Daytona Beach Observer 5-14-26

Park Daytona seeks rezoning

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Daytona Beach has renewed City Manager Deric Feacher’s employment contract in a 4-3 vote.

Commissioners Stacy Cantu, Quanita May and Monica Paris all voted against renewing Feacher’s contract. Feacher has been the city manager of Daytona Beach since 2021, and the renewal of the contract extends his employment for another three years.

Commissioner Paula Reed was in charge of the evaluation process, and said the City Commission had given Feacher an aggregate evaluation score of 3.63 out of five points on his evaluation. This means, she said, he has met the expectation of the com -

mission.

“Is he perfect? No, he’s not,” she said. “It does indicate that there are some things that need to be done, and we’ve implicated some of those things, and he’s working on those things.”

Daytona Beach has faced backlash for months over a multitude of spending concerns, including state audit on the buildup of impact fee funds, internal controversy over the misuse of taxpayer funds and an internal audit on the Daytona Beach Fire Department.

Some commissioners have laid the responsibility at Feacher’s feet as the one in charge of Daytona Beach employees and policies. Cantu had attempted fire Feacher at an April commission meeting.

This is the first performance evaluation Feacher has received in several years. The commissioners were given 10 questions to rate on a score of one to five, five being the highest rating. The answers were then added up for an overall rating out of five.

is often demonstrated not only through visible accomplishments, but also through consistency, through vision, through collaboration, and the ability to guide an organization through both opportunities and challenges,” said Reverend Victor Gooden during public comment. “The progress outlined during this report reflects those qualities.”

cern was that these deficiencies in the Purchasing Card and spending practices of employees were not identified until City Auditor Abinet Belachew’s arrival.

“The difference for me is five years versus seven months,” May said. “The auditor was here for seven months and found this. The city manager was here for five years.”

Cantu and May gave Feacher overall scores of 2.18 and 2.94. Mayor Derrick Henry and Monica Paris gave him overall scores of 3.05 and 3.27, while Reed and Commissioners Ken Strickland and Danielle Henry gave him overall a 4.86, 4.82 and 4.27. Reed’s motion to renew Feacher’s contract for an additional three years was met with cheers and applause from members of the public in attendance.

“Strong leadership

Those commissioners and Mayor Derrick Henry who voted to renew Feacher’s contract said that the recent allegations against the city have not been shown to be Feacher’s fault.

Henry said he has seen nothing that shows the commission should terminate Feacher’s employment.

If anything were to happen in the future that shows he should be, Henry said, the commission can always return to this.

“His evaluation does not reflect an evaluation that says that you need to be terminated,” Henry said.

May said her main con-

May recalled Feacher reviewing city policies — like that of the P-Cards — at the beginning of his tenure. But, she said, if the discrepancies had been found sooner, that could have meant more money going out into the communities for community uses.

Reed said the commission needs to allow Feacher time to correct the issues at hand, instead of trying to fire him. The City Commission also, she said, needs to keep up with the annual evaluations of his performance.

“It’s time to allow this man to prove to us that he knows the responsibilities that come with his role, and allow him to address them,” she said. “I think three years is enough. It’s more than enough time.”

Flagler SWAT snipers excel at national competition

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office SWAT snipers placed second and eighth out of 40 teams at the Snipercraft Challenge, competing against snipers from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across the country. The second-place finish is FCSO’s best in the annual competition, but the team has placed in the top 10 each year in the last five years of competition.

The FCSO sniper team of Cmdr. Brian Finn and Deputy Chandler Anderson earned second place. Sgt. Frank Gamarra was teamed up with a sniper from the Palm Bay Police Department due to his partner being unable to attend. They finished eighth, despite the two having never met or trained together prior to the competition.

“Our SWAT sniper team

COPS CORNER NEWS BRIEFS

consistently excels at this event, proving once again they are the best-of-the-best,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “The community can rest easy knowing they are some of the most skillful and well-trained law enforcement snipers in the country.”

Finn, who leads FCSO’s sniper team, added. “We pray we never have to use these skills, but this event provides an opportunity to learn, refine, and test our skills and bring that training back to serve our community.”

With 150 cases this year, Flagler sheriff warns of more scams

Since Jan. 1, Flagler deputies deputies and detectives have investigated at least 150 fraud-related cases, many involving scammers who use fear, urgency, and impersonation tactics to pressure victims into sending money or personal information.

“Scammers succeed when they create panic and demand immediate action,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Let

me be clear: No law enforcement Agency will ever call, text, or email you demanding payment to avoid arrest, to ‘clear’ a warrant, or to bond someone out. If someone threatens you with jail unless you pay right now — hang up. It’s a scam.”

FCSO has received reports of scams that include, but are not limited to:

Law enforcement impersonation: Scammers claim to be an FCSO employee or “deputy so and so,” sometimes using real names, and demand payment to avoid arrest, resolve “paperwork,” or resolve a fictitious warrant.

Court-related text scams: Messages such as “FINAL NOTICE — COURT ENFORCEMENT ACTION” or similar threats that pressure recipients to scan a QR code or click a link to pay a “balance” or avoid license suspension.

Payment-by-gift-card/ cryptocurrency scams: Any demand to pay using gift cards, Bitcoin/cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment apps is a scam.

Fake documents and seals: Scammers may send official-looking paperwork

with forged seals or signatures to appear legitimate.

Scammers impersonating a bank representative and convincing you your account is compromised and you must withdraw cash and a currier will come by and pick up the cash to protect it and open a new account.

Remember these key facts: Caller ID can be spoofed A call may look like it’s coming from a trusted agency when it is not.

Law enforcement does not ask for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency to prevent arrest.

Do not click links or scan QR codes sent by unknown sources or those requesting urgent action.

If a caller claims to be from FCSO, verify by calling the non-emergency number at 386-313-4911.

What to do if you receive a suspicious call, text, or email: Do not provide personal information. Do not send money or purchase gift cards/ cryptocurrency. Document what you can (phone number used, screenshots, names used, any links sent). Report it. Even attempted scams help

investigators identify patterns and prevent future victims.

Residents are encouraged to report scams or suspicious activity to FCSO by calling the non-emergency number 386-313-4911. If an emergency exists or someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

To report fraud, you can also visit the Florida Chief Financial Officer’s fraud reporting resource athttps:// www.myfloridacfo.com/safe/ report-fraud-and-scams.You may also visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center website athttps://www.ic3.gov.

FCSO continues to provide scam-prevention presentations to community groups, HOAs, and local organizations. Groups interested in hosting a presentation may contactCommunityEngagement@flaglersheriff.com.

“Our Cyber Crimes Unit is the fastest growing unit in the Sheriff’s Office,” added Sheriff Staly. “Last year over $1 million was reported stolen by our residents by scammers. We need you to be the first line of defense and learn how to protect yourself from being scammed out of your nest egg.”

Flagler deputies add sensory support kits

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is equipping members of its team with sensory support kits filled with items designed to help neurodivergent individuals or individuals in crisis during encounters with law enforcement. Each sensory support kit contains earmuffs, sunglasses, a fidget marble maze mat, and a liquid motion timer. The included items address human senses — sight, hearing, and touch — that may be overwhelming for certain people in stressful situations, including individuals who are neurodivergent (such as those with autism or ADHD), have developmental disabilities, or have conditions like anxiety or PTSD. They are intended to reduce sensory overload and stress, provide focus, and ground individuals during interactions.

Two hundred fifty kits were purchased using drug-seized assets at no cost to Flagler County taxpayers. Email news tips to rich@ observerlocalnews.com.

The trooper found the man walking near a mile marker, and stopped and asked the man where he was going, according to an arrest report.

The man told the trooper he was walking to the next exit. The trooper offered the man a ride, but needed his name first. The man told the trooper his name was “Eminem Reese’s Pieces reese reese reese reese Ho Lil’ Smith n’ Wesson,” the report said. He insisted this was his real name, and was placed under arrest for providing a false name to law enforcement. When the trooper positively identified him, he found the man had last been in contact with law enforcement in March 2025, again for walking along the interstate.

JUST TOO LAZY 2:22 a.m. — 100 block of South 7th Street, Flagler

Beach DUI. A suspect’s laziness led to him being arrested on a DUI charge.

A police officer on patrol noticed the suspect driving east on Moody Boulevard, recklessly rapidly accelerating before turning onto South Central Avenue. The officer followed the car and saw it had an expired tag on the back, according to an arrest report.

The officer pulled the driver over in a nearby parking lot and then noticed a valid license plate displayed in the car’s back windshield. The officer asked the suspect why it wasn’t properly attached to the car, and the suspect said he “was just too lazy” to put it on.

PopINTO PARADISE

That’s when the officer noticed the suspect was slurring his words and smelled of alcohol. The suspect admitted to recently drinking at a local bar before he drove a friend home, the report said.

The officer took the suspect through a field sobriety test, where he failed every part — at one point counting to 40 seconds instead of 30 seconds as he was directed to, because he “was a fast counter.”

The man was placed under arrest on charges of DUI and refusal of a breathalyzer.

MAY 6 BAD FALL 10:08 p.m. — Intersection of Airport Road and Leeway

Trail, Ormond Beach Fugitive from justice. An 80-year-old DeLand man was arrested after police, who were called after he fell off his bicycle, discovered he had an active warrant.

According to court documents, the man was found to be in violation of his conditional release, leading to the warrant; he was arrested in 2023 for failing to register as a sex offender.

The man was taken to the hospital for medical clearance and later admitted to the ICU for injuries sustained after he fell from his bike.

MAY 8

JAILBOUND 3:23 a.m. — 300 block of San-

An officer woke the man up, according to his arrest report, and informed him that the park was closed and he couldn’t be on the property. The man understood and was cooperative, but when asked for his ID, the man said, “I guess I’m going to jail.”

The man told police he had a civil court order directing officers to take him into custody. This was because he failed to appear before a judge in reference to a previous trespassing. He was taken to jail.

chez Avenue, Ormond Beach Fugitive from justice. Police arrested a 54-year-old Daytona Beach man after he was found sleeping on the docks of a local city park.

Under construction

City staff estimates new seawall, ramp at Andy Romano Beachfront Park to be complete in August.

JARLEENE

ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

When will Andy Romano Beachfront Park in Ormond Beach fully reopen to the public?

If work stays on track, city staff estimates construction at the park will be finished sometime in early August. There are three projects in various stages at the park. Two of them are related to the significant hurricane damage sustained in 2024: Repairing the seawall and the reconstruction of the beach ramp, at a combined cost of $2.5 million.

This is the city’s priority project, said Assistant City Manager Shawn Finley.

“This has taken longer than we would have liked it to have taken, but our goal is to return Andy Romano to being the premier park, I think, in Volusia County. We want it to be safe and reliable, and we want to bring it back for everybody’s enjoyment as quickly as we can.”

When the seawall was damaged in Hurricane Milton, it was damaged to a point where it triggered a full rebuild, Finley said. Plus, that seawall wasn’t constructed with the beachfront park, which opened in 2013. It dates back to around the ‘50s or ‘60s, he said, back when the property used to be a hotel.

“When you get over a cer-

tain threshold, you have to bring it up to the entirety of current building standards,” Finley said. “That required a redesign and since we’re we’re working with FEMA and Department of Emergency Management — they are involved in the review of those plans — and that’s what set us in the direction of taking what seems to be a longer time than any of us would like to be.”

