FEBRUARY 9, 2017
LOVE LOCAL
Mix+mingle with local singles For our first Love Local edition, we asked you to help us identify some of the best fish in the sea. Check out the nominees — and how to meet them. PAGES 4-5
INSIDE Gift Guide: Here are some ways to mix it up if you’re tired of the same old chocolates and teddy bears. PAGE 3
INSIDE High school sweathearts: How one Seabreeze High School couple has stuck it out for 40 years. PAGES 6-7
INSIDE Flagler Palm Coast connections: These couples tell how love has lasted well past graduation. PAGE 8
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PalmCoastObserver.com
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017
Valentine’s Day isn’t all heart candy and roses And you don’t have to be in love to celebrate the love you have in your life.
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EMILY BLACKWOOD
presents 3 comic one-acts as our Valentine to the Bard!
by George Bernard Shaw
“SHAKESappear!” by Milton E. Polsky
“Something Rotten in Denmark” by Ann Karine
Feb. 17, 18 at 7:30 Feb. 19 at 2:00 Pioneer Barn Theatre 259 San Marco Ave. St. Augustine
$20 Adults $10 Students
www.aclassictheatre.org ~ 904-501-5093
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“The Dark Lady of the Sonnets”
COMMUNITY EDITOR
The season of love is upon us. Chocolate covered roses. Engagement rings hidden in the bottom of champagne glasses. Public makeout sessions that you might not want to be a witness to. Like most holidays, Valentine’s Day has a way of making you feel like you’re doing something wrong. If you’re single, you’re bombarded with messages of romance, and you’re wondering where your Prince Charming is. Did he see you spill salsa all over your pants while you were trying to eat that taco and decide he’d rather be alone? If you’re in a relationship, you’re faced with the pressure of making real life feel like a fairytale for an entire 24 hours. Movies only have to evoke those feelings for a solid two hours, but whatever. No matter what your rela-
tionship status is, this holiday can stink if you let yourself get caught up in the facade. You don’t have to cover your floor with rose petals so deep she has to swim through them to find you, and you don’t have to lock eyes with your other half across the crowded bar before Feb. 14 arrives. You can celebrate love in whatever form you’re currently feeling it. Maybe you want to spend the day laughing with your closest friends or snuggling your dog. Anything goes, because there’s no wrong way to do Valentine’s Day. So rather than bombard you with crazy love stories or unrealistic gift ideas, we decided to give you a section that highlights you. If you’re single, inside you’ll find a collection of other happily single people who are doing Valentine’s Day all on their own. If you’re with someone, you’ll find couples who have figured out how to stay together through all the struggles and obstacles of real life. No matter who you’re spending that special day with, we hope this section inspires you to appreciate all the different kinds of love in your life.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017
End the predictability of Valentine’s Day with something a little different Get your sweetheart something unexpected, like these four V-Day-approved gifts.
ing boards in times of crisis, occasional lovers and absolutely necessary to one another” — so reads the description of the upcoming play, “Love Letters,” at the City Repertory Theatre in Palm Coast. In this show, the two characters read the letters and notes they’ve sent to eachother for the past 50 years. The production features a different pair of actors each night — Julia Truilo and Lloyd Bowers on Feb. 10, John and Sue Pope on Feb. 11, and Everett Clark and Monica McNulty-Clark on Feb. 12. Tickets cost $30.
THE BEARD BALM BRUSH:
EMILY BLACKWOOD COMMUNITY EDITOR
Ah, the pressure of gift giving. Finding something that’s just the right dollar amount and level of thoughtfulness that says, “I love you.” Or, if you haven’t been together long, “I like you, but not too much. Hope this isn’t weird.” While the rest of the world is preaching chocolates, roses and back massages, your significant other might be tired of the predictable Valentine’s Day gift. Here are a few suggestions — made by your friends and neighbors — that are sure to shake things up:
If your hubby takes some pride in his facial hair, he’ll appreciate a brush that will keep his scruff silky smooth. Jordan Alva of Palm Coast recently invented the Beard Balm Brush, the “only beard brush made from beard balm.” “I spoke to a lot of guys that said they got a pair of socks and tools for Father’s Day or Christmas, and that’s how it’s been for the past five or 10 years,” Alva said. “This is something a little different.” The brush is made with no artificial ingredients and can be purchased by pledging $10 to Alva’s Indiegogo campaign.
