Palm Coast Observer 10-24-24

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CITY WATCH

New monument at Long Creek Nature Preserve

The city of Palm Coast and the Palm Coast Historical Society have unveiled a new monument to the city’s history at Long Creek Nature Preserve. The monument is a marker that highlights significant findings in the area, dating back to the early 1800s, a city press release said. Palm Coast City Council and PCHS members dedicated the marker Oct. 18.

“Recognizing these discoveries of our past, we are reminded of our duty to respect both nature’s beauty and our responsibility to preserve it for future generations,” Mayor David Alfin said. “The preservation of this property is one of the best choices our city council has ever made.”

Long Creek Nature Preserve is a 9.5-acre park located at 1050 Palm Harbor Parkway. Palm Coast and Flagler County partnered together in 2008 to preserve the site, allowing its historical narrative to remain part of the community’s shared heritage, the press release said.

Should background checks be required?

In an effort to fine tune the city’s new short-term rental ordinance, the Palm Coast City Council has once again tabled its first vote on the ordinance.

The ordinance covers a broad range of topics: a maximum occupancy, safety regulations, background check requirements and enforcement logistics. The City Council will also need to figure out a fee schedule that will make enforcing this ordinance self-sufficient — at the very least covering the cost of one dedicated code enforcement officer. The ordinance will return at the council’s Dec. 4 workshop meeting for more discussion.

Background check requirements are still being discussed. In earlier discussions of the ordinance, the council was adamant all STR occupants be given background checks.

At the Sept. 3 council meeting, the council walked back the policy some, agreeing to review the platforms’ (such as VRBO) requirements and tentatively narrowed the requirement to just requiring a background check of the person renting the STR. That individual would then also be required to certify that none of the other occupants are sex offenders or predators.

At the Oct. 15 meeting, council member Theresa Carli Pontieri and Vice Mayor Ed Danko suggested that a platform’s background checks would be sufficient.

“I think that if the platform does the background check, that should be sufficient,” Pontieri said. “But the person renting should still certify that they’re not a sex offender and that none of their guests are sex offenders.”

Danko suggested the city include in the ordinance a list of acceptable platforms that would exempt an STR owner from the background check requirement because of the platform’s own requirements.

During public comment, Palm Coast resident and STR owner and operator Joel Davisson said that within five miles of City Hall, there are 80 registered sex offenders. Nor, he said, are hotels required to perform background checks.

Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo said the platforms’ background checks are required.

“It’s my understanding that to be eligible to use the platform on either side — from [the owner] or from the renter side — they perform background checks,” DeLorenzo said.

The council is also still considering outsourcing a 24/7 hotline to make reporting complaints easier for residents. DeLorenzo said after the city approves the ordinance, city staff will bring forward proposals on companies that perform that service and design a fee schedule for STRs that would allow enforcing the ordinance to be funded by the fees.

The council also suggested removing or making other exemptions in the proposed ordinance. Two examples: children under 12 months old would not be counted as part of the maximum occupancy of 10 guests, the pet limit could be left to the discretion of the the STR owners. Palm Coast already requires that pets outdoors be leashed.

The ordinance, under council direction, also originally proposed exempting STRs where the owner lives onsite, like the Davisson. Pontieri suggested that instead of a whole-sale exemption, the city creates a list of exemptions that would apply to those STR owners.

“Anybody can say, ‘Oh, I live in the home. I’m exempt,’” Pontieri said. “How do we prove it? How do we enforce it?”

Throughout the process, DeLorenzo said staff has been in communication with both STR owners and residents who neighbor STRs. Some of their requests were not enforceable — like a request to lower the city’s daytime sound noise ordinance to just 50 decibels, citywide.

“Fifty decibels is basically what we’re talking at right now,” council member Nick Klufas said.

“Adjusting the city daytime noise ordinance to 50 is a little overkill, in my mind,” Pontieri said.

BY THE NUMBERS

2

hours is the maximum allotted time a short-term vacation rental owner would have to respond to a complaint at any point in time. This is consistent with current city requirements for rentals.

10

The maximum number of occupants the ordinance would allow in a STR at one time.

$400

Initial registration fee for STRs, with a $200 annual renewal fee. This number could fluctuate after the ordinance is passed, as the city refines the STR fees to make the ordinance enforcement self-sustainable.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS IN THE ORDINANCE:

„ No recreational trailers or boats parked onsite for more than three days, regardless of if it is different renters on the property.

„ This is consistent with the city’s current policy for homeowners.Requiring battery-powered emergency lighting

„ Following life-safety requirements like having fire extinguishers and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on site

„ Requiring a sample lease as part of the initial registration process for STRs with the city

It doesn’t, she said.

New traffic pattern at Indian Trail Sports Complex

Beginning Oct. 18, Palm Coast implemented a new traffic pattern at the Indian Trails Sports Complex. The complex’s main entrance, an entry-only point, remains the same. But all traffic exiting the sports complex will now be routed past the baseball fields and to the complex’s south exit, near Parkview Church, a city press release said. New signage was installed. Palm Coast Fire Department’s ‘Hall of Terror’ returns: 23rd

“They still have a lot of concerns, but I’m trying to balance their concerns with what’s reasonable and with our STR owners,” she said. “I can’t just listen to my district, we represent the city at large.”

Most of the complaints from STRs come from the city’s C Section, around the canals; that is Pontieri’s district. Council member Charles Gambaro Jr. asked Pontieri if the ordinance meets the concerns of her district’s residents.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Woodlands keeps flooding. Why

‘We can only prepare so much,’ Woodlands resident Ivette Esposito said. ‘We need the city to work with us, and we can’t just keep being ignored.’

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Ralph and Ivette Esposito, who live in the 40 block of Black Alder Drive in the Woodlands neighborhood of Palm Coast, thought they had seen the worst post-hurricane flooding from Hurricanes Irma and Nicole.

Ivette Esposito said, after Hurricane Nicole, the city told Woodlands residents that pipes on Colbert Lane would be fixed to address the neighborhood’s long-standing flooding issue.

“Two years later, Colbert is not fixed,” she said. “This is not OK; this needs to be fixed.”

The Woodlands butts up against the Graham Swamp trailhead area, which takes stormwater runoff from the canals east of Interstate 95. Water from the east side of I-95 pours into canals and ditches, which eventually lead into Graham Swamp — a basin that collects stormwater — and then empties into the Intracoastal Waterway.

But it’s been several years, and multiple hurricanes, and the Woodlands continues to flood from stormwater overflow. And Woodlands residents are wondering what the city is planning to do about it.

Esposito said he called the city’s call center on Thursday, Oct. 10 to ask what the city was doing about the water pouring onto Black Alder Drive. He said he was told there was nothing the city could do at that time but wait. By 10 p.m. that night, he said, the water was at his garage door.

The Graham Swamp basin and surrounding canals and ditches are not enough to hold the stormwater runoff during large rain events, like Hurricane Milton. Palm Coast Communications Director Brittany Kershaw said the Woodlands is the city’s lowest-lying area, so as higher elevations drain into the basin, Graham Swamp will overflow.

“And then it can kind of seep into people’s backyards,” Kershaw said. “It’s very common for the water to end up there, post storm.”

A SOLUTION IN THE WORKS

Palm Coast does have a plan to address the Woodlands problem, though it has been in the works since 2019.

The city plans to upsize existing pipes in Colbert Lane and at Blair Castle. At the Oct. 15 Palm Coast City Council meeting, stormwater engineer Carmelo Morales said that the city has been working to secure all the correct permits for the project with the St. Johns River Water Man-

“I said in my text, ‘David, can you help us save our house?’ Because we were at a point of desperation.”

RALPH ESPOSITO, Woodlands resident

is it taking so long to get help?

agement District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

At this stage, he said, the project is just waiting on one final permit before it goes out to bid.

“It sounds simple, right? But it really is quite complex,” Morales said. “There are wetland issues, there are environmental issues.”

Replacing the pipes with larger sizes would expand their waterflow capacity and allow for quicker drainage. The pipes would be replaced with larger pipes in three locations: one at Blare Drive and Blare Castle Drive, and two culverts on Colbert Lane.

The problem is that the project was stalled for some time. According to the city’s Capital Project dashboard, construction on replacing these pipes was supposed to begin in November 2020 and complete by May 2023.

But though the project’s design and permitting phase is almost complete, the city will still need to secure funding before construction begins.

The Capital Project dashboard estimates the project will cost $6.6 million to complete.

Morales said the city is trying to go for a grant that could help pay for the project, though that could also delay construction even further as the city waits for the funding to become available.

“I’m talking about maybe a year before that money becomes available,” Morales said. And that is if the city is even picked for the project. The quicker way to begin construc

“We

can only prepare so much. We need the city to work with us, and we can’t just keep being ignored.”

IVETTE ESPOSITO, Woodlands resident

need to get done there. It’s just other little things that just are in the way.”

Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston said the city has applied for a grant for this project in the past but has been turned down. The grant is through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s hazard mitigation program.

Unfortunately, Johnston said, the city competes against projects statewide and the pipe upsizing project in the Woodlands ranks much lower than other projects.

“We have had this project on the list for a long time, and there’s been other projects that have outranked us,” Johnston said.

‘WE NEED THE CITY TO WORK WITH US’

In the meantime, Woodland residents like the Espositos were also left to wonder why their neighborhood was not evacuated during the storm.

Though evacuation orders were issued for the Woodlands during Hurricanes Irma and Nicole, no evacuation order was issued for the Woodlands during Hurricane Mil-

Kershaw said that is because during the storm, there was never a point where the Woodlands, during Milton, met the threshold for emergency evacuations. Even in the days following the storm, she said, Palm Coast and Flagler County Emergency Management were closely monitoring the neighborhood to ensure an evacuation order wouldn’t be needed as water in the neighborhoods rose.

“It never got to that point where we needed to evacuate [that area],”

The water did continue to rise in the days after Hurricane Milton. By Friday, Oct. 11, the bend of Black Alder Drive was completely submerged in water and entirely impass-

The Esposito’s home was an island, Ralph Esposito said, between the canal behind their home overflowing and the road flooding all the way

Afraid for their home, he said, he and his wife and sons attempted move as much of their belongings off the ground in case water came into

“We just literally held each other and cried,” Ivette Esposito said. “Because we knew that it [the water] was going to come in.”

Thankfully, no water came inside the home, though it did go into their

garage, Ralph Esposito said. Eventually, he said, he called Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin about the rising water, because he felt no one at the city was listening.

“I sent him pictures, and I said in my text, ‘David, can you help us save our house?’ Because we were at a point of desperation,” he said.

The Palm Coast Fire Department then came out and delivered sandbags to the Espositos and other residents, and later returned with several deliveries of ice, as the Woodlands area was also without power for several days after the hurricane.

That Saturday, pumper trucks were on Black Alder Drive, sucking up the water, and by Sunday, Oct. 13, the street was completely clear of water once more.

“It was unreal, the difference,” Kershaw said. “It was night and day.”

Kershaw said that while the pipe replacement project is still in the works alongside other stormwater projects, Palm Coast is working on other ways to track where water will go during a storm. The city is looking into a software that would be integrated into the stormwater system with the historical data and then make predictions on where and how much stormwater will be in an area during a storm, she said.

But Ivette Esposito said the city needs to prioritize solving these issues as Florida gets more and more storms.

“We can only prepare so much,” she said. “We need the city to work with us, and we can’t just keep being ignored.”

Ralph Esposito on Black Alder Drive after Hurricane Milton. Courtesy of Ralph and Ivette Esposito

In just one day, city pump trucks cleared out all the water on Black Alder Drive. Photo taken Oct. 13. Photo courtesy of Palm Coast

Black Alder Drive on Saturday, Oct. 12, two days after Hurricane Milton impacted Palm Coast. Photo by Sierra Williams

Barrier island residents may be responsible for share of beach maintenance costs

The property tax would only apply to the residents living in the unincorporated barrier island area. County will also dedicate millage for maintenance fund.

Flagler County property owners in the unincorporated barrier

area could end up paying a collective total of $1.7 million per year to help maintain an 11.6 mile stretch of Flagler County’s shoreline.