FEMA is also helping fund the new beach ramp. The city previously had a wooden ramp that ran parallel to the seawall, but during storms and high tide events, it was often damaged or impacted by erosion that rendered it inaccessible.

The new ramp will be made out of concrete and comply with ADA standards, Finley said.

“I think that that’s going to be a major, major improvement to what’s there,” he said.

“... We should never lose that ramp access again.”

FEMA will be reimbursing the city about $2.3 million of the total combined project cost for the new seawall and beach ramp.

“It has been very frustrating the length of time to get Andy Romano back fully open,” Zone 2 City Commissioner Travis Sargent said in a statement to the Observer.

“I am confident the city is on the right path. An after action report is necessary to figure out what processes need to be adjusted to speed up repairing damaged city properties.”

NEW SHADE STRUCTURES

The third project in the works for Andy Romano is a new shade structure for the playground. That, Finley said, is more of a regular maintenance

project, since the park opened 13 years ago.

“We’re at the point where we should be putting some effort into keeping it nice and making some repairs to it,” Finley said.

According to a city staff report from April about the project, the city will replace five shade structures at the park. The city budgeted $300,000 for the project in its current fiscal year, using dollars from its Facilities Renewal and Replacement fund.

The shade structure rehabilitation and replacement is out for bid. The park will not have to close for the installation of the shade structures.

PARKING BLOCKED

Why is some of the parking blocked at Andy Romano?

Finley said the current contractor — Construct Co Inc., of Orlando — is using about a third of the parking lot as a staging area. The contractor is constructing the seawall segments offsite, and sometime next week, they will start bringing those segments and keeping them in the fencedoff area.

Once work begins to install the new segments, the contractor will open up more parking spaces, reducing the fenced-off staging area as summer progresses.

“I think they’re going to work from south to north, and try and get those wall segments in there one after another, and hopefully knock it out pretty quick,” Finley said.

PAID PARKING

The city is also not giving up on charging visitors parking fees at the park, in line with

the county’s ParkVolusia program, launched in January 2025.

Last August, the commission approved an amendment to its code of ordinances that will lead to a $20 fee to park at Andy Romano. Visitors will also be able to obtain an annual pass for $100.

But first, the city is hoping to have all construction projects complete. Finley said the city has met with the county twice in the last month to discuss a paid parking program.

“We’re working through the logistics of the agreement between the city, the county as well as the vendor that was selected through the county’s process,” he said.

Like with ParkVolusia, residents will be able to park at Andy Romano for free.

CHANGE IN CONTRACTOR

If the seawall had been a simple repair, the current state of Andy Romano would be a “different story,” Finley said. A redesign and reconstruction of a complete seawall is a complex project. The city

also had an issue with the first contractor it hired.

In March 2025, it awarded a $2.1 million contract to East Coast Marine Construction & Design, Inc. However, according to a city staff report, the contractor then raised questions about the project specifications and said they couldn’t proceed under the contract terms.

They requested a change order of $818,000, which would have brought the project cost to almost $3 million.

The city chose to award the contract to its second-lowest bidder in January of this year, Construct Co. Inc. The City Commission approved a settlement and release of claims with the original contractor for $30,400, funds that had already been paid for work in October 2025.

Commissioners expressed frustration with the rebid at their meeting several months ago on Jan. 20.

“I’m very disappointed that this happened like this,” Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland said at that meeting. “I’m not trying

to point fingers at anything, but I think moving forward we try to avoid this at all costs.”

Mayor Jason Leslie agreed.

“We have to get the park up and running,” he said. “It’s the busiest park in the city. “We’re essentially going to be generating revenue on that property soon, so we don’t want to hold that up either.”

Though an amicable split, that contributed to the project’s delay too, Finley said.

“That’s not something we like to do, and that’s not something we see often, but sometimes with some of these challenging projects we get thrown a curve ball,” he said.

There are a lot of unknowns when reconstructing structures from the ‘50s and ‘60s, Finley explained. Additionally, at the time the city put the project out for bid, there was a lot of competition for seawall reconstruction projects since so many were damaged during Hurricane Milton.

“But we’re looking more looking forward now than looking back,” Finley said.

Citizens band together seeking the reopening of River Bend Golf Course

Should Ormond reopen River Bend? Many Bear Creek residents say yes. But the FAA wants a master plan update.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

MANAGING EDITOR

About 40 Ormond Beach residents stood in front of the shuttered River Bend Golf Course on Tuesday, May 12, in a demonstration of support for reopening the golf course. It’s a sentiment that has echoed in the community since the golf course closed in December 2020, when its last operator filed for bankruptcy. Many of the proponents for reopening it as a municipal golf course reside in Bear Creek Village, a 55-and-up community that abuts the 172-acre golf course property.

Sheila Lind is among those advocates and helped organize the group who came out to the former golf course property.

“We’ve gone to the city council meetings a few times and said we’d like the golf course reopened,” Lind said.

“They didn’t feel that there was enough interest in it. So

we’re really trying to show them that it’s not two people coming to the city, it’s the 60-70 people that all wanted to come to the city but weren’t able to or they didn’t think their voices mattered.”

Lind and her husband Jeff retired to Ormond Beach during the COVID-19 pandemic, and thought the golf course would reopen once things went back to normal. It was their hope, she said, to retire and be able to golf at River Bend.

In an email to city staff, which was later forwarded

to the Ormond Beach City Commission, Economic Development Director Brian Rademacher said the Federal Aviation Administration advised the city that it would not consider a release from the land being used for aeronautical purposes or to be sold without a master plan update projecting 20-year aeronautical demand. This would include a demand/capacity analysis and an airport layout plan update.

“In practical terms, this means the city cannot move forward with consideration of nonaeronautical reuse of the property, including the golf course, until the required studies are completed and reviewed by the FAA,” Rademacher wrote.

The city’s current 2014 airport master plan doesn’t expire until 2034.

In his email, Rademacher clarified that the city’s actions “before and after the golf course closure have been driven by FAA compliance obligations rather than by a predetermined preference regarding future land use,” as well as citing an obligation to consider long-term airport financial sustainability.

“The prior lease arrangement generated approximate-

ly $100,000 annually for more than 100 acres, which limited the airport’s ability to generate revenue needed for airport obligations and repayment of prior airport related capital investments funded by the General Fund,” he wrote.

In 2025, the city was also ordered to pay the Volusia County Property Appraiser over $377,000 in unpaid taxes following a seven-year lawsuit. The city had argued that the unpaid taxes, calculated at $240,848 at the time of the initial suit, were the responsibility of the golf course’s lessee. The unpaid taxes had accumulated since 2013, unbeknownst to the city until five years later.

The golf course opened in 1991 and had always been operated by a private lessee.

The city has explored other uses in the past, including building a 67-acre park with running and biking trails, more hangars, fixed-base operator facilities and commercial office space. In 2021, the city’s then airport director also inquired about reopening the golf course, but the city was considering a runway extension at that time and the FAA responded that reopening the golf course seemed “counter intuitive.”

Mayor Jason Leslie said if the golf course is the highest and best use of the property, then it’s something the city should explore.

“If the community asks about it, we should look into it,” Leslie said.

Ormond Beach resident

Don Miller played on golf course until its last day of operation. Now, he drives out to LPGA to play.

River Bend was a popular course, he said.

“It was beautiful,” Miller said. “It was the best layout in the county. I’ve played them all.”

He’d like to see the city proceed with the airport master plan update to allow for the golf course to reopen, and then explore a sale to a golf course operator who will renovate the property.

Golf courses that can be fixed up are selling now, Miller said.

“The one in Flagler just sold for $800,000 and it’s 37 acres,” he said. “This is like 170 acres. A real golf course, not nine holes.”

Dutch Harrison moved to Ormond Beach seven years ago. Prior to its closure, he and his fellow members of the American Legion would hold their fundraisers at River

Bend.

“The course would support us and we reciprocated,” he said. If River Bend were to reopen, he’d help to keep it busy. Harrison said he organizes a group of golfers, an average of 60 during the season, and they all play together at the Spruce Creek Country Club in Port Orange. Tuesday was a rainy day, and Harrison said he had 32 golfers show up and play. A month ago, he had about 100 golfers in his group. The idea that golf is a dying sport is untrue, Lind said.

“I think that’s an ill-conceived notion,” she said. “It continues to grow. There’s still golf in the youth. There’s golf in the colleges. There’s golf in the retirement, and I don’t think it’ll ever go away.

Having a golf course here in our community that we can support would show them it can actually generate revenue for the city.”

A “River Bend Golf Course reunion” will be held from 12-2 p.m. on May 30 at the Beaver Bar in Ormond Beach to invite people to join their cause and participate in a survey. The survey responses will then be submitted to the city.

A staging area has been fenced off at Andy Romano Beachfront Park, blocking off about a third of the parking lot space. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach residents came out on Tuesday, May 12, to the former River Bend Golf Course property to show support for its reopening. Photos by Jarleene Almenas

River Bend Golf Course has been closed since its last operator filed for bankruptcy in December 2020.

Tomoka Reserve’s first phase to be composed of 24 lots

Also, Site Plan Review Committee reviews three other projects.

JARLEENE

A little over a month after obtaining approval from the Ormond Beach City Commission, Tomoka Reserve is moving to the next step: the preliminary plat. Representatives with the development, slated to be a 254-home subdivision within Tomoka Oaks on its former golf course, met with the city’s Site Plan Review Committee on May 6 for a pre-application meeting for the first phase of the project. The developers are proposing to construct 24 lots for phase 1.

Of those lots, half will be 80-foot lots and the other half will be 66-foot lots. Preliminary plats used to always require City Commission approval; this changed in 2025 after the governor signed Senate Bill 784 into law, which mandates that plats be administratively approved under certain conditions. If a plat is denied by the SPRC, then it can be reviewed by the City Commission. Construction would begin once a final plat is approved.

Several Tomoka Oaks residents attended the May 6 SPRC meeting to voice opposition to the project. Concerns remained largely the same as during the recent public hearings — an increase in traffic, a burden on existing infrastructure and the environment, and negative impact on the quality

of life of surrounding residents. Neighbors also advocated for mitigating impacts of the development, including tree preservation and ensuring the developers keep the promised 50-foot buffer.

SECTION 8 HOUSING AT BEACHFRONT RESORT?

An interested buyer seeks to renovate the Makai Beach Lodge resort to include workforce Section-8 housing for the non-beachfront rooms, deemed as those with the highest vacancy rates when a resort is operational. These apartment rentals would have seven-year leases, as discussed in the April 29 SPRC meeting.

Makai Beach Lodge, located at 707 S. Atlantic Ave., has been closed since sustaining significant damage during

Hurricane Milton in 2024. It’s listed for sale for $10 million and has 110 rooms, about 46 of which aren’t beachfront.

Since its closure, there have been issues with squatters and people looking to explore abandoned properties, as its blighted condition has circulated through social media, including TikTok.

The resort is zoned B-6 “Oceanfront Tourist Commercial.” While transient lodging and multifamily units are allowed under the zoning, the latter as a conditional use, Planning Director Steven Spraker explained the property isn’t likely to meet the building requirements for a multifamily development, including parking.

He advised the applicant seek a rezoning to Public Business Development, which would require public hearings, and submit a concept plan to the city as well as secure the site.

