Palm Coast Observer 06-13-24

PALM COAST

‘It’s too much [to do],’ Pennington said. ‘This should have been coming to us back in November.’

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Flagler County Commission has tentatively narrowed the beach management funding plan to the county’s barrier island communities, but the commissioners are concerned the plan won’t be approved for another year. Any plan the commission goes with will need to be approved by the local municipalities it involves, among other steps. The beach management plan will take an estimated $10 million

CITY WATCH

Food Truck Tuesday on June 18 to benefit Humane Society

Proceeds from the June 18 Food Truck Tuesday event will benefit the Flagler County Humane Society. Every month over the summer, Palm Coast hosts a food truck event in Central Park that benefits a local organization. Not only will the Humane Society benefit from the proceeds, but the shelter is taking the opportunity to feature some of its adoptable pets, a city press release said.

The Flagler Humane Society is a full-service shelter, Executive Director Amy Carotenuto said in a promotional video, and they never turn any animal away.

“Food Truck Tuesday is a great opportunity for us to help spread awareness of the work we do and we’re thankful for the opportunity to bring our message out to the community at this wonderful event,” Carotenuto said.

The Flagler Humane Society was able to save the lives of over 2,100 animals in 2023 alone, and over 700 pets have been adopted since the beginning of 2024, the press release said.

City considering speed bumps for some residential streets

Palm Coast’s City Council is considering installing speed bumps to help slow traffic on some residential streets.

A speed study, conducted by firm Kimley-Horn, on Palm Coast residential streets — including Florida Park and Cimmaron Drive — analyzed speed data from 109 locations. Of the neighborhoods analyzed, 17 of 48 Palm Coast neighborhoods met conditions to reduce the speed limit, Kimley-Horn’s Manny Rodriguez said.

The problem is it would cost the city $1.6 million to lower those speed limits. And, Rodriguez said at the June 11 council meeting, it might not make much of an impact.

Residential speed limits in Palm Coast are set to 30 mph. On average, people are driving within a 10 mph range on those roads.

If the city decided to change the speed limits on residential roads, it would be required to change it on all residential roads. Council member Theresa Carli Pontieri said it did not seem like a lot of change would come from installing 25 mph speed limits for such a hefty price.

“There’s a balance to strike,” she said. “When I’m looking at a cost to lower speed limits, of ... $1.6 million as a rough estimate, I can’t justify that to my residents. I can’t do it, especially with all of the other expenses that we have.”

Alternatively, Rodriguez said, the city can install traffic calming methods, like speed bumps, instead. It is also more cost effective, Pontieri said, pointing out that in a previous presentation staff estimated installing one speed bump cost only around $7,500.

Vice Mayor Ed Danko, attending the meeting virtually, asked Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill what he thought about installing speed bumps.

Berryhill said that any method that calms traffic for residents, will also slow down first responders.

“You [the council] have to make the tough decisions about how you

balance that,” Berryhill said.

Addressing traffic concerns in Palm Coast is one of the city’s priority items, and all of the council agreed that the data from the speed study will be useful in creating and eventually implementing a citywide traffic calming plan.

Council member Nick Klufas recommended the city try a pilot program of traffic calming measures to get more accurate data about how the measures will actually impact traffic.

Klufas said residents should have the opportunity to weigh in on what all the ramifications of traffic calming methods would be.

“I think we give our citizens an option and education about how [these methods] will reduce speed, but will also increase pollutant generation and things like this, and we let them make the decision for themselves, live with the outcome,” Klufas said.

BY THE NUMBERS

30 mph average local speed.

37 mph average top speed on Florida Park Drive, according to the speed study. Cimmaron Drive averages 39 mph.

$1.6 million cost to lower the speed limits on residential roads.

$7,500 estimated cost of installing a speed bump.

Council may expand color palette for home exteriors

The Palm Coast City Council is considering expanding the number of colors homeowners can paint their home exteriors.

Since a state law changed in 2017, Palm Coast no longer requires a permit to paint home exteriors, but residents do have to fill out a color change form with the city and use an approved colors. Approved colors are either pastels or earth tone colors within a specific Light Reflective Value.

The LRV of a color is a measure of visible and usable light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source, zoning supervisor Tracey Doak said. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is black, the least reflective color and 100 is white, the most reflective, she said.

Approved pastel colors must be in the 80-100 LRV range. Earth tones — including shades of brown, browntaupe or sandy-taupe, beige, terra cotta, olive, sage, and gray — must be in the 25-100 LRV range.

“Many of our local stores do a great job assisting the city,” Doak said.

“Some provide the city’s allowable colors in books, or have a wall of city approved colors, and will assist their customers from Palm Coast in detail with the city’s code.”

Deputy Chief Development Officer Ray Tyner said the LRV was a way for the city to remove the subjectiveness out of the color approval process.

The restrictive colors are a hold over from when Palm Coast was being built by the developer ITT.

ITT sold the Palm Coast lots with certain deed restrictions, Doak said, which included aesthetic restrictions, like allowable exterior colors, to preserve “the values and amenities thus established or to be established in the Palm Coast Community.”

The color ordinance also regulates building color combinations, roof color, faux building features and repainting, according to the presentation.

The city does have a list of specific

“I must tell you I’m very uncomfortable with adding yet another layer of deed restriction to the process.”

DAVID ALFIN, Mayor

prohibited colors, including fuschia, magenta, purple and orange.

The city’s regulation does not include residences inside master planned developments and colors on gutters, mailboxes, front doors — excepting the listed prohibited colors — and driveways.

Council member Cathy Heighter, who originally requested the presentation said she would like to see more colors available for residents, but also could not see why residential driveways can be painted any color residents want.

“I don’t understand why that would be allowed, that they would allow you to paint your driveway any color at all, and not allow you to paint your house a color that’s not offensive,” she said.

Expanding the colors for homes could simply be a matter of expanding the LRV range allotted for pastels and earth tones. All five council members agreed to see more presentations on expanding the color options and potentially limiting driveway colors.

Mayor David Alfin said that he would go along with the majority about limiting driveway colors, but did not like the idea of adding another restriction.

“I must tell you I’m very uncomfortable with adding yet another layer of deed restriction to the process,” he said.

Tyner told the council it could take some time for staff to return with options for both limiting the colors of driveways and for expanding the colors available to homeowners.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Florida’s Live Local Act

JARLEENE

ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

When it comes to a 2023 law aimed at increasing affordable housing units in the state of Florida, local officials state that clarifications are still needed.

Last July, Senate Bill 102, known as the Live Local Act, went into effect. The law grants developers the right to build multifamily or mixed use residential buildings at the highest allowed density — without needing authorization from local governments — on land zoned commercial, industrial or mixed-use. Developers only needed to ensure at least 40% of the units fell under the affordable housing umbrella. Then, they would be eligible for a 75% or 100% property tax exemption, to be renewed annually, for 30 years.

Following the recent passing of SB 328, which granted local governments the right to restrict the height of developments built under the Live Local Act, the Daytona Beach Area Association of Realtors and Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a panel at Daytona State College on Thursday, June 6, to provide an update on what the law’s implementation may look like in Volusia County.

“If there’s anything that denigrates home rule, this is one of them,” said Shari Simmans, director of economic development, communications and government affairs in the city of DeBary.

No building permits have been pulled in any of Volusia’s 16 cities to construct an apartment complex under the Live Local Act.

But three complexes have applied this year for a 75% tax exemption, Simmans said. Under the law, owners of apartment complexes built in the last five years can qualify for a 75% property tax exemption if 40% of their tenants have an annual household income that “is greater than 80% but not more than 120% of the median annual adjusted gross income for households within the metropolitan statistical area,” according to the Live Local Act. To qualify for a 100% tax exemption, the units need to be rented to people whose median income doesn’t exceed the 80% median annual adjusted gross income.

The current median income for the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach metropolitan area is $82,800, according to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Based on this, an apartment complex could rent a one-bedroom unit for $1,864 a month and still be eligible for a 75% tax exemption.

In DeBary, Simmans said one of the apartment complexes that applied for a 75% tax exemption used to rent one-bedroom units for $1,400. They raised the rent to $1,800, she said.

“And they still get the tax exemption, even by raising the rent,” Simmans said.

LIVE LOCAL ACT NEEDS TIME

It’s too early to tell whether the Live Local Act is accomplishing what it was meant to do, said Murphy Kennedy Giering, a public policy representative with Florida Realtors.

“Live Local was passed as an emergency measure to address Florida’s affordable housing crisis,” Giering said. “... We also know that it takes on average three years for an affordable housing development to go through the zoning, the approvals, construction, to finally get those units online.”

As part of the law, the state also

BRIEFS

Governor commits to $200 million increase for teacher salaries

As he makes final decisions about the state budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, June 10, touted a $200 million increase to help raise teacher salaries.

Lawmakers included the teacherpay money in a $117.46 billion budget they passed in March. DeSantis

Legislature has made changes to the controversial affordable housing law. Are more changes needed?

created a Local Tax Credit Program, which allows a private business to contribute to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to benefit the State Apartment Incentive Loan Program, known as SAIL. This program provides low-interest loans for the development of affordable rental units. For every dollar given to SAIL, Giering said, the business owner can receive a dollar credit against corporate income tax liability or their insurance premium tax liability.

A total of $150 million in SAIL funding for the next 10 years was also made available through the Live Local Act.

Giering added that the Live Local Act also helps the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program, which provides funds to help with down payments and closing costs for firsttime, income-qualified homebuyers.

SB 328 granted the program an additional $100 million dollars.

Giering said over 15,000 Florida families have benefited from the Hometown Heroes program.

“These are phenomenal accomplishments,” Giering said. “And really, that we’re talking about affordable housing solutions, I think for the first time in many years in a realistic way, means that this is an accomplishment of the Live Local Act.”

LOCAL IMPACTS

In June 2023, the Ormond Beach Commission approved a 270-unit apartment development at 36 N. Tymber Creek. If they hadn’t, the developer of the project, known as the Tymber Creek Apartments, expressed he may have pursued a development under the Live Local Act instead. He could have built upward of 525 units, under the law.

The city of DeBary is now under a temporary building moratorium as it updates its Land Development Code, a process three years in the making, Simmans said. The moratorium was approved last October and lasts for nine months.

The city of Daytona Beach has adopted an ordinance that exempts golf courses from being developed under the Live Local Act.

Daytona Beach Deputy City Manager Jim Morris said the ordinance passed because many golf courses don’t have covenants or restrictions that require them to always be used as a golf course.

He referenced the ongoing Tomoka Oaks golf course development proposal, for which the city of Ormond Beach denied a zoning change in

has line-item veto power and indicated Monday that final decisions on spending are being made this week.

The budget will take effect July 1.

“The budget, we’re going through kind of the last stages of that,” DeSantis said during an appearance at a Hialeah charter school. “Some of these legislators that may have different projects, this is going to probably be the week that that all comes to a head. We haven’t made final decisions on every little line item in the budget, but we have approved, I would say, probably 90 percent of the budget at this point.”

Lawmakers in recent years have

April. The developers’ attorney said this could leave the city open to a $40 million lawsuit.

The statutes haven’t been clear on whether Live Local could extend to golf course properties.