The plan proposed at the Oct. 21 Flagler County Commission workshop only addresses funding the initial reconstruction and then maintenance of the 11-plus miles of shoreline in unincorporated Flagler County area on the island. The initial reconstruction cost for that 11-mile stretch is estimated to be $57.5 million, County Administrator Heidi Petito said, though around $35 million of that will come from state and grant funding requests.

“This funding is going to be need-

ed over the next two to three years so that we can start the construction,” Petito said.

Another $5 million will come from funding the county has already set aside in its fiscal year 2025 budget, and the county plans to continue setting aside $5 million in each fiscal year 2026 and 2027 budget. That leaves a $7.5 million shortfall to reconstruct the 11 miles of shoreline.

The staff is proposing two things to cover that shortfall: reallocating .1 mill of ad valorem taxes — totaling $1.5 million from each fiscal year 2026 and 2027 — and implementing a property assessment tax for property owners in that unincorporated area.

The proposed assessment would fund $1.7 million annually. Over each fiscal year 2026 and 2027, that totals to $3.4 million for the initial reconstruction, and then property owners would continue to pay the tax for the shoreline’s maintenance fund.

The proposed property assessment tax would only apply to the properties on the barrier island between the Marineland southern town limit and the Beverly Beach northern town limit.

There are roughly 6,300 prop -

erties within that unincorporated barrier island area. The additional property assessment would be levied in two tiers: a base rate and then an assessed value rate, which is based on the property’s value. Property owners with higher value will thus pay more.

According to data presented to the commission, a property with an assessed value of $407,264 would owe $247.69 a year for the new assessment. A parcel valued at $100,000 would just owe $162.43, while a parcel with a $3 million assessed value would owe $973.07.

Maintenance of that 11-mile stretch would not begin until after the reconstruction. Once it does, the county will run maintenance on the shoreline once every six years, which will cost around $56.8 million.

Petito said the county estimates it will need to bring in $8.2 million annually to fund the maintenance plan. She said the county anticipates the state contributing an additional $1.2 million annually as well.

The Tourism Development Tax — which brings in $2 million annually — and the county’s half-cent sales tax — a $3 million annual revenue — will account for $5 million of the $8.2 million. The remaining $3.2 million will come from the one-tenth mill reallocation and the proposed property assessment tax.

The Flagler County Commissioners and Petito reiterated that only property owners who live in the unincorporated Flagler County area on the barrier island would pay the assessment.

“It doesn’t include the city of Flagler Beach, the town of Beverly Beach or the town of Marineland,” Petito said. “It’s not the people in Plantation Bay that are going to be paying. It’s not the people in Palm Coast that are going to be paying.”

Petito did point out that in the case of a named hurricane that damages the shoreline, the county will be able to seek state and federal funding to repair the damage in-between maintenance cycles, but the county will also need to supply funding for

a local match in that event, as well.

And if the 11 miles of shoreline is damaged in an unnamed storm event — like a nor’easter — that would likely come entirely out of the county’s pocket to fix, she said.

During the summer, when a county-wide tier system was proposed to pay for the initial reconstruction and then maintenance of the entire county’s 18.8 miles of shoreline, the county received a lot of backlash from both the municipalities’ elected officials and members of the public across the county.

Petito said they are waiting to schedule and host a joint meeting with the county’s municipalities before discussing a beach maintenance plan for those areas of shoreline that are in Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach and Marineland’s jurisdictions.

“The reason why this does not include, right now, the city of Flagler Beach or the town of Beverly Beach or the town of Marineland, is because Flagler County does not have jurisdiction over those municipalities,”

Petito said. “We cannot simply go in there and create an MSBU without the city or town’s approval.”

On the other hand, Petito said, the county has a responsibility to maintain the beaches in the unincorporated areas on the island, including in the six parks that fall under the county’s jurisdiction.

Commissioner David Sullivan said he felt this was a good compromise from the previous presentations.

“I think where we are now is a reasonable decision,” he said. “It’s not perfect, but it’s a compromise.”

The other four commissioners agreed, and the proposal will return to the commission for a vote at its Nov. 4 meeting. Commissioner Greg Hansen said the county has discussed alternatives, but this plan is “absolutely the right thing to do.”

“If we don’t do this, then what do we do? And when do we do it? I think this is, as I said before, this is a critical step to save our beaches,” Hansen said.

BY THE NUMBERS

18.8 miles of shoreline are in Flagler County

11.6 miles of that shoreline fall in unincorporated Flagler County.

6,300 properties are in the unincorporated Flagler County area on the barrier island.

$57.5 million is the estimated cost to reconstruct the shoreline in the unincorporated Flagler County.

$50 million of funding will come from the a variety of already available sources, including state funding, grant applications and the county’s annual budget.

$7.5 million will need to be funded through ad valorem taxes by reallocating — not increasing — a one-tenth mill and by implementing a property assessment tax for the unincorporated barrier island residents.

$1.7 million in revenue will come from the new property assessment tax, if approved.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continued the Flagler Beach beach renourishment project on Aug. 9. Photo by Jake Montgomery

In Palm Coast mayoral race interview

Cornelia Manfre accused Mike Norris of having a temper ill-suited for a mayor. Norris said Manfre did not have leadership qualities.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Mayor candidates Cornelia Manfre and Mike Norris

debated Palm Coast’s drainage issues, changing zoning of commercial land to real estate and even the temper of the candidates, on the WNZF radio show “Free For All Friday” on Oct. 18. Almost all the topics left the two on opposing sides.

Manfre accused Norris of having a temper ill-suited for the mayor seat and said his lack of business experience concerned her. Norris, meanwhile, said Manfre, a Realtor and corporate investor, did not have the leadership qualities necessary to be mayor and called the relationship of developers and the real estate industry in Flagler County “incestuous.”

The only topic the two seemed to agree on is that

Palm Coast’s staff, across all departments, needs to have a performance review, immediately.

“The staff are not always the smartest people in the room, that’s apparent by what’s going on in this city,” Norris said. “And we need to change that. And I think we need to go through and we need to do a staff analysis.”

“There is a job performance review that must be done immediately in City Hall, all departments and all staff,” Manfre said.

On the topic of listening to residents’ concerns, Norris said the council should prioritize listening to residents over the experts on staff at City Hall.

“That’s why you’re there,” Norris said. “You are there to serve the community.” Manfre felt a little different: The City Council, she said, is like a board of directors.

“You have to listen to the public and you balance it with what staff proposes,” she said. “But we are the board of directors and we have to make the final decisions.”

The two also disagreed on rezoning. While Norris was firm that commercial zoned land should remain commercial, Manfre pointed out that the community has changed

since ITT first zoned land in Palm Coast.

“I think it really comes to site specific,” she said. “Sometimes you just have to — it’s OK to deviate from what was originally planned, because the market has changed.”

But it wasn’t just the city’s current council and policies that were up for discussion: Both candidates also had to answer questions about themselves.

A question submitted by FlaglerLive asked Manfre how she would separate herself from her husband, former Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre, without it seeming as though she was just a stand-in for him.

Manfre called it “preposterous” that that could be the case. She said while her husband is her best friend, the two of them are “very independent people.”

“If anything, maybe he’s shadowing me,” she said Manfre also had to defend her real estate career, as many Palm Coast residents do not want to see someone with real estate connections in office.

Manfre said her background gives her a greater understanding of business and how developers, primarily commercial developers, work. Realtors and developers act

as ambassadors for the community, she said, and take great risk to bring commercial businesses like restaurants, Publix and Walmart to communities.

“It’s a balancing act,” she said. “It’s all about the numbers.”

Norris had to answer, once again, for the language he used toward former mayor candidate Alan Lowe’s wife, Grit Lowe, on Primary Election Day in August. A video recording published online by Lowe’s campaign showed Norris using several swear words at Grit Lowe outside the Flagler County Public Library

on Palm Coast Parkway.

During the radio show on Oct. 18, Manfre demanded an apology from Norris for his language at Grit Lowe “on behalf of all women.”

Norris pushed back against what he considered a personal attack.

In another submitted question, radio host David Ayres said there were concerns among Palm Coast City Hall staff about how Norris would react, as mayor, to members of the public challenging him.

“How can we be sure that your temper is not going to be an issue in a position that sets the tone for the rest of the

TRIBUTES

Frances Mae Stevens

Frances Mae Stevens, age 79, of Palm Coast, FL died on October 8, 2024 in Daytona, Florida of natural causes. She was born in Van Wert, Ohio to Andrew and Jessie (Shepherd) Taylor.

Fran was a graduate of Albany Junior College and Georgia Southwestern State College. She also attended the University of Texas in El Paso, Texas.

Fran married Rick Stevens on May 2, 1964 in St. Mary’s church in Van Wert, Ohio.

Fran was a registered nurse for 20 years. Fran enjoyed old movies, listening to music, reading and collecting angels. She truly enjoyed spending time with her family and loved when we all got together. She had a wicked sense of humor. She also enjoyed giving her children a hard time as well as trying to keep her husband on the straight and narrow. Fran was a mother figure to many of her children’s friends and extended family.

She has been a resident of Palm Coast for the last 10 years. Prior to living in Palm Coast, she and her husband lived in Astor, Florida and Albany, Georgia. She was a member of St. Mary’s church in Palm Coast, FL.

Fran is survived by her husband, Rick Stevens of 60 years. She also leaves behind two daughters Yvonne Sims (Taylor) Leesburg, GA, Sanette Schmidt (Pat) Cuba City, WI, and one son Chris Stevens Palm Coast, Fl. Also surviving are her sister Marie “Boots” Thompson, brothers, Bob Taylor and Pat Taylor. She also leaves nine grandchildren James C Conn, Stephen Conn, Robert Conn,

council,” Ayres said.

“Because I’m a professional, and I’ve been a professional, and I know how to run meetings,” Norris said.

Norris continued on to say that staffers should be concerned “because some of those people on that staff shouldn’t be there.”

“Residents of Palm Coast and Flagler County don’t have to worry about my temperament,” Norris said.

Manfre disagreed.

“I believe the mayor position has to have a temperament that is balanced,” she said.

11

grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Jessie Taylor, sisters, Jean Bollenbacher, Debra Agler, Ronnie “Mike” Taylor and Larry Taylor. Sisterin-law Connie McElroy brothers-inlaw Bill Stevens, John Stevens, and Bob Stevens.

Arrangements are pending.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Fran’s memory to The American Heart Association@ www. heart.org

The family of Mrs. Stevens have entrusted her arrangements to Clymer Funeral Home & Cremations, 39 Old Kings Rd. N., Palm Coast, FL 32137. Condolences may be shared at www. clymerfuneralhome.com

Palm Coast mayor candidates Mike Norris and Cornelia Manfre. Photo by Brian McMillan

Hillman T. Sims Jr., Jessica Schmidt, Megan Rosenbaum, Marcus Schmidt and Sara Schmidt as well as

great

BRIEFS

Sugar Mill Plantation forced to cancel trickor-treating event due to hurricane damage

For the first time in over 25 years, Sugar Mill Plantation’s family Halloween trick-or-treating tradition has been canceled due to debris and damage left by Hurricane Milton.

“It is with sadness that Hurricane Milton has forced our community to close due to extreme degradation of our streets, the piles of debris, some as high as cars, and many of our street lights are out of service, leaving areas unlit,” the subdivision’s homeowners association announced in a press release.

The Sugar Mill Plantation subdivision on Old Kings Road South in Flagler Beach typically draws more than 2,000 trick-or-treaters on Halloween to a fun and safe environment. The streets are closed and children, parents and even babies in arms are dressed in costumes.

“Our community has enjoyed being part of an ongoing tradition, and we regret that we must cancel the

COPS CORNER

SEPT. 15

PARK HARRASSMENT

5:47 p.m. — 900 block of South Beach Street, Ormond Beach

Disorderly intoxication. Police arrested a 61-year-old Ormond Beach man who threatened to harm a citizen at a local park.