DUTCH BROS COFFEE COMING TO ORMOND

Construction on the new Dutch Bros Coffee coming to 764 W. Granada Blvd. will start soon.

The city’s SPRC held a pre-construction meeting on April 29 for the drivethru coffee shop chain’s new location, which is next to the Extra Space Storage building by Reflections Village. The Dutch Bros Coffee will span 1,071 square feet and have two drive-thru lanes.

The project was administratively approved in December 2025, as the use was allowed as part of the existing development order for Ormond Central, approved in 2017.

Once construction begins, work is allowed between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Drilling and wet taps are prohibited on Fridays and during holidays. No work is allowed on Sundays. No trucks are allowed to enter Old Kings Road or residential streets.

RACETRAC SEEKS TO EXPAND ON U.S 1

The RaceTrac gas station and convenience store at 1521 N. U.S. 1 may be expanded by 456 square feet.

Store representatives met with the SPRC on April 22 for a pre-application meeting. According to the meeting’s minutes, the expansion is being considered for the north side; though it could be moved to the south side if there is a conflict with the existing lift station.

RaceTrac seeks to renovate the entire store’s floor plan, including providing more ADA accessibility in its restrooms. As the property has an expired development order, city staff explained it can ask for a Planned Business Development amendment or rezoning back to B-7 Highway Tourist Commercial. If choosing the latter option, it would need a special exception for its outdoor public storage. Both options would require public hearings.

School Board halts tax referendum

Volusia will not move forward with referendum effort for teacher pay.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

When it comes to a tax referendum to increase teacher and support staff salaries in Volusia County Schools, the School Board is saying, “Not right now.”

School Board members voted unanimously on Tuesday, May 12, against moving forward with a referendum that would have asked voters to approve whether or not to add one mill of ad valorem taxes on their property tax bill to fund teacher and staff pay for four years. This was an initiative led by teachers’ union Volusia United Educators, which previously stated the referendum would generate about $70 million.

While School Board members voted 3-2 in April to proceed with the referendum, they got cold feet at Tuesday’s meeting. Board members said they received many calls from constituents asking them to halt the referendum due to the financial strain families face today as a result of inflation and rising gas prices.

“I received so many phone calls,” School Board member Jamie Haynes said. “And each phone call that I received was another story: ‘I’m already choosing between my medicine and groceries, and you want to increase my property taxes?’”

Haynes and Board Chair Ruben Colon both voted

against the referendum at the April meeting. Haynes felt she had too many unanswered questions to support it at this time. Colon felt it was the wrong time to add more taxes in light of the economy.

“I think the world is in a worse place right now than it was even a month ago when we spoke, and there’s no end in sight right now,” Colon said. He echoed his sentiments from the April meeting, saying: “It’s not a no — it’s a not right now.”

The School Board’s decision was a disappointing one for VUE President Elizabeth Albert, who said at the meeting that she thought she would get the opportunity to answer questions from the board. A staff meeting to go over the referendum, she said, was scheduled and then canceled by the district.

Thirty-three other districts in the state already have millage in place to help fund teacher pay. More districts are in talks to do the same, Albert said.

“There was a comment made about folks struggling to be able to buy groceries and buy medicine — your employees are those people,” Albert said. “They absolutely are and the problem with speculating about what would be gained from a referendum versus what is given, we haven’t had any opportunity to present our data and the strategy or the plan.”

A referendum for teacher pay isn’t new for Volusia County. In 2012, a referendum that sought one mill for salaries, academic programs and student activities failed by a slim margin: 909 votes.

For the board members that OK’d moving the referendum forward in April, they did so more because they supported giving voters a choice, and less because they personally supported the issue.

“Last time we spoke about this, I was very clear that I personally didn’t support it but wanted the voters to have a say,” School Board member Jessie Thompson said. This was a tough call, School Board member Donna Brosemer said. She listed recent expenses made by the district, including the 2024 purchase of a school site in DeBary — later sold in March — and the use of one-time coronavirus relief dollars to fund recurring expenses.

“I do not see a revenue problem for this district,” Brosemer said. “I see a priority problem, and because of that, I have vacillated between neutral and negative. I believe strongly that this is on us to fix for the teachers, but I also believe strongly that the voters should have a say.”

School Board member Krista Goodrich said the number of people who asked her to vote against moving the referendum forward was “overwhelming.” She suggested the board make an effort to meet with the district’s chief financial officer to understand the budget and figure out places to cut so teachers can still get a raise.

A referendum is a possibility for the future, she added.

“I think we’ve got a couple years to work on how this looks going forward,” Goodrich said. Email jarleene@observer localnews.com.

Travis Sargent seeks third term

The Ormond Beach City Commissioner represents Zone 2.

JARLEENE

ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Ormond Beach Zone 2 City

Commissioner Travis Sargent is seeking reelection.

Sargent has served on the commission since 2022. He filed to run for reelection on Feb. 23. A veteran with the U.S. Marine Corps, he has been in the insurance industry for over 20 years and currently works for Foundation Risk Partners.

If reelected, he would be serving his third term in office.

“We’re just getting started,” Sargent said. “Being two year terms, it takes a little while to get to get things rolling. I really want to continue to give back to the community — it’s what it’s really about, leaving it better than we found it.”

Enhancing public safety, continuing to update the city’s technology and kickstarting an artificial intelligence advisory board are some of the initiatives Sargent said he

wishes to continue in a third term. Over the past four years, some of the accomplishments he’s most proud of include keeping the property tax rate as the second lowest among Volusia’s 16 municipalities and upping the pay for police and fire, which led to filling vacancies in public safety.

“I was the one that led the initiative for us to do the selfDOGEing of ourselves,” He said. “Thankfully, the others on the commission agreed, and we were able to have the staff to go through it. Honestly, our budget is very, very lean.”

But, while it’s hard to find places to cut, he said, some opportunities may be present in areas such as outside legal counsel and reviewing its auto-renewal contracts.

One area the city can improve on is distributing information to the public, Sargent added. Social media is a challenge, as people look to it for news and are met with information that isn’t always accurate.

With respect to Zone 2, residents continue to experience some flooding issues. Fixes are in the works through projects made possible with

the county’s Transform386 program, he said.

Sargent added that maintaining Home Rule is also an important issue for him. He was one of three recipients of the Florida League of Cities’ Home Rule Hero award this year in Ormond Beach. Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland also received the award, as did City Manager Joyce Shanahan.

“Us elected officials are elected by our residents to make local decisions,” Sargent said. “We know it better than Tallahassee does.”

Only one other candidate has filed to run against Sargent to date. Jennifer Bright, a retired financial data analyst, filed to run in June 2025.

New Planning Board member files for Ormond Beach City Commission

Amber Bobak filed to run for Zone 4 on Thursday, May 7.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

MANAGING EDITOR

A third candidate has entered the race for Ormond Beach City Commission Zone 4.

Newly appointed Planning Board member Amber Bobak filed to run for the seat on Thursday, May 7. Bobak has lived in Ormond Beach since she was 12 years old and works for Cains Electric in town as a front desk office administrator. Bobak said she had been thinking about running for office for a couple of months. Traffic, development and preserving the environment are some issues she said are impacting Ormond Beach the most today. As is divisiveness.

“There’s so many people I feel like are on both sides that aren’t feeling heard,” Bobak said. “I just like to listen to everybody and see where we could find middle ground.”

She started attending City Commission meetings last year after she learned that her neighborhood would be getting a new Circle K gas station at 699 S. Nova Road. Bobak

appealed the city’s site plan approval for the project and asked for a review of zoning districts near residential areas to prevent this from happening in the future.

Bobak was unanimously appointed to the Planning Board after a nomination by Mayor Jason Leslie in February.

Since her appointment, Bobak said she’s had conversations with the planning director about environmental ideas and policies for the city.

“He told me that while those are all great ideas, and I’m on an advisory board, most of those would be a commission position decision,” Bobak said. “So I said, ‘why not? Let’s try it.’”

If elected, Bobak said she’d like to see the city implement a program similar to Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands program, which like Volusia Forever, preserves environmentally sensitive lands. Rather than property taxes, Bobak would like to explore using mitigation credits to purchase isolated wetlands and help Tomoka State Park with water quality and erosion initiatives.

In regard to ongoing developments, Bobak said she’s been monitoring the new Yoon Way townhomes proposal, as well as Avalon Park and Ormond Crossings. In Zone 4, issues like traffic and road construction at Hand Avenue and Division Avenue are also ones to watch, she said.

“I think the commission overall is doing a good job,” Bobak said. “... I do think that we need to stand up a little bit more environmentally and have a little bit more of a backbone and push back a little bit more than we currently do.”

Bobak is currently running against incumbent City Commissioner Harold Briley, who filed in March, and Barry du Moulin, a retired inspector for the U.S. Coast Guard who filed in January. All three have served on the city’s Planning Board at one time.

Daytona Beach Commission to review the Avalon Park on May 20

Developer seeks a rezoning for entire project, slated to add more than 8,800 residential units.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A public hearing for the Avalon Park development in Daytona Beach will be held on May 20 as the Daytona Beach City Commission prepares to review the project.

The commission will be reviewing a massive rezoning application for the project as well as a request to annex a 27-acre property into the Avalon Park development, owned by Avalon Park Daytona, LLC. The parcel will be limited to 80 residential units and just over 479,000 square feet of commercial space.

The Avalon Planned development project is a 2,760acre project between North Timber Creek Road, south of West Granada Boulevard and west of Interstate 95. The development will have 8,818 residential units built out across all phases, and 1 million square feet of commercial space.

The Avalon Park development will be added to Zone 4 in the Daytona Beach City Commission, currently represented by Stacy Cantu.

Cantu pointed out in the May 6 commission meeting that the buildout of Avalon Park will be a 20-25-year process that will be built in phases.

“What they are doing is — the 8,818 homes, instead of coming back for each phase, they want us to approve all

the phases at once,” Cantu said. “But they cannot start the next phase unless all the infrastructure is in place.”

The Avalon Park development will put around $125 million of infrastructure, including road improvements, into the area, Cantu said.

Daytona Beach Planning Director Dennis Mrozek said the developer could install all its infrastructure at once, if it wanted to, and then build out the project, but they have to have the infrastructure in place to move to the next phase.

“The first phase would include extending Timber Creek from where Margaritaville is, where that terminus is, up to Avalon Park Boulevard,” Mrozek said. “Then Avalon Park Boulevard will continue up to State Road 40 to Granada. So that first phase will include a connection up to State Road 40.”

“A lot of my residents are looking forward to that over at Margaritaville,” Cantu said.

As part of the rezoning request, the developer is asking for several waivers, including smaller lots, reducing the required distances between homes and civic centers, bars, distilleries and other businesses in the mixed-use area, and modifications for onstreet parking.

Cantu also said Avalon Park, as part of the agreement, will be giving land for a police substation, for a fire department substation and for a school if a school is needed in the area. The development is currently involved in a federal lawsuit with the City of Ormond Beach over utilities. The 27-acre annexation and the rezoning for the entire Avalon Park development will be viewed next on May 20, with ability for public comment and with final action by the Daytona Beach Commission.

Email Sierra Williams at sierra@observerlocalnews. com

At buildout, Avalon Park will be a mixed-use community composed of 8,818

square feet of

development. File photo by Jarleene Almenas

Amber Bobak. Photo courtesy of Chloe Ecochardt

Zone 2 City Commissioner Travis Sargent. Courtesy photo

Ormond Beach to explore proactive restrictions on data center projects

Hoping to avoid another fuel farm debacle, city considers a ban on data centers.