“So we chose to make it clear,” Morris said.

Cobb Cole Attorney Jessica Gow said there is a lawsuit in Plant City regarding whether a golf course qualifies as a commercial use. The lawsuit, she explained, was filed after the city denied a preliminary plat for an affordable housing development on a golf course.

“The Live Local Act, as it stands today, has been greatly untested,” Gow said.

‘NO BILL IS PERFECT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION’

Florida House Rep. Chase Tramont, who dropped by the event, said he doesn’t agree with what he described as “demonization of developers.”

“This idea that people are coming in to tear down everything and destroy our economy and destroy our way of life, and then profit from there,” Tramont said. “I just don’t hold that view.”

People today likely live in homes that another person didn’t want to see built, he said.

“I’ve always found it fascinating that the same people who complain about the lack of affordable housing — or obtainable houses is the word I like to use — are the same ones that complain about overdevelopment,” Tramont said. “You can’t have it both ways. We can’t say that we need the cost of living to go down, we need the price of homes to go down, yet meanwhile, stop all the ability to create the greater supply to meet the demand that we’re having.”

The Live Local Act is not perfect, he said. Tramont added that he believes it will need to be continually adjusted for as long as it exists.

“No bill is perfect on the implementation of the document,” he said. “But that’s the point of having session after session after session. You have to come back in to address those deficiencies and try to resolve those issues.”

One change that the Volusia Legislative Delegation, Simmans said, is still seeking is the elimination of the 75% tax exemption for property owners who rent units at prices based on the 80-120% of the median annual adjusted gross income.

“I think the numbers I’ve described show that it’s not meeting the needs

gradually increased money to raise teacher pay. In all, the budget includes about $1.25 billion for the Teacher Salary Increase Allocation. Political committee raises nearly $11.8 million in support of abortion rights

A political committee leading efforts to pass a constitutional amendment aimed at ensuring abortion rights raised nearly $11.8 million from April 1 through May 31. The Floridians Protecting Freedom

Palm Coast has a need for more affordable housing and some elected officials believe the Live Local Act to be a step in the right direction.

When City Council member Cathy Heighter talks about “affordable” housing, though, she said she means workforce housing that the city’s seniors, teachers and first responders can afford to rent or own. The Live Local Act offers an incentive for developers to include affordable priced units when building multifamily residential housing.

“There’s more need for affordable housing [in Flagler County],” she said.

According to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Flagler County has a median income of $88,700. To qualify for a 75% property tax exemption, 40% of tenants have to have an income between 80 to 120% of the median income, according to the Live Local Act.

For a one-bedroom apartment, at the top of that range, a developer could charge $1,954 a month in Flagler County. To qualify for a 100% property tax exemption, tenants can only be at 80% the median income. At the 80% rate, the monthly rate for a one-bedroom goes down to $1,300.

Heighter said that rents around $1,800 are not affordable by most people’s standards. While the Live Local Act is a step in the right direction to gaining access to more affordable housing options, the city, she said, can take other steps to ensure residents have that access too.

One way, she said, would be by changing the city’s land development code to allow for smaller homes. Smaller homes or lot sizes would make

of the true missing middle,” Simmans said. “So if it’s 80% and under, I think you’re going to find that will be much more palatable for some local governments.”

committee brought in $11,796,620 in cash after the Florida Supreme Court on April 1 approved placing the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot, according to a finance report posted Monday, June 10, on the state Division of Elections website. Contributions included $2.8 million from the San Francisco-based Tides Foundation; $1 million from the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida; $1 million from the Palo Alto, California-based Advocacy Action Fund, Inc.; $1 million from the Washington, D.C.-based Open Society Action Fund; $1 million from the

housing more affordable for families just starting out, she said.

“A family that’s just starting out, a young couple, they only may need a one- or two-bedroom house,” Heighter said. Not everyone needs a large home, she said.

According to the Florida Housing Coalition, housing is considered affordable when a person spends no more than 30% of their income on housing.

Mayor David Alfin agreed that Live Local still needs some review; he said he believes the Act should be more dynamic and follow market conditions to maximize the number of residents who can benefit from it. But programs like Live Local are ideal, he said, to balance the city’s demographics. When first designed by ITT, he said, 50% of Palm Coast’s dwelling units were meant to be apartments. Live Local could bring those apartments to the city.

“It will allow older residents and younger families to enjoy housing that is within their income reach,” Alfin said. “I’m very much a believer that a city must balance itself in order for it to be healthy and financially sustainable for the long term.”

For residents who don’t want to see more apartments or affordable housing in the city, Alfin said they should think about their grandparents and children.

“Where would you like your grandmother and grandfather to live, who are on a fixed income? And where would you like your children, who are just coming out of school with a first job, to live,” he said. “Both of those groups need the housing that they can afford.”

the Washington, D.C.-based Sixteen Thirty Fund; and $1 million from The Fairness Project, also based in Washington, D.C. Floridians Protecting Freedom had about $7.37 million in cash on hand as of May 31, the finance report shows.

The proposal will appear as Amendment 4 on the November ballot and says, in part, that no “law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

Daytona Beach Area Association of Realtors Government Affairs Chair Jami Gallegos and panelists Jessica Gow, attorney with Cobb Cole; Murphy Kennedy Giering, public policy representative with Florida Realtors; Shari Simmans, DeBary director of economic development, communications and government affairs; and Jim Morris, Daytona Beach deputy city manager. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

PALM COAST: STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION

Embry-Riddle lands Boeing as partner,

State funding, combined with philanthropy of Cici and Hyatt Brown made the deal happen.

OBSERVER STAFF

In front of Gov. Ron DeSantis and other dignitaries, EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University and Boeing formally announced a new partnership Tuesday, June 11, that will bring 400 high-paying jobs to Volusia County, through 2026.

Among the speakers at the ceremony was Steve Nordlund, who is not only a member of the Board of Trustees at ERAU, but is also vice president and general manager of air dominance at Boeing.

“Boeing Daytona Beach will be a very important strategic site for us, not just for Boeing but for our nation,” Nordlund said. “The 400 engineers that will be based here will be working on some of the

most complex and important problems facing our global military customers. They’ll be using their talents and skills to develop aircraft, spacecraft, equipment and capabilities around these systems that will enable our uniformed personnel to win the fight of today, but more importantly, deterring the war of tomorrow.”

He continued: “The 400 people who will work here will be dedicated to helping the bravest among us, our uniformed men and women, do their jobs and return home safely.”

In the partnership, Boeing will lease the entire Cici and Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology, located in Embry-Riddle’s Research Park, on the university’s Daytona Beach Campus. The center, which has been under construction for the past two years, will open for business by fall of 2024.

By year’s end, Boeing has committed to employ 200 highly trained workers at its new facility, Boeing Daytona Beach. The other 200 roles are

FIRST INSERTION 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 24th day of June 2024, for the purpose of Second and Final Reading of Ordinance 2024-10, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Building (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110. ORDINANCE 2024-10 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA, ANNEXING BY VOLUNTARY PETITION CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY TOTALING 0.28± ACRES, OWNED BY JM PROPERTIES X LLC, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 0.2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF CAULEY LANE AND COUNTY ROAD 65, BEARING PARCEL IDS: 13-12-29-1250-00100-0360 AND 13-12-29-1250-00100-0380 WHICH IS CONTIGUOUS TO THE CITY OF BUNNELL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION PROVISIONS OF SECTION 171.044, FLORIDA STATUTES, AND OTHER CONTROLLING LAW; REDEFINING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL TO INCLUDE SAID PROPERTY; PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS; PROVIDING FOR CONDITIONS; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO RECORD THE ORIDNANCE WITH THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, WITH THE CHIEF ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICE OF FLAGLER COUNTY AND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE; PROVIDING FOR LEGAL DESCRIPTION AND A MAP; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR NON-CODIFICATION AND THE TAKING OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS 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

which the appeal is based. (Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes)

set to be filled over the course of 2025-2026.

“Today is a momentous day — not just for Embry-Riddle or for the city of Daytona Beach, but for all of Florida,” said Mori Hosseini, chairman of Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees, in a press release. “... And it wouldn’t have been possible without the state of Florida, and Cici and Hyatt Brown.”

The partnership was made possible by philanthropists Cici and Hyatt Brown, who pledged $25 million to EmbryRiddle in 2022 — matching $25 million in support approved by Florida legislators that year and marking the single largest gift in university history.

Hosseini, DeSantis and others praised the Browns for their generosity. Hosseini called the couple “the lifeblood of our community.”

“This is an investment in the community that has wings way beyond Volusia County,” Hyatt Brown said at the event. He called ERAU a “bedrock of this community.” He also thanked DeSantis and other public officials for helping to make the Boeing-ERAU partnership a reality.

“This is an economic engine that spawns educated people who will be leaders of the future,” Hyatt Brown said.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

As part of its transition into the area, Boeing will make a $100,000 investment into several Volusia County nonprofit organizations.

To kick off this effort, the company will provide funding to support the Second Harvest Food Bank of Volusia County Schools Partnership Program, which offers a student-centered approach to increasing access to nutritious food for students facing hunger.

Additional funding has been designated for local organizations supporting veterans and environmental programs in the area.

Later this fall, Boeing will also launch the DreamLearners Program in Volusia County Schools. The award-winning program offers students the opportunity to participate in hands-on Science, Technol-

ogy, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs, and learn about careers in aerospace.

According to Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D., community impact has

always been a priority for the university — both in developing the next generation of highly skilled workers to step into high-paying positions, but also in creating a hub where the business and education sectors can meet and collaborate.

“The launch of our Research Park in 2017 marked a new era for Embry-Riddle,” Butler said. “By leveraging corporate partnerships, we’ve created a career pipeline that initially funnels students toward hands-on learning opportunities and, ultimately, fills jobs in the critical sectors of aviation, aerospace and STEM-related fields.”

According to an independent economic assessment released in 2021, Embry-Riddle’s Research Park generated $137 million in total economic impact in Florida, increasing the facility’s previous impact, reported in 2019, by 50%. In that same assessment, the park’s cornerstone facility, the “MicaPlex” (John Mica Engineering and Aerospace Innovation Complex), was also shown to have directly created over 120 jobs with an average salary of over $78,000.

Boeing’s arrival promises to further expand those career, economic and community benefits.

DESANTIS COMMENTS ON FUNDING AT ERAU

After noting that he has vetoed billions of dollars in local projects as governor, DeSantis joked with the June 11 audience about Hosseini’s influence in higher education funding.

“I don’t know how he does it,” DeSantis said, “but whatever he wants — whether it’s Embry Riddle, UF, Daytona State — it’s not always there at the beginning of the legislative session, but at the end of the legislative session, it always shows up, one way or another. ... I’ve actually learned that if there’s something I really want that Mori also wants, I just don’t fight for it because I know he’ll end up getting it, so I can fight for other things.”

DeSantis explained why he supported state funding for the new facility at ERAU, which is not a state-run school.

“While I wish the private universities well, typically that’s not our focus because we have a state university system,” he said. “So, to get us to support something private like this, at that level, we would only do that if there’s clearly benefits to the state of Florida.”