Purchase tickets online at crtpalmcoast.com/tickets or call 585-9415. A SPACE IN ORMOND BEACH’S NEWEST COMMUNITY GARDEN:
Visit indiegogo.com/ projects/beard-balmbrush to order.
Photo courtesy of Jordan Alva
The Beard Balm Brush
The city is opened its newest community garden Feb. 4, and already people are lining up to have their own special plot of public land. For $30 your significant other can put his or her green thumb to work for a whole year on a 4-footby-12-foot reserved space in the new garden. The new space will be located in
TWO TICKETS TO A LOCAL VALENTINE’S DAY SHOW:
“Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III have been friends since childhood, sound-
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PalmCoastObserver.com
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017
Meet the most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes in Ormond Beach and Palm Coast
JON WALKER, 26 Project engineer When this dashing dog dad isn’t hard at work, you can find him out on the water fishing or showing off his F-150. Friends will say this goofball is sure to keep you laughing.
For our Love Local edition, we asked you to help us identify some of the best fish in the sea. EMILY BLACKWOOD COMMUNITY EDITOR
If the oversized teddy bears and the heart-shaped balloons are making you feel like the only single person in town, never fear, we’re here to help. We asked our readers to help us find the most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes in Ormond Beach and Palm Coast, and you did not disappoint. Children were embarrassed, best friends were called out, and moms were secretly nominated — all in the name of finding true love.
Listed below are 20 awesome single people to remind all those riding solo that there are plenty of fish in the sea. And a few are right here in your own backyard. If you’re interested in getting to know some of these guys and gals a little more, come out for the chance to meet them at our Love Local Mixer, held at 6 p.m. Feb. 10 at Oceanside Beach Bar and Grill, 1848 S. Oceanshore Blvd., Flagler Beach. Tickets cost $10 and include appetizers and one drink. Call 447-9723.
ROB LITTLETON, 31 City commissioner and business owner This Ormond Beach resident is at the top of his game right now, having been recently elected to the City Commission, and owning his own tutoring company. His independence and financial stability make him a very eligible bachelor.
NICOLE DAMICO, 28
GARY PERKINS, 31
NINA PAOULOCCI, 61
Business owner and medical biller Small but mighty, this little lady spends her days looking after man’s best friend. Known for her big smile and infectious laugh, you can catch her cheering on her favorite team, the Steelers.
Office manager of the Flagler Humane Society This animal lover is not only a worthy bachelor but a strong humanitarian. He is dedicated to staying active in his Palm Coast community and spends time outside of the office as a youth mentor.
Personal trainer This ball of energy is so loved by her friends and family that she was nominated twice. A personal trainer and assistant manager at a local gym, she enjoys riding her bike, dancing and having fun. As her friends say, “She’s the best of the best.”
NICOLE JOYCE, 32
JOE BARILE, 29
BRIAN HUNTER, 29
Hospitalist New to Palm Coast, this physician recently accepted a position as a hospitalist where she enjoys helping and healing her patients. According to her mom, she is "a very beautiful person, inside and out."
Deputy Dating a police officer is tough, but this deputy is worth all the chaos. This Palm Coast resident is funny, a great listener and, according to his nominator, the next step is “finding that special someone to share the rest of his life with and get off this eligible bachelors list.”
Real estate broker This Scottish man is a real catch because he not only showers every day, but is fluent in five different languages. His friends think highly of him because he’s “the most eligible bachelor in Ormond Beach, hands down.”
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Teatro Lirico D’Europa brings a buoyant performance of Carmen filled with lovely singing and an entertaining comedic sensibility. Under the artistic direction of Giorgio Lalov, Carmen will be fully staged, performed in French with English supertitles, and a 40-piece orchestra.
A Celebration of World Dance Russian Seasons
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OrmondBeachObserver.com
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017
JOHN BEACH, 64
GINA SWERINGEN, 27
STEVEN MULLIGAN, 29
Retired maintenance supervisor An avid bike rider, this Flagler Beach resident likes to keep in shape but isn’t a “workout fanatic.” According to his nominator, this devoted father and grandfather deserves a lady “who can bring to the table what he is able to bring.”
Hospital practice manager According to her best friend, this Ormond Beach girl is the perfect combination of brains, beauty and fun. She is always doing things for others and deserves happiness in her own life.
Engineer Nicknamed “Mr. Daytona” for reasons unknown, this softball player’s personality is just as loud as his shoes. You can thank him for turning your power back on after Hurricane Matthew.