JARLEENE

ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

A bill dictating that local governments have the authority to regulate planning and zoning laws for large-scale data centers was signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday, May 7. Senate Bill 484 specifies that local governments have the responsibility over comprehensive planning and land development regulations

for data centers, which are increasing in demand across the U.S. due to the use of artificial intelligence. The bill also prohibits a water management district or the state’s Department of Environmental Protection from issuing a permit if it goes against local zoning regulations.

Hoping to avoid another fuel farm debacle, Ormond Beach city officials are looking to stay proactive — and consider a ban.

“These data centers are trending everywhere,” Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland said at their meeting on Tuesday, May 5. “There’s a lot of discussion. There is a lot of research on it right now, and what I’ve

done in my limited research is they’re not really appropriate for Ormond Beach, given our aquifer — or much of Florida, due to our geographics and the water supply.”

Tolland said she recognized data centers are useful, just maybe not for Ormond Beach.

“Just like the fuel terminal, they are useful, but just not here,” she said.

Tolland’s remarks came at the end of the City Commission meeting. During public comment, Dream Green Volusia founder Suzanne Scheiber brought the topic of data centers and SB 484 forward, saying that data centers are currently in the planning stages in the state.

According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, a medium-sized data center can consume 110 million gallons of water per year, about the same as 1,000 households. Larger data centers’ water use can rise to up to 5 million gallons per day, about the same as a town with a population of 10,00050,000 people.

“Data centers truly are resource-ravenous projects,” Scheiber said. “We should be pursuing water conservation, not water depletion. We can address this now because we do understand the high stakes. Progress should never threaten our way of life.”

Commissioners Travis

“Progress should never threaten our way of life.” SUZANNE SCHEIBER, Dream Green Volusia founder

Sargent and Kristin Deaton agreed with Tolland: The discussion should take place.

Tolland asked staff to conduct research on data centers and bring back information on what steps the city can take to regulate them.

However, while SB 484 gives local governments control of data centers, there is an executive order from President Donald Trump from last year about accelerating federal permitting of data center infrastructure. The executive order revolves around using

federally owned land and resources for the development of data centers.

Sargent said the city should look at the president’s executive order as well as the impact of Senate Bill 180; this legislation prohibits local governments from enacting more restrictive zoning laws on development through 2027.

“I think it’s a lot of work on staff with between the executive order, the state level and then SB 180, but I’m all for doing it,” Sargent said.

NEWS BRIEFS

Embry-Riddle breaks ground on new ROTC complex in Daytona Beach

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University celebrated the groundbreaking of a new ROTC complex at its Daytona Beach campus on Wednesday, May 6. The facility will serve Embry-Riddle’s ROTC programs, according to a press release. The programs have almost 800 cadets and midshipmen. The new 28,000-square-

foot, two-story building will house leadership-focused education spaces, including a 100-seat auditorium. The facility will also include a computer lab, missionspecific simulators, program support offices and student collaboration spaces, as well as an outdoor plaza for drill training and ceremonies.

“When you see what these

cadets and midshipmen accomplish, you understand that we are shaping the officers who will lead our military for decades to come,” said retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, who serves on Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees.

The complex will also have a memorial site honoring Embry-Riddle alums who have died while in the military. The university expects to open the complex in fall 2027, on the east side of Clyde Morris Boulevard at the Daytona campus. Through Embry-Riddle’s ROTC programs at Daytona, more than 750 graduates have been commissioned as officers in the military over the past five years, according to the university. Embry-Riddle has the second-largest Air Force program in the nation, with about 50 cadets; more than 313 officers have been commissioned over the past five fiscal years. Since 2022, it has ranked among the top 10% of all 145 detachments nationwide. Embry-Riddle’s Army ROTC has more than 150 cadets.

Military, government and university representatives gathered for the groundbreaking of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s new ROTC complex on May 6. Photo courtesy of Embry-Riddle/David Massey

Flagler Beach Fire Chief Cox terminated amid staff turmoil

City manager says confidence in Cox’s leadership eroded following resignations.

RICH CARROLL MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER

Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox has been terminated following weeks of turmoil inside the department that included the resignation of five firefighters citing concerns over leadership. Cox, who had served as fire chief for about a year and spent roughly 16 years with the Flagler Beach Fire Department overall, was informed of his termination in a letter from City Manager Dale Martin dated May 11. The firing was effective immediately.

the attached correspondence signed by the remaining members of the Fire Department,” Martin wrote in the termination letter. “Given those conditions, I do not believe that you can effectively lead the City of Flagler Beach Fire Department.”

The controversy follows reporting published by the Observer on April 30 detailing the resignation of five department members, who cited leadership concerns and declining morale within the agency.

Employees also raised concerns regarding ethical standards, financial oversight and communication within the department, writing that confidence in leadership had eroded.

“For these reasons, we formally express no confidence in the Fire Chief,” the employees wrote in the signed statement attached to the termination letter.

a short-term interim basis to assist the department during the transition.

“Thank you to both Acting Chief Fiveash and LT Rainey for their assistance at this time,” Martin said in the statement. “I have full confidence in the remaining leadership and staff of the Fire Department to continue to provide the public safety support expected by Flagler Beach residents and businesses.”

The firing comes after multiple members of the Flagler Beach Fire Department resigned and remaining employees submitted a signed letter expressing no confidence in Cox’s leadership.

“Your termination is related to the loss of confidence expressed in the resignations of several members of the Fire Department and in

The attached correspondence from remaining department members outlined concerns involving transparency, leadership, accountability and department morale. The letter referenced recent leadership turnover, including the resignation of the deputy fire chief and two senior department members.

In an addendum statement issued Monday, Martin announced that Deputy Chief Fiveash has agreed to pause her previously announced resignation for approximately 45 days during the leadership transition. Martin said Fiveash, who is currently out of town, is expected to return later this week and serve as acting chief on a temporary basis.

Martin also said Lt. Morgan Rainey has agreed to return on

Martin added that the city will begin the process of recruiting new fire department leadership with assistance from the city’s human resources department and current fire personnel.

Martin’s termination letter notes that Cox may request an exit interview and “name clearing hearing” within five business days.

Flagler County ESL makes offer on property in The Hammock

County staff is also looking to purchase another 2,200 acres in west Flagler County for the ESL Program.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The purchase of several properties being eyed for conservation in Marineland and The Hammock may soon be underway.

A 35-acre property in Marineland that was scouted by the Flagler County Environmentally Sensitive Land program is going to be split into two properties, with Flagler County purchasing half and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Forever Program purchasing the other half. At the Flagler County Land Acquisition Committee’s May 11 meeting, Public Lands and Natural Resource manger Erick Revuelta said the 35-acre property under consideration would cost much more than the county could afford.

While appraisals are confidential, he said, they were

expecting the price to be roughly $500,000 per acre.

“It came out to be a lot more than that,” Revuelta said. “I mean, it blew my mind.”

The property is owned by JDI Marineland, a major landowner in The Hammock, and includes a marina and an existing wastewater treatment plant. Flagler County, the FDEP and the University of Florida, on behalf of the Whitney Lab in Marineland, have been in negotiations to purchase property from JDI Marineland for months.

Instead of giving up the purchase, Revuelta and the ESL staff reached out to the FDEP to see if there was interest in purchasing part of the property. The FDEP agreed to purchase the marina portion of the property, while Flagler County purchased the wastewater plant portion, which has forest known as maritime hammock on site.

Fortunately, Revuelta said, FDEP’s agreement reduced the county’s financial responsibility significantly.

“We’ve made an offer that was based on the appraisals,” Revuelta said. “That offer has been verbally accepted. Once we have a purchase agreement, we will present that to

the LAC.”

Staff still has to go through several more assessments and the purchasing agreement process. Should the LAC recommend moving forward with the purchase agreement, it will then be reviewed by the Flagler County Commission.

The Flagler County Commission has the final say on all the recommendations from the LAC.

The Marineland 35 property is not the only land Flagler County is eyeing for conservation in The Hammock. The LAC will also recommend the Flagler County Commission acquire the conservation easement for another property known as the Lastinger property — 39 acres of land located between State Road A1A and the Intracoastal — for $3.25 million.

“That’s going to protect roughly 26 acres of coastal strand and coastal soil communities,” Revuelta said.

Another 21 acres, directly adjacent to the Lastinger property along the intracoastal, is also in negotiations for a conservation easement with Flagler County. This Cedar Point property contains one of the last unprotected tracts of high-quality maritime

Flagler County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Program has placed an offer to purchase a property in Marineland for conservation. There are three properties in The Hammock that Flagler County is seeking to include in its ESL Program. Map by Hailey McMillan

hammock. It is owned by the DuPont family and has several imperiled species as well as the family cemetery and a family-owned cabin.

Conservation easements are not open to the public.

Revuelta said the county is still working with the DuPont family to figure out what the family wants to keep and what would be included in the easement.

All three Hammock properties are on the Priority A list for purchasing. Also on the A List are four other properties, including, until recently, 3,800 acres of land near Daytona North and two properties with the Florida Agricultural Museum in northwest Flagler.

The 3,800 acres was purchased in April and will be the site of the future Big Cypress Swamp Nature Preserve in Flagler County. The Agricultural Museum properties,

Revuelta told the LAC, have hit a snag in discussions as the Florida Agricultural Commissioner wants to place an additional conservation easement on top of the easements already on the property.

The LAC voted to remove the Museum properties to the Priority B List until the issue is resolved, leaving two openings on the A List. The LAC moved a 519-acre property in west Flagler County to the A List alongside a new, 2,238acre property near the Haw Creek Preserve.

This property, known as the Orange Hammock property, has a large section of flood plain, Revuelta said and would also be purchased for a conservation easement, pending commission approval. The recommended changes will be reviewed by the Flagler Commission for approval.

State’s immigration enforcement costs climb to $460M for year

The Florida Division of Emergency Management spent another $45.3 million for immigration enforcement-related costs, bringing the total for the year to nearly $460 million. According to Transparency Florida, a government accountability website through the executive office of the governor, FDEM filed a budget amendment May 6 notifying the Legislature it was spending $45.3 million out of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund to pay off

invoices for the 2025-2026 year. In total, FDEM has spent $458.5 million in emergency funds on illegal immigration enforcement in the past year. The division was blocked from spending money from the fund on any new contracts after Feb. 17, when the Legislature failed to renew its authorization, but the state can still use funds to pay off any invoices before the expiration date. The records didn’t detail how the money was spent, other than noting it was for “illegal migration.” FDEM officials did not respond to emails or a phone call requesting comment. The fund was created in 2022 to handle hurricane preparation and response and other natural disasters, allowing Gov. Ron DeSantis to quickly dispense money during states of emergency.

Former Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox. Photo courtesy of the Flagler Beach Fire Department/Facebook

Ashley Lugo says her son continues showing encouraging signs following emergency brain surgery.

RICH CARROLL

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER

The Palm Coast and Flagler County community is rallying around 10-year-old Nolan Estepp and his family after the Old Kings Elementary student suffered a devastating brain AVM rupture while at school late last month.