In a time when DeSantis sees many problems with higher education, he said, “Embry-Riddle really shows how you do it right, how you give a high quality education in things that really matter.” Brian McMillan contributed to

The new Boeing Daytona Beach facility was funded with about $25 million in state funds and another $25 million from philanthropists Cici and Hyatt Brown. Rendering provided by ERAU

Gov. Ron DeSantis praised Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for delivery a high quality education in things that really matter. Photo by Brian McMillan

need to fund an estimated $7 million.

At a June 3 meeting, a consultant presented a special assessment that would implement a tiered tax across Flagler County to fund that $7 million.

At the June 10 meeting, the commission heard a presentation that narrowed the special assessment tax on the barrier island communities only but also split the cost with the county from the Tourism Development Council and the county’s general fund. The county will fund $3.5 million of the needed $7 million while the remaining $3.5 million will come from a tiered special assessment from the barrier island communities, according to this presentation.

PFM Consulting Firm’s Stan Geberer brought the proposed barrier island assessment to the commission after the commission asked to see what nearby municipalities do to fund their beach management plans.

The new proposal splits the cost of the $3.5 million across multiple tiers. First, in a 50-50 split, $1.75 million of the $3.5 million will be funded by base rate. The base rate, applied to every property, is determined by dividing the number of properties by the $1.75 million, Geberer said.

Then the remaining $1.75 million would be split across three zones on the island: oceanfront properties, properties east of State Road A1A but not on the ocean, and properties west of S.R. A1A. Funding from these zones would be a tiered system that take into account individual property values.

There were multiple ways to split the $1.75 million across the three zones, with oceanfront properties paying more

than the other two zones.

The County Commission seemed to tentatively agree to go with a split of 60-25-15 across the three zones, with the oceanfront property zone in total paying 60% of the remaining $1.75 million.

If this proposal is eventually adopted, a property owner will pay the base rate — a proposed $167.54 in this scenario — plus an individual rate formulated by their location and property value. People who own higher valued properties along the ocean would pay most.

But that ratio is by no means fixed. The commission only agreed on the number to allow staff to begin the outreach process and communication with the barrier island municipalities and begin educating the public.

“The proper course is education,” Commissioner Andy Dance said.

Commissioner Leann Pennington said she only agreed on a ratio for the sake of further progress. In her opinion, she said, the county can’t agree on a way to fund plan without being further along in its own budgeting plan.

The $3.5 million the county is responsible for if this proposal is later approved is not guarunteed every year.

County Administrator Heidi Petito said that $2 million of that amount is in the TDC’s tourism bed tax fund and is earmarked for the renourishment already.

But the $2 million is an anomaly, Commissioner David Sullivan said: The county only receives $1 million regularly from that fund. To regularly have $2 million from the TDC fund, the commission will need to increase the amount that goes into it from the tourism bed tax.

Pennington also pointed out that if the remaining $1.5 million of the county’s respon-

How strict should the building height restriction be?

As the city’s building moratorium continues, Flagler Beach is considering changing the height exceptions from a percentage base to a lower, fixed number in order to stay more in tune with the spirit of the city’s 35-foot height limit.

sibility is to come out of the general fund, the county will need to first discuss where that money is coming from, whether it is from cutting other programs or projects or dedicated ad valorem tax to it.

There’s too much to do to properly get this done on the condensed timeline, she said.

“This should have been coming to us back in November.”

Commissioner Donald O’Brien also pointed out that the amount of additional costs that would rest on barrier island residents is substantial. There are some people who are already having a tough time as it is, he said.

“It’s just layering on a lot of dollars,” he said. “… It’s concerning.”

Overall, the board was in agreement that the plan is likely not to be funded by the fall deadline. Instead, they resolved to take their time developing the plan.

The expedited path is not the one the county necessarily needs to go down, Dance said.

“If we don’t have public trust and buy-in in what we’re doing, then we’re failing,” he said. “... We follow our instincts, and we follow what we need to do, to properly educate the public and bring them into the fold.”

In a joint meeting with the City Commission and the Planning and Architectural Review Boards on June 4, Commissioner Eric Cooley, made the suggestion. He said limiting the height to a specific number would get around any potential misuse of the listed exemptions.

“If you change the percent, you bring it down to something, for lack of a better term, I’ll call reasonable ... then you don’t have to fight with definitions,” he said.

In November 2023, Flagler Beach implemented a sixmonth moratorium on new building applications that would require special exceptions for the height because of concerns from residents. In April, the City Commission extended the moratorium another six months to

November 2024. Flagler Beach has a 35-foot height limit for development but allows a maximum of 40% additional height — or 14 feet — of non-habitable space for the following approved special exceptions: “chimneys, cooling towers, elevators, bulkheads, fire towers, gas tanks, steeples, water towers, ornamental towers or spires, communications, radio or television towers or necessary mechanical appurtenances.”

Cooley suggested 5 feet of additional height for those exceptions.

“You can still do a good design for an architectural feature that has a lower profile and is more consistent with meeting the spirit of 35 feet,” city planner Larry Torino said.

While multiple people on both boards agreed the 40% needed to be changed, several PAR Board members pointed out that some safety equipment requires a specific height, by state code — like elevator shafts and stair wells.

City attorney Drew Smith suggested that the ordinance be rewritten for the exemptions with such requirements to be in a separate category while the remaining exemptions be limited to the suggested height requirement.

But several PAR Board members also said that the

city’s strict view on what is and isn’t allowed on the rooftop is behind the times.

PAR Board member Brenda Wotherspoon said in cities like Flagler Beach which do not have a lot of green space — Veterans Parks is one of the only green spaces near the city center — the worldwide trend has been to maximize rooftop space into a form a terrace. A business could feasibly have cabanas, host yoga sessions or even have a type of garden on the rooftop, she said. But in Flagler Beach, unless the building is under 35 feet, it can’t do that.

A lot of local business owners that she’s spoken to, she said, would like to see the city updated and continue to progress, while still maintaining that old-town feel.

“We’re totally going against every trend in the world,” she said. “… Are we thinking about what’s best for the future of the city?”

A terrace would not be habitable space, Torino said, but instead occupiable space, a distinct difference in the land development code. It would need to be listed as a special exemption, he said, but the city could also limit or define what is built on top of a roof. Possible changes to the ordinance will be presented at future meetings, Smith said.

JUNE 6

IN THE RED

3:10 p.m. — 300 block of East

Moody Boulevard, Flagler

County Battery. After a Palm Coast man found out his bank account was over-drafted he ended up arrested after punching a cop.

A bank manager called law enforcement because the man began making threats and refused to leave after he found out the account had been over-drafted by $10. A police officer arrived at the bank just as the suspect was stepping outside, according to the suspect’s arrest report.

The suspect immediately walked up to the officer, aggressively asking if he was here to arrest the suspect. The suspect continued on, saying he came to the bank to withdraw $5,000 because he owned the bank, the report said. The employees didn’t believe him.

The suspect then continued yelling at the deputy, saying he wanted the officer’s badge and getting in the officer’s face. When the officer told the suspect to back up, the man cursed at him and punched the officer in the arm.

The officer then wrestled the suspect to the ground where he was placed under arrest.

JUNE 3 TAGGED OUT

8:12 a.m. — Mile marker 284, Interstate 95 northbound, Flagler County Counterfeit license plate

A Jacksonville woman was arrested after she admitted to purchasing two counterfeit

tags and driving an uninsured car with a suspended license.

A Sheriff’s Office deputy was patrolling the interstate when he noticed a Toyota that had a discolored temporary tag, according to an arrest report. The tag also had improper spacing and font and, when searched in the motor vehicles database, the tag came up as unregistered. When the deputy pulled over the car to ask about it, the driver immediately began to cry.

She admitted to the deputy that she had purchased that tag and one other from an online marketplace so she could get to work. She also admitted to the car being uninsured, her license suspended and having a small amount of marijuana in her car, the report said.

The officer placed her under arrest.

MAY 24

ROOM AND BOARD

11:55 a.m. — 500 block of Collins Street, Ormond Beach

Burglary of an unoccupied dwelling. Police arrested a 25-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man after they were found inside an abandoned home.

A concerned neighbor called police after she suspected there were people in the home, according to a police report. When the reporting officer arrived, he noticed significant amount of trash and debris around the home. The officer noted in the report that he had spoken to the home’s owner several times, and that she’s voiced a clear desire to ensure that the home remains empty, including pursuing charges against anyone found inside.

The officer heard the two individuals moving around

inside, and spotted the pair leaving from a broken window.

He ordered them to stop and were held at gunpoint until other officers arrived on the scene, according to the report.

The pair told police that they were granted permission to stay in the home by a woman who works at a nearby bar, and were told to just clean and repair the home.

The man later told police that his brother had caused damage to the property and that he just wanted to fix it.

Both suspects were taken to jail.

MAY 26

GOING FOR A ‘LONG REPORT’

6:27 p.m. — 100 block of South Atlantic Avenue, Ormond Beach

Disorderly intoxication. A 48-year-old Daytona Beach man was arrested after police say he tried to start a fight with a restaurant’s staff and patrons.

Police responded to the restaurant after receiving a call about a disturbance, according to the man’s arrest report.

The restaurant employees had asked the man, who was drunk, to leave multiple times before he tried to cause fights and had to be escorted out.

The reporting officer noted that the man’s intoxicated state was evident due to his slurred speech and “glossed over eyes.”

When placed in handcuffs, the man told the officer he would fight him.

While in the back of the officer’s patrol car, the man said, “I’m gonna make you call me an ambulance,” according to his arrest report. He also asked the officer if he wanted a “short report or a long report,” before bashing his forehead against the partition in the car.

Police pepper sprayed him and pulled him out to wait for medical attention. He was then taken to jail.

Arrest in Flagler after 6-hour standoff

Robert Shawn Detherow, 55, was arrested on five charges, including assault on officer.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A man Sheriff Rick Staly described as a “religious fanatic” was arrested on June 5 after a six-hour standoff with law enforcement outside of 94 Forsythe Lane.

The suspect, Robert Shawn Detherow, 55, who lives at the home, has been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and exposure of sexual organs. A second man who was also in the home during the standoff, Kaleb Smith, 23, was also arrested and has been charged with resisting arrest.

While no one was injured in the standoff, Detherow was hit multiple times with a 40-millimeter rubber bullet while Smith was hit once with one after refusing to comply with FCSO orders.

In a FCSO Facebook video statement, Staly described Detherow as having a sovereign-citizen mentality and called him a “religious fanatic.” The rubber bullets, he said, are “less lethal” rounds meant to disable a suspect.

“Thankfully, we were able to resolve this situation without anyone getting hurt,” Staly said. “This was a very dangerous situation for the deputies and his neighbors. I commend our deputies for the patience they displayed and their ability to deescalate the situation for a successful resolution.”

The incident began at 6:33 that morning when Flagler

County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the address for a disturbance, a FCSO press release said. A dispatch call said Detherow had placed a table, chairs and other debris in the middle of the street and had been playing loudly music throughout the night.

The caller told dispatch that Detherow is the father of Hunter Detherow, a stabbing suspect who was arrested in March 2024 and has since been incarcerated, the press release said. Because of the previous investigation, FCSO knew firearms were in the home.

