Palm Coast Observer 10-17-24

PALM COAST

Flagler Beach residents Mitch and Marcia Amorginos remove debris from the drain after Hurricane Milton. They stayed through the storm.

Photo by Michele Meyers

CITY WATCH

Milton caused major damage to only two homes

A “windshield” assessment of Palm Coast after Hurricane Milton found 102 homes were damaged by the storm in Palm Coast.

Most of the homes only sustained minor cosmetic damage, according to a city press release. Two homes suffered major damage because trees fell on their home during the storm and 19 homes had less than 20% damage.

A “windshield assessment is when inspectors and staff tour the city after a storm, driving through neighborhoods, to visually assess the damage. On Thursday, Oct. 10 and Friday, Oct. 11, 18 city inspectors and four support staff assessed the exterior of the homes and gathered rapid, preliminary data on structural damage. The information will be sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine how much aide a community needs. Residents can report storm-related damage — like structural damage or water intrusion inside the home — on PalmCoast.gov/connect by submitting a case under the “Storm Damage” icon.

Palm Coast to expand wastewater facility

To comply with a decree from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Palm Coast must upgrade its Wastewater Treatment Facility 1 by 2028.

The plant — which serves the bulk of Palm Coast’s wastewater treatment needs — is permitted by the FDEP to treat 6.83 million gallons per day but has been averaging at or higher than that allotted amount of water flowing through the plant in at least four of the last 12 months, Utility Director Amanda Rees said. Because of the that, the FDEP issued a consent decree — a legal document formalizing the city’s plan to increase its wastewater treatment capacity — to the city to address the overflow.

During September, the city was averaging 8.7 million gallons per day at Plant 1. During Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, the plant processed 17 million gallons per day in just the one day. Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo told the Palm Coast City Council that so far, October is averaging at 10.8 million gallons per day.

During the summer’s dry months, from April to August, he said, the plant averaged between 5.5-6 million gallons per day.

The city has already begun the process to both reduce the current flow to Plant 1 and to expand the plant’s capacity. At the Oct. 15 City Council meeting, the council unanimously approved a $5 million design contract to expand Plant 1 by 4 million gallons per day, bringing its treatment capacity up to 10.83 million gallons per day by 2028.

Some of the pressure will also be taken off Plant 1 hundreds of thousands of gallons per day are diverted to Wastewater Treatment Facility Plant 2 in early 2025. Plant 2 has been undergoing its own phased expansion from a 2 million gallons per day plant to a 4 million gallons per day, which will be complete in early 2025.

Pontieri pointed out that the expansion, once completed, won’t reach the levels of the peak weather event the city saw with Milton, but city utility engineer Alexander Blake said it is not meant to.

“You’re not going to build a waste-

water treatment facility to take on peak wet weather conditions,” he said.

Blake said the plants have a hydraulic capacity — which is the amount of flow it can handle — and a treatment capacity, which is how much water can flow and be treated in a day. Plant 1’s hydraulic capacity is at 20 million gallons per day, he said — it’s the treatment capacity that is limited to 6.83 million gallons per day.

But running over the treatment capacity of a plant is not a long-term solution.

“You’re not going to take that on day after day, because you won’t be able to make parameters for treatment,” Blake said.

The $5 million contract is just to finish the design of the project, which is already at 30% completion.

Assuming the city can find the funding, the plan, Blake said, is to begin pre-construction work in late 2025 and begin the expansion in October 2026, with an eye to finish by the end of 2028.

Blake said also said new industry standards were passed in 2021 that requires the city to update Plant 1’s filtration process to the new Advanced Waste Treatment standard by 2032. That conversion process would be part of the expansion project and be completed sometime around late 2029 to early 2030.

Stormwater and Engineering Director Carl Cote said the entire

expansion project is likely to cost $240 million. And while the expansion portion of the project can be paid for, at least in part, by developer impact fees, to convert the plant to the AWT standards, the city will need to use the utility rates.

To fund these needs — both the expansion and general maintenance operational costs — the city needs to increase its utility rates. The Palm Coast Council rejected a residential rate increase to utilities last February, when some council members said that they felt the increase was unnecessary at the time.

“Deferred maintenance can no longer be an option,” Council member Charles Gambaro said.

Palm Coast Wastewater Treatment Facility 1. Courtesy photo

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

HURRICANE MILTON

The aftermath: $19 million in residential damage across Flagler County

According to preliminary numbers, 309 homes were found to have less than 20% of damage, and 71 with 20%-40% damage.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Hurricane Milton has caused at least $19 million in residential damage across Flagler County, according to a preliminary assessment.

The process consists of county staff going to each home in Flagler County and reviewing the damage. As of 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 15, 309 homes were found to have less than 20% of damage, 71 with between 20% and 40% of damage, and 17 with between 40% and 80% damage.

Just over $11 million in residential damage occurred in Flagler Beach, $4.7 million in Palm Coast, $1.5 million in unincorporated Flagler County, $1.4 million in Beverly Beach and almost $196,000 in Bunnell. The county did not have data yet for Marineland.

Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord said those are just rough numbers at this stage, and only factor in residential properties. The total value of the damage is also based on the value of the home, which can skew the data some, he said. Regardless, the $19 million qualifies Flagler County residents for assistance from FEMA. Those property owners impacted by Hurricane Milton are encouraged to apply for disaster assistance if they do not have insurance coverage, a Flagler County

press release said.

Property owners will first need to register for FEMA assistance at www.disaster assistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. The registration period is likely to close Dec. 10, though that date could change, the press release said.

Financial assistance may be provided to an applicant, or housing may be provided by FEMA. Other FEMA assistance could include displacement assistance, serious needs assistance, personal property assistance, child care assistance and more.

Almost all residents in the county have had their power restored. Of the 50,000 that lost power during Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9 into Oct. 10, only 59 are still without power, according to the Florida Power & Light outage tracker.

In comparison, Flagler

2 DEATHS IN ORMOND BEACH

Tragedy hit home with two deaths in Ormond Beach on Thursday, Oct. 10, that were related to the hurricane.

Public Safety Information Officer Pauline Dulang said a tree came down on an elderly couple in their home in Ormond Beach. Crews transported them both to the ER, where the woman succumbed to internal bleeding from her injuries. The second fatal-

ity involved a resident experiencing respiratory distress, Dulang said. First responders were unable to reach the person during the height of the storm due to extreme wind conditions, which made it unsafe for emergency response.

“Our hearts go out to the victims’ families, and we remain committed to doing everything we can to support our community through this difficult time,” Dulang said.

Dogs, cats, a goat — and Faith the parakeet — all safe during the storm

Halifax Humane Society’s dog walks were flooded; Flagler lost power but used a FEMA generator.

BRENT WORONOFF

EDITOR

ASSOCIATE

The Halifax Humane Society in Daytona Beach received an influx of stray pets before Hurricane Milton battered the state, but the community stepped up, Humane Society CEO Sean Hawkins said in an email.

“There was speculation that pets were being abandoned ahead of families evacuating,” Hawkins said. “Luckily for the Halifax Humane Society, the

community really stepped up in a big way. We offered feewaived adoptions for every pet in the shelter before the hurricane and we moved 64 animals into new adoptive homes or foster homes over a two-day period.”

The pets and the structures at both the Halifax and Flagler humane societies made it through the storm without any problems, Hawkins and Flagler Humane Society Executive Director Amy Carotenuto said. But Halifax’s grounds were devastated by flooding.

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, five days after the storm went out to sea, all five dog exercise yards and the two dog parks at the shelter were still underwater, Hawkins said. The Flagler Humane Soci-

ety lost power Wednesday night, Oct. 9, but it was able to use a generator that it purchased two years ago through a FEMA grant. Power came back on late Thursday.

“The generator took me years to get,” said Carotenuto, who applied for the grant after Hurricane Irma in 2017.

“The shelter was high and dry,” during the storm, Carotenuto said.

All of the pets, including a goat, were brought inside. The goat tore up a couple of things and was happy to get back outside on Friday, she said.

For the most part, because of the absence of thunder, the animals stayed calm, Carotenuto said. Animal Care and Placement Manager Kyndra Mott spent the night and traded out dogs to sleep with.

“She ended up with a Great Dane. She had a poodle, several dogs. She was letting them take turns. Anyone who was scared got to hang out longer. But really they weren’t nervous,” Carotenuto said.

At Halifax, Hawkins stayed on site with six animal care team members for 48 hours.

“The dogs all had warm beds and blankets to snuggle in. The cats all had hiding dens and towels to nest and hide,” he said. “We made rounds every hour through the night. We had no issues with animal care through the storm.”

The Flagler Humane Society also takes care of the pets that evacuees bring to the emergency shelter at Rymfire Elementary School. The Rymfire shelter housed 12 cats, 11 dogs and one parakeet, Carot-

enuto said.

Faith, the parakeet, was a favorite of the Flagler Schools staff, which provided cots and food for the people in the shelter. Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore said a couple of guests at the shelter complimented the school district on its “five-star” accommodations.

Thanks to an 18-year-old law — the PETS Act (Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006) — pets are well treated at shelters too. The law, which passed in response to Hurricane Katrina the previous year, requires states to include pets and service animals in their emergency preparedness plans to receive federal funding.

“I remember when Red Cross shelters would turn

animals away and leave them shut in homes for two or three days, which is crazy,” Carotenuto said. “If it’s not safe for you, it’s not safe for your pets.”

While the dogs and cats and goat and parakeet were safe at the Flagler Humane Society and Rymfire shelter, in the previous years, the Humane Society had to evacuate the animals.

During the 1998 fires, Carotenuto said, all of Flagler County was evacuated.

“We had to go to Gainesville,” Carotenuto said. “The Gainesville Animal Control Facility accepted us. In (the hurricanes of 2004), we had to go to the Flagler County Fairgrounds into metal buildings, which wasn’t the best situation, but at least we were far west.”