LAURA PERKINS, 56
CARLEY RODRIGUEZ, 50
JASON HARR, 44
Director of organizational integrity When she’s not traveling to India, Africa or Morocco, this adventure seeker is tackling any opportunity that comes her way. Her next trip is to Vietnam and Cambodia. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to get an invitation.
Catering sales manager This hard worker is gorgeous inside and out. A mix of a standup comic and a diehard romantic, Carley loves love and made a career of it planning weddings for over 13 years, and now her friends say it’s her turn.
Lawyer This founder of his own law firm in Daytona Beach loves cheering on his favorite college football teams. When he's not working hard at his successful practice, he's traveling to some mountain top to hit the slopes. Maybe you can join?
ASHLEY AKERS, 35
MAGGIE NORTON, 24
CHRIS WALLS, 30
Accountant receivable clerk If you want to fish or workout with this nature girl, you’re going to have to love cats. Specifically her cats, Zelda and Chicken. When she’s not outside, she’s working on a painting or curled up with a good book.
Executive meetings manager Why chose between a girl you can take out for sushi or watch a game with, when you can have both? Always up for anything, this Alabama alumna is new to the area and looking to meet Ormond’s finest.
Though this man of many trades may look like an adult, he’s really a kid at heart. When he’s not working on the farm or fixing your car, you can most likely find him bailing his dog, Chewy, out of trouble.
THERESA OLIVER, 54
OWEN CHITTENDEN, 39
CHARLI MOORE, 41
Nanny Loved dearly by her friends and family, this chef is known for her delicious pasta dishes. If you love walks on the beach, yoga, bowling, pool, darts or church, you may be lucky enough to get a homecooked meal.
Director of catering This Ormond socialite is either planning your event or attending it. While most people are used to seeing his face out and about, what they may not know is that he is a smart, fun bachelor looking for love.
Physician billing company supervisor This fit mom of two made her home in Japan and Alaska before settling down close to the beach. Her friends say she's a great listener and loves with her whole heart.
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PalmCoastObserver.com
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017
Marrying the boy down the street Deborah and Richard Roddy have been together for 40 years. EMILY BLACKWOOD COMMUNITY EDITOR
It all started with the Mudwamps. Half-human and half-creature, the Mudwamps guarded the woods of Ormond Beach and scared away any Seabreeze High School students who dared get too close. It was a popular tall tale among teenagers in the 1970s and one that Richard Roddy told his future wife, Deborah, when he drove her first car into the woods after school. As the tale goes, if you get too close to the Mudwamps, they’ll knock down a tree as a warning, and when they emerged, a tree was lying in the road, right in front of their car. Though he had spent the whole drive over trying to scare Deborah, it was Richard who was now afraid to move. But soon he sprung into action and moved the tree so they could leave. “I swear he picked up that tree in seconds,” Deborah said. “I went inside my house after that and told my mom that I had met the guy I was going to marry.” It was Richard, the boy who lived down the street.
Courtesy photo
When asked what she loves about her husband, Deborah Roddy said “his temperament — and his hair.”
Richard, who is known by his wife for being the slow one, did not have that same epiphany. “I didn’t know that until I was told,” he said, smiling. “I was young and didn’t have any concept of that stuff.” It took Richard, who was a grade below Deborah, a solid three days to kiss her — and another five years to ask her to marry him. Though she was impatient at times, she said it was worth the wait. “There was just something in him,” she said. “I just knew.” Now 40 years later, the Roddys are still counting their blessings. While they may have had dreams of traveling to exotic places and living a more adventurous life, God had other plans. And the first one, was Stuart. Their first child was born with cerebral palsy and a heart problem that required open heart surgery to fix. Still young, the Roddys said that though learning how to take care of a child with a disability was difficult, Stuart’s smile is what got them through. “I was told I couldn’t have children,” Deborah said. “And we were at the end of an adoption process when I got pregnant with Stuart. Things can be tough, but we have our little miracles.” The Ormond Beach couple eventually did finish that adoption process and brought Shauna
into their family a few years later. Their family finally felt complete. “After Stuart was born, you realize you lose a lot of family and friends because no one wants to be around that,” Deborah said. “We kind of had to do everything on our own. But that’s OK because all we cared about was keeping our baby safe. That’s when I found out I had some fight in me, and I had to keep fighting.” That fight would prove necessary a few decades down the road when Richard was “knocking on death’s door.” A firefighter for the Ormond Beach Fire Department for over 20 years, Richard was in the process of starting a career with the county. During one of the required medical exams, a doctor found a problem with his heart, and he had to have quadruple bypass heart surgery. Richard came back from that and went another 12 years without a problem, even though he was unable to work. Two years ago, he collapsed in his backyard, and the doctors decided he would have to have a heart transplant. He was put on two life-saving machines for seven days while the family waited for a donor. On the sixth day, all they could do was pray. “I prayed harder than I ever did before,” Deborah said. “Five minutes later I got the call.”