Deputies — one of which was a female deputy, Staly said — arrived at 94 Forsythe Lane and Detherow began masturbating in front of them, according to Staly’s video statement. Detherow then began throwing bottles at the deputies when they called for backup.

Detherow retreated into his home, only briefly exiting several times to yell at deputies, the press release said. As the standoff began, the FCSO

closed Forsythe Road and evacuated the neighboring homes.

Several FCSO units responded to the standoff: FCSO’s Crisis Negotiation Team, Behavioral Response Unit and SWAT team. Because of the debris on the road, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad was also requested. No explosives were found on the scene. A search of Detherow’s social media found several Facebook posts and YouTube videos alluding to “suicide by cop” and becoming a martyr, the press release said. Some of the posts also were directed at Staly and the FCSO over Detherow’s son’s arrest. Detherow refused to communicate with the FCSO, but eventually the FCSO was able to breach the garage and front door, arresting Detherow and Smith, the press release said. Several firearms were seized in a search of the home and the two men were taken to the county jail.

Robert Detherow is arrested by FCSO deputies. Courtesy photo

Zest for life: Flagler Beach restaurateur remembered for love of family, community

Rosario “Rocky” DiBella, former owner of LaBella Pizzeria and Rocky’s Pizzeria in Flagler Beach, died unexpectedly on June 3.

JARLEENE

MANAGING EDITOR

Rosario “Rocky” DiBella loved his family. He loved life. He loved good food.

And, he took pride in ensuring others loved his food too.

DiBella, of Palm Coast, spent over 20 years operating two different pizzerias in Flagler Beach: LaBella Pizzeria and Restaurant and Rocky’s Pizzeria. He was known as the “pizza man,” said his son, Joey DiBella, and though he appeared to be a tough Sicilian on the outside, his heart was rooted in community service.

“He was just a gentle soul,” Joey DiBella said. “He wanted to help anybody that he could. He loved giving back to the community.”

Through the years, giving back took on different forms — coordinating the Columbus Day Festival in Flagler Beach in the mid-1990s, supporting Flagler County Youth Soccer, donating his time to Flagler Volunteer Services, and feeding kids slices of pizza when they didn’t have the money to pay.

“He would not want anything in return, and it sounds so small,” Joey DiBella said. “I know a slice of pizza is not an expensive item, especially back then, but that I feel like explains and defines who he was, and how he just never thought twice about it.”

Rocky DiBella died unexpectedly on June 3. He was 72 years old. He is remembered by his wife Angela, daughters Aggie Goodman and Lina Williams, son Joey DiBella, and seven grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his son Paul DiBella, his parents, three brothers and one sister, according to his obituary.

A funeral service was held on Tuesday, June 11, at Santa Maria Del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach.

A SLICE OF LIFE

Rocky DiBella was born on Sept. 12, 1951, in Castiglione, Sicily. He immigrated to the United States in 1974, two years after he met the woman who would become his wife of 49 years, Angela. The two married on March 16, 1975, settling down in Mt. Vernon, New York, where he opened his first pizza restaurant in 1980.

DiBella operated the restaurant, Pizza City, until 1986 when he and his family moved to Palm Coast.

Two years later, he opened LaBella Pizzeria, located at 308 S. Ocean Shore Blvd., a space now occupied by Romero’s Tuscany By The Sea. Joey DiBella, who was 5 years old at the time his father opened the pizzeria, said he spent a lot of time hanging out at the restaurant. All of his sisters worked there, and when he got older, so did he.

Rocky DiBella often worked long hours at the restaurant, but he cherished the time he spent with family, his son said.

“He was one of those personalities that when you were around, you had a smile on your face,” Joey DiBella said. “He loved to entertain. He loved to spend time with us.”

His father also had “one of those laughs,” Joey DiBella said.

“There’s certain people in this world that just have one of those laughs that, when you hear them, you know exactly who that is,” he said. “You know who’s behind that laugh and he was one of those people. I mean, his laugh was an infectious laugh.”

Rocky DiBella ran LaBella Pizzeria until 2006. Then, in 2008, he opened Rocky’s Pizzeria in Flagler Beach. He then retired in 2011, closing an almost 30-year chapter of being a restaurateur.

And opened a new one: As a grandfather who got to enjoy spending time with his grandkids and as a community volunteer, both with Flagler Volunteer Services and the Flagler County Health Department.

ALWAYS A PHONE CALL AWAY

Rocky DiBella was “larger than life,” said longtime friend, Carl Laundrie.

That was the first impression DiBella had on Laundrie, former longtime Flagler County Communications Manager and News-Journal reporter. The two worked on the Flagler Beach Columbus Day Festival together, which was held annually in the ‘90s.

DiBella started the festival to help draw customers to Flagler Beach businesses during that time of year.

“We had fireworks,” Laundrie recalled. “We set up a stage in the middle of Veterans Park right across from City Hall in Flagler Beach and had entertainment, and it was just a good thing for businesses in Flagler Beach at the time.”

Laundrie, who retired from his position with Flagler County in 2015, said DiBella helped him with his job as well. One time, he catered a lunch for a legislative delegation. County staff had discovered that they had mixed up the date for the caterer they originally hired, two hours before the event.

“I picked up the phone, called Rocky, and he threw his entire restaurant into high gear,” Laundrie recalled.

An hour later, Laundrie was ready for the event with two huge pans of baked ziti, bread and salad. The delegation loved the food.

HELPING NEIGHBORS

During the wildfires of 1998, when the entire population of Flagler County was told to evacuate, DiBella stayed behind to help first responders. He and his family stayed at the restaurant and DiBella and his wife worked tirelessly to help the community at that time, Joey DiBella recalled.

“It was a scary time — a lot of people didn’t know if they were going to be coming home to their home anymore,” he said.

Most businesses were closed, but LaBella Pizzeria stayed open to provide food to police officers, firefighters and those who remained in Flagler Beach.

He didn’t do it to make money, Laundrie said, “but to provide something for those people who were

fighting the fires and keeping the order.”

That was just who he was, Laundrie said. He always offered up discount cards for fundraisers. He sponsored his son’s soccer team every year and threw them pizza parties. DiBella was also a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach.

“Growing up in a small town in Sicily, community and closeness was a big part of the area that he grew up in,” Joey DiBella said. “And when he came here, I think that carried on with him and he just absolutely loved to provide and do what he could to help out his neighbors and to do what he could to help out local organizations.”

LA VITA È BELLA

The last time Laundrie saw Rocky DiBella was the Thursday before he died.

It was routine for Laundrie, DiBella and their friend Giulio Lancia to get together every Thursday for lunch.

DiBella, Laundrie said, was the “connoisseur of restaurants.”

“He loved to talk about how they set up, knew all the people involved in restaurants and who owned what restaurant and what cook worked where — all that,” Laundrie said.

“You got him going on restaurants, and he’s got a chapter and verse.”

"There's certain people in this world that just have one of those laughs that, when you hear them, you know exactly who that is. You know who's behind that laugh and he was one of those people. I mean, his laugh was an infectious laugh."

JOEY DIBELLA

A favorite restaurant? Terranovas in Bunnell.

“I used to love to listen to Rocky talking about picking the fresh oregano in Sicily — how great it smelled, hanging up oregano to dry in his house in Sicily and about his country,” Laundrie recalled.

DiBella was also adept at making cork crafts. Laundrie has a few in his house, and a lot of wine corks he was saving for his friend.

“Rocky expressed himself in his art, in his food and in his cooking,” Laundrie said.

A few days before his death, DiBella got to see all of his grandchildren. It was a last minute plan, Joey DiBella said, but one that has become all the more cherished.

The very last photo he has of his father is one of him holding his granddaughter, Joey DiBella’s two year old daughter. When he first saw the photo, Joey DiBella thought it was a great photo. Now, he said he treasures it even more.

“It’s just yet another example that we are aware of that life is precious, and life changes very, very quickly,” Joey DiBella said. “We really have to always focus on what’s important in life, and that’s our family, that’s our friends, that’s the people who matter most to us, because everything can change in the blink of an eye.”

Rocky DiBella ad his wife, Angela. Courtesy photo

Fernando

Melendez running for Flagler County Commission

Palm Coast resident Fernando Melendez is running for the Flagler County Commission District 1 seat.

Melendez is a former board member on the 2021 Palm Coast Redistricting Commission Board and a former board member and former chair on the Flagler County Planning and Development Advisory Board. In 2022, Melendez ran for a Palm Coast City Council seat.

Melendez moved to Flagler County six years ago from upstate New York, according to his biography on the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections website. Flagler County has faced multiple challenges, including fiscal shortfall, lagging infrastructure improvements, rising crime, bad investments, bad costly policy decision making, and irresponsible rezonings, Melendez said. If elected, he said, he wants to restore “integrity and confidence” back into the Flagler County Commission through bold new leadership. Melendez said he wants to use a comprehensive new strategy of working together to advance the interest of all citizens by implementing sound and limited self-governance.

“The people of Flagler County want a new approach,” he said.

Melendez said his main qualifications are a combination of experience, skills, and resources, the press release said. Melendez is an elected union official representing over 14,000 drivers and has a bachelor’s degree in human services and psychology from Boricua College in New York, a master’s degree in political science.

Andrew Werner runs for Palm Coast’s City Council District 3

Andrew Werner is running for Palm Coast’s City Council District 3 seat.

Werner is a Palm Coast resident with an undergraduate degree in criminal justice, master’s degrees in counseling psychology and school psychology. A nationally certified school psychologist, Werner currently works as an advocate and educator for students and families in the public school system, according to his biography on the Flagler Supervisor of Elections website.

Since the beginning of his career, Werner has worked as an advocate in his community, not only through his work with youth organizations but also helping adults suffering from substance abuse, mental health issues, and with people experiencing housing

crisis issues, the biography said.

Werner said he and his family love that Palm Coast is a beautiful and safe place to live with a great quality of life. He believes a representative’s responsibility is to “listen, advocate and problem solve for the people they serve.”

“The city belongs to the people, and it is the people who should decide how we preserve our quality of life and grow forward,” Werner said.

Former St. Johns sheriff throws his hat into Senate District 7 race

In what could be one of this year’s highest-profile legislative primary elections, former St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar has opened a campaign account to run for a seat that will be vacated by term-limited Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine.

Shoar, a Republican, opened the account Friday, June 7, according to the state Division of Elections website.

House Appropriations Chairman Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, also is running for the Senate District 7 seat.

The district is made up of St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties and part of Volusia.

Leek has gained support from Republican leaders, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and incoming Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula.

Shoar was first elected St. Johns County sheriff in 2004 and served until 2020. He joined the law firm Woolsey Morcom in 2023 as director of investigations, according to the firm’s website.

Candidates will formally qualify this week for legislative races. Other candidates with open accounts in Senate District 7 are Republican Gerry James, Democrat George Anthony Hill II and

unaffiliated candidate Michael

Levone Gist.

Primary elections will be held Aug. 20. The online site Florida’s Voice first reported Shoar’s candidacy last week.