An aerial photo of damage from Hurricane Milton in Flagler Beach. Courtesy of Flagler County

Halifax Paving crew Collin Brown moves the CAT loader before he takes a break from moving sand off of A1A

View from Tina and Al Burke’s house on S. Flagler Ave. in Flagler Beach After Hurricane Milton. Courtesy of Tina Burke

SEE HURRICANE MILTON PAGE 8A

Crews work to clear London Drive of fallen trees. Courtesy of Palm Coast

COLLEEN CONKLIN,

COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

After six terms — 24 years of service — Conklin will say goodbye

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Dr. Colleen Conklin was the first School Board member to take her seat at the County Commission chambers on Oct. 14. She was settling in for what was to be her final Flagler County School Board meeting after 24 years on the board. Then Bunnell city officials started filing into the room. It turned out that Bunnell also had a City Commission meeting scheduled in the chambers that night. So, Conklin’s final business meeting was held in the cramped workshop room upstairs. It was typical of the topsy turvy School Board in which you never know what might happen next. During her six terms on the board, Conklin built coalitions and had more than her share of tussles with other board members. One thing her allies and adversaries would agree on is she was always passionate about her beliefs. Her final meeting will be a workshop on Nov. 12, after which Superintendent LaShakia Moore is planning a celebration.

Conklin is the executive director of the Gaetz Aerospace Institute at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a dual-enrollment and outreach program encouraging students to pursue aerospace and aviation careers. She said that for the first time since she was teenager, she will have only one job.

Dr. Conklin sat down with the Observer before her final business meeting and discussed some of the board’s triumphs and challenges over the past 24 years and what her next challenge might be.

How

To

my life for 24, 25 years, even teaching before I ran for the board. So to not be part of the School Board is going to be really odd for me. During the past 24 years, what were the board’s most significant accomplishments? When I first came on the board, we had about half the schools that we have now. So we’ve built quite a few brand new schools over the years. And I was exceptionally proud of the new Bunnell

Elementary School, because there was a lot of stigma around Bunnell unfairly, and they were the oldest school. And ensuring that they got a new school was important. I was very grateful to see that. I was happy about our oneto-one technology, really proud of the team and the half penny sales tax for being able to support that for our students. Now it’s not such a big deal because everybody has the technology, but we were one of the very first school districts in the state to be able to issue one-to-one technology for our students. I think changing our mental health plan into a tiered system to try to catch students and connect our students to therapy and

And we’ve increased our graduation rate.

What made you want to run for School Board 24 years ago?

I think about all the reasons why I ran in 2000. And it was about a lack of updated curriculum, no technology in the schools, teacher salaries. We were amongst the last in the state. Just even involvement with parents and communication. We still have a lot of work to do in some of those areas. But if you look at our our classrooms, they’re innovative. They’re creative spaces for students. Technology, salaries. When we didn’t have everybody in the state at the same salary level, we were amongst the top seven for beginning teacher pay. So a lot of the things that I was interested in improving, we’ve addressed. Graduation rates have increased, but there’s still so much more to do.

regrets here and there.

The cell phone tower deal that we ended up getting into. Other school districts across the state did much of the same. We didn’t know, but getting locked into a long-term agreement like that was definitely in hindsight a regret. And I think sometimes I could be a little tough on some of our superintendents.

But I,100%, loved serving the community and representing people who are uncomfortable with sharing their voice or feel they need someone to advocate on their behalf. I’m going to miss that.

What were some of your personal triumphs on the board?

I was honored to serve as chair a few times and vice chair. Of course, I was most proud being the chair when we had the Gap Commission, which was made up of community members and School Board members, and we focused on closing the achievement gap, opening the opportunity to more students. So I was really proud of the work that group did.

And also, Graduate 100 was probably one of the initiatives I’m most proud of because the focus was on having 100% of our student body graduate with either a traditional high school diploma, industry certification or at a minimum, a GED.

“I

COLLEEN

my personal life in the last three to four years. I lost my father-in-law, my mother passed away, my dad passed away. Going through a divorce. It’s just a lot. So, I’m looking forward to kind of rediscovering myself. And, I wouldn’t say public service in the future is out of the cards.

Right now, I need to kind of step back and give other folks an opportunity to lead. And, you know, sometimes I’m like a lightning rod at the board meetings, because I have various opinions that not everybody agrees with. And maybe it’s just time that if I remove myself from that situation.

What have been some of the most challenging issues that have come up during your six terms?

And Schools to Career. Working on trying to build career pipelines from elementary to middle to high school students to explore. And the Education Foundation was a great partner. Joe Rizzo was a great partner. And the foundation is still, of course, an integral part of our system.

How are you going to occupy your free time now? This is going to be the first time in my entire life, since I was a teenager, that I have not had two jobs. So, I would imagine I’ll be looking for something else, or to be honest, I just may take the next year or two and discover a new hobby.

Well, the most challenging and most heartbreaking, I’ll say, has been seeing the school shootings across the country. And as a School Board member, I can honestly say there were many nights that you just worry about your student body. You just worry about their families. You worry about the teachers and the staff. Sandy Hook was devastating to me. To think that something like that could actually happen. And then, a couple

With the university, I do a lot of work around the state and even around the country. So I get to see a lot of different schools and school districts. And I really truly don’t think people realize how really fortunate we are to have what we have here. We have beautiful facilities and great educational programs. So, sometimes, when you leave and you go see everything else, you get to really appreciate what you have back home.

Had you thought about stepping down previously?

The last election I toyed with the idea, because I didn’t want to become one of those people where everyone was like, “Oh my goodness, she’s running again.” Like, “We’re done with her.”

But a lot’s changed in

You have talked before about following your two sons who travel quite a bit. A lot of times I couldn’t travel because of board meetings. I do hope to do some traveling and follow the boys a little bit. They have a surfboard company. And they travel basically all over the world and shape surfboards and do surf videos. So they’re entrepreneurs and learning their way as they go. My youngest right now is in Australia. And who knows how long my oldest will be home for the moment, but we’ll see. So, a lot personally has changed for all of us, so I think spending the time in the next couple of years, just kind of focused a little bit on the next chapter of my journey.

counseling services and wrap around services for them and their families.

Colleen Conklin. File photo

Four fewer days for Flagler students

The district will still meet instructional minutes as required by statute and won’t slash Thanksgiving, winter or spring break.

BRENT WORONOFF

EDITOR

ASSOCIATE

The Flagler County School District lost five school days due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, but it is adding just one makeup date according to a revised instructional calendar proposed by the the district’s calendar committee.

The one added instructional day was Monday, Oct. 14, the students’ first day back to school after school was canceled Oct. 9-11 last week due to Hurricane Milton. Originally, Oct. 14 was to be a teacher workday, but it was switched to a regular instructional day after two days were lost on Sept. 26-27 due to Hurricane Helene.

PROPOSED CHANGES DUE TO STORMS

QUARTER 1: Pre hurricanes, Aug. 12-Oct. 11 (43 days). New dates, Aug. 12-Oct. 18 (43 days)

QUARTER 2: Pre-hurricanes, Oct. 15-Dec. 20 (42 days). New dates, Oct. 21-Jan. 10 (42 days)

SEMESTER 1: Prehurricanes, Aug. 12-Dec. 20 (85 days). New dates, Aug. 12 to Jan. 10 (85 days)

QUARTER 3: Pre-hurricanes, Jan. 7-March 13 (46 days). New dates, Jan. 13-March 13 (42 days)

QUARTER 4: Pre-hurricanes, March 24-May 29 (48 days). New dates, March 24-May 29 (48 days)

SEMESTER 2: Prehurricanes, Jan. 7-March 29 (94 days). New dates, Jan. 13-May 29 (90 days)

YEAR: Pre-hurricanes, Aug. 12-May 29 (179 days). New dates, Aug. 12-May 29 (175 days).

BREAKS (Unchanged): Thanksgiving, Nov. 2529 Winter: Dec. 23-Jan. 3 Spring: March 17-21

Louise Bossardet, Flagler Schools’ director of Information Systems, presented the proposed changes to the School Board at an information workshop on Oct. 14. The board is expected to formally approve the changes at its Nov. 19 business meeting, which will be the first meeting for new board members Lauren Ramirez and Janie Ruddy. The school year will end on May 29 as originally scheduled, but the number of instructional days will be reduced from 179 to 175. Having four fewer days is acceptable, Bossardet said, because the district will still meet the state’s required instructional minutes with other changes made to the calendar.

“We know the reality is that adding instructional minutes here and there throughout the year isn’t going to give (teachers) the instructional time back they’re going to lose, so we’ll be sacrificing those four days.”

LOUISE BOSSARDET

State statute requires districts to have 180 instructional days or the equivalent in instructional time. Flagler Schools has had 179-day instructional calendars for the past six to eight years, Bossardet said.

School districts are required to have a total of 900 hours of instructional time throughout the year for grades 4-12 and 720 hours for K-3.

The committee was able to reach the requirement without extending the school year or shortening the Thanksgiving, winter or spring breaks. Committee members decided not to extend the

school year beyond May 29 because assessments usually close on May 30, so they didn’t think an extension would have a positive instructional impact on the students, Bossardet said.

The quarter and semester periods were adjusted to reach statutory requirements. The first quarter had been scheduled to end on Friday, Oct. 11, but the committee did not want to end the quarter on a day that students would not be in school so it extended the quarter to Oct. 18. Teachers also requested time to complete some planned assessments that were scheduled for Oct. 9, Bossardet said.

The first semester will no longer end on Dec. 20, the final day before spring break. Instead, to restore the semester to the 85 days the district needs to meet the instructional requirement for semester-long courses, the first semester will now end on Jan. 10, a week after students return to school.

Bossardet said the district normally prefers to end the semester by winter break to align with articulation agreements with local colleges.

The third quarter will now start on Jan. 13 and will have four fewer instructional days than originally scheduled, reducing the second semester from 94 to 90 days. The fourth quarter will remain the same.