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LOVE LOCAL
Photo by Emily Blackwood
Deborah and Richard Roddy say they balance each other out.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017
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Love all year: Men, we also have to show our romantic side after Feb. 14 Here are four ways to keep a smile on your significant other’s face after Valentine’s Day.
JEFF DAWSEY STAFF WRITER
Just as the empty box of Russell Stover’s chocolates will be tossed in the trash can, and the browning dozen roses thrown out, the world’s most famous romantic day will also come — and go. But men, no matter how successful we make Valentine’s Day, we can’t rest on our laurels of one great effort. Our significant others expect to get charmed throughout the year. I have developed a few practices that make my wife, Jessica, smile beyond Valentine’s, and hopefully they will help keep a smile on your wife’s face for the next 11 months. 1. Get on her nerves — in a loving way: No one gets on my wife’s nerves more than I do, but I know she loves it. I love to grammatically correct Jess and stare at her
mouth in the midst of our passionate disagreements. No matter how mad she may be, she usually breaks into a smile. And, when home, she usually spends her time in our room, while I stay in the living area. But, throughout the day, I randomly walk in, give her the googly eyes and just stare at her. She usually asks me to stop looking at her, but of course I pay it no mind. I used to annoy her by calling her “Jess,” but now she likes it. See what I mean? 2. Buy her what she likes: Now this may land me in the dog house, but I have to help my fellow man. Jess loves to eat! Our deal-making usually consists of her doing me a favor for food. I never request anything in return for the things I do, but she tends to get Panda Express or breakfast out of me. Maybe I suck at negotiating. Either way, she gets what she wants, and she loves me more for it. 3. Talk to her — well, let her talk to you: Men, we hate talking, right? We get home, and she asks how our day went, and we reply, “Fine.” Of course, that’s not what she was looking for. How do I
know? Based on her response to the same question. When we — acting as if we’re just as concerned — return the question, we get a four-page letter, although we zone out after the first few sentences. Men, don’t we have a few trusted responses we often lean on in our moments of cloud nine? “Really?” “Oh wow!” “Are you serious?” Sometimes, Jess asks me the infamous, evil question, “What did I just say?” Those few, trusted responses don’t cut it. We have to really listen to them. I always regret not paying attention to Jess, so I make more efforts to lend her a caring, listening ear. 4. Serve together: Lastly, find something you two can do together. Jess helps me serve my church as youth pastor, so we always have a common topic to discuss, and we get to spend a lot of time together. It doesn’t have to be at a religious function or even serving. Play games. Solve puzzles. Do whatever it takes to spend quality time with each other. This really makes them smile. Whether you choose these ideas or allow them to inspire other methods, permit your love to go beyond Valentine’s Day.
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The surgery was successful, and Deborah believes the connection they had to one of the men in charge was a reason why: The man who held Stuart’s heart during his surgery 30 years before, harvested Richard’s new heart. “We have our miracles,” Deborah said. But the miracles weren’t over just yet. A week after Richard came home, Deborah went in for a mammogram and found out she had breast cancer. Thankfully, it was small enough that they were able to remove it without the need for chemotherapy. Looking back at all they’ve been through, Richard and Deborah said their love for each other is evident in how much they were able to handle together. “You have to be able to work together and take care of what God’s given you,” Deborah said. “What’s our thing again? You say it the best.” “You gotta be thankful for everything you got,” Richard answered. “Maybe it’s not the best of conditions, but it could be so much worse. I mean, I wouldn’t be alive without her.” “Well,” she said, smiling, “you didn’t really have a choice.”