According to a police report, officers responded to the scene after receiving word of an intoxicated man harassing people on a fishing dock. When police arrived, they watched the man as he yelled nonsensical statements and upon approaching him, could smell alcohol on his person.

One park-goer told police the man threatened to “kick his butt” and had been harassing people all day at the park, the report states. The park-goer told police people that had visited

celebration,” HOA President John Cibiras, said in the press release.

Early voting now underway in Flagler, Volusia County

Early voting for the 2024 general election began Monday, Oct. 21.

Early voting for the Nov. 5 election will be held for 13 consecutive days across five early voting locations in Flagler County, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, including weekends. The last day to vote early is Nov. 2.

Early voting in Volusia County also runs through Nov. 2. Ormond Beach has just one early voting location, the Ormond Beach Regional Library, located at 30 S. Beach St. Early voting hours at this location will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., including weekends, according to the Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Office website.

The Flagler County Supervisor of Elections office is anticipating “a very high turnout during this Presidential Election,” an Elections Office press release said. In 2020, Flagler County had 28,537 and Volusia County had 112,532, according to the Florida Division of Elections website.

the park remained in their cars once they spotted the man, and left soon thereafter.

Once arrested and placed inside a patrol vehicle, the man started yelling obscenities at small children playing in the park. He was taken to jail.

OCT. 7 APPOINTMENT DISMISSED

12:38 p.m. — 1400 block of Hand Avenue, Ormond Beach Information. A man who had previously visited a church looking for assistance for his electricity bill is suspected to have left many harassing voicemails, despite having scheduled an appointment for help.

Police report that a church employee had encountered the man on Sept. 27. They spent some time discussing policies for assistance and she explained to him that he didn’t qualify for financial help, according to the police report. But, the man kept begging for an appointment, so

For the 2024 election, the Flagler County now has five early voting locations, including its newest location at the Southern Recreation Center, located at 1290 Belle Terre Parkway. The other four locations are: The Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Office, 1769 E. Moody Blvd.; Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway NW; Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE; Flagler Beach United Methodist Church, 1520 S. Daytona Ave.

Any registered voter may vote early. A valid photo and signature ID is required to vote in Florida, the press release said.

The Supervisor of Election’s Office reminded residents that the Flagler County Public Library is the busiest voting sites, with a lot of congestion between 1-6 p.m., and recommends visiting other sites during that time, the press release said.

Retired U.S. Navy captain to be Flagler County Veterans Day parade grand marshal

Retired U.S. Navy Cpt. Randy Stapl-

she scheduled him for Oct. 1.

A few days later, the man canceled his appointment but still showed up in person on the day of his appointment, where he was rude to the front desk staff, the report notes. Other staff members were called to help get the man out. Then, the church employee received many voicemails using vulgar language. The church employee was instructed to call police if the man called again.

OCT. 19 FLYING HIGH

10:34 a.m. — 800 block of Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast Breach of peace, inhale harmful chemicals. Two days in a row, a Naples, Florida woman was found unconscious after inhaling aerosol spray cans of compressed air in a local grocery store. Law enforcement and medical personnel responded to the grocery store where the woman was uncon-

eford will be the 2024 Flagler County Veterans Day parade grand marshal. Stapleford served over 31 years in the Navy. In 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Stapleford as the Flagler County commissioner for the Florida Inland Navigation District, according to a press release from Veterans Day parade coordinator Bunnell Police Chief David Brannon.

The parade will be held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 11 in downtown Bunnell. Stapleford was named Veteran of the Year in 2023. He has two

master’s degrees, one in national security and strategic studies and one in business management. A lifetime advocate for veterans, he is actively involved in organizations such as Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, and the Military Officers Association of America, the press release said. Individuals who want to register their group, vehicle or float for the parade can still do so at www.flaglerveteransdayparade.com.

scious in the bathroom. The store manager told police that the woman was in the store the day before as well and did the same thing, according to an arrest report.

Both times, he said, the woman was “causing several disruptions” in the store before she went into the bathroom. The cans of compressed air were also stolen from the store, the store manager said. Despite that, the business did not press charges for the theft.

The woman was taken to the hospital. After she was cleared, Sheriff’s Office deputies placed the woman under arrest.

OCT. 20 HIDE AND SEEK

4:34 p.m. —3900 block of South Ocean Shore Boulevard, Flagler Beach

Loitering. Suspects accused of firing a handgun out an SUV window in Volusia County were found hiding from police in a Flagler Beach res-

taurant’s bathroom stall.

According to an arrest report, no one was injured in the incident, but the SUV was seen driving into Flagler County. When the vehicle was spotted at a local restaurant and bar, local police officers were dispatched to talk to the driver.

A man matching the driver’s description and a woman matching the description of a passenger in the SUV walked into the bar, ordered two drinks and then quickly went into the bathroom when police entered the restaurant, the arrest report said.

The two were found in a stall in the women’s restroom and were placed under arrest. The woman told police that no gun was fired — instead, she said they had ignited a firework in the SUV while driving, and that was what the witness saw, the report said.

The American Legion at the 2023 Veterans Day Parade. Photo by Sierra Williams

Bunnell Italian Festival includes activities, entertainment and food

Activities included fast-draw cowboy shooting, trivia contests by Thomas Media Solutions and a spaghetti-eating contest each day.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The two-day Bunnell Italian Festival was held Oct. 19-20 at the Flagler County Fairgrounds. The festival included indoor and outdoor vendor booths and activities, a Kids Zone, a main stage with live music and demonstrations and food trucks and local restaurants providing Italian and American fare. Activities included fastdraw cowboy shooting, trivia contests by Thomas Media Solutions and a spaghettieating contest each day. Proceeds from the festival will support local charities and city police or parks and recreation projects.

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

Karla Cuthbertson founder of SHINE Mindfulness for Kids in Palm Coast displayed the SHINE Mindfulness Activity Journals and Planners. Photos by Brent Woronoff

Ray “Gunsmoke” Nicolo of the Long Branch Cowboys fast draw shooting club.

Angie McGlamery (right), owner of Beanie Baby Haven in Palm Coast, poses with customers Catherine, Paige and Christian at McGlamery’s booth.

Ellie shows off the Beanie Baby she selected at the Beanie Baby Haven booth.

Jeff and Erica Friedler enjoy their Italian sausage sandwiches.

Anthony Parenti of JP’s Italian American Bistro and Market in Palm Coast dishes out some specialities.

Mackenzie Lazorchak takes orders at the Panzarotti Paradise food truck.

The Marching Eagles of Westside Elementary School in Daytona Beach perform.

French aircraft company Aura Aero selects Daytona for new facility

The manufacturing plant will bring over 1,000 highvalue jobs to the area.

OBSERVER STAFF

A French aircraft design and manufacturing company will make the home of its next manufacturing plant at Daytona Beach International Airport.

Aura Aero Inc. is based at the Toulouse-Francazal airport in France and designs next-generation electric aircrafts. The company announced on Oct. 17 that the Daytona Beach International Airport will be the home of its 500,000-square-foot facility, which will likely create over 1,000 high-value jobs in the area.

Cyrus Callum, director of Aviation and Economic Resources at the Daytona Beach International Airport, said with Aura Aero’s involvement in Daytona Beach, more aeronautical industry manufacturers are likely to come to the Daytona Beach area as well over the next decade.

“We’re going to have new sets of eyes on our community,” Callum said. Aura Aero is opening the plant to be closer to its United States-based customers.

The manufacturing and assembly plant will be a “state of the art” factory to produce, assemble, test and deliver Aura Aero’s ERA, a 19-seat hybrid electric commuter aircraft, according to an Aura Aero press release. The facility will aim to produce 100 ERAs per year and construction is expected to begin

in 2026.

By the fourth quarter of 2028, the company will begin assembling aircraft at the new plant, the press release said.

The company narrowed down its decision to build a facility in Florida over a number of other locations in the United States in July. Aura Aero announced its decision to build in Daytona Beach at the city’s Brown & Brown headquarters, the press release said.

Aura Aero co-founder and CEO Jeremy Caussade said Aura Aero

mainly chose Daytona Beach and Volusia County was for the collaborative relationship across the city between organizations like the Volusia County CEO Business Alliance and Daytona State College.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to partner with the state of Florida, Volusia County, the Daytona Beach International Airport, and other key partners as we advance our mission to design and manufacture headway electric aircraft that accelerate air transport and decarbonization,” Caussade said in a statement.

AI-driven technology is changing heart care in Flagler County

AdventHealth has introduced a new technology powered by artificial intelligence to improve heart health care in Flagler County.

The new tool, called CathWorks, is enhancing the way doctors at AdventHealth Palm Coast and AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway detect and treat heart blockages, making procedures safer and more precise for patients. CathWorks uses computer-based software to help cardiologists pinpoint areas of concern within the heart’s

arteries.

“This technology helps us identify which blockages need to be treated more effectively,” said Dr. Dean Abtahi, an interventional cardiologist at AdventHealth. “It’s a big step forward in ensuring patients get the best possible care.”

Traditionally, identifying heart blockages requires inserting wires into the arteries and using large amounts of blood thinners. CathWorks reduces the need for both, making the process

less invasive and lowering the risks for patients, according to a press release. By minimizing the use of these tools and medications, patients face fewer side effects, and the procedure itself becomes faster and more efficient.

“This is about making sure we are treating patients in the safest and most effective way,” Abtahi said. “CathWorks allows us to use fewer tools and medications, which means patients can recover quicker and with fewer complications.”

Since its launch in May, CathWorks has been used in about 80% of eligible cases in Flagler County: 85 cases at AdventHealth Palm Coast and an additional 10 procedures at Advent-Health

The ERA aircraft will be a regional aircraft, with its first flight anticipated in 2026, with an anticipated in-service date in 2028, according to information on Aura Aero’s website. The ERA offers point-topoint mobility, cargo possibilities and uses lithium batteries.

The ERA will also focus on reducing ticket prices and noise.

The ERA manufacturing and assembly factory will be the company’s second U.S. facility. In July, Aura Aero also announced the opening of its first U.S.-based facility — a 10,000-square-foot hangar for electric aircraft development activities — within Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s research park.

Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler said in a statement that it is through the support of philanthropists and industry partners that the university has been able to “make transformational expansions and create a career pipeline for students in aviation, aerospace and other STEM-related fields.

“As an invaluable corporate partner,” he said, “Aura Aero — an anchor tenant at our Research Park — will continue to be a vital partner with our university and research community to bring its vision to the world.”

Palm Coast Parkway – and it is coming soon to other AdventHealth locations. AdventHealth Fish Memorial in Orange City is the latest.

BIZ BUZZ

„ Gratified Property Services, of Palm Coast, recently acquired the contract to maintain 35 Watson Realty properties in St. Johns, Flagler and Volusia counties. Call 386-237-2538.

„ S&D Construction, of Palm Coast, completed a restoration at Beverly Beach Campground, on A1A, on Oct. 17, after Hurricane Milton dug 20-foot holes around the sidewalk. Call 386-

“We couldn’t be more pleased to partner with the state of Florida, Volusia County, the Daytona Beach International Airport, and other key partners as we advance our mission to design and manufacture headway electric aircraft that accelerate air transport and decarbonization.”

VJEREMY CAUSSADE, Aura Aero co-founder and CEO

446-1655.

„ TerraTimber Restorations, of Palm Coast, is 80% done with cleaning the 165,000-square-foot roof at Old Kings Elementary School, part of the 550,000-square-foot schoolwide project, which will be complete within two months. About 30,000 square feet are cleaned using drones. The work is done on nights and weekends when kids are not in school. Because of the low pressure process, owner Rob Wood estimates a savings of $70,000 for Flagler Schools. Call 386-864-3033.

„ Yes Coffee, of Flagler Beach, has grown from four employees in December 2023 to 20 employees today. Call 386-225-5838.

A rendering of Aura Aero’s future 500,000-square-foot Daytona Beach manufacturing and assembly plant.