The biggest con in the adjusted calendar, Bossardet said, is “it reduces the total number of instructional days which teachers won’t get back. We know the reality is that adding instructional minutes here and there throughout the year isn’t going to give them the instructional time back they’re going to lose, so we’ll be sacrificing those four days.”

The changes also stretch the calendar to the limit. If one more day of school is canceled during the first semester, the Jan. 6 teacher workday would become a regular school day. Teacher workdays are impor tant, Bossardet said, and the district does not want take a second workday away. If more than one day is canceled in the next month, then makeup days would have to come out of the weeklong Thanksgiving break.

School projects head to final stages

Matanzas begins phase 2 of expansion project early. Historical courthouse expected to be ready April 1.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Schools’ two major current construction projects are proceeding on or ahead of schedule.

At the School Board’s information workshop on Oct. 14, Plant Services provided updates on both the renovation of the historic county courthouse and the expansion at Matanzas High School.

A lease was signed with the county on Sept. 3. for use of the courthouse building. It should be ready for occupancy on April 1, said Kory Bush, the district’s director of Plant Services. The contractor is expected to start the project in January and finish by the end of March, Bush said.

Matanzas is on schedule for phase 1 and is now ahead of schedule for phase 2, Project Manager Chuck Coates said.

The centerpiece of the project is Building 5, a new 22,000-square-foot, two

was moved into the completed Building 5.

But Matanzas Principal Kristin Bozeman and administration were willing to move the media center to temporary cramped quarters so that the Building 4 renovation can begin early, Coates said.

Building 4 will now be completed this month with an opening scheduled for Nov. 5, Coates said.

Phase 1, which also includes a new $6 million central energy plant and a new multipurpose metal building for PE classes and athletics, is expected to be completed in January.

When completed the project will add 366 additional student stations to the high school, Coates said.

Bush presented plans for the three-story courthouse building which will house the

Rise Up alternative school, the TRAIL vocational program for young adults with disabilities, the Step Up program for adults with special needs and space for iFlagler Virtual School. Scheduled renovations include adding two handicap guest parking spots, two to three visitor parking spots, moving the back fence to accommodate the new parking and adding a new fence on the east and west sides of the building. Inside, a new kitchen, electrical and plumbing and removing two walls is planned for the first floor for adults with disabilities. On the second floor, a wall will be added to separate a large room. The third floor will have a new restroom. Throughout the building, walls will be painted, carpet replaced and proper signage installed.

A glass room as part of the future media center inside the new Building 5 at Matanzas High School.

COPS CORNER

OCT. 7

GOING FISHING

12:51 p.m. — 1800 block of Checkered Flag Lane, Daytona Beach Petit theft. An Ormond Beach couple were arrested after they were caught attempting to steal three fishing reels from a sports store in Daytona Beach.

A store employee recognized the man and woman and immediately called police. The couple walked into the store, went to the second level and headed straight to the fishing aisle, where the man removed pliers from his pocket, an arrest report said.

The man cut security tags from three fishing poles and reels, placing them in the woman’s purse.

The two then headed straight for the store’s exit.

Local police officers arrived at the store just in time to stop the two from leaving and found the three fishing reels in the woman’s purse. In total, the reels were valued at $623.85.

The couple were placed

City Repertory

Theatre’s new concert series begins Oct. 18 with an Evening with Laniece Fagundes

The City Repertory Theatre’s 50-seat venue provides an intimate experience to enjoy theater. Now the theater, located at 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Suite B207, in Palm

under arrest and charged with petit theft.

OCT. 10 NO MORE RUNNING

9:46 p.m. — Intersection of Nova Road and Wilmette Avenue, Ormond Beach Fugitive from justice. A Daytona Beach transient man turned himself in to police officers after two months with an active warrant. But he did not turn himself in to a police station, according to an arrest report.

Instead, a police officer on patrol was flagged down by the suspect. When the officer pulled over, the suspect told him he had a warrant out of Volusia County and wanted to turn himself in.

The officer looked the man up and found he had an open warrant with a nationwide extradition. The suspect was wanted for several drug possession, sale and manufacturing charges, the report said.

The officer placed the man under arrest and took him to the county jail.

BIRTHDAY BLUES

11:33 p.m. — Intersection of Belle Terre and Palm Coast Parkway, Palm Coast DUI. A was Palm Coast man celebrating his birthday by

Coast, will offer that same experience for concerts, allowing the audience to get to know the artists who work in the theater and community.

The first concert will be an Evening with Laniece Fagundes at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18. Fagundes has been a member of CRT since its first season. Along with CRT Music Director Benjamin Beck and drummer Denise Elisha, Fagundes will sing Broadway and popular favorites as well as original music. Fagundes, who also performs as Laniece Rose, writes and records her own songs and is preparing to release

driving around after an emergency curfew so he could find cigarettes.

The Sheriff’s Office had enacted an overnight curfew in response to the the hurricane that had passed through the area. A Sheriff’s Office deputy was on patrol when he saw a man making repeated U-turns from the middle lanes of an intersection just before midnight, well after the county’s curfew went into effect, according to a press release.

The deputy pulled the man and asked him why he was out after curfew. The man told the deputy that it was his birthday — he had just turned 57 — and he was trying to find a store open so he could buy cigarettes, the press release said.

As the man was talking, the deputy noticed the man’s speech was slurred and his eyes were red and dilated. He asked the man to step out of the vehicle and, after a sobriety test, the deputy arrested the man for driving under the influence. The man later admitted to eating marijuana edibles.

OCT. 11

ROAD RAGER

11:24 a.m. — 800 block of Palm Coast Parkway, Palm

a new album with her band, “The Wildflowers.” Songs from the album will be featured during the concert. Her performances

Coast Battery. A Palm Coast man caused another man to rearend his car during a road-rage incident.

The two men were turning onto Palm Coast Parkway when the suspect cut the victim off, forcing both to stop at the intersection, according to an arrest report. The suspect got out of his car and walked over to the other car and hit the other driver across the face.

The hit surprised the victim, causing him to take his foot off the break, and the victim’s car rolled forward into the suspect’s car. When the victim got out to look at the damage, the suspect shoved the man backward, the report said.

The victim decided to leave the scene and called 911 to report the road rage as he left. He later told a Sheriff’s Office deputy that he left to deescalate the situation. As the victim left the scene, the suspect also called 911 to report a hit and run.

After talking to both parties, the Sheriff’s Office deputy arrested the suspect on battery charges.

Send news tips to sierra@ observerlocalnews.com.

at CRT have included playing Judas in this season’s “Jesus Christ Superstar,” as well as Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at the Emerson Bar and Grill.”

Outside of the theater, Fagundes privately coaches voice and piano students at her company, Created Sound. CRT’s “Evening with ...” concert series will continue on Feb. 7 and April 11, 2025. Artists for those evenings will be announced closer to the concert dates. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students. They are available at crtpalmcost.com or call 386-585-9415.

BRIEFS

Man wielding shovel robs woman of $400, is later arrested, Flagler Sheriff says

A Palm Coast man was arrested on Oct. 8 after he used a shovel to threatened a woman and stole $400 from her purse, the Flagler Sheriff’s Office said.

The woman was checking on her father and had left her car unlocked in the driveway, a FCSO press release said. When she came out, she saw the suspect — later identified as Cole McComb — inside her car and armed with a shovel.

McComb threatened the woman with the shovel when he noticed her and when she ran away, the suspect got into his own car and left. The woman later told FCSO deputies that he stole $400 from her purse, the press release said.

McComb was later found in his vehicle in Flagler Beach, where he was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary of a conveyance and petit theft.

Flagler Sheriff receives sixth consecutive reaccreditation by state agency

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was awarded reaccreditation by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation for the sixth time. Accreditation demonstrates the agency’s commitment to providing law enforcement services at the highest professional standards.

The agency received its initial CFLEA accreditation on February 9, 2005. It has been reaccredited in 2008, 2011,

2015, 2018, and 2021, before receiving its most recent reaccreditation on Oct. 3, 2024. Accredited law enforcement agencies are required to be assessed and reaccredited every three years.

After a comprehensive onsite review in August, the CFLEA’s assessment team found that FCSO was 100% compliant with 216 mandatory and optional standards and unanimously recommended FCSO’s reaccreditation to the CFLEA Board of Commissioners.

FCSO is among 204 accredited law enforcement agencies in the State of Florida, including 44 of the state’s 67 sheriff’s offices.

“At the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, our mission is to support a safe community through distinguished service. Receiving reaccreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation is confirmation that we are in line with this mission and are committed to serving our community with the highest standards in law enforcement,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “As sheriff, it was my honor to accept this award on behalf of the dedicated men and women who serve and protect our community at the highest standard.”

Staly previously served on the Commission’s Board of Commissioners for six years including one year as the Commission Chair.

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is a five-diamond accredited agency. In addition to its law enforcement accreditation, the agency also maintains accreditation from the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission, the Florida Telecommunications Accreditation Commission, the National Institute of Ethics, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. Send news tips to sierra@ observerlocalnews.com.

Laniece Fagundes. Courtesy photo

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After Milton

County sustained $10.6 million in residential damage after Hurricane Ian in 2022 and $23.7 million after Hurricane Nicole. Hurricane Nicole caused a breach in the county’s dunes, which did not happen during Hurricane Milton, Lord said.