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PalmCoastObserver.com
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017
Sweethearts from Flagler Palm Coast High School The Flagler Palm Coast High School Alumni Association asked former classmates if they were still together. COMMUNITY EDITOR
Sometimes in life, you get lucky and meet your soul mate a little early. The following couples found each other in the hallways at Flagler Palm Coast High School and have been together ever since. The Observer gathered their comments from the FPC Alumni Association’s Facebook page. CORY AND JADRIANA SOARD
“My husband, Cory Soard, and I were FPC high school sweethearts. We began dating June
2006, the summer before I began my freshman year. We dated solid all throughout high school and enjoyed every event together: sports, proms, homecomings. I graduated in 2010, and my husband graduated in 2011. We got married in 2013. Been married for over three years and have a beautiful daughter!” KIMBERLY AND KYLE FARRIS
“Kyle Farris and I met in third grade. After a few missed connections through the years, we finally got together in high school. Fourteen years, several degrees, a joint business venture and two kids later, we’re still best friends!” STACEY AND KEITH DE DEO
“I met my husband, Keith De Deo, at Flagler Palm Coast High School. We attended the same school for four years, but sadly I didn’t even realize he existed until our senior year, when we had a couple of classes together. But it was during our senior year that we got to know each other; he used to tease me relentlessly (and still does). We graduated together in 1990, got married in 1993 (23 years and counting) and have one child, a beautiful, intelligent, athletic daughter who will be graduating from Flagler Palm Coast High School this spring!”
The Soard family
ASHLEY AND DAVID ROBINSON
“David Robinson and I started dating in my ninth-grade year at FPC and his eighth-grade year in May 2003. We got married in May 2009. We are currently foster parents to five children whom we hope to adopt this year. We currently live in Gainesville.” ABRA AND MARK SEAY
“Mark and I met at FPC and started dating in ’02. He was a senior, and I was a freshman. We had our son my senior year, stuck it out through all the hard times and have been happily married for 18 years. We have five beautiful children and a grandson.” RYAN AND SARAH CROSBY
“My wife Sarah Crosby and I met in 2002. First period. Gym. It was the first day of my junior year and her sophomore. She walked over to me and asked if I wanted help
folding the new uniforms, and I said yes but then went and did something else lol. We hung out for a month before I realized, ‘I need to ask her out because she really likes me.’ I asked her if she was ready for a challenge and then she said yes. Been together the whole time. Been a lot of places and seen a lot of things. We married in 2009. Had our first son in 2010 and now with our next son on the way and couldn’t be happier because I got to do all of this with my best friend by my side the whole time.” LINSEY AND PETER DEPASCALE
“Been together since 2012 right before senior year. We met in the lunch line. The first thing I said to him was, ‘Do you like pickles?’ because he got a bunch on his plate. Who knew that it’d turn into something wonderful?” ELIZABETH AND GEORGE REGO
“I met my husband in 1999 in English class. We started officially dating in 2000, we graduated FPC in 2001 and married in 2007. We have two beautiful daughters, ages 6 and 3. We are going to Italy in March to celebrate our 10-year anniversary!”
Enjoy our Valentine’s
Love Local
Specials
Singles
Mixer
230582
February 10th - 14th Served after 3PM
February 10, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Want to meet the area’s most eligible bachelor and bachelorettes featured in this section? Join us tomorrow night and mingle with singles that are successful, attractive, interesting, unattached (obviously), and looking for love! Location: Oceanside Beach Bar & Grill 1848 S Oceanshore Blvd, Flagler Beach
Apps, drinks and fun ! Thank you to our sponsors HALIFAX PAVING INC. and 4 C’s Trucking & Excavation Inc. for helping pave the way to love in Flagler and Volusia Counties!
Appetizers Two Dozen Mussels or Clams Scampi Peruvian Wings Crab Meat Stuffed Avocado
Fresh Fish Selection
Black Grouper Mahi Mahi Chilean Sea Bass Lobster Tails Bacon Wrapped Scallop Skewers
Entrees
Filet Mignon Prime Rib Porthouse Pork Chop Chateaubriand Stuffed with Prochini Mushrooms, Scallops and Lobster Stuffed Half Chicken with Black Truffles Seafood Jambalaya
Deliciously handcrafted Valentine’s Day cocktails
1848 S Oceanshore Blvd. Flagler Beach. Check out the Ormond Beach and Palm Coast Observer Facebook pages for more information.
Between S. 18th St. & S. 19th St. Hours: Sun - Thurs 7am - 9pm Fri & Sat 7am - 10pm
230510
EMILY BLACKWOOD