish said.

Tight end Roman Caliendo caught nine of Walker’s passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Robbie Dailey and Mikhail Zysek also caught touch -

“When you see a guy like Marcus who just has so much God-given talent, and then you see him buy in and start working his butt off, that’s very contagious for our program and it’s pushed a lot of other guys to follow his lead.”

DANIEL FISH, FPC coach on running back Marcus Mitchell

down passes, and rising sophomore Braylyn Simmons caught a 41-yard pass that set up Caliendo’s scoring catch.

“Our whole team has worked hard,” Caliendo said. “We’re getting better and better each day. This being my second year here, I know all the plays better. I feel like that gives you some ease of mind in being able to go out on the field and execute.”

On defense, rising sophomore Reagan Melland repeatedly got into the backfield and made tackles in the second half. Defensive lineman Stacy Mitchell showed he can be a disruptive force and a complement to Cronk, Fish said.

“I think our D-line is a strong unit,” Fish said. “I think we got some good linebackers, and I think our DBs have gained a lot of experience and are able to hold their own a little bit more.

FPC 2024 SCHEDULE

Aug. 16: (Kickoff Classic), vs. Deltona

Aug. 30: at Lake Howell

Sept. 6: vs. Mainland

Sept. 13: vs. Lake Brantley

Sept. 20: vs. Zephyrhills Christian

Sept. 27: at University*

Oct. 4: at Fletcher

Oct. 11: vs. DeLand*

Oct. 18: at Yulee

Oct. 25: vs. Spruce Creek*

Nov. 4: vs. Matanzas

* — district game.

“We’re much, much further along than any point last year in the spring, summer or fall,” he said. “We’re really upset with the result of last year (the Bulldogs finished 3-7). We’re excited to bounce back and show everybody that we’re a great program.”

FPC rising senior Colby Cronk records a solo sack, forcing a fumble and setting up FPC’s second touchdown. Photos by Brent Woronoff

FPC rising sophomore Raegan Melland (42) sacks the Pine Ridge quarterback with help from a pack of Bulldog teammates.

Marcus Mitchell (4) rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in FPC’s spring game against Pine Ridge.

Southern Recreation Center pickleball courts. File photo by Sierra Williams

Law enforcement sprint for Special Olympics Florida in Torch Run

The funds raised will go toward the Special Olympics Florida competitions.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

For the first time in several years, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has hosted a Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida and the athletes who compete in the games.

Special Olympics Florida athletes and Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies and staff ran side-by-side for a mile on May 25, starting at the FCSO’s Operation Center, around the Emergency Management Center and back to the Operation Center.

Shelley Henry, the regional director of Northeast Special Olympics Florida, said Flagler County has around 400 athletes who participate in Special Olympics Florida.

Most of those athletes are from the school system, she said, but Special Olympics Florida is for people with intellectual disabilities of all ages.

“We really want to engage that population of individuals that have aged out of school and are looking for something to get involved in,” Henry said.

Henry said Special Olympics Florida is about more than just the sports. It offers resources, health screenings, community and activities for those with intellectual disabilities and their families. Fundraiser’s Torch Run is a great way to raise more awareness about all Spe-

cial Olympics Florida has to offer, she said.

“What’s important is the awareness that our athletes and families know that we exist here in Flagler County, we have programs to serve you,” Henry said.

Henry, alongside Ken Roop, director of the Law Enforcement Torch Run with Special Olympics Florida, and FCSO’s P.A.L. Director Arthur Erlandson put together the Torch Run in Flagler County. Roop said the Torch Run was dropped in Erlandson’s lap and he ran with it.

Everyone was eager to get the county’s participation, Roop said.

“This county hasn’t participated in a few years,” he said. “So ... whatever it takes to get this thing started back up in Flagler County — that’s what I wanted, that was my goal.”

Special Olympics Florida is yearround, Roop said, with training and competitions throughout all four

seasons. The Torch Run raises funds for the competitions, allowing to athletes to compete at no cost.

Erlandson was instrumental in organizing the Torch Run with the FCSO, Roop said. But, Erlandson said, it was important to him to showcase Special Olympics Florida and its programs for Flagler County’s special needs community.

“There’s not a lot that goes on (in) the county for special needs children. And I know that this one has been a big event in the past,” he said. “I just think the community is lacking in that area. So we’re going to try to get some more programming and things for special needs.”

Christmas Come True’s Spring into Action Golf Tournament

Teaming up with Bold Ladies in Business to raise $7,000 for families in need, in Flagler County.

Sheriff Rick Staly with athlete Kennet Lefkovic, a Special Olympics Florida triathlete and Iron Man competitor, and FCSO Cmdr. John Dopp, who are holding the lit torch.

The participants of the 2024 Special Olympics Florida Torch Run.

Brothers Benjamin and Matthew Sowers cross the finish line with Deputy Nick Champion.

Anna Carrasquillo carries a Torch Run flag to the finish line.

Ken Roop, the director of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics Florida, and Special Olympics Florida coach Sharon Holloway.

Courtesy photos by Alina Perrysmith. Visit www.imagesbyalina.com.

CATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All

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 THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: May 23, 2024. Signed

SECOND INSERTION

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR Temporary Custody IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE Seventh JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR Flagler COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 2024 DR 000439 Zakiya Wright, Petitioner and Roshanti Thomas, Mark A Stokes Respondent. TO: Roshanti

3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY

CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is May 23, 2024. Personal Representative: /s/ James Justin Robb 6800 Branrust Road Austin, Texas 78744 Attorney for Personal Representative: /s/ Mark R. Hall, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 691178 Mark R. Hall, P.A. 124 Faulkner Street New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 Telephone: (386) 423-1221 Fax: (386) 423-2232 E-Mail: mark@mhallpa.com Secondary E-Mail: samantha@mhallpa.com May 23, 30, 2024 24-00123G