The county’s emergency dune project, completed in 2023, instead did its job and protected houses and infrastructure along 11 miles of Flagler County’s shoreline. The Flagler County Engineering Department will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to calculate the volume of

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 28th day of October 2024, for the purpose of Second and Final Reading of Ordinance 2024-17, before the City Commission, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Build ORDINANCE 2024-18 ing (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110. ORDINANCE 2024-18 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING OF A PORTION OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY TOTALING 19.59± ACRES, OWNED BY BUNNELL LAND HOLDINGS LLC, BEARING PARCEL ID: 09-12-30-5550-00010-0030 AND LOCATED ALONG OPOSSUM LANE APPROXIMATELY 174± FEET FROM THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 13 AND OPOSSUM LANE WITHIN THE CITY OF BUNNELL LIMITS FROM “AG&S, AGRICULTURAL & SILVICULTURE DISTRICT” TO “ACI, AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT”; PROVIDING FOR LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT; PROVIDING FOR THE TAKING OF IMPLEMENTING ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF MAPS BY REFERENCE; REPEALING ALL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR NON-CODIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE as may be legally permitted on the day of the meeting. Instructions on how to participate by electronic or other means, if legally permitted, would be found on the City of Bunnell’s website at www.bunnellcity.us on the homepage. The public is advised to check the City’s website for up-to-date information on any changes to the manner in which the meeting will be held and the location. The failure of a person to appear during said hearing and comment on or object to the 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 to this special exception can be obtained at the office of the Bunnell Customer Service Office, 604 E. Moody Blvd. Unit 6, Bunnell, FL 32110. Persons with disabilities needing assistance to attend this proceeding should contact the Bunnell City Clerk at (386) 437-7500 x 5 at least 48-business hours prior to the meeting.

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

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLOR-

IDA will hold a Public Hearing as authorized by law at 7:00 P.M. on the 28th day of October 2024, for the purpose of Second and Final Reading of Ordinance 2024-21, before the City Commission, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Building (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110. ORDINANCE 2024-21 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA, ANNEXING BY VOLUNTARY PETITION CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY TOTALING 5.11± ACRES, OWNED BY HAMBY CONTRACTING, INC., LOCATED ALONG NORTH STATE STREET APPROXIMATELY 40± FEET NORTH OF GRAND RESERVE DRIVE, BEARING PARCEL ID: 03-12-30-0650-00110-0011 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; REDFINING 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 prior to the meeting. NOTICE: IIf a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Commission on this matter a recording of the proceeding may be needed and for such purposes the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made which includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is based. (Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes)

sand lost and create a report that will be used to determine areas of eligibility, a county press release said. FEMA will then determine how much sand it will provide to repair the area.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers proj -

ect — extending from Flagler Beach to Gamble Rogers State Park — finished at the end of August, and also did its job to protect the city. Sand from the berm — towel space — area was moved offshore, just as it was designed to do, Coastal Engineering Administrator

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 28th day of October 2024, for the purpose of Second and Final Reading of Ordinance 2024-19, before the City Commission, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Building (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110.

ORDINANCE 2024-19

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA AMENDING THE CITY OF BUNNELL LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENT TO MULTIPLE SECTIONS WITHIN CHAPTER 34 – ZONING; INCLUDING SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES AS A PERMITTABLE, PROHIBITED, OR SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE IN APPROPRIATE ZONING DISTRICTS; INCLUDING DEFINITIONS OF TERMS RELATED TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES; PROVIDING FOR LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT; PROVIDING FOR THE TAKING OF IMPLEMENTING ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTING PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND APPLICABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

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

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

Ansley Wren-Key said in the press release.

The USACE will return to conduct post-storm surveys to see how much sand volume was removed with Hurricane Milton, she said.

“The beach — the towel space — is in a normal process of beach profile equilibration (adjustment),” WrenKey said. “We just need to remember that the sand is not lost, and it just moved slightly offshore.”

LAND USE ELEMENT OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL 2035 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RELATIVE TO A PORTION OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY TOTALING 19.59± ACRES, OWNED BY BUNNELL LAND HOLDINGS LLC, BEARING PARCEL ID: 09-12-30-5550-00010-0030 LOCATED ALONG OPOSSUM LANE APPROXIMATELY 174± FEET FROM THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 13 AND OPOSSUM LANE WITHIN THE CITY OF BUNNELL LIMITS FROM “AGRICULTURE (AG)” TO “AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY INDUSTRIAL (ACI)”; PROVIDING FOR LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT; PROVIDING FOR ASSIGNMENT OF THE LAND USE DESIGNATION FOR THE PROPERTY; PROVIDING FOR SERVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR RATIFICATION OF PRIOR ACTS OF THE CITY; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION AND DIRECTIONS TO THE CODE CODIFIER 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.

Hurricane Milton turned South Flagler Avenue into a river, in Flagler Beach.

Beach access is restricted in some areas of Volusia and Flagler Counties following Hurricane Milton.

Carl Tolotti checks the water level from his driveway on S. Flagler Ave. He said the water came up to his house but not inside. Photos by Michele Meyers

A tree blocks a driveway on Courtney Place. Courtesy of Palm Coast

Billing Place, on Oct. 10. Courtesy of Palm Coast

SIERRA WILLIAMS

WRITER

The weekend following Hurricane Milton’s assault saw many Floridians without power. In Flagler and Volusia counties, though not as hardhit as the state’s west coast, some areas were inundated with flood waters or were without power for several days.

Grace Community Food Pantry was one such casualty. Its storage facility was out of power from overnight Oct. 9 to mid-morning Friday, Oct. 11.

“The hurricane came, and then I sent some guys out there, and there was no power,” said Dottie Colletta, Grace Community Food Pantry coordinator.

The pantry’s main storage facility at 245 Education Way was without power until the morning of Friday, Oct. 11 — not long enough for the facility’s freezers to thaw out, but long enough that the pantry’s team had to throw out produce that had gone bad.

Thankfully, Colletta said, their stores had mostly been emptied the weekend ahead of Milton, so only the produce that had been delivered the Monday ahead of the hurricane had to be thrown out. But they did have to turn away a meat delivery from Second Harvest Food Bank.

“It would spoil. We couldn’t keep it anywhere,” she said. “We were running back and forth, different people check-

ing [the power], and then we had it. But by then we couldn’t get anything. There wasn’t anything left to get from Second Harvest.”

At that point, she said, they made the decision to close the pantry for the Oct. 12 and 13 weekend at its Education Way and Hidden Trails Community Center distribution sites. Just at the main Education Way distribution site, the pantry regularly helps between 1,200 and 1,300 Flagler County residents each distribution weekend, she said.

Dan Samuels, the director of philanthropy with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, said that after natural disasters, there is often a surge of families that need food and supplies for an extended period of time, as people recover from storm damage and property loss.

Second Harvest covers seven counties in Florida, including the southern part of Flagler County and all of Volusia County. The food bank supports eight local pantries in Flagler County and eight in Ormond Beach.

While it’s too soon to really feel the full impacts of Hurricane Milton, Samuels said, the food bank expects to see more need in the coming weeks as people get power back and storm waters reach their highest peaks.

“Milton seems to have created large pockets of need throughout our community as some areas were impacted worse than others,” Samuels said. “We are seeing some of the worst impacts in Volusia County.”

In Flagler County, as several thousand residents were out of power days after Hurricane Milton, the Flagler County Emergency Management Center organized a distribution site to help residents in need. From Oct. 11-14, the Flagler County and Flagler County Sheriff’s Office set up in the Daytona North area to hand out water, tarps and

MREs to residents.

Between Oct. 11 and 13, the county handed out 4,044 cases of water, 2,619 tarp cases and 1,307 MREs, according to data from the EOC.

After a disaster, he said, the food banks work together to coordinate relief efforts to the hardest hit areas based on the type of need in that community. Areas like Tampa, directly hit by Milton with thousands still out of power, need things like MREs. In other areas, residents who lost power — like pockets of Flagler County, Ormond Beach and Volusia County — need produce and meat to replace the food that had to be thrown out.

“We’re tailoring what we’re distributing in each community based on the specific needs of that community,” Samuels said.

Samuels said it is likely as well that in the months that follow Hurricanes Helene and Milton, food banks and pantries could see an increase in demand because of the economic side of disasters: The storms also devastated a lot of Florida’s farming community.

“So the price of produce, we expect will go up across the board,” he said.

Colletta said since the pantry was closed for two of its normal distribution days in the Mondex, the Mondex location will be open for service on both the Oct. 19 and 26 weekends. By that point, they will have been able to restock on both produce and meat.

“The fruits and vegetables and produce and bread, that’s all great, but it’s the meat that sustains people,” she said.

Those who wish to donate food or funds to the Grace Community Food Pantry can do so by visiting their website at gracecommunityfood pantry.org.

The food bank expects to see more need in the coming weeks.

Second Harvest Food Bank’s Dan Samuels said the food bank expects to see more need in the coming weeks as people get power back and storm waters reach their highest peaks. Caregiver

Free Care For Caregivers

OPINION

Rise up again and vote no on Amendment 2

Dear Editor:

This summer citizens across Florida rose up in protest of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s plan for changes to nine of our state parks, allowing development of golf courses, hotels, pickleball and disc golf venues in our natural, beautiful state parks. After enormous citizen opposition, the plan was withdrawn. Now, it is

time for citizens to stand up once again, and vote “no” on Amendment 2. This not-so-innocently worded “Right to Fish and Hunt” proposed Amendment 2 seeks to preserve forever fishing and hunting, including by the use of ‘traditional means,” as a public right, and as a “preferred means” of controlling fish and wildlife. Like many Florida constitutional amendments put

before voters, the “devil is in the details.” So, I encourage you to do your own research if you do not want to believe me on this one. Look up the definition of the term “traditional means.” It includes barbaric practices such as: steel jaw traps, snares, clubbing, hunting with hounds and gill nets. These methods have been deemed cruel, and for 30 years Florida has banned gill nets that deci-

mate fish population and kill whales, dolphins, sea turtles and seabirds. Florida law already protects the rights of individuals to hunt and fish. There is no need for this constitutional amendment. This amendment can be used to expand hunting into state parks and wildlife preserves – animals’ only refuge in the wake of overdevelopment. And, the amendment could potentially

supersede private property rights. False advertising: I have seen on major networks claims that environmental groups support Amendment 2. Do not be fooled by “fake” advertising. The Sierra Club opposes Amendment 2. Vote No on Amendment 2.