A rendering of Aura Aero’s next-generation aircraft, the ERA. Photos courtesy of Aura Aero

REAL ESTATE

New home in Sawmill Branch tops Flagler list

Ahome in the Sawmill Branch subdivision at 126 Hulett Woods Road was the top real estate transaction for Oct. 4-11 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The home sold on Oct. 8, for $2.9 million. The home is still under construction, but once built, it will be a 3/2 and have 2,110 square feet.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Condos

The condo at 85 Avenue De La Mer, Unit 106, sold on Oct. 11, for $1.2 million. Built in 2006, the condo is a 4/3 and has 3,077 square feet.

The condo at 800 Canopy Walk Lane, Unit 812, sold on Oct. 7, for $410,000. Built in 2004, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,377 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $450,000.

PALM COAST

Palm Harbor

The house at 20 Collington Court sold on Oct. 11, for $782,500. Built in 2006, the house is a 3/2 and has a boat house, a boat lift, screened lanai and 2,176 square feet. It last sold in 2021, for $665,000.

Village at Palm Coast

The house at 5 Longview Way N. sold on Oct. 11, for $660,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/3 and has a covered lanai, a three-car garage and 2,158 square feet.

Lehigh Woods

The house at 25 Reybury Lane sold on Oct. 7, for $369,000. The house is a 3/2 and has a covered lanai and 1,832 square feet.

The house at 8 Rolls Royce Court N. sold on Oct. 5, for $348,500. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/2 and has an open floor plan, a large chef’s kitchen and 1,875 square feet.

Wynnside

The house at 20 Woodside Drive sold on Oct. 5, for $327,500. Built in 1995, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,673 square feet. It last sold in May 2 for $229,000.

Pine Grove The house at 132 Point Pleasant Drive sold on Oct. 4, for $290,000. Built in 2021, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,611 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $209,900.

Pine Lakes

The house at 73 White Star Drive sold on Oct. 11, for $290,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 4/2 and has a screened-in lanai and 1,671 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $220,000.

Cypress Knoll

The house at 1 Egan Drive sold on Oct. 7, for $595,000. Built in 1997, the house is a 3/3 and has a saltwater pool a covered lanai and 2,361 square feet.

Grand Haven The house at 24 Shinnecock

Top sale: Lakefront home in Plantation Bay

Alakefront house at 1417 Kinnard Circle in the Plantation Bay subdivision was the top real estate transaction for Oct. 4-11 in Ormond Beach, Ormond-by-the-Sea and Port Orange area. The house sold on Oct. 11, for $634,900. Built in 2018, the house is a 3/2 and has a screened-in lanai, a private spa area, a three-car garage and 2,474 square feet.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Condos The house at 1183 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 1002, sold on Oct. 4, for $438,000. Built in 1995, the condo is a 2/2 and has private beach access and 1,198 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $90,000.

ORMOND BEACH

Assessors Melrose Ormond

The house at 514 S. Beach St. sold on Oct. 11, for $510,000. Built in 1929, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,072 square feet.

Forest Hills

The house at 290 Military Blvd. sold on Oct. 11, for $319,000. Built in 1961, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,776 square feet. It last sold in January for $214,900.

Sweetser

The house at 270 Willow Place sold on Oct. 4, for $274,500. Built in 1963, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,240 square feet.

Drive sold on Oct. 7, for $375,000. Built in 1999, the house is a 3/2 and has an enclosed patio and 1,950 square feet. It last sold in 2004 for $225,000.

Whiteview Village

The house at 66 Waverly Lane sold on Oct. 8, for $345,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/2 and has a covered back patio and 2,016 square feet.

Seminole Woods

The house at 64 Smith Trail sold on Oct. 7, for $319,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 4/2 and has a back patio and 2,138 square feet.

Indian Trails

The house at 43 Bronson Lane sold on Oct. 11 for $309,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2 and has an enclosed porch, a rear garden with a variety of fruit-bearing trees and 1,800 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $183,000.

Quail Hollow

The house at 5 Zephyr Lily Place sold on Oct. 7, for $299,900. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has a backyard pergola and 1,538 square feet. It last sold in 2016 for $155,000.

FLAGLER BEACH

Not in subdivision

The house at 1102 N. Daytona Ave. sold on Oct. 11 for $935,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 3/3 and has a heated saltwater pool with a waterfall, outdoor shower and 2,071 square feet.

The townhome at 3511 S. Central Ave. sold on Oct. 7, for $329,000. Built in 1982, the townhome is a 2/2 and has 1,408 square feet. It last sold in 2017 for $160,000.

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

Sip on the beach: Tony’s Wine Cabana

‘If a kid from the Bronx can learn about wine, anybody can learn about wine,’ owner says.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Flagler Beach’s newest onestop wine shop, Tony’s Wine Cabana, has one goal: to demystify wine.

“I became a certified sommelier in 1999, and I swore that if a kid from the Bronx can learn about wine, anybody can learn about wine,” owner Tony Porcellini said.

Porcellini, 58, is a second degree sommelier, or wine expert. He has worked in the food and beverage industry for decades, from helping open the Walt Disney World Swan Dolphin Resort where he trained over 70 certified sommeliers until 2018, to his current position at the Hammock Beach Resort Golf Resort & Spa, where he will retire at the end of 2024.

Porcellini said he opened Tony’s Wine Cabana with the goal of making learning about wine more approachable for the average person.

“It’s been some of the best six weeks of my life,” he said. “It’s fun, and that’s what we wanted it to be.”

Tony’s Wine Cabana opened in September at 705B N. Ocean Shore Blvd., directly across the ocean. Since opening day, Porcellini said, he and his family have had the opportunity to meet many incredible people. Porcellini has been a sommelier for much of his career but he said he enjoyed teaching about wine and did

not want to make being just a sommelier his entire career.

The shop serves a variety of wine needs, Porcellini said.

Customers can come in to buy a few bottles of their favorite chardonnay, take a wine tasting class, enjoy a glass of wine or sit down to a meal of their favorite bottle and a curated charcuterie board.

“We want to be your onestop wine shop,” he said. “And if it deals with wine, we want you to think, ‘Tony’s Cabana.’”

They’ve already had one sold-out wine class since opening, he said, with another scheduled for the end of October. The plan, Porcellini said, is to offer a wine tasting class every other Thursday.

Wine is his passion, he said.

“Two of the most important things in my life are my family and what I love to do — and that’s everything about wine,” Porcellini said. With Tony’s Wine Cabana he gets to focus on both.

He and his family — his wife, two daughters and their husbands — run the shop, each splitting their time from their day jobs to run the Cabana. His daughter Angela Baldwin, a mental health counselor by trade, splits her week between her private practice and running the shop with her father. Baldwin said it’s a great experience for her to be able to work in both of her fields of interest and work alongside her family. She helped design the Cabana’s charcuterie menu and inherited her father’s passion for wine.

“We love for people to come in here, find something different to try, find something new that they love or even find the same thing that they already know that they love and pair it with a great [charcuterie] board,” she said. Call 386-338-3114 Send business story ideas to sierra@observerlocalnews. com.

Castle Manor The house at 2 Castle Manor Drive sold on Oct. 7, for $266,000. Built in 1980, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,234 square feet. It last sold in 2009 for $100,000.

Ocean Village Villas The villa at 195 Cardinal Drive, unit C, sold on Oct. 7, for $160,000. Built in 1947, the house is a 1/1 and has 504 square feet. It last sold in 1990 for $36,900.

Seabreeze Shores

The house at 1903 John Anderson Drive sold on Oct. 4, for $489,000. Built in 1960, the house is a 4/3 and has two fireplaces, a back porch and 2,619 square feet. It last sold in 2015 for $120,000.

Obyrnes Halifax Shores The house at 1466 John Anderson Drive sold on Oct. 4, for $345,000. Built in 1956, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,055 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $370,000.

Halifax Plantation

The house at 714 Alden-

ham Lane sold on Oct. 8, for $329,500. Built in 2018, the house is a 3/3 and has 2,078 square feet.

Sunny Shores

The house at 66 Tropical Drive sold on Oct. 4, for $205,000. Built in 1957, the house is a 2/1 and has 1,008 square feet.

PORT ORANGE

Sanctuary on Spruce Creek

The house at 6124 Sanctuary Garden Blvd. sold on Oct. 4, for $625,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 4/4 and has 4,513 square feet. It last sold in 2000 for $249,564.

A Quiet Place in the Country

The house at 100 Quiet Circle sold on Oct. 9, for $545,000. Built in 1989, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,860 square feet. It last sold in 2000 for $249,564.

Countryside West

The house at 5778 White Acres Lane sold on Oct. 7, for $395,000. Built in 1995, the house is a 3/3 and has 2,014 square feet. It last sold in 2004 for $220,000.

Allandale Gardens

The house at 4650 Spruce Creek Road sold on Oct. 4, for $387,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,340 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $195,000.

Forest Lakes Preserve

The house at 5443 Ward Lake Drive sold on Oct. 4, for $374,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,566 square feet.

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

Tony Porcellini owns Tony’s Wine Cabana in Flagler Beach. Photo by Sierra Williams

PALM COAST

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Water vs. wastewater facilities

Dear Editor:

The front page of the Oct. 17 edition of the Palm Coast Observer mentions “a water facility” but the article inside is about a wastewater facility.

I’ll never understand why newspapers and TV stations can never get it straight. A water facility treats drinking water. A wastewater facility treats sewage. It’s not rocket science. I worked in water utilities for 25 years.

BILL SIMPSON Palm Coast

Editor’s Note: We goofed in this headline. But this is a good chance to educate our readers. Here’s an explanation on what the utilities

really do in Palm Coast from Brittany Kershaw, the city’s director of communications:

“The city of Palm Coast operates three water treatment plants and two wastewater treatment plants, each serving an important role in managing the community’s water resources.

“The water treatment plants focus on taking raw groundwater from multiple natural aquifers in the Palm Coast area and making it safe for people to use. The process involves filtering out impurities, softening the water, and disinfecting it. The goal is to ensure that the water is clean, safe and meets regulatory standards before it’s delivered to homes and businesses through the city’s distribution system.

“On the other hand, a wastewater treatment plant handles the water that has already been used in homes, businesses or other facilities — water from sinks, toilets, and showers. This wastewater goes through a thorough treatment process to remove contaminants and harmful substances before it’s either returned to the environment or reused for non-drinking purposes like irrigation. The process includes steps to remove solids and disinfect, break down organic material, and disinfect the water to make sure it meets environmental safety standards.

“During heavy rain events, like what we saw with Hurricane Milton, stormwater can sometimes

find its way into the wastewater system, overwhelming the system with more water than it’s designed to handle. This happens when rainwater infiltrates through cracks in pipes or gets into manholes or PEP tank covers, adding extra volume to the wastewater being processed. When that happens, the wastewater treatment plants not only have to treat the usual flow of used water from homes and businesses but also the excess stormwater. This increases the load on the plant and can slow down the treatment process, making it even more important for residents to limit water use during storms to help the system manage the higher volume.

“In short, Palm Coast’s water treatment plants provide clean drinking water, while its wastewater treatment plants handle and treat the used water, ensuring it can be safely reused or returned to nature.”

Dear Editor:

Please, if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call/text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. A family member of ours took his own life this past month.

He was only 43 years old, a fireman, EMT, paramedic. The article in the Palm Coast Observer noted his passing with no mention of any problems. To the contrary, the article described a caring, loving, supportive husband,

father etc. Yes, he was all of that and he still took his own life. What a missed opportunity to educate the public. Ask for help when you know someone is struggling with mental health issues. Everyone knows to call 911 when

Amendments are example of mob rule

Dear Editor:

It’s voting time again. Being a 91-year-old Navy veteran, college grad, NRA member conservative, it doesn’t take me long to decide which Republican to vote for. When it comes to choosing which constitutional amendment to vote for it takes two seconds. I vote against all of them.

Having everyone vote on changing a constitution is a perfect example of the quote, “Democracy is nothing more than mob rule where 51% take away the republican rights of the other 49%.” Only in the case of Florida constiutional amendments it’s 60% and 40%. In a republic which this country is supposed to be, we elect quali-

Tennessee and North Carolina, leaving behind mass flooding, power outages and devastated infrastructure. Helene’s wrath was the most unforgiving to North Carolina with over 40 trillion gallons worth of rainfall causing catastrophic flooding and leaving an estimated 100,000 people without power and running water.