Nolan remains hospitalized in Orlando as he continues fighting through what his mother, Ashley Lugo,

GoFundMe

Support Nolan’s family through the GoFundMe campaign. Visit gofundme.com/f/ prayers-and-supportfor-nolans-fight-for-life.

described as a long and uncertain recovery process following emergency brain surgery and weeks in intensive care. Meanwhile, friends, family members and complete strangers have stepped forward with donations, prayer vigils and a growing fundraiser effort to support the family during the crisis. A “Benefit for Nolan” fund-

raiser is now planned for noon on Saturday, May 30, at 1405 Saloon in Bunnell. The event will include raffles, live music, food, snow cones, bounce houses, face painting and activities for children, with all proceeds benefiting Nolan and his family.

According to Lugo, Nolan suffered the rupture during PE class at Old Kings Elementary on April 27.

“He grabbed his head and screamed on the top of his lungs, and then he vomited on himself,” Lugo said. “He aspirated, and then he passed out.”

Doctors later determined Nolan suffered a ruptured arteriovenous malformation, commonly known as an AVM, deep within the thalamus portion of his brain. An AVM

is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain. When an AVM ruptures, it causes bleeding in the brain and can quickly become life threatening.

Lugo said Nolan underwent emergency surgery after being airlifted to Orlando.

“He is currently in the ICU on life support, fighting for his life,” Lugo said in an online fundraiser message shared with the community.

The first days after the rupture were especially difficult.

“Nolan spent from April 27 to May 1 very touch-and-go, fighting for his life every day,” Lugo said. “They didn’t think he was going to survive.”

At one point, doctors feared Nolan may have been brain dead after scans showed no brain activity following heavy sedation used to reduce dangerous swelling in his brain.

But days later, Nolan began responding.

“Three days later, he started reacting,” Lugo said. “His eyes are reacting to light. And that’s when it was confirmed that he was not brain dead. It was honestly the best news I could have ever heard in my life at that point.”

Since then, Lugo said Nolan has shown additional encouraging signs, including opening his eyes and squeezing her hand.

“It was the best Mother’s Day present I could have ever asked for,” Lugo said after describing the emotional moment Nolan grabbed her hand from his hospital bed.

Doctors are now attempting to remove Nolan from the ventilator and begin the next phase of recovery, though Lugo said there are still many unknowns about long-term effects from the brain injury.

“They don’t know. There is no answer,” Lugo said regarding Nolan’s recovery outlook.

“He is the most empathetic, give-theshirt-off-your-back type of kid.”

ASHLEY LUGO

“There’s no way to tell what parts of his brain was damaged.”

Nolan, who Lugo described as “the smartest kid I’ve ever met in my life,” is known for his love of history, video games and helping other children who are bullied at school. Lugo said Nolan hopes to become either a YouTuber or a computer programmer when he grows up.

“He is the most empathetic, give-the-shirt-off-yourback type of kid,” Lugo said.

The family’s financial challenges have also mounted, as Lugo remains by Nolan’s side in Orlando and is unable to

continue operating her cleaning business.

“I’ve had no income since April 27,” Lugo said. Support for Nolan has spread well beyond Flagler County. Lugo said people from around the world have reached out with prayers, donations and messages of encouragement.

“We have people in Africa and China praying for Nolan,” Lugo said. “There’s people all over the world praying for my son.” Lugo said the outpouring of support has been overwhelming.

“I just want to thank everybody for their support and their love,” she said. “Those messages and those prayers are definitely what got me through.”

Community members can also support Nolan’s family through the GoFundMe campaign, “Prayers and Support for Nolan’s Fight for Life,” which has already raised more than $28,000.

Nolan Estepp before suffering a ruptured brain AVM during PE class at Old Kings Elementary in late April. Photos courtesy of Ashley Lugo

Nolan Estepp remains hospitalized in Orlando following a ruptured brain AVM suffered during PE class at Old Kings Elementary on April 27.

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, MAY 14

COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP

When: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Where: Flagler County Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Building 3, Bunnell

Details: Attend this monthly presentation on general preparedness. Learn practical tips and strategies to help you stay safe and ready for emergencies.

VOICE AND GUITAR

CONCERT

When: 6-7:30 p.m.

Where: St. James Episcopal Church sanctuary, 44 S. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: St. James Episcopal Church invites the community to a Voice and Guitar Program featuring Stetson University music students Colin James and Natalie Reese. The program includes original songs and favorites from the 1960s, the Beatles, and jazz. Free admission; donations accepted. Refreshments will be served at the end of the program.

SWING INTO SPRING — MINI CONCERT SERIES

When: 6:30-8 p.m.

Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: See The Cat 4 Band perform live. Bring a chair or blanket. Free event presented by the City of Ormond Beach.

FRIDAY, MAY 15

SECOND ANNUAL FLAGLER

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

BREAKFAST AND EXPO

When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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

Details: Join Flagler Volunteer Services, Inc. and partners for information about the upcoming hurricane season. Take part in hands on demonstrations, talk with subject matter expert vendors and exhibitors and leave with a free disaster preparedness kit. Free.

GOPHER TORTOISE: SUPERHERO OF THE SCRUB

When: 10-11 a.m.

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

Details: Discover the world of gopher tortoises. After the talk, stroll through the park to spot active burrows. Program open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Park entry fee applies.

VETERANS LUNCH & LEARN

When: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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

Beach

Details: Veterans and current service members are invited to join glass artists LC &

Tommy Tobey for a discussion on glass art. A complimentary boxed lunch will be provided. Free program. Registration is required. Register at www. ormondartmuseum.org/ classes-programs.

PADDLE INTO ADVENTURE!

When: 12-2 p.m. Friday, May 15; and 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 20

Where: Gamble Rogers

Memorial State Recreational Area, 3100 S. Oceanshore Blvd. Flagler Beach

Details: Take this two-hour guided kayak tour, presented by the Friends of Gamble Rogers State Park. All skill levels over the age of 12 welcome. Registration is a donation of $50 per person; $25 if bringing your own kayak. Space is limited. Call 3866-517-2086.

FLAGLER SPRING OUTREACH

When: 12:30-3 p.m.

Where: Cattleman’s Hall, Flagler County Fairgrounds, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell

Details: Hosted by Flagler County Health and Human Services Department, this event provides free information of social services, and immediate assistance with things like free food and haircuts.

DEDICATION OF WICKLINE PARK PLAYGROUND

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Wickline Park, 800 S. Daytona Ave., Flagler Beach

Details: Join the City of Flagler Beach to celebrate the official dedication of the new Wickline Park Playground. Following the dedication, stay for Flagler Flicks, a free, family-fun movie night beginning at 8:30 p.m.

CMTW PRESENTS “THE WIZARD OF OZ: YOUTH EDITION”

When: 7 p.m. Friday, May 15; 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 16; and 1 p.m. Sunday, May 17 Where: Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach

Details: Children’s Musical Theatre Workshop, celebrating their 44th year, presents their Spring 2026 show. This stage adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” features the characters and celebrated songs from the film. Tickets cost $15. Visit https://ormond beachperformingartscenter. csstix.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 16

SEASIDE HERB SOCIETY

When: 9:30 a.m.

Where: Bailey’s Riverbridge Meeting House, 1 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Details: Join the Seaside Herb Society for its presentation, titled “Edible Weeds” by Janell Taylor of Littlefield Farms, DeLand. The herb of the month is cardamom. Learn about the uses. Samplings will be offered. First meeting attendance is free; visitors welcome. The Society meets on the third Saturday of the month September through May. Visit seaside herbsociety.com.

PALM COAST’S SIXTH

ANNUAL TOUCH-A-TRUCK

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

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

Details: Get up close with the vehicles and equipment that keep Palm Coast running, meet Public Works staff and learn how everyday services come to life. A horn-free hour will take place from 10-11 a.m.

GOD’S FAMILY BIBLE

CHURCH PANTRY FOOD

DISTRIBUTION

When: 10-11 a.m.

Where: Parking lot across Gods Family Bible Church, 256 Old Brick Road, Bunnell

Details: God’s Family Bible Church distributes food every first and third Saturday in this drive-thru event.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

TRIVIA

When: 1-2 p.m.

Where: Palm Coast library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway NW, Palm Coast

Details: Put your knowledge to the test. Come solo or bring a team. Light refreshments and fresh coffee will be available. Visit http:// flaglerlibrary.org/event/ adult-general-knowledgetrivia-2/2026-05-16/.

ARTWAVE YOUTH

WORKSHOP

When: 2-3 p.m.

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

Details: Young artists ages 11 to 14 are invited to join youth curator, Emma Dennison to learn about artist Louise Nevelson and create a shadow box inspired by her work. Tuition for this 90-minute program includes all supplies. Seats are limited. Costs $15 for museum members; $20 for non-members. Register www.ormondartmuseum.org.

DAYTONA JAZZ

ORCHESTRA

When: 2 p.m.

Where: Daytona Beach Regional Library, 105 Jackie Robinson Parkway, Daytona Beach

Details: Enjoy songs from the big band era to contemporary music with Daytona Jazz Orchestra, an 18-piece big band with a singer. This event is cosponsored by Volusia County Public Library and Friends of the Daytona Beach Regional Library. Registration is not required.

FIESTA DE COLORES — A

MEXICAN THEMED DINNER AND DANCE

When: 5-9 p.m.

Where: St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 5400 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: Enjoy a night of music, dancing and Mexican cuisine. There will be live music by guitarist Cesar Romero, beginner-friendly salsa, cha cha and merengue dances. Tickets cost $50. Proceeds benefit St. Thomas Episcopal Church ministries. Call 386446-2300.

TUESDAY, MAY 19

RETIREMENT LUNCHEON FOR REV. GLOVER

When: 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Where: Oceanview Ballroom, Hammock Dunes Club, 30 Avenue Royale, Palm Coast

Details: This luncheon will honor Rev. Gillard S. Glover, founding pastor of the First A.M.E. Church of Palm Coast. Dress code is business attire. Costs $100 per person. Call 386-237-2382.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20

FLAGLER TIGER BAY

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Hammock Dunes Club, 30 Avenue Royale, Palm Coast

Details: Speaker is Daralene Jones, four-time Emmy award-winning journalist and investigative leader. Costs $45 for members; $50 for guests. Visit www.flaglertiger bayclub.com/event-6615226.

THURSDAY, MAY 21

EVACUATION SHELTER TRAINING

When: 1-5 p.m.

Where: Flagler County Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell

Details: Flagler County Emergency Management and Flagler Volunteer Services invite residents to learn how to provide support during emergencies or disasters.

RECIPES AND READS

CULINARY LAB — BACON

When: 2 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Details: Learn about the history of bacon during this cooking demonstration. Free.

CRISIS CLEAN UP

TRAINING

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

Where: Flagler County Emer-

gency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell

Details: Disaster Volunteers are invited to join for a training on how to be a call taker for Crisis Clean Up. This training will also show you how to make calls to local residents and update their information in the system. Visit flaglervol unteer.org.

ORMOND BEACH AREA

DEMOCRATIC CLUB

MEETING

When: 6:30-8:15 p.m.

Where: 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Attend the May meeting of the Ormond Beach Area Democratic Club. The guest speaker will be Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera, candidate for District 6 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Likeminded guests are welcome to attend. Visit ormondbeach dems.org.

Maintenance required

BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER

I got a flat tire the other day, and it wasn’t because of a nail. The tire was bald, which I knew, and the alignment was off, which I didn’t know. The combination resulted in

a gash in the tire, simply from wear. The lesson I learned is that maintenance is not optional. Sometimes, it’s urgent, and we don’t know how urgent until it’s too late.