ROB BRIDGER Political chair, Sierra Club/

Volusia-Flagler Group

OBO Managing Editor Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com

How do you stop thinking of a werewolf?

It was the type of question that all people think about, but only a 6-year-old will ask. Make yourself at home

BRIAN MCMILLAN

PUBLISHER

During the Hurricane Milton curfew, I wondered aloud whether I should drive to the Observer office to make sure everything was OK there.

Gently reminding me of the definition of a curfew, my wife, Hailey, said, “I don’t think they want people on the roads.”

YOUR TOWN

Matanzas marks Hispanic Heritage Month

“But we’re the newspaper,” I said. “We’re the most important people in town!”

My 6-year-old son, Luke, was apparently listening to the conversation. As with most children, he is always on high alert for any signs of hypocrisy or hyperbole from his parents.

“No, you’re not,” he said. Barely taller than the kitchen counter, he was dutifully taking bowls out of the dishwasher and placing them in a stack. Someone else would have to put them in the cupboard because he couldn’t reach.

“Oh yeah?” I asked. “Who is the most important per-

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans who have enhanced and enriched the world. The World Language Department at Matanzas High School helped educate not only Spanish language students but the entire student population. Students created gallery walks honoring Hispanic Americans who have contributed in technology, food, music, art, literature and politics. They also created displays with flags and facts of Spanish-speaking countries, and talked about Hispanic

TRIBUTES

Keith F. Staley

Keith F. Staley, age 63, formerly of Westminster, Maryland passed away Wednesday, October 9, 2024 in Richmond, Kentucky.

He was a 1979 graduate of Westminster High School and an avid Harley rider. He was a long-haul truck driver for many years and saw most of the country through his work or on his bike.

Preceded in death by his grandmother, Dorothy Drechsler (Nina, pronounced “Nine-E”).

He is survived by his sister, Kristen McConnell (Kidd) and her husband, Ron and nephews, Jed Cohen and Kit Cohen; his great niece, Alina Cohen; his great-aunt, Pearl Conner; his stepdaughter, Charlene Salyerds and her husband, Justin and their sons, Justin Jr. (Spike), Kolton (Smiley), and Maverick; his stepson, Justin Atkinson and his wife, Amy and his daughter, McKenna Kochevar (Mac); his many Virginia cousins; his ex-partner, Kim-

son, then?”

“I don’t know,” he said, disappearing behind the growing tower of bowls. “But it’s not you guys.” At some point during our few days of hurricaneinduced confinement, my older children decided to watch a Harry Potter movie. Unfortunately for Luke, a scary werewolf appeared, and Luke began pacing the hallway, every now and then poking his head back into the family room, where his siblings still had their eyes glued to the screen. I remembered each of those older children being similarly scared, so, when the need arose for me to drive to the store before dinner, I asked Luke if he wanted to ride with me in the van.

“Sure,” he said, as nonchalantly as he could. When we arrived at the store, Luke climbed out and asked, “Dad, what do you do to try to stop thinking about something?”

“The werewolf?” I asked. He nodded. It was the type of question that people of every age think about, but only a 6-year-old is humble and brave enough to ask.

As I gathered my thoughts to respond to him, I felt some pressure to get this right. Maybe this was a moment he would remember for the rest of his life. Whatever my advice was, it had to be something that I was ready to follow myself, lest it become further evidence of parental hypocrisy.

berly Collins; and his many bike friends with whom he traveled the country and loved like family, too numerous to name, but special mention of Randy Rearick, Jolynn Barger and her husband Chuck, Denver Rearick, Israel Rearick, Jerry Laliberte, Charles Mills, Wayne Farmer, and Dennis Bianco.

A Florida memorial will be held in November, arranged by Charlene Salyerds, and a Virginia memorial will be held in December, arranged by Kristen McConnell.

Better thing of something quick.

“Well,” I said, pretending to be wise, “what you have to do is,” I continued stalling, “try to replace the thoughts you don’t want with thoughts you do want.”

He didn’t immediately respond, so I continued: “You could look at everything around you, and pay extra attention. Like, ‘Look at the color of this grass,’ or, ‘That car is backing out, there’s the crosswalk, who decided what the name of this store should be?’”

It was an exercise in mindfulness that I needed more he did.

All I got from him was a nod, but it made me feel, just for a moment, like the most important guy in town.

on Oct. 7 for SCORE’s national 60th anniversary. For over six decades, SCORE volunteers have shared their skills and expertise with entrepreneurs across America at no charge.

Locally, SCORE Chapter 87 provides input to the Flagler County Tourism Development Office, mentors startup

SCORE honored

SCORE Chapter 87 Volusia Flagler was honored by the Flagler County commission

businesses and collaborates to form the Junior Chamber in both Flagler County high schools. To volunteer, visit https:// www.score.org/volusiaflagler.

American Heritage on the morning announcements. Students also created self portraits and writings regarding their own heritage.

Matanzas High School Spanish teachers Hope Kessler, Amarilis Langley and Christina Gilliam. Courtesy photo

Front row: SCORE certified mentors Dave Ferguson, Tony Flores and Philip Bailey. Back row: Flagler County commissioners Donald O’Brien, Andy Dance and Greg Hansen. Courtesy photo

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YOUR NEIGHBORS

‘It’s real sailing’

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, OCT. 17

RIVERFRONT BEER AND PEANUTS AT TOMOKA OUTPOST

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Sunday, Oct. 17-20

Palm Coast Model Yacht Club provides inexpensive fun and competition

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Bob Rupp said he’s always had an interest in sailing, but a sailboat was just too expensive. Then he was exposed to a model yacht club in South Daytona and discovered there was more than one way to enjoy the sport.

“A guy said, ‘Here try it,’” Rupp recalled. Rupp was hooked.

He now races radio-controlled sailboats every Thursday afternoon, weather permitting, with the Palm Coast Model Yacht Club at the north end of the lake at Central Park in Town Center.

Rupp discovered the Palm Coast Club on the American Model Yachting Association website.

The club members race mostly DragonFlite 95s, which are 37.6 inches long, 56.1 inches high and 5.1 inches wide. The controller has two servos. One positions the rudder, allowing the boat to be steered. The other adjusts the position of the main and jib sails together, allowing the sails to be trimmed.

“It’s real sailing,” Rupp said.

A DragonFlite 95 with radio controller costs about $450 online and takes a couple of evenings to assemble, said Bill Wells, who co-founded the Palm Coast club about eight years ago. Once the boat is assembled, you can compete, Wells said.

Wells has been involved in radiocontrolled sailing for about 20 years. In addition, to the Palm Coast club, he is a member of the Jacksonville Model Yacht Club and the South Daytona Model Yacht Club.

He has competed in the Florida Travelers Series regattas for DragonFlite 95s and the smaller DragonForce 65s.

On Oct. 3 at the Palm Coast club’s gathering, Wells raced his DragonFlite 95 and also put his Gary Webb-designed schooner in the water. Wells built the schooner from scratch. A miniature Captain Jack Sparrow is positioned on the deck, steering the boat.

Early this year, the city installed permanent buoys in the lake for the club. Before that, club members brought buoys to set the race courses. There are currently about 10 club members, including one woman, Sarah Hartley. They meet at 12:30 p.m. Thursdays at the end of the lake by City Hall. There are no dues or membership fees. The racing is very friendly.

“It’s great camaraderie,” said Greg Show, whose friend, Peter Lancaster, told him about the club. About a month ago, Show bought his own boat.

“The controls are pretty easy,” Show said. “But you have to read the wind and know when and how to tack, and this wind shifts constantly, which makes it challenging.”

Don Fye sailed big boats in years past. He has been a member of the Palm Coast Model Yacht Club for about six or seven years, he said.

“I had never done radio controlled

boats before,” he said. “Owning a real boat is a lot of expense and trouble.” Wells said he would like to see the club host a regatta in the future with other clubs in the state participating. The club plans to provide demonstrations as part of Palm Coast’s 25th anniversary celebration on Oct. 26 at Central Park.

For more information, contact Rupp at robert.rupp1956@gmail. com, 757-880-5786 or Wells at wwells386@aol.com, 386-5035678, or just show up on a Thursday afternoon.

Where: Tomoka Outpost inside Tomoka State Park, 2099 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach Details: Come chill off the beaten path and enjoy ice cold beer and peanuts on the Tomoka River. Park entry fees apply.

PALM COAST CONCERT SERIES

When: 6-8 p.m.

Where: The Stage, 1500 Central Ave., Palm Coast

Details: See the U.S. Navy’s band “Pride” play top 40/pop music. Free event. Bring lawn chairs and/or towels for seating.

FRIDAY, OCT. 18

CITY LITES MOTOWN & MO

When: 7 p.m. on Oct. 18, 5 p.m. on Oct. 19

Where: 5500 State Road 100, Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, Palm Coast

Details: Motown & Mo is performing “Taking A Trip Down Memory Lane” for its the 26th annual musical performance hosted by City Lites Inc. The group will perform music from the genres soul, disco, motown and more.

Purchase tickets by calling 386-4377547. Hurry before tickets are sold out. Friday still has some availability and Saturday is almost completely booked. Tickets are $30.

SATURDAY, OCT. 19

THE ITALIAN FESTIVAL

When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20

Where: Flagler County Fairgrounds, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell

Details: There will be food booths, entertainment, music, dancing, cooking demos, an Italian car show, spaghetti eating contest, children’s activity center, grape stomp competition, artisans, crafters, art show, “Dunk-a-Dignitary” and more. Free admission. Parking is $1 per vehicle and goes to the youth group collecting at the gate. For more information, email info@bunnellcity.us.

CRUISIN’ THE HILL CAR SHOW

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Holly Hill City Hall, 1065 Ridgewood Avenue, Daytona Beach

Details: Attend the eighth annual 2024 Cruisin’ the Hill Car Show at Holly Hill City Hall. Vehicle entry fee is $10. Free admission for spectators. There will be awards, live music, a 50/50 raffle and food. All proceeds benefit Holly Hill School and UBIC Academy for teacher and student supplies.