Many organizations and individuals have made an effort to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.

Among those is a teen racecar driver and Junior at Matanzas High School, Logan Malone. The weekend before the impending Hurricane Milton, Logan decided to take selfless action and bring his racecar trailer to Palm Coast Ford and Home Depot, encouraging his community to fill it with donations and funds.

fied people (if we can find them) to write, pass and enforce laws.

In Florida, someone came up with a way to pass some very weird laws by letting the unwashed masses vote on everything from pig crates, smoking reefer, killing babies, limiting class size, buying useless swampland which allows the elected government to say, “It’s not

you need police, fire, ambulance. Call 988 when you are depressed and having suicidal thoughts.

ALOHA PATRICIA VON JASINSKI Palm Coast

our fault; you people voted for it.”

There are three amendments that should never be passed — Amendments 2, 3 and 4 — but they will be. Amendment 3 makes it legal to purchase, possess and use marijuana. The pot growers say this amendment will give the schools billions in sales tax. The best argument I’ve heard for making grass legal came from a sheriff who said, “If this passes, crime will go down.” Why not? If we decriminalize shoplifting, car stealing, wife or husband

beating and politicians taking bribes, crime would really go down. Amendment 4 allows abortion. I’m just glad that they have not figured out that us old people are useless and using up resources that young people want. Vote no; make the government do its job.

DOUGLAS

R. GLOVER Palm Coast

transporting donations to neighboring cities like Tampa and even all the way to North Carolina.

Flagler Schools named an Apple Distinguished School District

Matanzas junior collects donations for Hurricane Helene victims, delivers them to North Carolina

Editor’s Note: This is an article submitted to the Observer by journalists in the Matanzas High School Newspaper Club.

With its colossal size of 400 miles in diameter, Hurricane Helene made far-reaching and devastating impacts across much of the Southeast. Helene held a record-breaking storm surge of over 15 feet when it made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend. Its rampage led far into Georgia,

Among the donations was 13,000 pounds of water, cleaning supplies, canned goods and even strollers donated from generous members of the community. Collectively, Logan estimates $10,000 of supplies were donated from independent members of the community and local businesses. One of the largest donations came from Bluewater Homes, which donated four cases of water, $3,000 worth of food and some strollers.

Matanzas High School Newspaper Club journalists Remmika Battles and Bruce Blazer interviewed Logan at the donation site. We asked him what motivated him to spend his weekend collecting donations.

“I have a bunch of friends in North Carolina that I race with and I couldn’t get a hold of them,” he said.

He told us how one of those friends had reached out to him saying that there were towns underwater and that their family would have to evacuate. This would ultimately be the moment he went to his parents with the idea of collecting and

Additionally, we learned that the Sunday he spent collecting donations he was scheduled to be in a race. To him however, the need to help others was more important than his own leisures.

Logan began his trip to North Carolina on Oct. 7 at 2:50 in the morning. He delivered the supplies at an Operation Airdrop to be sorted and flown into Asheville. After some complications, he and his father made it home at 9:50 the same night. His trip took approximately 19 hours.

At the donation site, Logan ended the interview by telling our team that with this act, he hopes to demonstrate “that there’s still positivity in the world.” Recognizing that while tragedy is inevitable, it’s how the community, both locally and nationally, responds to it is just as important as its severity.

Logan Malone is just one of the many positive and giving people in Palm Coast who believes when we are kind and give back, we can lift each other up and overcome the tragedies thrown our way.

Flagler Schools has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School District.

School districts apply and are selected for this distinction based on their commitment to continuous innovation in education across all schools in their system, using Apple products to inspire, imagine and impact teaching and learning districtwide.

Apple representative Chad Reynolds made it official at the district’s Oct. 14 School Board meeting, formally presenting Flagler Schools with the honor.

“We are proud of this honor which shows our dedication to preparing students for the future,” Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore said in a district press release. “Being able to provide our students with the tools and skills necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving world is a job we take seriously. By integrating innovative technology into the classroom, we are equipping our students not just for academic success, but for the challenges and opportunities the next generation will face.”

Logan Malone collected supplies for hurricane victims in his racecar trailer and delivered them to an Operation Airdrop site in North Carolina.

Photo by Bruce Blazer and Remmika Battles

Flagler Schools is honored as an Apple Distinguished School District at the Oct. 14 School Board meeting. Courtesy photo

status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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PAGES 1B-3B

to the Florida Mall in Orlando for Haven’s shopping

A Halloween Make-A-Wish pick-me-up, at the bowling alley

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE

EDITOR

In 2004, Bruce and Shannon Vinnick began hosting golf outings for MakeA-Wish of Illinois. They were living in Chicago at the time.

The Vinnicks along with the rest of the team from Realty Executives Oceanside of Palm Coast, now host Boo-Ling for Wishes, a bowling event scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at Palm Coast Lanes.

The fundraiser will feature a costume contest, cosmic bowling and a silent auction to benefit Make-AWish of Central and Northern Florida. The teams’ goal is to raise enough money to fulfill two wishes for critically ill children.

“Childhood illnesses affect many within our community then and now. As a family-focused company we wish to help those families in need,” said Bruce Vinnick, the owner/broker of Realty Executives Oceanside. “Make-A-Wish shines a light of hope for children fighting critical illnesses when they need it most.”

Last year’s inaugural Boo-Ling for Wishes was sold out and raised $12,000 for Make-A-Wish, Bruce

Vinnick said.

“Our talented team of Executives has come together to volunteer their time to once again to make this event a huge success,” he said.

A representative from the MakeA-Wish Foundation and at least one Make-A-Wish recipient — 18-yearold Haven Walker — and her family will attend the event.

Walker, who is now a senior at Seabreeze High School, was diagnosed with Long QT syndrome after going into cardiac arrest on March 7, 2022, her mother, Peggy Gorbey, said.

Long QT syndrome is a heart rhythm disorder that can cause fast, chaotic heartbeats. Doctors discovered blood clots on Haven’s lungs and an irregular heartbeat the previous month. But, Gorbey said before they could make an appointment with a cardiologist, Haven went into cardiac arrest.

Gorbey said she performed CPR on her daughter after she had stopped breathing.

“She was blue,” Gorbey said. “I performed CPR for 10 minutes. I watched the life come back in my child’s face.”

Haven was placed on life support

for five days, Gorbey said. She had a cardioverter defibrillator implanted. The device can send an energy shock that resets an abnormal heartbeat back to normal.

Gorbey said they were suprised to learn that Haven qualified for MakeA-Wish. Haven and her family went on a shopping spree at the Florida Mall in Orlando on Aug. 17, a month before her 18th birthday. Haven chose the shopping spree so her sister, Keisha, and 2-year-old niece, Leilani, could join her brother Trenton and her mom and dad on the trip. Also, Haven needed a new phone.

“Her phone broke. She was using one of my old phones,” Gorbey said.

“We were in the process of trying to find a way to get her a new phone at the time. It was perfect timing.”

The family lives in a camper at a Bunnell campground. A limo picked them up and the six of them rode to Orlando in style.

Haven made sure to buy something for everyone on the trip. Haven got a new phone, new headphones, clothes, shoes, Lilo and Stitch and Angel book bags, Apple AirPods for Trenton and a gift of choice for each of the others.

“She had a blast,” Gorbey said. “I

BOO-LING FOR WISHES

When: 6-9 p.m., Sat., Oct. 26

Where: Palm Coast Lanes

What: Costume contest, cosmic bowling, silent auction, benefiting Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida Sponsorship opportunities: Or more information, call (386) 506-8008, or email jolheureux@realtyexecutives.com.

know it made her day. She couldn’t wait to wear her new outfits and show her friends her new shoes.”

Life’s been hard on the family the past few years, Gorbey said. Gorbey said her granddaughter has leukemia, which is now in maintenance.

In 2021, Gorbey lost her mother, her mother-in-law and two aunts.

The following year, she almost lost Haven.

But Haven’s Make-A-Wish shopping spree was a magnificent day the family will remember for a long time. Email brent@observerlocalnews. com.

BRIEFS

Tips for a healthy fall

SNEAK IN EXTRA STEPS

Fall is a refreshing time of year to get moving, especially as we welcome a break from the summer heat. Engaging in simple cardiovascular exercise weekly is key. It can help maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels. If working out regularly is daunting, instead, find simple ways to be active in your daily life. Use a smaller cup for your water, allowing you to get up more often to refill it, take the stairs instead of the elevator or park a bit farther from your destination—all these habits will encourage you to take more steps per day.

MAKE HEALTHY SWAPS

Looking to eat healthier? The fall season offers an abundance of delicious vegetables and fruits for an easy swap out. Start small by trading out a bag of chips for an apple or fries for sweet potatoes. You are what you eat, and your gut microbiome plays a major role in your health. Ultra-processed diets negatively impact gut health and throw off the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, which can lead to chronic inflammation. Inflammation lessens your ability to function properly at the cellular level and increases your vulnerability to lifestyle diseases.

— STATE POINT MEDIA

A hub for cancer info

Florida Cancer Connect is a centralized resource hub for information on cancer treatment, caregiver tools, and stories from brave Floridians who have fought this disease on one centralized website. Use this tool to access a trusted information from local medical practitioners to help you and your family make informed decisions when it matters most.

Since 2017, these top five cancers have accounted for just over half of all cancer diagnoses (50.3%) in Florida.

In females: the top five cancers were breast, lung and bronchus, colorectal, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and melanoma.

In males: the top five cancers were prostate, lung and bronchus, colorectal, melanoma, and bladder.

While there has been much progress in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment, Florida continues to improve our understanding and response to cancer. Data are the foundation of Florida’s steps forward to stop cancer before it’s too late.

Florida Cancer Connect provides Floridians with information on cancer care, detection, prevention, research, and treatment. This hub highlights various tools to fight this battle including nationwide statistics, prevention materials, and event opportunities to bring greater awareness to cancer in the state of Florida and beyond.

Learn more about Cancer Connect and the Collaborative, (https:// flcancerconnect.com/) working together to analyze and rethink Florida’s approach to combatting cancer.

— FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Make-A-Wish recipient Haven Walker (left) with her sister, Keisha, and brother Kenton riding in the limo

spree. Courtesy photo

How to have a healthy and safe holiday season

The holiday season is a joyous time of year, but it can also throw your wellness routines out of alignment.

STATEPOINT MEDIA

The AMA recommends taking these steps during the holidays:

1. Vaccines are a safe and remarkably effective defense from a number of serious respiratory viruses that circulate in the fall and winter. Visit getvaccineanswers.org.

2. Watch what you eat Pay particular attention to

labels and avoid processed foods as much as you can, especially those with added sodium and sugar. Consider having a healthy snack before the big meal or offer to bring a healthier dish for the holiday spread.

3. Stick to your exercise schedule . A good rule of thumb for adults is at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorousintensity activity.

4. Prioritize your mental health . Factors like holiday spending and navigating time with extended family can bring on extra seasonal stress. You can help manage stress by getting sufficient sleep, exercising and seeking help from a mental health professional when you need it.

5. Plan ahead if you’re driving. In December 2021 alone, 1,013 Americans died in alcohol impaired-driving crashes. Do not drive under any circumstances if you intend to drink.

6. Be prepared when traveling. Whether you’re flying or taking a road trip, you might be tempted to grab convenient, unhealthy food for the journey. Consider packing your own snacks

Your dentist will thank you for these 3 things

What to do between

checkups to keep your oral health at its best.

STATEPOINT MEDIA

1. Brush up on your dental routine. “A consistent routine of brushing and cleaning between your teeth is essential,” said American Dental Association (ADA) dentist, Mirissa Price, D.M.D. “My patients often ask me, do I really need to floss if I’m brushing regularly? The answer is always yes.”

The ADA recommends brushing twice daily with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months. The ADA also recommends cleaning between your teeth daily using floss, picks or water flossers.