Financial disclosures law blocked by judge

A federal judge has blocked a 2023 Florida law that required municipal elected officials to disclose detailed information about their personal finances, ruling that the law likely violated First Amendment rights.

U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian on Monday issued a preliminary injunction, siding with municipal officials throughout the state who challenged the law. The decision came three weeks before a July 1 deadline for filing the information.

Damian, who is based in Fort Lauderdale, wrote that the Legislature did not adequately justify a need for the law after decades of the state requiring less-detailed financial disclosures by municipal officials. She wrote that a law “compelling speech, as with a statute forbidding speech, falls within the purview of the First Amendment.”

“After a thorough and careful consideration of the record, this court concludes that defendants have failed to establish that the state seriously undertook the consideration of less intrusive means to address the identified interests,” Damian wrote.

The law (SB 774) required mayors and other elected municipal officials, such as members of city councils, to file annual reports detailing issues such as their net worths, incomes and assets. Other elected officials, such as the governor and state legislators, have long faced such requirements. The requirements caused an uproar among local governments, with more than 125 municipal elected officials resigning.

Former Volusia official runs for county chair

Deb Denys filed to run for the seat on June 6.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

MANAGING EDITOR

The Volusia County Council Chair election has now become a four-person race.

Former District 3 County Councilwoman Deb Denys filed to run for the seat on June 6. Denys, a real estate agent with Weichert Realtors, served on the council from 2012 to 2020 when she ran for County Council chair against incumbent Jeff Brower.

Denys said she was asked a year ago if she would consider running again. At the time, she said no. Two months ago, she changed her mind.

“Finally, I said, ‘I think there’s an opportunity,’”

Denys said. “My skill sets, my leadership abilities, my connections — I’m going to bring all that strength and leadership skills back to the dais.”

Denys is a member of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s College of Arts and Sciences Industrial Advisory Board, as well as serves as a governing board member of the Florida Communities Trust, a position she was appointed to by the governor.

She’s also the former board of directors chair of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, the Central Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization and the River To Sea Transportation Planning Organization and served on the Volusia County School Board from 1994-1998.

Denys said she would use all of her experience to lead the County Council, if elected.

Leadership, she said, comes down to listening, coming to

a consensus and moving an item forward, or choosing not to.

During her time as a County Council member, some of her accomplishments included helping the city of Oak Hill with acquiring funding for its ongoing septic to sewer conversion, the hiring of an internal auditor for the county, and leaving Volusia County debtfree in its general fund when she stepped down in 2020.

“That’s the most important thing as a council member, is our fiduciary responsibility with the tax dollars and to our citizens, and to be accountable and transparent,” Denys said.

Denys said she looks forward to speaking with citizens once again about local issues and said she believes Volusia is in a position to “pick up some momentum here with good leadership” in regards to economic development. If elected, Denys will be the only woman on the County Council. She is running against incumber Chair Jeff Brower, Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette, and local businessman and former race car driver Randy Dye, who has raised over $295,000 for his campaign. Brower has raised almost $45,000 and Burnette has raised about $32,500.

decided in the Primary. Nonpartisan contests include School Board members, City of Palm Coast Mayor and Council Members. Primary elections are also important for partisan offices. If a candidate does not win the Primary, they will not appear on the ballot in November. Don’t skip the Primary! Visit FlaglerElections.gov or scan the QR code to learn about the candidates. Be an informed voter! YOUR VOTE COUNTS!

Hablamos Español.

Deb Denys. Courtesy photo

Fernando Melendez. Courtesy photo

Andrew Werner is running for Palm Coast City Council. Photo courtesy of Werner’s campaign Facebook page

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Flagler Beach home sells for over $1.3 million

Ahouse in Painters Walk subdivision was the top real estate transaction for April 18-24 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. Ivor and Anita Wigham, as trustees, sold 3010 Painters Walk to James Steven Tuckers and Mary Tucker, of Flagler Beach, for $1,335,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/3 and has 2 half baths, a pool, an elevator, a boat house, a dock and 3,090 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $855,000.

Condos Christopher and Debra Parent, as trustees, sold 21 Viscaya Lane to Lori Wild, of Palm Coast, for $526,000. Built in 1999, the condo is a 2/2.5 and has 2,186 square feet. It sold in 2007 for $66,600.

Cynthia Haines, a trustee, sold 700 Cinnamon Beach Way, Unit 644, to Richard Schlinkman Jr. Ellen Schlinkman, of Palm Coast, for $895,000. Built in 2004, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,682 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $690,000.

Lori Curtiss, of Palm Coast, sold 800 Canopy Walk Lane, Unit 823, to Deborah Branham Wallingford and John Wallingford, of Lexington, Kentucky, for $360,000. Built in 2004, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,238 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $207,000.

Travis and Amanda Thaxton, of Bossier City, Louisiana, sold 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Unit 715, to Joao and Maria Monteiro, of Colts Neck, New Jersey, for $780,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/3.5 and has 1,676 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $735,000.

Darrell Alan Crawford and Vedia Jean Crawford, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, sold 101 Palm Harbor Parkway, Unit C427, to Chased By An Angel LLC, of Rocky Point, New York, for $180,000. Built in 2005, the condo is a 1/1.5 and has 670 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $118,000.

EJ McCallum Inc, of Palm Coast, sold 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Unit 217, to Jorge and Norah Salhuana, of Acworth, Georgia, for $660,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/3 and has 1,676 square feet. It sold in 2003 for $635,000.

FLAGLER BEACH

Fuquay

Sean Sackett, of Flagler Beach, sold 1507 South Central Ave. to Alexander Vorgias, of Flagler Beach, for $762,000. Built in 2019, the house is a 4/3 and has 1,642 square feet.

PALM COAST

Belle Terre

Seagate homes, LLC, of Palm Coast, sold 27 Pepper Lane to Richard and Barbara Von Langen, of Palm Coast, for $369,700. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,871 square feet.

Hammock Dunes

Jeffrey Friedman and Susan Roese, as trustees, sold 21 Island Estates Parkway to Robert and Vickie Shaffer, of Arvada, Colorado, for $1,300,000. Built in 1999, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool, a hot tub, a fireplace, an outdoor kitchen and 3,323 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $640,000.

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

John Anderson Drive home tops Ormond area sales list

Ahouse in Ormond-by-the-Sea was the top real estate transaction for April 28 to May 4 in Ormond Beach and Ormondby-the-Sea. Dorothy Holmes, of Ormond Beach, sold 2571 John Anderson Drive to Richard and Elizabeth Rhoden, of Ormond Beach, for $975,000. Built in 2012, the house is a 4/2 and has two half baths, a fireplace and 3,487 square feet.

ALEXIS MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Condos

Dante Leon, of College Place, Washington, sold 89 S. Atlantic Ave., Unit 1203, to Paul Villani, of New Windsor, New York, for $270,000. Built in 1979, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,200 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $230,000.

Joseph Hamilton Jr. and Colleen Fooshkill, as co-trustees, sold 1 John Anderson Drive, Unit 520, to James Baliker, as trustee, for $465,000. Built in 1996, the condo is a 2/2.5 and has 2,170 square feet. It sold in 2011 for $255,000.

Robert and Marlena DeWitt, of Cairo, New York, sold 65 Seton Trail, Unit 80, to Damien Curry, of Ormond Beach, for $220,000. Built in 1971, the condo is a 2/1.5 and has 1,080 square feet. It sold in 2012 for $62,500.

ORMOND

BEACH

Ann Rustin Estates

Raymond Komara and Sandra Ann Komara, of Gainesville, sold 230 Ann Rustin Drive to JM Contracting Group, Inc., of Daytona Beach Shores, for $525,000. Built in 1965, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool, a fireplace and 2,371 square feet. It sold in 1973 for $64,000.

Fiesta Heights

Joanne Elizabeth Garnett, of Ormond Beach, sold 111 Pinion Circle to Gilbert Keisse, of Ormond Beach, for $300,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,343 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $210,000.

Hunters Ridge

Richard and Sherry Smith, of Ormond Beach, sold 30 Dormer Drive to William and Demra Ashmore, of Ormond Beach, for $780,000. Built in 2008, the house is a 4/2.5

and has a pool and 3,458 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $390,000.

Ronald and Reba Barker, of Ormond Beach, sold 104 Pergola Place to Brooke and Justin Romero, of Ormond Beach, for $360,000. Built in 2017, the house is a 3/2 and has a hot tub and 1,913 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $325,000.

Plantation Bay

Shelia Burns, as trustee, sold 812 Aldenham Lane to Daniel and Jeanne Cox, of Ormond Beach, for $380,000. Built in 2016, the house is a 3/3 and has 2,078 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $223,100.

Trails Keith and Leanne Lutz, of Ormond Beach, sold 115 Shady Branch Trail to Zeev Kessler and Shayne Epstein, of Ormond Beach, for $919,000. Built in 1981, the house is a 6/5.5 and has a firepit and 3,974 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $679,900.

ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA Island

Barbara Fitiles, of Pittsboro, North Carolina, sold 19 Island Cay Drive to David and Jodie Carlson, of Ormond Beach, for $400,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,447 square feet. It sold in 1989 for $95,000.

Ocean Shores

Catherine Shaw, a personal representative, sold 6 River Shore Drive to George Michael Dutcher and Heather Amanda Dutcher, of Ormond Beach, for $325,000. Built in 1956, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,032 square feet.

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

The house at 2571 John Anderson Drive has 3,487 square feet of living space. Photo courtesy of Realty Pros Assured

Make yourself at home

Quality time with dad: soggy cones and no iPads

Father’s Day is around the corner. Enjoy the moments.

BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER

As Father’s Day approaches, I celebrate the dignity of fathers, the respect we all owe them, the honor and love we learn from them — and their willingness to eat soggy ice cream cones.

Or maybe that’s just me.

The other night, I was home alone with my two youngest children, 9-year-old Kennedy and 6-yearold Luke, so we debated for a while what to do. Too hot to go outside to play. Too boring to stay home.

“Can we go to the iPad McDonald’s?” Luke begged.

LETTERS

What happens when the well runs dry?

Dear Editor:

For those who aren’t McDonald’s connoisseurs, you may not realize that, of the four in Palm Coast, the only McDonald’s featuring tablets loaded with video games is the one on Old Kings Road near Palm Coast Parkway.

I do have some principles left.

“No,” I said, “let’s spend some quality time together at McDonald’s, not play more electronics at McDonald’s.”

I tried not to take Luke’s continued protests as an insult.

When we arrived at a non-iPad

McDonald’s (the horror!), Kennedy and I ordered McFlurries, while Luke, uncharacteristically, wanted an ice cream cone.

Knowing that Luke often lets his ice cream melt everywhere and drip down his cheeks and wrists, I tried to talk him into a plain sundae instead. When he insisted, I decided to outsmart him and plop his vanilla cone upside down in a plastic cup so that he’d have to eat it with a spoon anyway.

He insisted that he wanted the true cone experience, so I compro-

mised with him, scraping most of the ice cream into the cup, and then handing him the cone with a mound of vanilla only about 1 inch tall. (Don’t worry, he also got the cup.)