ART IN THE PARK

When: 10 a.m. to noon

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

Details: Join Vincent’s Clubhouse for its Art in the Park program hosted by Allie Langan and Erica Mendes. All ages welcome. The October activity will be the decoration of Christmas ornaments for the organization’s holiday tree at the library. All supplies and refreshments provided. Tickets cost $10.

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

BOO-LING FOR WISHES

When: 6-9 p.m.

Where: Palm Coast Lanes, 11 Old Kings Road N.

“You have to read the wind and know when and how to tack, and this wind shifts constantly, which makes it challenging.”

GREG SHOW

Details: Fun evening of Cosmic Bowling, costume contest, silent auction. Benefits Make a Wish foundation. Second annual event. Contact Realty Executives Oceanside at 386-506-8008.

FRIDAY, NOV. 1

33RD WALK AROUND FLORIDA

When: Friday, Nov. 1 to Nov. 3

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

Details: Take part in four walks, a bike and a swim in the Palm Coast area, sponsored by Happy Wanderers, Mid-Florida Milers and the Suncoast Sandpipers, members of the American Volkssport Association. Celebrate Florida nature in this weekend of events. Visit happywanderersfl.org.

Bob Rupp and Bill Wells race their radio-controlled sailboats.

Don Fye operates his boat.

Palm Coast Model Yacht Club members race their boats at Central Park on Aug. 3. Photos by Brent Woronoff

Greg Show removes his DragonFlite 95 No. 485 sailboat from the water.

THE FINE ARTS

INSPIRED BY THE STORM

Palm Coast artist Patty Magee is a retired registered nurse with a master’s degree in Art in Medicine. She said she tried to turn the anxiety of waiting for Hurricane Milton into a therapeutic healing experience by painting the eye of the storm on two canvases using acrylic paint and sand resin. The blue one is Milton, and she also painted a red one for Helene. “I struggle with calling a painting finished,” she said, “so I since added a bit of teal to the photo of Helene.” Magee said she thought that others may be interested in a similar way of coping when isolated due to a hurricane.

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Celebrating native plants: the foundation for birds, butterflies, bees

JARLEENE ALMENAS

MANAGING EDITOR

October is Native Plant Month, and to celebrate that, the Florida Native Plant Society’s Pawpaw Chapter hosted guided garden tours at several local parks on Saturday, Oct. 5.

The chapter aims to raise awareness about Florida’s native plants and their habitats. The tours were conducted at the Environmental Discovery Center and Vadner Park in Ormond Beach, as well as Sugar Mill Gardens in Port Orange, the Marine Discovery Center and Mary Harrell Black Heritage Museum in New Smyrna Beach, and Ponce Preserve Municipal Park in Ponce Inlet.

“Native plants serve as the foundation of Florida’s unique natural habitats, are essential to all its wildlife including birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, and provide a natural beauty unique to Florida,” said Karen Walter,

president of Florida Native Plant Society’s Pawpaw Chapter, in a press release. Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent also delivered a proclamation at the EDC on Saturday in favor of Native

Plant Month in Volusia County.

“Councilman Kent has been very instrumental in getting the Regrow the Loop kickoff,” Walter said at the proclamation. “... I think it’s real-

ly made a lot, a lot of people recognize the importance of native plants.”

Volusia launched the Regrow the Loop initiative in June 2023 as a one-year pilot program aimed at restoring and enhancing the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail. Regrow the Loop’s mission was to remove invasive plant species, increase native vegetation and promote environmentally sustainable practices.

After reporting success, the Volusia County Council voted in August to explore continuing the initiative — which was originally proposed by Ormond-by-the-Sea resident Alan Burton — at a

countywide level.

“It’s a true partnership that is not only from elected officials and government bodies, but then, it’s from many different groups that have a common goal and want to participate in it,” Kent said.

Kent was gifted with a firebush plant by the PawPaw chapter, which he said he would plant in his home.

Also in attendance at the event was Ormond Beach City Commissioner Lori Tolland, a member of the Garden Club of the Halifax Country who chaired the Vadner Park project. Vadner Park is the city’s first all-native plant park, and was created as a result of a partnership between the Garden Club and the city. Tolland said Kent is a “treasure” on the council for support of native plants. As a result of Regrow the Loop and the relationships formed throughout it, Tolland said, the city is working to change its landscaping ordinance to favor native plants.

“Every one of you have been a mentor to me,” she said to Kent and the PawPaw chapter members. “... You all are helping me move that initiative through Ormond Beach.”

Councilman Troy Kent is gifted with a firebush plant by the Florida Native Plant Society PawPaw Chapter

Members of the Florida Native Plant Society’s PawPaw Chapter and garden tour attendees celebrate Native Plant Month alongside County Councilman Troy Kent (third from right) and City Commissioner Lori Tolland (second from right). Photos by Jarleene Almenas

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Ocean Shore home sells for $1.5 million

Ahome at 3523 N. Ocean Shore Blvd. was the top real estate transaction for Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The home sold on Sept. 30, for $1.5 million and has 2,076 square feet. Built in 1999, the home is a 3/3 and has a separate guest house, a wraparound deck, ocean views and direct beach access.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Palm Harbor

The house at 109 Cimmaron Drive sold on Oct. 1 for $740,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 3/2 on a canal and has a pool, dock and 1,780 square feet.

The house at 9 N. Cloverdale Court sold on Sept. 30 for $585,000. Built in 1997, the house is a 3/2 and has a dock with a gazebo, a pool, canal views and 2,008 square feet.

Grand Haven

The house at 27 Southlake Drive sold on Oct. 4 for $655,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has a screened-in lanai, pool and 2,230 square feet.

The house at 70 Osprey Circle sold on Oct. 1 for $650,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 3/2 and has a lanai, a pool and 2,439 square feet.

The house at 14 Marlin Drive sold on Sept. 30 for $475,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, lake views and 1,546 square

feet. It last sold in 2023 for $440,000.

Likens Subdivision

The house at 12 Debra Drive sold on DATE for $637,500. Built in 2015, the house is a 3/2 and has a screened-in patio, outdoor shower and 1,826 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $471,500.

Cypress Knoll

The house at 22 Eastgate Lane sold on Oct. 1 for $499,000. Built in 2018, the house is a 3/2 and has a screened-in lanai, a saltwater pool and 2,036 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $254,900.

No subdivision

The house at 72 Cochise Court sold on Sept. 30 for $615,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 3/2 and has a screened-in lanai, canal views, a private dock and 2,172 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $585,000.

The house at 96 Eric Drive sold on Oct. 3 for $540,000. Built in 2024, the 3/3 house has a covered lanai, an attic and 1,900 square feet.

The house at 17 Powder Lane sold on Oct. 4 for $495,000. The house is a 3/2 and has and 1,602 square feet. It is under pre-construction.

The house at 8 Rykill Way sold on Oct. 4 for $431,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 4/2 and has an enclosed backyard and 2,472 square feet. It last sold in 2006 for $265,000.

The house at 16 Whittier Lane sold on Sept. 30 for $422,400. Built in 2024, the house is a 5/3 and has a large game room, a covered back patio and 2,705 square feet.

Lake Forest

The house at 21 Cole Place sold on Sept. 30 for $490,000. Built in 1981, the 3/2 house has a lanai, a pool and 2,522 square feet. It last sold in 1983 for $153,000.

Spring Lake

The house at 15 Jackson

Blue Place sold on Oct. 4 for $440,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,693 square feet.

Plantation Bay

The house at 41 Meadow

Brooke Lane sold on Sept. 30 for $420,000. Built in 1996, the house is a 3/2 and has tinted windows, an inground spa, a screened lanai and 2,120 square feet.

FLAGLER BEACH

Bulow Woods

The house at 3 Bulow Woods Circle sold on Oct. 2 for $520,000. Built in 1983, the house is a 3/2 and has a salt water pool and 1,620 square feet.

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

Pool home in Hunter’s Ridge

sells for $1M

Ahouse at 49 Foxcroft Run in the Hunter’s Ridge subdivision was the top real estate transaction for Sept. 27 to Oct. 3 in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea. The house sold on Sept. 30, for $ 1 million. Built in 2000, the house is a 5/3.5 and has a fireplace, a pool, spa, outdoor kitchen and 3,967 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $660,000.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Breakaway Trails

The house at 55 Carriage Creek Way sold on Oct. 1, for $398,500. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 1,888 square feet. It last sold in 2016 for $234,000.

The house at 62 Circle Creek Way sold on Oct. 2, for $570,000. Built in 1999, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, a pool and 2,082 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $375,000.

Chelsea Place

The house at 340 Chesham St. sold on Sept. 27, for $499,050. Built in 2017, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 2,008 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $380,000.

Donald Heights

The house is 1203 Arroyo Parkway sold on Sept. 30, for $264,900. Built in 1980, the house is a 4/2 and has a fireplace and 1,668 square feet. It last sold in 1985 for $58,300.

Fountain View

The house to be constructed at 1418 Fountain View St. sold on Oct. 3, for $359,990. Once built, the house will be a 3/2 and have 1,672 square feet.

Halifax Plantation

The house at 3204 Galty Circle sold on Sept. 30, for $465,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 2,240 square feet.

The house at 1408 Kilrush Drive sold on Sept. 30, for $550,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 4/3 and has two fireplaces and 2,592 square feet.

Laurel Oaks

The house at 735 Fleming Ave. sold on Oct. 1, for $290,000. Built in 1984, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,236 square feet. It last sold in 2003 for $137,000.

Mez The house at 77 Nicholas Court sold on Sept. 30, for $580,000. Built in 1964, the 3/2 house has a fireplace and 1,977 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $482,000.

Northbrook

The house at 1 Overbrook Court sold on Oct. 3, for $180,000. Built in 1979, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,548 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $107,000.