2. Skip the spoonful of sugar. “I’m a dentist but I still ejoy a cupcake now and then, so it’s not about cutting out sugar completely,” said ADA dentist, Erinne Kennedy, D.M.D. “Rather it’s the small changes, like choosing fresh fruit instead of juice or eating a snack that balances protein and carbohydrates, such as whole wheat toast and cottage

cheese, that can go a long way to protect your teeth.”

It’s important to distinguish between natural and added sugars. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends limiting added sugars to less than 10% of your total calories for the day.

3. Nix the nicotine.

“Despite the influx of nicotine products claiming to be better for you, there is no such thing as ‘good for you’ nicotine or a safe amount of nicotine,” said Dr. Kennedy.

When you smoke, your saliva flow is reduced, which changes the natural process inside your mouth that helps clear away bacteria. Meanwhile, the chemicals in tobacco can irritate your gums and the lining of your mouth.

A healthy lifestyle is powered by

protein

Protein works to build and repair muscles, carries oxygen and helps you feel full longer.

STATEPOINT MEDIA

Here’s how to get enough of this important macronutrient so you can embrace a healthy lifestyle.

• Mix it up: According to registered dietitian and culinary nutritionist, Laura Ali, eating protein from different sources helps ensure you get a variety of essential vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, selenium, B vitamins and healthy fats. Getting some variety in your diet also makes life much more interesting so that healthy habits are easier to follow. Choose from lean proteins like lean beef, chicken, pork and of course seafood. And don’t forget to include proteins like beans, nuts, seeds, eggs and dairy products.

• Time it right: When you eat also matters. A proteinfilled snack shortly after a workout aids muscle repair

and recovery, says Ali, who also advises including some protein with each meal.

• Make it easy: When it comes to healthy habits, convenience can help keep you on track, so look for sources of protein that can be prepared quickly or taken on-the-go.

For example, StarKist produces ready-to-eat products that also includes salmon, chicken, and most recently, beef, providing 8-17 grams of protein per pouch. Flavors include Buffalo Style, Thai Chili and Lemon Pepper.

• Track your intake: Consider using a nutrition tracker to ensure you meet your target protein intake each day.

How to Qualify

Are you uninsured? If so, based on family size and income, you may qualify. For example, a family of four making less than $5,000 in the previous four weeks qualifies.

Volunteer

We are in need of licensed healthcare providers & office, clerical support staff. Please contact us today about getting involved.

Support the cause

We are a donor based non profit organization that receives no federal funding. We rely on the contributions from our donors to aid in our mission of providing free medical & dental care to the community.

Visit www.flaglerfreeclinic.org. Call (386) 437-3091. Stop by: 703 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell. 10a-2p Mon.-Thur. and by appointment

Ridofranz / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Courtesy Photo

3 obstacles, 6 tips for healthy aging

Proper nutrition is critical to older adults’ overall vitality.

STATEPOINT MEDIA

Unfortunately, 10% of older people don’t eat enough, while one-third eat too much, according to HealthinAging.org, which is the Health in Aging Foundation’s online public education resource. Such nutritional imbalances may be due to the range of common obstacles some people face as they age, including changing tastes, dental problems and difficulty accessing healthy foods.

Some tips everyone can benefit from include the following:

Get your nutrients

According to the National Council on Aging, older adults should eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients they need, including lean protein for muscle mass, as well as fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy. Choose foods with little to no added sugar, saturated fats and sodium. For an example of what a healthy plate looks like, visit myplate.gov.

Stay hydrated . Drink water often to aid digestion. Limit beverages with lots of added sugars or salt.

Visit the dentist. If you’re having trouble chewing, visit your dentist. They may be able to help. For instance, if you have ill-fitting dentures, chewing can be improved and more comfortable with a better fit. Additionally, choosing softer foods, such as canned fruit, soups or tuna, may help. Dental visits are a covered benefit in many Medicare Advantage plans. Follow food safety guidelines . Food not prepared properly can make you sick.

Because those with weakened immune systems are vulnerable to foodborne illnesses, it’s especially important for older adults to follow food safety guidelines. If you have any doubt about a food’s safety, throw it out.

Limit salt . Too much sodium can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. To stay heart healthy, ask your doctor for guidance on recommended daily sodium limits based on your health status and check food labels for sodium content. Cook more meals at home using lower sodium

DIABETES AND YOUR FEET: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Foot ulcers develop in about 15% of the 25 million Americans living with diabetes and are a top cause of hospitalization. These ulcers can lead to serious complications, such as infection and amputation.

“The majority of lowerextremity amputations are preceded by a reoccurring foot sore or an ulcer that won’t heal,” says John S. Steinberg, DPM, FACFAS, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon and a Fellow Member and Past President of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). “Patients do best when they take charge of their foot health with the help of a foot and ankle surgeon.”

Your foot care routine:

• Inspect feet daily using a flashlight and mirror to see the bottoms of your feet.

• Moisturize dry, cracking feet to prevent sores.

ingredients and avoid processed foods. Flavor dishes with herbs and spices. Seek assistance if needed . Take advantage of MA plan benefits that can help you secure healthy foods, like transportation or grocery cards. Additionally, there are local and national programs to help those on limited incomes with nutritious food costs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To learn about assistance available in your area, visit cignacommunity. findhelp.com.

Use powder to control moisture that can result in blisters.

• To prevent injury, wear protective, well-fitting shoes and socks at all times, even in the house. Change socks daily and more often if your feet get wet or sweaty. Avoid socks with holes or seams.

Sometimes diabetic shoes are prescribed to avoid pressure and rubbing on the feet.

• Get regular foot exams.

• Manage your diabetes. Out-of-control blood sugar levels can lead to nerve cell damage, making it harder to detect foot problems. Look for telltale signs that an ulcer may be developing:

• Swelling.

• Temperature: Cold feet might mean a circulatory issue, whereas hot feet might mean infection.

• Color changes. Redness and even other colors might appear before an ulcer forms.

• Calluses.

— STATEPOINT MEDIA

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, OCT. 24

ORMOND BEACH 2GO

When: 4-6 p.m.

Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Meet city departments, get information about issues like recycling and trash schedules, cultural events and volunteering, and peruse vehicle displays from Public Works, police and fire. There will be a “tableo-treat” for the kids.

DRIVE-THRU TRUNK-OR-TREAT

When: 6-8 p.m.

Where: Flagler County courthouse parking lot, 1769 E. Moody Blvd. Unit

1, Bunnell

Details: The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a drivethru Trunk-or-Treat. Take your car through the courthouse parking lot and bring your best costume to get candy from Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly, deputies and FCSO staff.

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

ACADEMY BAND: THE FALCONAIRES

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Fitzgerald Performing Arts Ceter, 5500 State Route 100, Palm Coast

Details: See The Falconaires perform. All tickets have been distributed, but a standby line will

be available for patrons without a ticket. Entrance is not guaranteed, but likely. Visit flaglerauditorium.org.

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

MONSTROUS MASTERPIECES

When: 6-8 p.m.

Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: Join this Halloweenthemed cake decorating class, led by Sarah Began. Learn the basics of icing and cake decorating. All skill levels welcome. Adults only. Seats are limited. Costs $40 for OMAM members and $50 for non-members. Visit ormondartmuseum.org.

SECOND ANNUAL HOOK, LINE AND SINKER COMEDY NIGHT

When: 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26

Where: Club 51, 51 Old Kings Road N, Palm Coast

Details: Join Club 51 for two nights of comedy and patriotism in support of Hookin’ Veterans, a nonprofit. Special guest comedian will be Ben Bailey, former host of “Cash Cab.” All proceeds go toward taking disablled veterans on a fishing adventure out of Palm Beach.

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

FABULOUS FALL FESTIVAL AND FISH FRY

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

Where: Palm Coast Bible Church, 94 Whiteview Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: Attend this event featuring activities for children, a kid’s

carnival, a touch-a-truck opportunity and yard sale. A donation of $12 per adult, $10 for children 6-12, and $7 for ages 3-5 is suggested.

FLORIDA’S LOST ATTRACTIONS

When: 10 a.m.

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

Beach

Details: James C. Clark, professor of history at the University of Central Florida, will discuss bygone Sunshine State attractions such as Texas Jim’s Sarasota Reptile Farm and Zoo, the Skull Kingdom, and Dixieland Amusement Park.

PALM COAST 25TH

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

When: 4-8 p.m.

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

Details: Celebrate Palm Coast’s 25th anniversary with activities for the family, live entertainment, games and attractions for kids and adults alike. This is a free event.

FLAGLER BEACH POLICE

TRUNK-OR-TREAT

When: 5-7 p.m.

Where: Flagler Beach Police Department, 204 S. Flagler Ave. Flagler

Beach

Details: Take part in a trunk-ortreat with the Flagler Beach Police Department. Free event.

TRIPLE LAUGHS: 3 HILARIOUS

WOMEN ON STAGE

When: 7-9:30 p.m.

Where: Fitzgerald Performing Arts

Ceter, 5500 State Route 100, Palm Coast

Details: Get ready for a triple dose of laughter with Maryellen Hooper, Karen Rontowski, and Maureen Langan. Tickets cost $54. Visit flaglerauditorium.org.

SUNDAY, OCT. 27

SECOND ANNUAL TAKE A SWING

AT HUNGER GOLF CLASSIC

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Halifax Plantation Golf Club, 3400 Halifax Clubhouse Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Join this fundraiser to help food banks and pantries. Four person scramble costs $125 per player. Visit takeaswingathunger.com.

ST. AUGUSTINE ORCHESTRA: FIESTA & FAITH, A JOURNEY FROM CELEBRATION TO CONTEMPLATION

When: 2 p.m.

Where: Fitzgerald Performing Arts Ceter, 5500 State Route 100, Palm Coast

Details: See this orchestra perform numbers such as DeFallas’s “Ritual Fire Dance” from “El Amor Brujo,” Danzon No. 2 by Marquez, RimskyKorsakov’s “Capriccio Espagnol, op.34,” Symphony No.5 in D major, op 107 and “Reformation” by Mendelssohn. Tickets cost $25. Visit flaglerauditorium.org.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30

HALL OF TERROR

When: 7-10 p.m.

Where: Palm Coast Fire Station 21, 9 Corporate Drive, Palm Coast

Details: The Palm Coast Fire Department is hosting the Halll of Terror for the 23rd year. This year’s theme for the Hall of Terror will be “Greatest Slashers,” featuring horror movie icons of the past 50 years. This year’s event will also feature food trucks. All ages are welcome to attend, with supervision recommended for ages 13 and under. Strobe lighting, fog and other special effects are featured for the duration of the attraction. There will be a sensory-friendly walkthrough of the Hall of Terror prior to the regular event start time from 6-7 p.m. on both nights.

THURSDAY, OCT. 31

TRUNK-OR-TREAT

When: 5-7 p.m.

Where: Tomoka United Methodist Church, 1000 Old Tomoka Road, Ormond Beach

Details: Take part in this “spooktacular” evening. There will be candy, games with prizes, goodie bags, cookies, cider, juice and popcorn and Halloween tunes.

FRIDAY, NOV. 1

33RD WALK AROUND FLORIDA

When: Friday to Sunday, Nov. 1-3

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.

CRAFT EXTRAVAGANZA

When: Friday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where: 1524 S. Central Ave., Flagler Beach, Flagler Woman’s Club clubhouse

Details: The Flagler Woman’s Club is hosting a Craft Extravaganza event which will feature a bake sale, raffle and handmade Christmas items, including home décor, gifts, clothing, accessories, holiday decorations and more. The proceeds will benefit local charities, scholarships and organizations. Entry is free. A lunch will be held from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. For more information call Penny at 386447-0399.

SATURDAY, NOV. 2

ORMOND ART WALK

When: 3-7 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach MainStreet Arts District, 128 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach Details: Join Ocean Art Gallery, Frame of Mind, Art Spotlight, The Studio by Artist Angel Lowden, the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and more for art openings and events.

FALL FESTIVAL

When: 4-7 p.m.

Where: Pathways Elementary, 2100 Airport Road, Ormond Beach Details: Pathways Elementary invites the community to its fall festival. There will be vendors, food trucks and activities for all ages.