That can apply to relationships, too. It’s easy to think that friendships will last forever, but they fade unless I choose to maintain them, which usually means proactive communication. What else do I need to maintain in my life?

MONEY ON THE BRAIN

May 8, 2026

In a profile on Marcel Duchamp in the May 4 New Yorker, Hilton Als writes that capital, meaning money, “shapes or encroaches on artistic practice, corrupting the freedom of the mind.”

What would I do differently in my life if I didn’t need to make money?

Another way to look at it: What have I learned and how have I grown because of my quest to fulfill my responsibility to provide for my family?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Developer rights vs. homeowner rights

Dear Editor:

We’ve all heard the mantra: Property owners’ rights. However, both are property owners.

Regarding Tomoka Oaks — because “the system” favored the developer (it almost always does) those homeowners who bought/own property on the golf course will now see their property value decrease significantly.

NEWS BRIEFS

Volusia advances five proposed amendments

The 2026 Volusia County Charter Review Commission adopted its final report during its April 13 meeting, advanc-

As well, all Tomoka Oaks residents and nearby residents will see their quality of life deteriorate. The system needs more balance where the rights of the incumbent property owners (homeowners) are considered equally. Right now, they are not.

KEN AND JULIE SIPES Ormond Beach

ing five proposed charter amendments to the Volusia County Council. The County Council will now hold a series of three public hearings to provide residents with an opportunity to comment on the proposed amendments and to consider whether to introduce additional amendments before the general election ballot is finalized. The five proposed charter amendments are summarized

Through VPK programs, children’s communication skills accelerate rapidly

Dear Editor:

As a voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) educator for 10 years, I have seen firsthand how the foundation for a child’s success is built through the conversations they have with one another. My recent research into facilitating dialogue between peers shows that when we

below:

„ Establishes a County Council structure with five district members and two at-large members, requires the chair to be chosen annually from among the council members, and adds stricter term limits.

„ Removes Charter restrictions requiring County Council members to be reimbursed for out-of-county work-related expenses and prohibiting County Council members

PARTIAL SUCCESSES

May 9, 2026

At a Little League game today, a player hit a grounder to second base and was thrown out to end the inning. Normally, that is a reason to reflect on what went wrong for the batter.

But the coach ran over to him, gave him a high five, and celebrated the fact that the player had made contact for the first time in a long time. What partial successes — mine or others’ — do I neglect to celebrate because I’m too focused on the partial failure? Life is better when I gather up all the little joyful moments I can.

move beyond teacher-led instruction and encourage children to negotiate and problem solve together, their language and social development accelerate rapidly. In our local classrooms, these peer interactions are where “soft skills” like empathy and collaboration are truly formed. To support this growth at home, I have developed a specialized newsletter for parents that provides practical strategies for fostering these same social skills and language habits outside the classroom. It is vital that our commu-

from receiving reimbursement for work-related, incounty expenses.

„ Updates the County Charter to reflect changes required by Florida’s 2018 Constitutional Amendment 10 affecting various county Constitutional offices.

„ Removes detailed personnel system requirements from the Charter and instead allows those policies to be set by the County Council

DO YOUR BEST TOMORROW

May 10, 2026

After legendary Braves manager Bobby Cox died yesterday, one of his greatest players, John Smoltz, said in an interview that Cox helped instill confidence in others.

If a player was in a slump, he would say, “All I need is for you to hit .300 for the week. Can you do that?”

In other words, don’t distress about poor performances of the past. Commit to doing your best going forward.

How can I hit .300 this week at work? In class? At home?

nity understands that quality early childhood education is a complex, research driven field. By supporting our local VPK programs and professional development for educators, we are ensuring that Flagler County’s youngest citizens learn to communicate effectively before they even reach kindergarten.

TENIYAH CHRISTIAN Palm Coast

Send letters up to 400 words to jarleene@observerlocal news.com.

through ordinances.

„ Creates a registry of protected conservation lands, which protects such lands from sale or transfer, and requires a majority plus-one vote of the entire County Council to add properties to such list or remove properties from that list for sale or transfer, while making exceptions for takings by entities with authority of eminent domain and allowing such properties to be used for County purposes. The hearings will be held during County Council meetings beginning at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 19; 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 2; and 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 16. All meetings will take place in the council chambers on the second floor of the Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Seabreeze masterpieces

A total of 138 art pieces by Seabreeze High School students are on display at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum as part of the 2026 “Tradewinds” art show. The juried exhibition showcases both 2D and 3D art by students in the classes of art teachers Christine Colby, Paul Shuler and Kasondra Williams. Tradewinds was founded in 1964 by late Seabreeze art teacher Nina

Masters. Her students began by exhibiting their works on campus, and then the initiative transformed into the Tradewinds Art Festival in the 1970s, becoming the first juried art show for students in Volusia County.

“I am honored to continue the tradition of Tradewinds and the legacy of teacher Nina Masters,” said Colby, the exhibit liaison for Seabreeze.

“As a Seabreeze graduate myself, I hope to inspire students to create original art -

work in a diverse selection of media and themes. Art classes are crucial to my students as they provide a safe space for self-expression and build skills such as resilience, problem solving, critical thinking, and collaboration.”

OMAM began hosting the exhibition in 1996. This year, at was created in mediums including acrylic, ceramic, clay, colored pencil, ink, glass, graphite, marker, mixed media, oil pastel and more, according to a press release.

The exhibit runs through May 24.

“I am always impressed by the quality of the work that comes out of the Seabreeze High art program,” said this year’s judge, OMAM’s guest curator Ruth Grim. “It’s an honor and a joy to judge a show with so much talent on display. I hope these young artists go on to lasting, fulfilling careers in the arts so that more people will be able to enjoy their work in years to come.”

Awards for the exhibition were distributed at the opening reception on Thursday, May 7, which was also attended by Masters’ daughter, Sylvia Masters Nikitas. A total of 13 students were recognized, including seven honorable mentions.

THE WINNERS:

2D

„ First place: “What are the Limits of Tangibility,” colored pencil, Gianna Cicalese, junior „ Second place: “Mediocre at Best,” pencil, Katie Chan, sophomore „ Third place: “Ginger Lillies,” colored pencil, Peyton Lilly, junior 3D „ First place: “Spill the Worms,” ceramic, Carley Haynes, junior „ Second place: “Vase Plant,” ceramic, Emily Brooke-Schmoyer, senior „ Third place: “Sunshine State Strategy,” ceramic, Ellison Kelso, senior

Ormond Ballet to present Spring Gala 2026 at News-Journal Center

ORMOND BALLET

Ormond Ballet will present its spring gala at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 16, and 3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, in the Gillespy Theater at the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach. The mixed repertory performance will feature the Kingdom of the Shades scene from Act III of “La Bayadère,” Jardin Animé from Act III of “Le Corsaire” and the original contemporary ballet “Dyad 1909,” choreographed by Jeremiah Garner, according to a press release.

Ormond Ballet positions itself as a “pre-professional youth company with conservatory standards,” the press release states.

The spring gala will showcase their commitment to Vaganova-based classical training, contemporary cross-training, musicality, dramatic artistry and professional development. “Our goal extends beyond

technical training,” said Michelle Boutros, Artistic Director of Ormond Ballet. “We view dance as a vehicle for developing discipline, resilience, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and professionalism. Whether our students pursue careers in dance or other professions, the process of working at a high artistic level prepares them to navigate demanding environments with confidence and integrity.”

The performance will open with the Kingdom of the Shades scene from “La Bayadère,” featuring 20 corps de ballet dancers alongside featured artists Summer Euson, 15, as “Nikiya” and Luke Keeley, 22, as “Solor.” The Shades Pas de Trois will be performed by Sabrina Bobeck, Angelica Butakova, and alternating artists Madeline Fleming and Mia Esguerra.

The gala continues with an adaptation of Jardin Animé

from “Le Corsaire.” It will feature 16 corps de ballet dancers and 10 flower girls from Ormond Ballet’s early training divisions.

The featured artists include Mia Esguerra and Madeline Fleming alternating in the role of Medora, Sabrina Bobeck as Gulnara, and Madison Morgan, Dallas Kinsley, and Emma Doster in the Odalisque Pas de Trois.

The program will conclude with “Dyad 1909,” an original contemporary ballet inspired by Ólafur Arnalds’ melancholic album of the same name. It was choreographed by Jeremiah Garner, Ormond Ballet co-director. The work follows a progression through life stages, featuring Lainey Hall as “Innocence,” Emma Doster as “Curiosity,” Madeline Fleming as “Anxiety,” Eliza Dent as “Experience,” and Luke Keeley as “The Constant.”

Concluding the program is Dyad 1909, an original contemporary ballet inspired by Ólafur Arnalds’ album of

OBSERVER STAFF

Seabreeze junior Carley Haynes won first place in 3D art for her piece, “Spill the Worms.” Courtesy photos

Sylvia Masters Nikitas and Christine Colby.

Seabreeze senior Ellison Kelso won third place in 3D art for her piece, “Sunshine State Strategy.”

Seabreeze junior Gianna Cicalese won first place for 2D art for her piece, “What are the Limits of Tangibility.”

Seabreeze sophomore Katie Chan won second place for her piece, “Mediocre at Best.”

Ormond Memorial Art Museum hosts ‘Tradewinds’ Seabreeze art show.

Above: Seabreeze art teachers Paul Shuler and Kasondra Williams.

Below: Seabreeze senior Emily Brooke-Schmoyer won second place in 3D art for "Vase Plant."

Seabreeze High, Beachside Elementary principals move to district roles

Seabreeze’s Harris will direct secondary schools; Beachside’s Prokop was appointed director for elementary.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING

EDITOR

Two principals from Ormondarea schools have been promoted to district positions, as approved by the Volusia County School Board at its meeting on Tuesday, May 12.

Seabreeze High School

Principal Tucker Harris will

be leaving the sandbar to assume the position of director of secondary schools for Volusia County Schools. Harris had been the principal at Seabreeze since the 20222023 school year, leading the school as it went from a “C” to an “A” school.

“Over the past four years, we have accomplished so much together, and I’m proud to have been a very small part of something very big,” Harris said. “As I’ve shared with the team, I’m just one spoke in the wheel. It takes all of us working together and playing our roles at a high level to achieve success. Because of

the dedication of our faculty, staff and students, Seabreeze is once again where it belongs and, like Mufasa said, I simply ‘reminded them of who they were.’”

Harris graduated from Seabreeze in 1994 and previously served as principal at Palm Terrace Elementary, Ormond each Elementary and Pine Trail Elementary. He’s worked for VCS for 25 years and has worked in education for over two decades.

Beachside Elementary Principal Dr. Leigh Prokop was also appointed as the new director of elementary schools for the district. She became

the principal at Beachside in the 2023-2024 school year. Beachside became an “A” school last year.

“I am incredibly honored and humbled for this opportunity and for your confidence in me to be named as Volusia County Schools director of elementary,” Prokop said. “I want to thank Volusia County Schools for investing in my growth as a leader and as an educator. I look forward to continuing to grow and learn in this incredible county.” The School Board also approved two other administrative appointments at its meeting: James Barringer, coordinator of School Psychological Services for VCS, will be the new executive director of Graduation Assurance and Student Services. Blue Lake Elementary Principal Holly Bailey was appointed as the new director of Human Resources.