Oak Forest The house at 1505 Oak Forest Drive sold on Oct. 1, for $835,000. Built in 1977, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a fireplace, a pool and 2,123 square feet. It last sod in 2020 for $550,000.

Ormond Heights

The house at 266 Pine St. sold on Sept. 27, for $295,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,232 square feet. It last sold in 2000 for $86,500.

Rosemont

The house at 49 Ponce De Leon Drive sold on Sept. 30, for $360,000. Built in 1948, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,229 square feet.

The Trails The townhome at 168 Pine Cone Trail sold on Oct. 1, for $284,000. Built in 1977, the townhome is a 2/2.5 and has 1,664 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $182,500.

Ormond-by-the-Sea

The house at 20 Brooks Drive sold on Oct. 3, for $250,000. Built in 1951, the house is a 3/1 and has 1,240 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $170,000.

SeabridgeThe house at 7 W. Sea Harbor Drive sold on Sept. 27, for $469,900. Built in 1979, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,378 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $456,000.

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

PALM COAST

ORMOND BEACH

Kits of hope: Holland Financial donates 1,000 homeless aid kits to HUM

The kits were the brainchild of David Holland, who said people are often looking for ways to aid people in need — but may not know how.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

MANAGING EDITOR

Holland Financial recently assembled 1,250 kits for the homeless carrying messages, and items, to provide hope.

One-thousand of the “God Loves Me” kits were donated on Friday, Oct. 4, to Volusia County-based Halifax Urban Ministries. The kits were assembled at the Holland Financial headquarters in Ormond Beach by employees, all containing first aid supplies, socks, tissues, an emergency blanket, hygiene products, a flashlight, a panic whistle and a book titled, “The Case for Easter,” by Lee Strobel.

The kits were the brainchild of David Holland, CEO of Holland Financial, who said people are often looking for ways to aid people in need, particularly homeless individuals.

“Their hearts want to help, but their minds don’t know how,” Holland said.

He sought to provide an easy way to do that, and the idea of the kits came to mind. He wanted to provide something that people would hold on to, was durable and carried messaging that would encourage them to seek help from the resources available in the community.

“The idea with this was to create a way to give them something that would be sustained and meaningful,

and also be able to give them some important messaging,” Holland said. “... Of course, the big message is right on the kit, which is ‘God loves me.’ Not, ‘God loves you’ — I could tell them that, but the kit will reinforce it because every time they pick it up, it’ll have that message.”

His hope is that people will then seek out a church community to speak about their faith.

Most of Halifax Urban Ministries’ programs have the word “hope” in them, said Executive Director Buck James.

“We know as Christians that God calls us to feed the hungry and to clothe those who need clothing, but if that’s all we do, we don’t really make a difference,” James said. “But when you spark hope within somebody, it’s a game changer — it’s a life changer for them.”

That’s one of the reasons the kits are exciting, he added. They’re providing useful items for people in need, but they’re also carrying a message of hope. Inside the kits is also a directory of resources for Volusia and Flagler counties, including contact information for Flagler Cares, the Commission on Homelessness to Housing and United Way’s 211 hotline.

Distributing the kits, James said, is something valuable that people can now do to help.

“They don’t need to be afraid about doing it,” he said. “They can do it right there at the spot, and so it’s helping people to be part of the solution.”

Holland Financial has kept 250 of the kits for clients and employees to distribute as well.

In addition to the kits, Holland Financial also found themselves in a surplus of

“We know as Christians that God calls us to feed the hungry and to clothe those who need clothing, but if that’s all we do, we don’t really make a difference. But when you spark hope within somebody, it’s a game changer — it’s a life changer for them.”

BUCK JAMES, Halifax Urban Ministries Executive Director

socks, so 288 pairs were donated to the Hurricane Helene Relief Collection.

Some of the kits, James said, will likely be donated from

HUM to hurricane relief.

“We’re so excited to be part of it and to play our role,” James said. “Thank you to David and Holland Financial and all of your clients that make this possible. I think this is just the beginning of something.”

Holland said his team — he employs 25 full-time people in Ormond Beach — became very excited at the idea of the kits. Each year, the company has a “PlanStronger Together Program” to help the community, and the kits are part of that. His company has four stakeholders, he said: employees, ownership, clients and the community.

“This allows us to fulfill that fourth and very important aspect of our organizational goals and mission, which is to serve the community, but to do it in a very tangible way,” Holland said.

Halifax Urban Ministries staff Rhonda Hodges and Surbrina Thayer, Holland Financial CEO David Holland and Halifax Urban Ministries

Executive Director Buck James. Photos by Jarleene Almenas

Alphonso Alexander and John Heard of Halifax Urban Ministries load up 1,000 “God loves me” kits.

Power ball

The lights went out at Seabreeze, but the Sandcrabs joined Matanzas and FPC as first-round district volleyball winners

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Matanzas, Flagler Palm Coast and Seabreeze all won their district tournament quarterfinals to advance to the semifinal round.

Seabreeze played a day later than the other teams and had to host a match on a rival’s court because of power issues at its gym.

The Sandcrabs’ District 6-5A match against Atlantic was postponed to Tuesday, Oct. 15 and the match was moved to Mainland High School with the Sandcrabs defeating the Sharks 3-0. Orlando Innovation, which defeated Jones 3-0 on Monday, Oct. 14, agreed to postpone the semifinal until Wednesday, Oct. 16, with the Sandcrabs (11-8) traveling to Orlando to face the Bulls (14-7).

Matanzas (11-11) defeated Orlando East River (10-9) 3-1 in a District 3-6A quarterfinal on Oct. 14 at the Pirates’ gym. FPC (16-6) swept Ocala West Port 3-0 in a District 2-7A match on Oct. 14 at the Bulldogs’ gym. It was the Bulldogs’ first district tournament win since 2018 and only their second in the past 16 years.

The Bulldogs’ season ended the following night with a 3-0 semifinal loss to DeLand (22-2), the fifthranked team in the state among all classifications. The Bulldogs finished with a 16-7 record, their first

winning season since 2019.

The Pirates were scheduled to travel Oct. 15 for a semifinal game against Oviedo, which is ranked second in the state in Class 6A.

Matanzas defeated East River, 27-25, 18-25, 25-14 and 25-12. The key to the match, Pirates coach Dawn Moses said, was serving.

“We needed to serve the ball aggressively,” she said. “And we chose to keep the ball away from (Soraya Teston), because she was really good at passing and transitioning into her attack. Also, my middles did a really good job containing her and then Natalie Zoll stepping in. She’s a middle normally for us. but she stepped in and set the block on the right side. I’m so proud of these kids. They executed all year long the things that we’ve asked them to do.”

Keri Petro had 17 kills and 24 digs for the Pirates. Faith Purvis added 13 kills and 10 digs. Rylan Miller had six service aces and 25 digs. Freshman setter Analise Smith had 44 assists and 10 digs.

FPC (16-7) defeated West Port 25-10, 25-20, 25-21. Marina Carlisi had eight digs, Dyllis Mballsube seven digs and Faith Dailey six digs. Grace Taylor had 12 assists, Faith Dailey had 11 assists. Alexis Hanna had 11 digs.

Three Bulldogs reached milestones this season — Dailey and Taylor with 1,000 assists in their careers and Hanna, who transferred from Idaho in the summer, with 1,000 digs.

Seabreeze defeated Atlantic for the third time this season, 25-17, 25-28, 25-20. Andie Litz had eight kills, 11 digs and 15 assists. Lilli Litz also had 11 digs. Haven Price had eight blocks.

Matanzas freshman Analise Smith serves.

Matanzas players celebrate.

Matanzas sophomore Keri Petro hits over the net.

The Pirates’ Olivia Chochev serves.

Faith Purvis (3) and Rylan Miller celebrate the Pirates’ district quarterfinal victory against Orlando East River. Photos by Christine Rodenbaugh

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

FOOTBALL RESCHEDULED

The Florida High School Athletic Association has added an extra week to the football season to help teams make up their lost games due to Hurricane Milton.

The week does not change the playoff schedule. Instead of an open week before the state championship games, teams will have another week of the regular season.

Matanzas doesn’t need that extra week. The Pirates will travel to Belleview Thursday, Oct. 17, to make up last week’s game. Both teams had a bye week this week.

Flagler Palm Coast will host DeLand on Thursday, Nov. 7, the last day teams are now allowed to play regularseason game. That game will now be senior night for the Bulldogs.

FPC will travel to Yulee on Friday, Oct. 18, as scheduled. Seabreeze will be hosting Mount Dora on Oct. 18 as scheduled. The Sandcrabs will make up their game with Deltona in the first week of November but a firm date has not been set. The Sandcrabs’ home game with Pine Ridge on Oct. 24 will be their senior night. Mainland, meanwhile, had a bye week last week so will

have to reschedule.

FPC cross country takes bite out of big apple

It had been 10 years since Flagler Palm Coast cross country coach David Halliday last brought his team to New York City to run in the Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational.

The meet which is run at historic Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx is the nation’s largest single-day high school cross country meet. Olympians, pro runners and college AllAmericans have run in the meet.

“We have a really strong girls team. And if I have a team that’s strong, I like to take them,” Halliday said.

Both the FPC girls and boys teams fared well in their 2.5-mile races on Sunday, Oct. 13. But the race was only part of a unique experience that will provide memories for a lifetime.

“We had six or seven kids who had never been on an airplane before. Only three or four had been to New York City before,” Halliday said.

The students rode the subway, had dinner in Little Italy, walked around China Town and visited Times Square, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. They took pictures next to the charging bull statue on Wall Street, stopped in Battery Park where they could view the Statue of Liberty from a distance. And they fininshed their sightseeing tour at the 9/11 Memorial Pools.

While that was an awe-inspiring experience, Halliday said, the kids were overwhelmed at the sheer number of people and the diversity of cultures when they went to Times Square, where “the bright lights make you feel like you’re in the center of the universe,” Halliday said.

On their last day in New York, they had a final run through Central Park.