SUNDAY, NOV. 3

RUMOURS ATL: A FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center

SATURDAY, NOV. 16

THE CHILES ACADEMY’S ANNUAL HOMECOMING CARNIVAL

When: 12-4 p.m.

Where: The Chiles Academy, 868 George W. Engram Blvd., Daytona Beach

Cadets with the Junior Police Academy: Alahni, Shawn, Layla, Kennedi, Gabi, Reilly and Anthony hand out candy at the 2021 Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s trunk or treat. File Photo

Bringing Motown to Flagler: 26th annual City Lites show

‘Motown is so important because that musical era was a fantastic era of friendship and love,’ Director Irving ‘Doc’ Robinson said. ‘It became the heartbeat of urban music.’

SIERRA WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

City Lites’ 26th annual Motown & Mo performance was another sellout performance.

“They had to open up the balcony in order to accommodate everyone that wanted to attend. So we were pleased with that,” show director Irving “Doc” Robinson said. The show this year was themed “Taking a Walk Down Memory Lane” and was curated with musical performances from Motown archives meant to bring out the nostalgia of the 1970s, Robinson said. The Motown era was known for performers like Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gay and Aretha Franklin.

“Motown is so important because that musical era was a fantastic era of friendship and love,” Robinson said. “It became the heartbeat of urban music.”

The show’s two performances on Oct. 18 and 19 both had long walkup lines to the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center at Flagler Palm Coast High School, he said. To involve the younger generations, he said, this year’s performance also included more contemporary songs from artists like Jennifer Lopez.

The annual Motown & Mo show is a fundraiser for local Matanzas High School and Flagler Palm Coast High School students. Earlier in 2024, Robinson said, City Lites was able to give out three $1,000 scholarships to students Ciara Gordon, Mara Rush and Maxwell Lee, who graduated last spring.

The City Lites performances are

not just a way for performers to give back to the community, but also to keep them active in the community.

Many of the City Lites members and performers have been involved in the show since before City Lites became a 501c3 nonprofit in 2009, Robinson said.

Robinson said they opened the

show with the song of “Someday we’ll be Together” by Diana Ross and the Supremes as a memorial tribute to Motown & Mo The 2024 show was dedicated to the following Motown and Mo’ members who died in 2024: Willie “Mitch” Mitchell, Eugene Price, Ronald R. Ambrose and Mark O. Odle Sr.

Khristye Jackson as Gladys Knight and Greg Parker, Fred Dillard and Tommy Oxindine as the Pips.

Yolaine Goodridge as Aretha Franklin

Luci Gillis, Jackie Rector and Robin Banks as the Supremes

Luci Gillis as Whitney Houston

Dominick Mann as Elvis at the 2024 Motown & Mo’s “Taking a Trip Down Memory Lane” show. Courtesy of City Lites

COMICS

SPLASH ZONE

Final regular-season meet bittersweet for Flagler Palm Coast, Matanzas seniors

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

It might have been a chilly day for swimming. But after several high school events this season had been canceled due to weather, the Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas swim teams were excited to have their annual combined senior-day meet proceed as scheduled on Oct. 17 at the Palm Coast Aquatics Center.

But the event was bittersweet for the seniors swimming in their final regular-season meet. In the senior celebration, they were splashed from each side by swimmers on both teams as they walked out of the pool. Their coaches announced the accomplishments they made in the water, in the classroom and in the community and read their parting words.

Once out of the pool, they were presented with gifts as their parents draped a monogrammed team towel around their shoulders. It’s a tradition that everyone on both the teams has a part in. As an underclassman you want to make sure you get in a good splash, FPC junior Matilda Noble said. As a senior, it can all seem surreal.

“It’s a weird feeling,” FPC captain Aidan Lafferty said. In past years, he said, he would look up at the posters on the pool fence honoring each senior, thinking his day would never come.

But as he practiced in the week leading up to his final regular-season meet, his own poster reminded him that his swim career was coming to a close.

“The whole week, I was just looking at my face thinking, ‘Wow, this is the last time I’m going to be here,’” Lafferty said. “Swimming has been a good part of my life. It’s helped me in a lot of ways. I’ve just become a better, healthier person, more patient, learning and growing.”

The two teams honored 16 seniors. From FPC: Aidan and Liam Lafferty, Victor Gilbert, James Payne, Loris Eolyan, Dani Nieves, Meghan Hetzler and Chloe Stevenson. From Matanzas: Kailah Hayes, Kendall Blais, Teddy Vanderbilt, Adrianna Pucci, Eva Servello, George Saib, Tatianna Poeira and Jeh-Hanni Strong.

The senior ceremony was held in the middle of the meet, which the teams split. The FPC boys won 88-82, while the girls’ competition went down to the wire with Matanzas prevailing 86-84.

“We were really looking forward to this meet,” Noble said. “We had a lot of meets canceled this season because of the weather, but we didn’t let that stop us, and we kept practicing. Both sides are pretty good this year, so we knew anything could happen.”

FPC boys coach Tom Gillin said the Pirates’ girls win was their first ever against the Bulldogs. FPC’s boys victory broke Matanzas’ twoyear winning streak in the meet.

“It was a tough loss for the (FPC) girls, but it’s good for the rivalry, good for the county,” Gillin said.

Matanzas’ team numbers are up this year, and its depth was factor in the girls’ victory.

“I feel like we are growing, and the interest in swimming for both teams, FPC and Matanzas, is really improving,” Matanzas coach Carrie Purdy said.

FIVE SCHOOL RECORDS

Matanzas senior Teddy Vanderbilt said he tried not to shed a tear when his parents joined him in the senior ceremony. Vanderbilt, who owns five school records, including three individual records and two relay records, had his sights set on districts and earning one more team mark.

His 100-yard backstroke time was less than a second from the school record. He hoped to break that at the District 3-3A meet Oct. 22 at Planet Swim in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Vanderbilt had a late start to the season after breaking his hand in an accident during the summer and undergoing surgery, which kept him out of the water for about two months.

“I didn’t start at the beginning of the swim season and I’ve recovered my way back,” he said.

Aidan Lafferty knew Vanderbilt was not at peak form, but that didn’t stop him from celebrating his win over the Matanzas swimmer in the 100-yard butterfly.

“I’ve been working for the better part of three years to beat him,” Aidan Lafferty said. “Teddy had an injury, so it wasn’t like crazy awesome. He still would be faster than me. But I’m still proud of myself.”

Lafferty (50 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and freshman Alex Rudik (200 individual medley, 500 freestyle) each won two events for the FPC boys. FPC’s Emma Gilbert (200 IM, 100 breaststroke) and Noble (100 freestyle, 500 freestyle) and Matanzas’ Aurora Purdy (200 freestyle, 100 backstroke) each won two races on the girls’ side.

Other individual winners at the meet included FPC’s Noah Roznos (100 free) and Matanzas’ Leo Peters (200 freestyle), Keaton Lasicki (100 breaststroke) and Vanderbilt (100 backstroke) among the boys, and Matanzas’ Hayes (50 freestyle) and FPC’s Jade Hreig (100 butterfly) among the girls.

FPC senior Aidan Lafferty with his parents.

Matanzas senior Jeh-Hanni Strong with her family.

FPC senior Danie Nieves with her parents.

Matanzas senior Kendall Blais with her mom.

Matanzas senior George Saib with family.

FPC senior Meghan Hetzler with her parents.

Matanzas senior Adrianna Pucci with family.

FPC senior James Payne with his family.

FPC senior Chloe Stevenson with family.

Matanzas senior Kailah Hayes with her family.

Matanzas senior Eva Servello with family.

FPC senior Liam Lafferty with his parents.

FPC senior Loris Eolyan stretches his arms in the butterfly stroke.

Matanzas senior Tatianna Poeira is splashed as she walks out of the pool in the senior ceremony.

Photos by Brent Woronoff

FPC senior Victor Gilbert with his family.

A Matanzas swimmer congratulates assistant swim coach Sabrina Manhart who celebrated her birthday at the Matanzas-FPC swim meet. Matanzas senior Teddy Vanderbilt with his parents.

FPC’s Carson Kato is back in the game

The strong safety has been a key player on defense and special teams for the Bulldogs.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Carson Kato’s junior season ended before it started.

Flagler Palm Coast’s strong safety felt like he hyperextended his knee when he was hit after the play was over early in the kickoff classic at Atlantic Coast last year. The next time Kato got back on the field, he tried to elude a blocker and he heard a pop. His knee gave out.

“I couldn’t put any weight on it after that,” he said.

A month later, on Sept. 14, 2023, Kato underwent ACL surgery.

“My junior year was gone. So definitely, that’s not what anybody wants,” Kato said.

FPC THUMPS YULEE

Hayden Hayes tossed five touchdown passes, three to Mikhail Zysek and two to Braylyn Simmons as Flagler Palm Coast defeated Yulee 35-24 on the road on Friday, Oct. 18.

The Bulldogs improved to 6-1 with the victory.

It would be nine months before he’d get back on the field.

“It was really unfortunate,” FPC coach Daniel Fish said. “I know it was devastating for him, and it hurt our team as well. He was our long snapper and one of our best defensive backs.”

For the casual observer, it may look like Kato hasn’t missed a beat in his return this season. He is fifth on the team in tackles with 45 after seven games. He’s had four tackles for a loss, a sack, an intercep-

tion with a 25-yard return and a fumble recovery.

“He’s our long snapper for field goals and punts and he hasn’t had a bad snap all year,” Fish said. “He’s on every special team. He’s one our best tacklers, and he does a good job dropping back in coverage and reading the quarterback. He’s had a great senior year, a great bounce-back season.”

While it may look like he hasn’t missed a beat, that’s far from the truth, Kato said.

“It’s a very long process,” he said. “I would say I put in a lot of work behind the scenes, and not everybody sees what you’re doing.”

The process started on day 1, a month before the surgery with range of motion exercises.

“That way, after surgery it’s not as hard to regain the motion because whenever you have surgery, your leg just stiffens up. It basically shuts down your whole leg. You still kind of walk on it, but it hurts for sure,” he said.

A month after surgery, he started walking without crutches. The next step was strengthening his knee with leg extensions. Four months after surgery, he began jogging again. At six months, he was able to sprint and jump, gradually working on cutting and more explosive movements.

Early summer, he started doing drills on his own with a brace on his leg. In mid-June he was cleared to return to football activities. But he still had to gain his full strength and his confidence back.

“It’s more of a mindset kind of thing,” he said. By the kickoff classic, one year since tearing his ACL, he let loose, trusting that his knee was healed. Fish and Kato are kindred spirits. They are from the

Forrest becomes Pirates’ all-time wins leader

The fifth-year coach won his 25th game to break Keith Lagocki’s school record 24 wins.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Eight games into his fifth season with Matanzas, Matt Forrest became the Pirates’ all-time winningest football coach.

With a 35-24 victory at Belleview on Oct. 17, Forrest won his 25th game with the Pirates, breaking a tie at 24 with Keith Lagocki, the school’s first football coach who led Matanzas for seven varsity seasons from 2006 to 2012.

Mainland wins third consecutive game

The Bucs may soon clinch the district title and a spot in the playoffs on Oct. 25.

OBSERVER

STAFF

same area of Georgia — Kato is from Alpharetta, Fish from Gwinnett County. They both gravitated to the defensive side of the football.

“We’re cut from the same cloth,” Fish said. “Up there, we love to hit. We both have that mentality.”

Knowing how much work it has taken to get back on the field has made his senior season even more special for Kato, he said. Now he’s ready for the final stretch — three more regular-season games beginning with a district showdown with Spruce Creek at home on Friday, Oct. 25. And then, if all goes well, a playoff run.

“It’s definitely kind of setting in that this is my last year and I got three more guaranteed games now,” he said. “I’m hoping for the playoffs, but you never know what’s going to happen. So I’m just trying to make the most of it. And enjoy it.”

“I’m grateful to the administration that hired me, and the administration that is here now, their work and support, the coaches’ work and support and the players’ work and support,” Forrest said. “The work that everybody put in got us here. It’s really been fun, and hopefully we’ll get many more of these wins.”