What 26.2 miles taught one longtime nurse about caring for patients

‘A marathon will humble you. You cannot rush it. Nursing is the same way,’ Dayandante said.

ADVENTHEALTH COMMUNICATIONS

Julius Dayandante knows endurance looks different inside a hospital.

Last month, the AdventHealth Daytona Beach nurse crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon after months of training and recovery runs. But he said some of the lessons that carried him through 26.2 miles were learned during nearly three decades caring for patients and working alongside fellow nurses.

“A marathon will humble you. You cannot rush it. Nursing is the same way,” Dayandante said. “You learn to stay calm, take care of the next step in front of you and keep moving forward, even when the day gets hard.”

YOUR TOWN

Meet OMAM’s featured art night family for May 2026

Three generations of women — grandmother Dr. Margaret DiGaetano, daughter Anne Ellery and her daughter Vivienne Ellery — were selected as Ormond Memorial Art Museum’s featured family from the museum’s May 1 Free Family Art Night event.

“My mom, my daughter and I had a wonderful time at the Free Family Art Night,” Anne Ellery said in a statement to the museum. “Vivienne has been showing an interest in art, especially learning to draw, so when I saw the anouncement for the event

I thought it would be a great opportunity to do something creative together. My mom has always had a passion for drawing and has been especially happy to see Vivienne enjoying art too. Mom knows first hand how much of an impact art can have. She has often attributed the manual dexterity that she developed through drawing vital to her career as an eye surgeon.”

The family enjoyed the activity of painting leaves and pressing onto paper to make prints.

“Vivienne’s favorite part was discovering how many different patterns and effects we could create, which got us thinking about other things we might use to make prints at home,” Anne Ellery said. “Museum instructors and volunteers were kind and helpful. We had such a good time that we would definitely love to attend again!”

OMAM’s Family Art Night takes place from 5:30-7 p.m.

Dayandante, 56, works in the progressive care unit (PCU) at AdventHealth Daytona Beach and has been with the organization since 1999, an unusually long tenure in a profession facing burnout and turnover nationwide. Born in the Philippines, he came to the United States in 1994 and first worked as a medical technician while pur-

suing his nursing license. Dayandante said he has remained at AdventHealth Daytona Beach because of the relationships he has built with patients and coworkers.

“The teamwork on our unit means a lot,” he said. “You learn you are never carrying the hard days alone.”

His path to marathon running began after a 2005 hos-

on most first Fridays of the month. All art supplies are provided. All ages are welcome. The next event will be held on June 5.

The Arc of Volusia raises more than $50,000 at inaugural ‘A Seat at the Table’ event

The Arc of Volusia welcomed approximately 120 guests to its inaugural A Seat at the

Table fundraising event on Thursday, May 7, raising more than $50,000 in support of programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Volusia County.

Held on The Arc’s Daytona Beach campus, the evening offered guests an immersive experience designed to showcase the organization’s mission, impact, and vision for the future. Attendees moved throughout the campus while engaging directly with staff,

pitalization for atrial fibrillation.

“I was a couch potato,” Dayandante said with a laugh. “I remembered I used to run in college and thought, ‘Maybe I should try that again.’ One mile turned into another, and eventually it became part of my life. I fell in love with it.”

That decision eventually led him to the Boston Marathon,

supporters, and individuals served by The Arc.

“This event was about more than fundraising,” said Laurie Davis, CEO of The Arc of Volusia. “It was about creating meaningful connection. One of the most special parts of the evening was inviting individuals we serve to attend and quite literally have a seat at the table alongside sponsors, community leaders, and guests. The support we received exceeded our expectations and affirmed how deeply this community cares about creating opportunities for every individual to feel seen, valued, and included.”

The evening featured remarks from State Rep. Chase Tramont, who shared heartfelt reflections on the importance of community investment and advocacy for individuals with disabilities. Guests also heard from Jeff Brock of Smith, Bigman & Brock, whose daughter participates in The Arc’s programs. Brock delivered an emotional and personal message about the profound impact The Arc has had on his family.

Additional highlights of the evening included a progres-

one of the world’s most competitive races. Dayandante qualified after running his first marathon in 2024, and he finished this year’s Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 18 minutes.

Coworkers say the discipline that carried him through Boston is evident in the way he cares for patients.

“Julius brings the same focus and consistency to nursing that he brings to running,” said Bobby Lester, his supervisor at AdventHealth Daytona Beach. “He takes time with patients, he supports his teammates and he never cuts corners. Patients remember him because he makes them feel cared for.”

Laarni Garrett, nurse manager of the PCU Medical Unit, said Dayandante represents the kind of leadership younger nurses often look for.

“He checks in on teammates, he stays patient under pressure, and he brings consistency to the unit,” Garrett said. “Nurses notice that, especially newer team members learning how to navigate stressful situations.”

Dayandante said support from leaders and coworkers helped him manage marathon training alongside long hospital shifts and recovery time while preparing for Boston.

“When I needed time off for training runs, races or recovery, my leaders worked with me to adjust my schedule so I could do it without feeling like I was letting my team down,” he said. “That kind of support means a lot.”

Now, he is training for the Chicago Marathon in October as he works toward earning the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star medal. Even after 27 years in nursing, he said the work continues to shape him.

“Running taught me endurance. Nursing taught me perspective,” Dayandante said. “When you spend years caring for people during painful or uncertain times, you stop taking life for granted. ... I’m thankful for the love and support of my wife and son. Most of all, I’m grateful to God for the gift of life and the countless blessings He continues to bestow upon me.”

sive dining experience across campus, live music, a live auction, and the launch of The Arc Ambassadors membership initiative, designed to encourage ongoing community engagement and support.

Funds raised from A Seat at the Table directly support programs focused on life skills development, education, transportation, and community engagement for individuals served by The Arc of Volusia. Founded in 1962, The Arc of Volusiaprovides services and support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them achieve greater independence and meaningful participation in the community. For more information about The Arc of Volusia or ways to support its mission, visit ArcVolusia.org. Send “Your Town” stories and photos to jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com. No news is too small!

Vivienne Ellery, Anne Ellery and Margaret DiGaetano.

Julius Dayandante at the Boston Marathon. Courtesy Photo

Arc of Volusia’s A Seat at the Table raised over $50,000. Courtesy photos.

Dr. Leigh Prokop.

Tucker Harris. Photo courtesy of Volusia County Schools/ Facebook

YOUR SCHOOLS

One year after associate degree, Ormond 15-year-old earns bachelor’s

Imronbek Kadirbek is a sophomore in high school, a business owner and volunteer at a local clinic.

ABBIE PACE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

One year after graduating with his associate degree, 15-yearold Ormond Beach resident Imronbek Kadirbek obtained his bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration from Daytona State College on May 12.

“I’ve been studying way more now, the classes are becoming harder, but I am keeping on track with it,” Kadirbek said.

He is currently a sophomore in high school, and has a year and a half of high school remaining. Within the approximate gap year, Kadirbek’s adviser at Daytona State College, Mark Nabors, suggested Kadirbek add another minor to his degree — or perhaps, work towards a second degree.

“Mark (Nabors) mentioned that not everybody is able to graduate with their bachelor’s

CLASS NOTES

Flagler Schools is a Guy Harvey Conservation District

Flagler Schools has been

YOUR TOWN

Marine Corps League celebrates Nemo Farmer’s 101st birthday

degree, while still completing high school,” said Imronbek’s mother, Nargiza Ayupova.

“It’s very rare, yet now he has room to maybe do an additional minor or even a second bachelor’s degree. That’s amazing.”

When Kadirbek isn’t study-

named a Guy Harvey Conservation District for the 2025-26 school year, signifying the school district’s commitment to environmental education through teacher professional development, experiential learning and environmental leadership.

A presentation honoring the recognition will take place at the May 19 School Board meet-

World War II and Korean War Navy veteran Linwood “Nemo” Farmer celebrated his 101st birthday at Las Palmas Sky Active Living senior community in Palm Coast. The Flagler County 1st Sgt. Burdett W. Loucks, Jr. Detachment 876 Marine Corps League presented colors. Jeff Kingdon, chairman of the Flagler County Veterans Advisory Council, presented Farmer with a handmade wooden 101st Birthday plaque and a WWII “Thank You For Your Service” plaque.

Flagler’s Guerin graduates from Leadership Institute

Flagler County Fire Rescue Captain Tony Guerin has graduated from the Emergency Services Leadership Institute, hosted by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association. The two-year program was de-

ing, he is often working on his own business, Blue’s Cleaning Services. The business provides services, such as window cleaning, landscaping and general neighborhood services. He has hired two other young boys as employees, since the demand became

ing at the Government Services Building.

“We are inspired by the work and commitment of the educators and schools in Flagler Schools that, through the Guy Harvey Conservation Education Program, promote marine science and strengthen conservation education,” said Jessica Harvey, CEO of the Guy Harvey Foundation.

signed to address leadership issues that affect mid-level through chief fire officers.

“I had a fantastic experience learning from experts in this targeted program,” Guerin said. “It has equipped me with new skills that I’m excited to bring to the table.”

“The commitment of Captain Guerin to professional growth and servant leadership strengthens our organization,” Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker said.

too much for Kadirbek to navigate alone. He is saving up for medical school.

“I’ve always believed that time is something you can’t get back, so I didn’t want to waste it,” Kadirbek said. “That mindset pushed me to start early with my education, gain real clinical experience and stay focused on my goal of becoming a physician.”

Kadirbek volunteers and shadows at his mom’s clinic, Kalon Primary Care and Wellness, located at 598 Sterthaus Drive, in Ormond. He observes care, assists with patient intake and interacts with patients from ages 18 to 100. In addition to his mother, Kadirbek is also shadowing a couple other doctors in primary care.

While working on his capsule project for his bachelor’s degree capstone course, which is the last required course, Kadirbek spent his time at the Conklin Center for the Blind in Daytona Beach. The project is completed once the student identifies a problem within the establishment/ organization, comes up with a solution and then presents it to staff, which in this case, will be the Conklin Center.

Through the Guy Harvey Conservation Education Program, educators can participate in regional professional development STEAM opportunities. Following their training in the program, participants become Guy Harvey Conservation Educators. The program offers supplies, educational content and grants for field trips.

Matanzas High School and

“I’ve always believed that time is something you can’t get back, so I didn’t want to waste it.”

IMRONBECK KADIRBEK

“As parents, the greatest pride isn’t in the accomplishments themselves, but in seeing your children grow into grounded, focused and determined individuals,” Ayupova said.

Imronbek’s older sister, Aziza Kadirbek, graduated high school at 14, and received her associate degree from DSC at 16. Aziza has been a big help in assisting her younger brother in organizational skills and preparing him for some of the classes he has taken thus far. Aziza referred to herself as Imronbek’s “Uber,” since she often drives him to and from classes.

Imronbek and Aziza’s younger sister, Jasmina, 11, is following in her sibling’s footsteps. She began college classes this past fall at DSC,

Wadsworth Elementary School are currently recognized as Guy Harvey Conservation Schools. Additionally, 15 district educators are currently recognized as Guy Harvey Conservation Educators.

as well. Jasmina has been taking two classes each semester through Florida’s dual enrollment program. She is currently finishing up the sixth grade, where she does half days, and then spends time working on her college classes. In addition, Jasmina is a competitive figure skater under U.S. Figure Skating. She trains several hours per week and regularly competes in regional events. Jasmina plans to follow in her father’s career path: Jasurbek Kadirbekov, is a neurosurgeon from Uzbekistan, and is from a family of neurosurgeons.