“They were just amazed to see this preserve in the middle of New York City,” Halliday said.

In Sunday’s 52nd Manhattan College Invitational, FPC’s girls placed fifth out of 23 teams in their race and 22nd out of 132 teams overall. Freshman Peyton Cerasi placed ninth with a 4K time of 16:09.7, while Arianna Slaughter was 14th in 16:22.2. Cassidy De Young, who had been slowed by Achilles tendinitis, was 28th in 17:05.6, and Madison Lagarde was 33rd in 19:22.8.

The boys were eighth in their race and 80th out of 165 teams overall.

Jevin Luna led the Bulldogs with a time of 14:32.9 for 25th place, Braedyn Wormeck was 34th in 14:47.4 and Ayden Peterson was 36th in 14:49.5.

The course is hilly on the backside, going up and downhill, Halliday said. The kids compared it to their annual preseason camp in the North Caro-

lina mountains. Halliday asked them how it compares to the state championship course at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

“They said, ‘Coach, that’s a piece of cake compared to this.’

“The runners from Pennsylvania and New York, those girls and boys, they’re used to those hills,” Halliday said. “But I’m very proud of our kids and their grittiness. I think they proved their toughness. They ran it and they had fun.”

This is the fifth time Halliday has brought his runners to New York for the invitational. The first time was 2005. Halliday knew it was one of premier races for high school runners, and he wanted to give Justin Harbor some national exposure.

Harbor became the overall winner that year and got plenty of exposure.

“That gave him the opportunity to earn a scholarship at Oregon,” Halliday said.

The trip this year gave the runners a chance to go somewhere after the hurricane, Halliday said. The weather was nice and the leaves were starting to change. But four days after flying back home, the Bulldogs will be back in action Oct. 19 at the New World Spectacular at Cecil Field Golf Course in Jacksonville.

4TH AT SUPER 32

Flagler Palm Coast wrestlers Joslyn Johnson and Mariah Mills wrestled at the Super 32 Challenge at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, Oct. 12-13. Johnson placed fourth in the 106-pound class, winning six of eight matches, while Mills won her first match before losing the next two in the 112-pound class. Both girls won state high school championships last season.

“Joslyn continues to grow as a wrestler,” FPC and Flagler Wrestling Club coach David Bossardet said while driving back Greensboro on Sunday, Oct. 13. “We worked all summer on developing a second attack on her feet to take girls down, and we were able to see that second attack. She’s known to have a good double-leg. We decided she needed a second attack and today we saw that. She was able to execute in some big-time situations.”

Bossardet said freestyle is Johnson’s better style, but she will be returning to folkstyle wrestling as the high school season gets underway. Mills transferred from Matanzas and is wrestling for a new club. Bossardet said her results at the competitive Super 32 tournament weren’t where she wanted them to be, but it’s not time to panic.

“The vast majority of girls at the Super 32 are ranked nationally,” Bossardet said. “I know Mariah’s not happy, but there are just some things we need to clean up. She’s probably the hardest worker I’ve been around among girls wrestlers. We just have to concentrate more on the technical aspect.”

FREE FORMS by Kevin Christian, edited by Jeff Chen

By Luis Campos

and 48-A, said A Portion of the Town of Espanola Flagler County, Florida, less and except that portion of said Lot 48-A lying in Lot 54, said First Addition to Espanola Florida, together with that portion of Ocean Boulevard, a 30 foot wide right-of-way lying within said Section 31, lying between the Northerly prolongation of the Westerly line of said Lot 27, First Addition to Espanola Florida and the Westerly right-of-way line of said North Old Dixie Highway, together with all of Burnsed Avenue (less and except the easterly 250 feet), a 50 foot wide right-of-way as presently established, lying between the Northerly prolongation of the Westerly line of said Lot 28 and the Northerly prolongation

FLAGLER COUNTY LEGAL NOTICES

of the Easterly line of said Lot 48, and all of Edminster Avenue (less and except the easterly 250 feet), a 50 foot wide right-ofway as presently established, lying between the Southerly prolongation of said Westerly line of Lot 28 and the Southerly prolongation of said Easterly line of Lot 48, said A Portion of the Town of Espanola Flagler County, Florida. Being the same lands as described in that certain Title Commitment by Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, having a commitment number 11821628, being last revised August 19, 2024. Said petition to vacate the lands and rights-of-way herein described shall be heard by the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners at its regular scheduled meeting on Monday, November 4, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. or as soon thereafter as possible in the Board Chambers at 1769 E. Moody Boulevard, Building 2, Bunnell, Florida. All interested persons are urged to attend the public hearing and be heard. Anyone wishing to express their opinion may attend, telephone 386-313-4009, or write to: Flagler County Planning and Zoning Department, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg. 2, Bunnell, FL 32110, or email to planningdept@flaglercounty.gov. Copies of the petition, supporting documents, staff reports and other pertinent information are available for review at the Flagler County Planning and Zoning Department, 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 2, Bunnell, Florida 32110, Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE 286.0105, IF A PERSON DECIDES TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AT A MEETING OR HEARING, HE OR SHE WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS, AND THAT, FOR SUCH PURPOSE, HE OR SHE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, PERSONS NEEDING ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING SHOULD CONTACT (386) 313-4001 AT LEAST 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING. Oct. 17/24 24-00401F

FIRST INSERTION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the joint Flagler County and City of Palm Coast Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) will hold a public hearing on November 12, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center, Training Room A, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell, FL, in accordance with Florida Statute 420.9076. The committee will adopt its final report of recommendations to the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners and the Palm Coast City Council based on its evaluation of the following incentives:

• Expedited processing of approvals for development orders or permits for affordable housing projects compared to other projects, as outlined in s. 163.3177(6)(f)3.

• Fee waivers applicable to the development or construction of affordable housing.

• Flexibility in density requirements for affordable housing.

• Reservation of infrastructure capacity for very-low-income, low-income, and moderate-income housing.

• Development of affordable accessory residential units.

• Reduction of parking and setback requirements for affordable housing.

• Allowance of flexible lot configurations, including zero-lot-line configurations.

• Modification of street requirements for affordable housing.

• Establishment of a process for local governments to consider policies, procedures, ordinances, regulations, or plan provisions that may increase housing costs before adoption.

• Preparation of an inventory of locally owned public lands suitable for affordable housing.

• Support for development near transportation hubs, major employment centers, and mixed-use developments.

The report will be available for inspection at the Health and Human Services Building, Housing Services Division, 1000 Belle Terre Blvd., Palm Coast, FL 32164. NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that the committee will vote to elect its Chair and Vice Chair on January 28, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center, Training Room B. Persons

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024 CP 694 Division 48 IN RE: ESTATE OF THOMAS WILLIAM GRIMSDALE Deceased.

The administration of the estate of Thomas William Grimsdale, deceased, whose date of death was April 19, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 E. Moody Blvd. Bunnell, FL 32110.

The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. A personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in sections 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211. The date of first publication of this notice is October 17, 2024. Personal Representative: Judy Handleman 6233 Alder Street Bunnell, Florida 32110

Attorney for Personal Representative: Diane A. Vidal, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 1008324 CHIUMENTO LAW 145 City Place, Suite 301 Palm Coast, FL 32164 Telephone: (386) 445-8900

Fax: (386) 445-6702

E-Mail: DVidal@legalteamforlife.com

Secondary E-Mail: Proserv@legalteamforlife.com October 17, 24, 2024 24-00253G

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO: 2024 CP 000516 DIVISION: 48 IN RE: ESTATE OF DONALD J. WHITE A/K/A DONALD JOHN WHITE DECEASED.

The administration of the estate of DONALD J. WHITE a/k/a DONALD JOHN WHITE, deceased, whose date of death was May 21, 2024. File Number 2024 CP 000516, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which 1769 E. Moody Blvd. Bldg. #1, Bunnell, FL 32210. The name and address of the personal representatives and the personal representatives’ attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

The date of first publication of this Notice is: October 17, 2024. Personal Representatives: DIANE DAVIES 6 Apple Hill Drive Lititz, PA 17543 KENNETH WHITE 513 Tiburon Lane East Amherst, NY 14051 Attorney for Personal Representative: DENNIS J. O’CONNOR, ESQ. Florida Bar No. 643297 Attorney for Petitioner 9999 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 200 Miami Shores, FL 33138 (305)751-8556; e-mail: doconnor@mfcllp.com October 17, 24, 2024 24-00251G

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 28th day of October 2024, for the purpose of Second and Final Reading of Ordinance 2024-20, before the City Commission, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Building (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110. ORDINANCE 2024-20 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA AMENDING THE BUNNELL CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 50-SOLID WASTE; AMENDING SECTIONS TO INCLUDE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES; CHANGING THE REQUIREMENT FOR FACILITIES TO INSTALL SCALES; INCLUDING ADDITIONAL TYPES OF MATERIALS FOR HOST FEES TO BE ACCESSED; PROVIDING FOR LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTING ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTING PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND APPLICABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE as may be legally permitted on the day of the meeting. Instructions on how to participate by electronic or other means, if legally permitted, would be found on the City of Bunnell’s website at www.bunnellcity.us on the homepage. The public is advised to check the City’s

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024 CP 691 Division 48 IN RE: ESTATE OF RONALD H. HART Deceased.

The administration of the estate of Ronald H. Hart, deceased, whose date of death was April 10, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell, FL 32110. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. A personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in sections 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211. The date of first publication of this notice is October 17, 2024. Personal Representative: Natalya Torvik 6707 S. Ashland Court Spokane, Washington 99224

Attorney for Personal Representative: Diane A. Vidal, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 1008324

CHIUMENTO LAW 145 City Place, Suite 301 Palm Coast, FL 32164 Telephone: (386) 445-8900 Fax: (386) 445-6702 E-Mail: DVidal@legalteamforlife.com Secondary E-Mail: Proserv@legalteamforlife.com October 17, 24, 2024 24-00252G