A few minutes later, he had licked off the ice cream but didn’t take a single bite out of the cone itself. Instead, he handed it to me, flat on top but with plenty of ice cream still stored inside the cone.

“You don’t want it?” I asked.

He shook his head, no.

Kennedy asked the obvious question, with big-sister attitude: “Luke, why did you get the cone if you don’t want to eat the cone?”

He simply smiled and shrugged. He handed me the cone.

It was soggy around the edges. I didn’t know why he didn’t want it, and I sensed that he didn’t know, either. I realized that maybe, just maybe, he had never ordered an ice cream cone before — or at least not for a very long time, probably because of my aversion to ice cream messes. He was just a little boy, unsure how to respond to an unfamiliar situation.

I didn’t want to throw the cone away, so after a moment’s hesitation, while he took a few bites of ice cream from his plastic cup, I ate away the upper wafery walls, exposing a new mound of unnaturally white vanilla.

Luke’s eyes suddenly got wide with surprise, and he asked for it back. I laughed at his surprised expression and handed it to him, then watched him lick the rest of the ice cream away. Kennedy rolled her eyes but couldn’t help from smiling.

It was a nothing moment: A kid gets a second chance at eating an ice cream cone, with renewed glee.

But for me, it wasn’t nothing; it was just the kind of quality time I needed: a series of smiles on the faces of my children.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there who eat soggy cones without asking too many questions.

What’s your favorite Father’s Day memory, as a father or a child?

Email brian@observerlocalnews. com.

I hope everyone read Jeffery Seib’s letter in the Observer on June 6 (“Our most basic resource needs to be managed”). When I wrote into (Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin’s Ask the Mayor column) in the Observer a few months ago, my question was exactly what Mr. Seib is asking!

(Jeffery Seib) put it.

I just asked in a different manner and my reply was all about water treatment centers that we have or are getting. It had nothing to do with my question about what happens when the well runs dry as

If you didn’t see the article, please find it, and I’m sure everyone will agree with me and Mr. Seib. Looking forward to seeing the answer to that question from someone or anyone. Kudos to Jeffery!

PAT BARILE Palm Coast

Flagler Tiger Bay Club to host candidates

The public event will include a straw poll and a media room where candidates and voters can interact directly.

OBSERVER STAFF

With 70% of the offices to be decided in the Aug. 20 primary election, the Flagler Tiger Bay Club will host the 2024 Candidate Meet and Greet on Thursday, June 27, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center.

The event will immediately precede the first U.S. presidential debate of 2024, scheduled for 9 p.m.

The public is invited to meet qualified local, state and federal candidates, who will be on hand to answer questions and provide details about their campaigns and platforms.

The Flagler Humane Society is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1 Shelter Drive in Palm Coast. Adoption fees vary based on the animal, and the shelter has both dogs and cats up for adoption. Contact FHS at 386-445-1814 or visit flaglerhumanesociety.org.

About three-quarters of the candidates so far have confirmed their participation in the Meet and Greet, a Flagler Tiger Bay Club spokesperson said.

Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Kaiti Lenhart will conduct a straw poll from 6-8 p.m. The results will be announced immediately after the poll closes. The results will also be posted on the Flagler County Supervisor of Election’s website.

There will be a media room where candidates and voters can interact directly, according to a Flagler Tiger Bay Club press release. Flagler Broadcasting will broadcast the event on WNZF News Radio starting at 6 p.m. Candidates and voters are invited to stop by the WNZF booth for a live, on-air political discussion.

“As a nonpartisan organization, Flagler Tiger Bay Club is excited to host this important event for both

STOP BY!

WHAT: Flagler Tiger Bay Club

2024 Candidate Meet and Greet

WHEN: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 27

WHERE: Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE COST: Free

DINNER: Food will be available for purchase by Chick-fil-A.

voters and community stakeholders,” said Jay Scherr, Flagler Tiger Bay Club’s president. “This will be an excellent opportunity to meet, engage with and learn about the candidates who want to govern and shape the future of our local communities.”

VETERAN OF THE WEEK

Stephen Bolding

 Branch of military: U.S. Marine Corps

 Dates of service: 1967-1971

 Rank/occupation: Sergeant / Rifleman, Combat Engineer Equipment Mechanic

 Hometown: Marietta, Georgia Stephen Bolding is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He went through boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, and was assigned to the Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro, California, with a one-year tour in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970.

During his honorable service he received the Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal among other awards. Bolding worked as a self-employed building contractor for many years.

For much of his life he was an active runner and participated in “If

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944 PALM

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

Marketing Consultant April Koehler, akoehler@observerlocalnews.com

Office Coordinator Kay Raymond, Kay@observerlocalnews.com

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10

Baby, 9; Blue Bell, 6

Hot doggin

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley said he and former mayor Suzie Johnston started the Hang 8 Dog Surfing Extravaganza on a whim three years ago because their chihuahua, “Wednesday,” likes to surf.

“We’ve been to other dog surf competitions and we said, ‘Why aren’t we doing this in Flagler Beach, because we’re dog friendly,’” Cooley said. “The first year, we didn’t know if we were going to get anybody to come out, and it was a big hit. Everybody loved it.”

The third annual Hang 8 event Saturday, June 8, drew hundreds of humans and canines to Flagler Beach. Dog-friendly vendors lined the boardwalk. Awards for surfing and costumes were handed out on the HT Production Company’s stage.

“Every year, it grows probably 50 to 100%,” Cooley said. “It’s more of everything. We’ve got more vendors, we’ve got more dog contestants and we’ve got a bigger crowd, and they’re coming in from further out. They’re coming in from out of state. So it’s quite a spectable. It’s cool.”

Wednesday competed in the

Crowds descend on Flagler Beach for thirdannual Hang 8 Dog Surfing Extravaganza

small-dog category with Pugsley and other dogs. Wednesday was named after an “Addams Family” character. Pugsley was not.

Pugsley is Jessica Kyser’s 2-yearold pug. Kyser and Pugsley and Kyser’s boyfriend (Josh Gunter), brother (Rick Kendrick), sister-in-law (Nicole Kendrick) and son (Colton) traveled from Orange Springs in Marion County to enjoy the spectacle and the surfing. The waves were tiny but the competitors didn’t complain.

Pugsley competes in the American Kennel Club’s Fast CAT 100-yard dash races and has some titles. He had never been on a surfboard until last year and proved to be a natural.

“He just took off,” Gunter said. Kyser said his balance was better this year.

The vendors all made a donation to participate and the organizers passed 100% of the profits to three charities — the Flagler Humane Society, SMART (Saving Missing Animals Response Team) and K9s for Warriors.

SEE HANG 8 PAGE 2B

Wilson, 4, of Palm Coast waits for his turn.

Pugsley, 2 years old, after his surfing heat.

Event organizer Eric Cooley and his dog Wednesday after their surfing heat. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Joseph Fontanelli, 47, Stephanie Phillips, 46, Lisa Gailey, 52 and Marianna Rodriguez, 56, at the FDOT’s Target Zero table.

Annabelle of Cape Coral loves her time on the board.

TRIBUTES

William T. (Bill) McLemore, Jr. May 21, 1952 - June 9, 2024

William T. (Bill) McLemore, Jr. of Palm Coast, FL gained his angel wings on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

Bill was born to William Thomas (Tom) McLemore II and Mary Isabelle McLemore in Norfolk, VA. on May 21, 1952.

He retired as a Chief of Operations for NOAA/Department of Commerce after many years of service.

He was a 1974 graduate of VA Tech and a member of the Corp. of Cadets.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 17 years, Diana L. McLemore.

He is also survived by his sister Mary H. Wickenhofer and her fiance Ray Seifert and her daughter Jenna; Daughter Elizabeth A. Paugh and her husband Timothy and their children Rylee and Kennedy; Daughter Pamela J. Ritzler and her husband Jacob and their children Lyla and Leo; Step-daughter Erin L. Benjamin and her fiance Kimmy Dotson and her daughter Sierra; Step-daughter Sabrina L. Nace and Step-son George W.

Nace, III.

Bill is also survived by Sister-in-law

Brenda L Wolf and her husband Paul.

Services and burial at sea will be at a later date at Bill’s request.

Willy Goodog, 4 years old, and Jax, 2, of Tampa wait for their heat

Thomas Scavetta, 28, of New York watches with Annabelle of Cape Coral.

Crowds watch the Hang 8 Dog Surfing Extravaganza on Flagler Beach.

Sharon Spevock with her dog Winny waits to catch a wave.

Winny rides a wave at the third annual Hang 8 Dog Surfing Extravaganza on Flagler Beach.

THE FINE ARTS

UNWANTED

The sculpture, which won first place for 3D art for the Tradewinds show at OMAM last month, depicts a shattered face. It’s based on a poem De-Via wrote about her family friend from Israel, Yael Idan, who is experiencing the impact of the war firsthand.

“The poem tells the tragic story Yael went through; how she and her family had to witness the murder of her older sister, Mayan Idan, while being held captive inside their family home,” De-Via said in her artist’s statement. “My sculpture has no eyes and a shattered surface to project the fact that the Idan’s family saw no future after the bloodshed but were forced to break through the cracks and continue living within the grief. My hope for this artwork is to share Yael’s story with the world and to reveal the truth behind this torturous war that became my people’s reality.”

–JARLEENE ALMENAS

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LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, JUNE 13

DAYTONA STATE COLLEGE

SUMMER JAZZ CONCERT

When: 7-9 p.m.

Where: News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach

Details: Kickstart the summer with a jazz concert. Free event. Open to the public.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

TURTLE TALK: A SEA

TURTLE’S JOURNEY

When: 10-11 a.m.

Where: Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreational Area, 3100 S. Oceanshore Blvd., Flagler Beach

Details: Learn about the role sea turtles play and how our actions can help preserve this species for generations to come. All ages are welcome. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Program included with paid park entry fee of $5 per car.

CELEBRATE AMERICA! A CONCERT FEATURING THE AMERICAN SIRENS

When: 5-8 p.m.

Where: MetroHealth Stadium at Pictona, 1060 Ridgewood Ave., Holly Hill

Details: Celebrate Flag Day with a concert by The American Sirens. This harmonic trio will sing classic patriotic songs, as well as modern hits with a vintage flair. Floor and bleacher seats are free. Box seats (includes four seats and a small table) are available for $20. Add a barbecue meal by The Kitchen at Pictona for $20. Meal tickets must be purchased in advance. Visit hollyhillevents.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

DAYTONA BEACH

JUNETEENTH FAMILY FESTIVAL

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where: Cypress Park, 925

George W.

Details: The 26th annual Daytona Beach Juneteenth Family Festival, presented by the Juneteenth Festival Group, Inc. of Daytona Beach, will begin with a parade in the city’s historic midtown district, from Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard to George Engram Boulevard, at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Unity in the Community.” After the parade, head to Cypress Park for live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, children’s activities, the Sankofa African Traveling Museum, a poundcake competition and more. Free event. Visit juneteenthdaytona.com.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

When: 12-6 p.m.

Where: African American Cultural Society, 4422 U.S. 1, Palm Coast

Details: Celebrate Juneteenth with the African American Cultural Society. The event will feature bounce houses, games, music, entertainment, vendors and food. Free event.