The victory evened the Pirates’ record this season at 4-4 and put Forrest one game over .500 with an overall record of 25-24.

The Pirates rushed for 239 yards against the Rattlers (0-6) with sophomore Shi Scottt rushing for 88 yards in his first varsity game and freshman James Peterson rushing for 59 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Cooper May had a team-high 12 tackles, and Omar Steward had four of the Pirates’ 14 tackles for loss.

Athletic director Jordan Butler presented Forrest with the game ball after the victory.

“We’re very proud of every-

thing he’s accomplished here,” Butler said this week. “But the character he develops in these young men is far more important than the wins. The wins are a by-product of everything he does for these young men. When building better people is the priority, the wins will take care of themselves.”

The Pirates are a young team, but they’ve made progress every week, Forrest said.

“We feel like we’re improving day in and day out,” he said.

“Our goal is to play meaningful football at the end of October, and we’ve been doing that for five years.”

Matanzas, ranked ninth in Region 1-5A, is in the hunt for one of the eight playoff spots in the region. A win at home against Menendez (4-4) on senior night, Friday, Oct. 25, would keep those playoff hopes alive.

The Pirates end the regular season at Flagler Palm Coast on Nov. 1 in the annual Potato Bowl game.

Mainland running back Edward Williams scored the only touchdown of the game on a 37-yard run and the Bucs added a safety to defeat Palm Bay Heritage 9-0 on the road on Friday, Oct. 18. The Bucs (3-5) won their third game in a row after starting the season 0-5. Kwasie Kwaku hadan interception for the Bucs.

Williams rushed for 81 yards on 16 carries and Kwaku added 26 yards rushing on six carries. Quarterback Sebastian Johnson passed for 81 yards including a 44-yard pass to Eddie Lake.

Mainland can clinch a playoff spot for the 31st consecutive season with a win against Belleview on Friday, Oct. 25 at Daytona Stadium. The Bucs already beat Matanzas on Sept. 27. They will win the District 4-5A championship and an automatic playoff berth with a victory against Belleview (0-6).

Mainland is currently ranked seventh in the region. It will need to move into the top four to host a first-round playoff game.

FPC’s Carson Kato has had a big senior season after spending last year rehabbing from ACL surgery. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Matanzas head coach Matt Forrest talks to coaches in the press box on the headphones in a game against Deltona on Sept. 5. File photo by Brent Woronoff

Seabreeze boys win district bowling title; FPC boys and girls advance to state

Matanzas’ Olivia Rabbat is also state bound, placing second with 182.67 average.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Seabreeze’s boys bowling team rolled through the regular season with an undefeated record, and they did the same at the District 3 championship on Monday, Oct. 21, at Palm Coast Lanes.

The Sandcrabs won the championship trophy after defeating runner-up Flagler Palm Coast 3-0 in the Baker final. Both teams advance to the state tournament Oct. 29-31 at Boardwalk Bowl Entertainment Center in Orlando.

Palatka won the girls title with FPC finishing second to join the Bulldogs’ boys team at state.

Matanzas’ Olivia Rabbat is also

headed to state after finishing second in the first-round games with a 182.67 average.

Seabreeze’s boys advanced to state for the second year in a row — they finished among the top six teams in Orlando last year — but this is the first time in Paul Shuler’s 12 years as the Sandcrabs’ head coach that they won the district title.

“I feel like we got better, more speed and more power,” said Seabreeze sophomore Leiten Lundell, who led the Sandcrabs in the morning round with a 225.67 average for fifth place.

Teammate Dalton Boice was right behind Lundell in sixth place with a 223.00 average.

Brayden Barnes, who finished among the top 12 individuals last year at state, said the Sandcrabs also have better team chemistry this season.

“It makes us more confident,” he said.

FPC boys first-year coach Kevin Hand said advancing to the state tourney was beyond the Bulldogs’

SIDELINES

Peyton Cerasi broke the school’s girls cross country record with a time of 18:35. Courtesy photo

Freshman breaks

FPC cross country record

Flagler Palm Coast freshman Peyton Cerasi has been fast on cross country courses all season. She also wasted little time in moving up in the school record book.

Cerasi broke the Bulldogs’ girls cross country school record with a 5K time of 18 minutes, 35 seconds on Oct. 19 at the New World Fall Spectacular at Cecil Field Golf Course in Jacksonville. She broke the converted record time of 18:41, set by Kelly Walker in 1999, more than a decade before Cerasi was born. That year, cross country courses were slightly shorter at 3 miles.

Although this was a fast course, Cerasi will probably break her own record at least a few more times before she graduates in 2028.

Ceraci placed 20th in the Elite Girls division at the New

goal. “Our goal this year was to get to the second round at district,” he said. “These guys worked hard all year. They don’t die. They keep coming back.”

Anthony Seeley was the Bulldogs’ top bowler in the morning round with a 194.33 average for eighth place. Trey Wood was 10th overall with a 191.33 average.

Buren placed second in the Junior-Senior Open in 20:33.4.

Seabreeze’s Hunter Shuler won the boys junior-senior race with a 16:54.5. Matanzas’ Blaine Vogel and Matt Ciardi were fourth and fifth, respectively, in 17:34.6 and 17:34.7.

First Baptist wins district title

The First Baptist Christian Aacademy volleyball team won a district championship for the first time in school history with a 3-1 win over Trinity Christian of Deltona in the District 5-1A final on Oct. 17, at Calvary Christian in Ormond Beach.

Syanigh Arneaud led the Crusaders with 15 kills while Joanna Fernandez had nine kills, 14 digs and four aces and Syrenity Arneaud had 23 assists, 13 digs and four aces.

World race. Spruce Creek’s Mackenzie Roy won the race with a personal-record 17:14. FPC placed eighth as a team with Arianna Slaughter placing 45th with a PR of 19:07 and Cassidy De Young placing 59th in 19:26. Among the boys, FPC’s Jevin Luna dropped more than a minute off his previous best time with a 16:18 to finish 76th in the Elite Boys division. In the Boys B division, Matanzas’ Blaine Vogel placed fourth with a time of 16:49, while Matt Ciardi, also of Matanzas, ran 17:18 to place 12th.

Galeano wins frosh-soph title

In the Volusia-Flagler Invitational on Oct. 16 at New Smyrna Beach, Matanzas sophomore Lupita Galeano won the girls FreshmanSophomore Championship with a time of 21:03.7. Matanzas junior Sara Van

First Baptist’s season ended in the first round of regionals on Oct. 23, with a 3-0 loss to Brevard HEAT. The

FPC senior Brooke Bokanoski will be making her second trip to state. She was a freshman in 2021 when the FPC girls placed third in Orlando. Bokanoski (third, 182.33) and Victoria DaSilva Carvalheira (fifth, 170.67) helped the Bulldogs take the top seed into the Baker rounds with a pin total of 2,165, just two pins more than eventual champ Palatka.

The Bulldogs lost their top bowler from last year in Emma Pezzullo, who graduated, but they came together as a team, coach Laura Oliva said. “They work together as a unit. They feed off each other,” she said. “A lot of these girls are new,” Bokanoski said. “But they listen. We tell them, ‘Don’t overthink anything. Leave the shot on the lane if you miss.’”

Crusaders finished with a 13-7 record.

Noble

tops Lowitz at Pink ‘n Pickle

Jackson Lowitz, 15, a sophomore at Matanzas High School, took home the silver medal at the men’s singles Pink ’N Pickle pickleball tournament Oct. 18 at the Southern Recreation Center in Palm Coast.

Daryl Noble won the tournament title with an 11-6 win over Lowitz in the final. Lowitz has been playing pickleball for a little over a year, his mother, Stephanie Lowitz, said. He beat City Councilman Nick Klufas twice in the double elimination tournament, and lost to Noble twice.

The tournament was for players with a 4.0 skill level and below.

Matanzas’ Olivia Rabbat (left) had the second-best average of 182.67 to qualify for state as an individual.

District 1 girls runners-up Flagler Palm Coast. Photos by Brent Woronoff

District 1 boys runners-up Flagler Palm Coast. Courtesy photo

District 1 boys champs, the Seabreeze Sandcrabs. Courtesy photo

xxx Photo by Grant McMillan

FPC freshman

Jackson Lowitz and Daryl Noble. Courtesy photo

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 6:00 P.M. on the 5th day of November 2024, for the purpose of hearing Ordinance 2024-XX (Application No. ZMA 2024-07), before the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Building (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110. ORDINANCE 2024-XX AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY TOTALING 5.4± ACRES, BEARING PARCEL ID: 15-12-30-0650-000C0-0011 LOCATED AT 1010 WEST MOODY BOULEVARD IN THE CITY OF BUNNELL LIMITS FROM “ND, NONDESIGNATED” TO “B-1, BUSINESS 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 Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board 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, FLORIDA will hold a Public Hearing as authorized by law at 6:00 P.M. on the 5th day of November 2024, for the purpose of hearing Ordinance 2024-XX (Application No. FLUMA 2024-07), before the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Building (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110. ORDINANCE 2024-XX AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA AMENDING THE CITY OF BUNNELL 2035 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AS PREVIOUSLY AMENDED; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENT TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP IN THE FUTURE LAND USE ELEMENT OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL 2035 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RELATIVE TO CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY TOTALING 0.23+/- ACRES, BEARING PARCEL ID: 12-12-30-0650-000a00102 LOCATED AT 325 OLD BRICK ROAD IN THE CITY OF BUNNELL LIMITS FROM FLAGLER COUNTY “MIXED USE: HIGH INTENSITY” TO CITY OF BUNNELL “COMMERCIAL-MEDIUM”; PROVIDING FOR LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT; PROVIDING FOR THE TAKING OF IMPLEMENTING ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF MAPS BY REFERENCE; 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-todate 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 Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board 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)

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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 6:00 P.M. on the 5th day of November 2024, for the purpose of hearing Ordinance 2024-XX (Application No. ZMA 2024-06), before the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Building (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110. ORDINANCE 2024-XX AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY TOTALING 2,787± ACRES, GENERALLY LOCATED BETWEEN WEST MOODY BOULEVARD/STATE HIGHWAY 11, STATE HIGHWAY 100 WEST, COUNTY ROAD 302, AND COUNTY ROAD 65, IN THE CITY OF BUNNELL LIMITS FROM FLAGLER COUNTY “AC, AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT,” CITY OF BUNNELL “R-1, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT,” AND “AG&S, AGRICULTURAL & SILVICULTURE DISTRICT” TO CITY OF BUNNELL “PUD, PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT”; APPROVING THE RESERVE AT HAW CREEK PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT; 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-todate 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 Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board 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) Oct. 24

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 6:00 P.M. on the 5th day of November 2024, for the purpose of hearing Ordinance 2024-XX (Application No. ZMA 2024-08), before the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board, in the Chambers Meeting Room of the Flagler County Government Services Building (GSB) located at 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida 32110.

ORDINANCE 2024-XX AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BUNNELL, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY TOTALING 1.36± ACRES, BEARING PARCEL ID: 14-12-30-3750-000Q0-0011 LOCATED DIRECTLY AT THE END OF HIBISCUS AVENUE IN THE CITY OF BUNNELL LIMITS FROM “R-1, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT” TO “L-1, LIGHT 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 Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board 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 TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP-595 Division 48 IN RE: ESTATE OF CHARLES EDWARD FIORE Deceased

The administration of the estate of CHARLES EDWARD FIORE, deceased, whose date of death was July 15, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for FLAGLER County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 1, 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

NOTICE OF ACTIONCONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2024 CA 000457 U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. WILLIAM A. HORVATH AND DEBORAH A. HORVATH, et. al. Defendant(s), TO: WILLIAM A. HORVATH, DEBORAH A. HORVATH, whose residence is unknown and all parties having or claiming to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the mortgage being foreclosed herein. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following property: LOT 20, BLOCK H, BEACH HAVEN UNIT TWO, A SUBDIVISION ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED AT PLAT BOOK 37, PAGES 94, 95 AND 96, IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF

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