ECHOING AIR CONCERT

When: 3 p.m.

Where: Jeanne M. Goddard Center, Daytona State College, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach

Details: Echoing Air, an Indianapolis-based Baroque chamber ensemble, will present a free concert at Daytona State College. The concert will be the culmination of the ensemble’s week of work with high school and college students from around the United States who are attending the fourth-annual Exploring Vocal Arts summer camp.

‘LET’S SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL FATHER DAUGHTER’ SOCK HOP

When: 5-7 p.m.

Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: The Casements Guild is inviting fathers, grandfathers, uncles, big brothers, guardians and their special little ladies for a night of dancing, poodle skirts and leather jackets. There will be dinner, giveaways and prizes. Tickets cost $25 per couple. Advanced tickets required. Call 386-676-3216.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

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. Call or text 748-8993 or visit spcavolusia.org

FATHER’S DAY BBQ BASH

When: 12-4 p.m.

Where: Palm Coast United Methodist Church, 6500 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: Enjoy some barbecue and celebrate fathers with Palm Coast Methodist Church. The menu includes barbecue chicken, choice of smoked sausages or smoked ribs, coleslaw, corn, mac and cheese and corn bread. Event costs $25 for adults; $10 for children, who get choice of a hot dog or cheeseburger and fries. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the church’s community programs. Visit https://bit.ly/3yX12H4.

‘FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING’ OPENING RECEPTION

When: 1-4 p.m.

Where: Art League of Daytona Beach, 433 S. Palmetto Ave., Daytona Beach Details: The Art League will

hold an opening reception for its upcoming exhibit, “Figuratively Speaking,” to open Sunday, June 16. It will run through July 19. Ongoing watercolor classes with Elaine Vice will also continue through the summer on Fridays from 1-4pm. For more information, visit www. artleague.org.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

FOOD TRUCK TUESDAY

When: 5-8 p.m.

Where: Central Park at Town Center, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast Details: Order appetizers, main dishes, side dishes and desserts. Registration is not required. Presented in partnership with the Observer

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

ORMOND BEACH AREA

DEMOCRATIC CLUB MEETING

When: 7 p.m.

Where: 56 N. Halifax Drive,

Ormond Beach Details: Join the Ormond Beach Area Democratic Club for its June meeting. Checkin and socializing will begin at 6:30 p.m. Information and activities for the Aug. 20 and Nov. 5 elections will be presented, discussed and planed. Like-minded non-members are welcome to attend as guests. Visit ormondbeachdems.org.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

MOONRISE AT THE BEACH

When: 8:15-9 p.m.

Where: Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreational Area, 3100 S. Oceanshore Blvd., Flagler Beach Details: Take in the view of the moon rising over the Atlantic Ocean. Bring binoculars and a camera for photo opportunities. Program included with paid park entry fee of $5 per car.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

SUMMER BOOK AND BAKE SALE

When: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where: Flagler County Public Library, 25500 Palm Coast Parkway NW, Palm Coast

Details: The Friends of the Flagler County Public Library are hosting a book and bake sale.

REMEMBERING HEROES

COUNTRY BBQ When: 12-4 p.m.

Where: 2K Ranch of Bunnell, 6067 Tangerine Ave., Bunnell

Details: Remembering Heroes and 2K Ranch are hosting a fundraiser to support veterans, first responders, Gold Star military families and local community heroes. There will be food, games, vendors and raffles. Donations of $25 per person requested; children 6 and under are free.

Mia Bella Academy celebrates spring recital showcasing 250 performers

The dance school also had its first college signing as one of its seniors has been accepted to the University of Florida’s dance team.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Mia Bella Academy of Dance has celebrated the end of spring with its annual spring performance with over 250 student performers.

Owner/founder Brie ValentiCrane said the June 8 performance at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center was the school’s 27th recital in 14 years. The theme, she said, was Mia Bella Music Festival and featured songs one might hear at a live concert.

“I was thrilled. This was such a great audience. They were really invested until the bitter end,” she said.

The school teaches dance for all levels, from recreational to preprofessional. Valenti-Crane said she was extra excited because this year the school had its largest group of boy performers. A total of 10 boys were enrolled across multiple classes, including Hip Hop and Junior Tap.

“It was a big deal for us,” she said.

Valenti-Crane said the recital could not have gone as well as it did without the support of Mia Bella’s parents and staff. She said she was especially grateful to the staff at the Fitzgerald for all of their help.

The performers also included five graduating seniors, including Valenti-Crane’s own son. The June 8 performance included another first for the school: Valenti-Crane hosted an official commitment signing event for graduating senior Carly Hyers, who has been accepted onto the University of Florida’s dance team.

“We’ve had other kids go on to colleges, but we have not done a signing,” she said. “That was the first time we’ve done something like that at a recital. And I think that was a

really special moment for her and her family.”

Another senior is also competing for a spot with the Miami Heat’s dance team, though auditions are still ongoing, Valenti-Crane said.

It’s always emotional to see some of the seniors leave, she said, because

the seniors have been dancing at Mia Bella for years, some since they were just 4 years old.

“It was just a super, super, like, emotional and positive experience to see how dance has helped shape them,” Valenti-Crane said.

By Luis Campos

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“CGYK R WYF PEOYV, R OPK’F FGRKL R’EE ERLY FP GTUY CVRKLEYB, PV T HRW AYEES HYEES. R XTKKPF GTUY RF.”

BACKING MUSICIANS by Aaron Rosenberg, edited by Jeff Chen

The Ballet-Tap Combo class performance. Photo by Brian McMillan

The Hippy Hop dance class, ages 2-4. Photo by Brian McMillan

The Teen Contemporary dance group poses for a photo before their show with two members of the Teen Hip hop class.

Mia Bella’s Companion & Me performers. From left to right, mother Natasha Jackson with daughter Rya Jackson, mother Tatiana Lanov with daughter Veronica Lanov, and mother Alecia Lind with daughter Grace Lind. Photos courtesy of Mia Bella Academy of Dance

Non Sequitur

Nancy

Mother Goose and Grimm

The Duplex

In the Bleachers

Cornered

Ziggy

The Fusco Brothers

SPORTS

Summer kicks

FPC, Seabreeze soccer players square off on 7v7 opening night.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Last year, Flagler Palm Coast had two girls teams in the 7v7 high school summer soccer league. This year, coach Pete Hald decided to go with one team of 13 players.

“It’s kind of like a stacked team vs. last year when we split everything up,” Hald said.

FPC’s team — the Palm Coast Blasters — defeated the Crabsters 5-1 on Wednesday, June 5, on the opening night for the girls teams in the Royal Palms SC 7v7 High School Soccer League at the Indian Trails Sports Complex.

None of the Crabsters, representing Seabreeze and the Ormond Beach Soccer Club, have played high school soccer yet. Most of the players are incoming freshmen with a few seventh and eighth graders mixed in.

Unlike FPC, Seabreeze has two teams in the six-team league. The Claw fell to a Spruce Creek squad 7-0.

Christine Goebel, the coach of the Crabsters, said her young players held their own against the Blasters’ stacked team. The score was 3-1 before the Blasters added two late goals.

“That was not a 5-1 game,” Goebel said. “They did a good job finishing their chances, and we didn’t. We didn’t have as many chances to capitalize on, but we got a goal, and I was thrilled with that. The score doesn’t really portray how well we played the majority of the game.”

Gabby Dioquino scored for Seabreeze. Erin Hughes had two

goals for FPC, while Skyler Strickland, Hailey Sammons and Isabella Kummernes each added a goal.

“The competition was good,” said Hald, who played two groups of field players, substituting six players at a time in three- to five-minute increments.

“It’s a hard game because there’s so much more movement,” Hald said. “In 11 on 11, you’re off the ball a lot, you can rest. Here, you don’t have a whole lot of time to rest. You get more touches on the ball. You’re

involved more, which is makes it a better game, to get better at the game.”

The atmosphere is more relaxed, Hald said.

“We want them to be serious, but I want them to have serious fun.”

The boys opened league play on Tuesday, June 4, with FPC’s two teams each winning. FPC’s Team 2 defeated the Panthers of Palatka 6-0. FPC Team 1 defeated the Flashes FB Club, representing St. Joseph Academy, 8-4.

There are six boys and teams and six girls teams in the league which will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings through the end of July, said Ramtin Amiri, FPC’s boys soccer coach, who runs the summer league.

The other boys teams in the league are from Crescent City and St. Augustine Pedro Menendez. The girls teams include two teams from Spruce Creek and one from Menendez in addition to FPC and two Seabreeze squads.

“We

want them to be serious, but I want them to have serious fun.”

Matanzas wrestling teams to have new coach after entire staff resigns

Head coach Mike Fries resigned, effective at the end of the year, but tried to withdraw his resignation, parents say

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

In the past three seasons, Matanzas High School’s wrestling program earned a state team championship while four wrestlers won individual state titles.

Now the program will be starting from scratch. All of the school’s wrestling coaches have resigned, according to school administrators and wrestlers’ parents.

The Pirates are finalizing the hiring of a new head coach, Principal Kristin Bozeman said.

“We hope to be able to make that announcement here in the next few days or weeks,” Bozeman said on

“He submitted his resignation. We accepted that resignation. And we’re moving forward. Of course, I wish Mike the best. The record speaks for itself.”

Thursday, June 6. “We’re looking to move forward for the future of our program and for the betterment of our students.”

Head coach Mike Fries originally resigned during this past wrestling season, effective at the end of the year, but later tried to withdraw his resignation, according to parents. The withdrawal was not accepted, parents said, even after some parents met with school administrators asking to allow him to come back. One parent said they spoke with Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore, and she told them it was the principal’s decision.

Bozeman said Fries continues to be a teacher at Matanzas.

“Mr. Fries submitted his resignation and that’s really about all I can tell you. I’m really not supposed to talk about personnel matters,” she said. “He submitted his resignation. We accepted that resignation. And we’re moving forward. Of course, I wish Mike the best. The record speaks for itself.”

Fries did not respond to texts and phone messages from the Observer for this story other than to say he is no longer with the team.

He led the Pirates’ girls wrestling team to the 2023 state championship, the first team championship in school history. The girls team also placed third at state in 2022 and 2024.

Fries’ daughter, Tiana Fries, won a state championship in 2022, the first year the Florida High School Athletic Association sanctioned a girls wrestling state tournament. Kendall Bibla won a state title in 2023, and Jordan and Mariah Mills won championships this year, becoming the first brother and sister to win state wrestling titles in the same season.

Five Matanzas wrestlers have also been state runners-up since 2022,

including senior Brielle Bibla in 2023. The Bibla sisters live in St. Johns County. They had attended Tocoi Creek High School in 2021-22, but their parents decided to home school them the following year so that they could wrestle for Fries at Matanzas.

Kendall Bibla will be a senior in the upcoming school year.

Fries, the former head wrestling coach at Seabreeze High, had been with the Pirates’ program since 202122. He took over the girls team the following season when John White stepped down. With head boys coach

T.J. Gillin deciding this past season to step back to an assistant’s role to spend more time with his family,

Fries became lead coach for both the boys and girls. The Pirates had six wrestling coaches, including Fries and Gillin, on staff this past school year. With the girls and boys teams often traveling to separate tournaments throughout the season, Fries had requested additional coaches, parents said. After Fries resigned, the rest of the staff followed him, Matanzas athletic director Jordan Butler said. Butler said the school has selected a new head coach who is going through the school district’s onboarding process. Rachel Mills said Fries was more

than a coach for her four children who have wrestled with the Pirates and Fries’ Legend Athletics wrestling club.

“Coach Fries was not just a coach, he was a friend and a mentor for life,” she said. “I can’t even count how many hours he spent outside of school hours teaching and encouraging my children and other athletes to reach all their goals that didn’t even pertain to wrestling. He encouraged his athletes to become better humans and sincerely wanted them to succeed in all aspects of life.”

The Crabsters’ Makayla Barbel tries to kick the ball past Ivy Chen. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Coach Mike Fries, right, applauds Matanzas High School’s girls wrestlers as they are announced during a state championship celebration on March 10, 2023, in the school courtyard. File photo by Brent Woronoff

KRISTIN BOZEMAN, Matanzas principal

PETE HALD, FPC girls soccer coach

Elite eight: Flagler Palm Coast’s Halliday is finalist for Coach of the Year

For the second time in six years, David Halliday has been chosen as one of eight finalists for the National Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year award.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Win or lose, Flagler Palm Coast’s

David Halliday is honored to be a finalist for the second time for the National Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year award.

The winner will be announced at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year banquet on June 26 in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Halliday is one of eight finalists for the award. He was nominated by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association to represent the state. He was also nominated by the FACA in 2018 and was a finalist that year too.

“It’s always nice to be recognized,” said Halliday, who has been a track and field and cross country coach for 30 years, including the past 20 at FPC. “If you get nominated representing the entire state of Florida that’s a nice thing, and be picked as the final eight, that’s pretty good. It’s a tribute to the kids and coaches who work with me. Obviously, I’m not a one-man show. You’ve got to have great kids and great assistant coaches. It’s nice to be recognized, but it takes a lot people behind the scenes.” The award is based on career

achievement, and Halliday has accomplished a great deal during his career. His boys track and field teams have won three state championships. He led FPC to state titles in 2007 and 2009 and also coached Lake City Columbia to a state championship in 2002. Since he was last nominated for the award, he has led the Bulldogs to a state runner-up finish in 2019 and a fourth-place finish in 2023.

Halliday was inducted into the FACA Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2017.

He considers one of the other finalists, Scott Christensen of Stillwater High in Minnesota, as a mentor.

“When I got my USA Track and Field Level 2 Coaching Certification in 1998, he was one of the instruc-

tors,” Halliday said.

Halliday is a graduate of Seabreeze High School and the University of Florida, and before moving to Flagler County, he earned his master’s degree in sports management at Florida State while his wife, Kim Halliday — who is Flagler Schools’ director of Exceptional Student Education — was earning her PhD.

“He’s one of the best coaches I’ve seen in the state of Florida in any sport,” FPC Principal Bobby Bossardet said, noting that Halliday’s athletes are as accomplished in the classroom as they are on the track.

“At the track and field banquet there were a number of kids with GPAs above 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0,” Bossardet said. “That’s exactly what you want in a head coach. He cares about his kids and holds them to a high

standard academically.”

It also goes along with Halliday’s job for the last eight years as FPC’s graduation coach, where he helps FPC students who are at risk of not graduating get over the hump.

“He’s a perfect fit, “Bossardet said. “Coach Halliday has reputation of getting kids to believe tin themselves. He’s had a huge impact on our graduation rate. He’s getting some of our kids possibly not graduating to rise to their potential.”

Halliday maintains relationships with his former athletes. Many have invited him to be a part of their wedding parties. Several have become coaches themselves and are now on his staff coaching with him.

“It’s pretty cool to have them want to come back to their alma mater and give back,” Halliday said. “It’s

COACH OF YEAR FINALISTS

The eight finalists for the 2024 NHSACA Boys Track and of Coach of the Year award:

„ David Halliday, FPC, Florida

„ Josh Allmaras, Kindred High, North Dakota

„ Shane Baltz, Senatobia High, Mississippi

„ Scott Christensen, Stillwater High, Minnesota

„ Tim Daggert, Classicao Academy, Colorado

„ Dave Sellon, Fremont High, Nebraska

„ Rob Stanton, Billings West High, Montana

„ Clinton Tabb, Pennsauken, New Jersey

rewarding that they enjoyed what they did here and turned that into enjoying the teaching and coaching profession.”

One of his former athletes, Alex Giorgianni, who is now an FPC teacher and the track team’s jumps coach, helped plan a special gift for Halliday at the season-opening East Coast Classic on Feb. 23. Track staff, alumni and administrators presented him with a golden hurdle inscribed in five places with, “The Halliday Way — Since 2004.”

“Cross country and track and field are tough sports,” Bossardet said. “He’s got a way of getting the kids to believe in his way of doing things. They know he cares about them.”

FPC’s Joslyn Johnson and Alisha Vilar win freestyle state wrestling titles

Johnson won by technical fall over Matanzas’ Mariah Mills in the final to win the 115-pound Junior championship.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Palm Coast wrestling coach

David Bossardet doesn’t want Joslyn Johnson to worry about cutting weight. The high school girls state champion cut a lot of weight to stay at 100 pounds during the season, Bossardet said.

So, Johnson has jumped up to the 115-pound class this spring. In her

on June 1 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

Johnson beat another state champ in the title match, winning by technical fall over Matanzas’ Mariah Mills.

“Mariah is one of the best in the country,” Bossardet said. “Joslyn won that match that day, but it’s very important we keep things in perspective. Mariah Mills is as tough as they come. And we better be ready if we wrestle her again.”

fourth tournament in that weight class, she won the junior title at the Florida Amateur Wrestling Association Freestyle State Championships

State champions Colby Cronk and Christina Borgmann were named Flagler Palm Coast High School’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year at the Bulldogs’ Athletics Awards Show on May 21 at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center.

Cronk won the Class 4A state shot put championship days earlier. He also was state runner-up in discus. Cronk’s primary sport is football. The defensive end had 27 tackles for loss and 12 sacks last season. He has committed to North Carolina State University.

Borgmann won the 125-pound championship at the girls state wrestling tournament. As a sophomore, Borgmann placed second at state. Both Cronk and Borgmann were juniors and will have a chance to defend their championships in the upcoming school year.

The Bulldogs’ other big award winners were senior soccer player Savannah O’Grady, who won the Spirit of Flagler Award, and wrestling coach David Bossardet, who won FPC’s Coach of the Year award.

O’Grady, who signed a soccer scholarship with Eastern Florida State College, led her team with 11 goals her senior season, although she played in just eight games before suffering an ACL tear. Despite the injury, O’Grady continued to be a captain and leader of the team the rest of the season, encouraging and pushing her teammates.

She never missed a game, even attending the district championship a day after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery.

“I took my pain meds and made my

FPC’s Alisha Vilar also won a title at the FAWA Freestyle State Championships. Vilar won the 145-pound class in the 16U division. Kevin McLean, who will be a freshman at FPC in August, placed third at 113 pounds in the boys 16U division.

Johnson, who is currently ranked 27th in the nation at 100 pounds,

qualified for the Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota, in July. Mills, who won the 107-pound title in April at the NHSCA High School Nationals in Virginia Beach, will also be at Fargo. Mills is ranked 13th nationally at 110 pounds.

Johnson avenged a loss earlier this spring to South Dade’s Beyonce Espinosa. She won by technical fall over Espinosa to advance to the final against Mills. Johnson, who will be a junior in August, has been adjusting to the 115-pound weight class, Bossardet said.

“It’s a big jump from 100 to 115,” he said. “You have to make soe adjustments and I think she’s been doing that. We’ve spent a lot of time in the weight room, and we want Jos-

way over (to Daytona State College from Orlando),” she said in March. “I wouldn’t have missed it for nothing.”

Bossardet’s girls wrestling team placed second at state with Borgmann and Joslyn Johnson winning state titles. Four girls and four boys won medals at the state championships.

PRINCIPAL AWARD WINNERS FOR

EACH SPORT:

Athletic Training: Heather Mari

Hall Alcala

Baseball: Connor May

Boys Basketball: Caumarion

Lang Girls Basketball: Kameran Gor-

don Beach Volleyball: McKenna Kir-

shy

Boys Bowling: Jeremy Batt

Girls Bowling: Emma Pezzullo

Competitive Cheerleading: Bekken Mills

Boys Cross Country: Braedyn

Wormeck

Girls Cross Country: Arianna Slaughter

Flag Football: Ester Vitalen

Football: Jeremiah Cange

Boys Golf: Wynter Dodson

Girls Golf: Carmella Carlisi

Boys Lacrosse: Jordan Gales

Girls Lacrosse: Chloe Long

Boys Soccer: Chase Magee

Girls Soccer: Savanna O’Grady

Softball: Alexis Laura

Boys Swimming: Loris Eolyan

Girls Swimming: Julia Kurdziel

Boys Tennis: Andrew Shkotkin

Girls Tennis: Trista Rife

Boys Track & Field: Colby Cronk

Girls Track & Field: Summer

Barnes

Girls Volleyball: Lily Puritis

Boys Weightlifting: Nick Groth

Girls Weightlifting: Chloe Long

Boys Wrestling: Brandon Cali-

donio

Girls Wrestling: Alexa Calidonio

lyn focusing on getting stronger and getting better technically rather than losing weight.”

Vilar, an incoming sophomore, won her second tournament of the spring.

“She’s still relatively new to the sport,” Bossardet said. “But she continues to get better every time she steps onto the mat.”

As an eight grader, McLean wrestled for St. Johns Country Day and placed third at the Class 1A state championships at 106 pounds.

“I can’t be more excited for him to wrestle at FPC next (season),” Bossardet said.

Johnson, Vilar and McLean are among six wrestlers from the Flagler Wrestling Club to qualify for the Fargo tournament July 12-20.

Bulldogs’ signees

FPC had another athletic celebration before the end of the school year as 10 athletes signed national letters of intent to continue their athletic careers in college. The signees were:

Sidney Vinnick: Cheerleading (Florida Atlantic University)

Alyssia Ray: Cheerleading (Austin Peay University))

Gwen Vargas: Lacrosse (St. Thomas University)

Toryion Stallings: Wrestling (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; College)

Kelton Howard: Wrestling (Neosho Community College) Lily Puritis: Volleyball (Coker University)

Brandon Calidonio: Lacrosse (Wingate University) Hayden Herndon: Cross Country (Daytona State College)

Kaitlyn Holley: Soccer (Webber International University)

Track

FPC track and field alumni with Coach David Halliday at the East Coast Classic on Feb. 23, which celebrated Halliday’s 20 years as the program’s head coach. Courtesy photo

FPC’s Alisha Vilar (left) and Joslyn Johnson show off their first-place medals at the FAWA Freestyle State Wrestling Championships on June 1 in Kissimmee. Courtesy photo

Flagler Palm Coast Athletes of the Year Colby Cronk and Christina Borgmann.

Courtesy photo

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