“When something is hard, I don’t stop; I keep practicing until I get better, whether it’s a jump on the ice or my academic coursework,” Jasmina said.

Imronbek is still like any other young teenage boy: He enjoys fishing, working out at the gym, practicing Muay Thai and spending time with his family. He says now more than ever, he feels more accomplished and “on top of the world.”

To learn about his business, visit bluesservice.org.

“The Guy Harvey curriculum has tremendously impacted Flagler Schools by equipping teachers with engaging training and meaningful marine science resources they can immediately bring back to their classrooms,” said Heidi Alves, Flagler Schools K-12 science curriculum specialist. “Our students are developing a deeper understanding of ocean ecosystems and becoming responsible stewards of our marine environment. We are incredibly proud to be recognized as a Guy Harvey Conservation District.”

The scholary sibling duo of Imronbek and Jasmina Kadirbek. Photo courtesy of Nargiza Ayupova

Navy veteran Linwood “Nemo” Farmer, sitting, is presented with a handmade wooden plaque in celebration of his 101st birthday.

Courtesy photos

Flagler County Fire Rescue Capt. Tony Guerin.

REAL ESTATE

Riverfront estate on Tomoka River: $2.9M

An estate on the Tomoka River spanning almost six acres at 427 Pine Bluff Trail was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach for April 18-24. The house sold on April 21, for $2,895,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 5/4 with four half baths, three fireplaces, a pool, three boat lifts, a boat dock and house, and 6,510 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $2.75 million. It was listed by Jonathan B. Owens, of Keller Williams Realty Florida Partners.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

EDITOR

MANAGING

Condos

The condo at 3370 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 404, sold on April 22, for $280,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 1986, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,275 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $345,000.

The condo at 200 Lemon Tree Lane, Unit 4, sold on April 23, for $210,000. Built in 1984, the condo is a 2/2.5 and has 1,316 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $160,000.

ORMOND BEACH

Archers Mill

The house at 329 Rover Road sold on April 21, for $359,990. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,034 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $387,000.

Cupola at Oceanside

The townhome at 114 N. Halifax Drive sold on April 21, for $825,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 3/3.5 and has 2,473 square feet.

Forest Hills

The house at 366 Thackery Road sold on April 20, for $100,000. Built in 1960, the house is a 2/1 and has 1,020 square feet. It last sold in 1991 for $38,000.

Hunter’s Ridge

The house at 14 Abacus Ave. sold on April 22, for $405,000. Built in 2013, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,983 square feet. It last sold in 2017 for $240,000.

Northbrook

The house at 21 Brookside Circle sold on April 23, for $360,000. Built in 1979, the house is a 2/2 and has a fireplace, a pool and 1,287 square feet. It last sold in 2010 for $143,000.

Not in subdivision

The house at 4 Ocean Shore Drive sold on April 24, for $315,000. Built in 1954, the house is a 3/1 and has 1,036 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $280,000.

Plantation Bay

The house at 1234 Hampstead Lane sold on April 23, for $600,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 4/2 and has a pool and 2,417 square feet. It last sold in 2017 for $277,000.

The house at 902 Brookridge Lane sold on April 21, for $575,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, a pool, a spa and 2,202 square feet. It last sold in 2016 for $120,500.

Ridgehaven

The house at 441 Brookhaven Trail sold on April 20, for $510,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,791 square feet.

WEST DAYTONA BEACH

A house at 100 Hang Loose Way in Latitude Margaritaville the top real estate transaction in Daytona Beach’s 32124 zip code for the week of April 18-24.

The house sold on April 23, for $820,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 3/3.5 and has a pool, a spa and 2,550 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $603,900. The house was listed by Adrienne Smith, of Fathom Realty FL LLC.

Latitude Margaritaville

The house at 443 Landshark Blvd. sold on April 20, for $379,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,308 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $462,900.

The house at 253 Compass Rose Drive sold on April 23, for $585,000. Built in

Tomoka Oaks

The house at 112 N. St. Andrews Drive sold on April 23, for $589,000. Built in 1976, the house is a 3/3 and has a fireplace, a pool, a spa and 3,249 square feet. It last sold in 2016 for $315,000.

Tymber Creek

The house at 152 Inglewood Court sold on April 22, for $110,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,298 square feet. It last sold in 2012 for $32,000.

Willis The house at 39 Willis Drive sold on April 21, for $425,000. Built in 1957, the house is a 2/1.5 and has a fireplace and 1,320 square feet. It last sold in 2025 for $301,000.

Woodlands

The house at 22 Red Maple Circle sold on April 21, for

2020, the house is a 2/2.5 and has 2,067 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $381,800.

The townhome at 850 Margaritaville Ave. sold on April 24, for $560,000. Built in 2024, the townhome is a 2/2 and has a pool and 1,563 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $462,500.

Mosaic The house at 140 Azure Mist Way sold on April 24, for $495,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 2,173 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $445,700.

Not in subdivision The house at 1580 Roosevelt Blvd. sold on April 24, for $660,000. Built in 2014, the house is a 3/2 and has a detached garage and 1,860 square feet.

$215,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,475 square feet. It last sold in 1997 for $64,000.

Woodmere

The house at 712 Lucerne Circle sold on April 21, for $275,000. Built in 1973, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,713 square feet. It last sold in 1973 for $39,200.

ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA

Ormond Ocean Gardens

The house at 59 Margaret Road sold on April 24, for $275,000. Built in 1959, the house is a 2/1 and has 744 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $175,000.

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

ORMOND BEACH

Waterfront house in The Hammock: $2M

Awaterfront house at 5584 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., in The Hammock, was the top real estate transaction for April 25 to May 1, in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The house sold on May 1 for $2 million. Built in 1998, the house is a 4/4 and has a dock and 2,791 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $1,150,000. The house was listed by Samantha Rosenbaum, of Real Broker LLC.

ALEXIS MILLER

Condos

A condo at 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Unit 707, sold on April 30, for $725,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/3 and has 1,676 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $506,000.

A condo at 21 Viscaya Lane, Unit 21, sold on April 28, for $560,000. Built in 1999, the condo is a 2/2.5 and has 2,186 square feet. It sold in 2024 for $526,000.

A condo at 3510 S. Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 406, sold on April 30, for $615,000. Built in 1988, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,107 square feet. It sold in 2023 for $550,000.

A condo at 300 Cinnamon Beach Way, Unit 251, sold on April 30, for $612,500. Built in 2005, the condo is a 3/3 and has 2,003 square feet. It sold in 2010 for $388,000.

A condo at 75 Veranda Way, Unit 75, sold on April 28, for $285,000. Built in 2004, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,369 square feet. It sold in 2004 for $141,800.

A condo at 7 Avenue De La Mer, Unit 706, sold on April 27, for $1,300,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 4/3 and has 2,840 square feet. It sold in 2003 for $1,000,000.

A condo at 80 Surfview Drive, Unit 718, sold on April

27, for $628,325. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/2.5 and has 1,640 square feet. It sold in 2003 for $303,000.

A condo at 80 Surfview Drive, Unit 401, sold on April 27, for $570,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,425 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $354,000.

FLAGLER BEACH

Barretts Bay

A house at 3431 N. Ocean Shore Blvd. sold on April 30, for $1,325,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 5/3 and has a fireplace, a dunewalk and 2,687 square feet. It sold in 2024 for $266,000.

Ocean City

A house at 500 Lambert Ave. sold on May 1, for $1,695,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 6/4 and has 2 half bathrooms, a dock, a fireplace, a pool, a hot tub, a boat house, a boat lift and 5,208 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $1,499,000.

PALM COAST

Beach Haven

A house at 35 Smiling Fish Lane sold on April 30, for $725,000. Built in 2015, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a fireplace and 2,024 square feet.

Harbor Village Marina

A house at 355 Harbor Village Point N. sold on April 30, for $1,825,000. Built in 2013, the house is a 3/3.5 and has a pool, a hot tub, an outdoor kitchen, a fireplace, an elevator and 3,389 square feet.

Palm Coast Plantation

A house at 65 N. Riverwalk Drive sold on April 28, for $665,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool, a hot tub and 2,772 square feet.

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

SHORT SALE, 3rd party approval required. Updated 2BR/2BA home in gated Tymber Creek. 2-car garage with epoxy floor. Open layout, cathedral ceilings, wood-look tile, fireplace, and chef’s kitchen with granite and stainless appliances. Primary suite with spa bath and private deck. Fenced yard, recent A/C and system updates. #1216575. $249,000. Pam Harvey 386-846-5051.

3BR/2BA pool home with 2-car garage. Open floor plan with dining area, spacious living room, and eat-in kitchen with stainless appliances. Primary suite with soaking tub and walk-in shower. Flex space for office or playroom. Covered patio and saltwater pool. 2023 roof. Community amenities and minutes to beach. #1226004 $465,000. Jonathan Gildon 386-451-2412.

5BR/6BA estate on 1 acre in Ormond Beach with 4+ car garage, saltwater pool, and spa. Nearly 10,500 total sq ft with soaring ceilings, chef’s kitchen, game room, office, and multiple living areas. Primary suite on main level, all bedrooms en-suite. Balcony, summer kitchen, generator. Option for additional acre. #1225121 $2,200,000. Amy Beals 386-852-1400.

TYMBER

4BR/2BA Johnson-built home in Tymber Crossings. 2-car garage with long driveway. Built-in safe room plus electronic safe. 2019 roof, Trane A/C, and Generac whole-house generator. Storm shutters, surge protection, and termite bond. Well maintained with numerous updates throughout. #1218190. $489,900. Patti McKinley 386-235-0462.

3BR/2BA block home on 5 acres zoned agricultural or commercial near Avalon Park. New roof, A/C, and water heater. 1,666 sqft living with well-maintained systems. Paved road location near Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Minutes to hospitals, shopping, I-95, and about 10 minutes to the beach. #1218444 $950,000. Christina Davis 386-316-1025.

4BR/2.5BA split-level home in Ormond by the Sea, 2-minute walk to beach. Saltwater pool, hot tub, screened lanai, outdoor shower, and lowmaintenance yard. Updated interior with LVP floors and newer appliances. Lower level ideal for in-law suite. Shed and workshop. 2022 septic. Move-in ready coastal living. #1216638 $599,000. Todd Hammond 386-233-5957.

FLAGLER

Photo courtesy of Samantha Rosenbaum/ Real Broker, LLC

Prayer

FOCUS ON FAITH

YOUR TOWN

Volunteers

help Palm Coast Historical Society restore garden

The Jr. Garden Club of the Garden Club at Palm Coast helped the Palm Coast Historical Society refurbish its museum garden bed on April 25. The garden in front of the museum building in Holland Park surrounds Garfield, the No. 7 turtle sculpture on the Palm Coast Turtle Trail. The refurbishment was necessary due to winter damage to the plants.

Margie Brady, chair of the Jr. Garden Club, said that when she talked to Historical Society President Peter Johnson, he said he preferred plants that needed little main-

tenance.

“I suggested Florida native plants due to their easy care [and that they] are more likely to survive a winter [like] we had this year,” Brady said. “He embraced the idea, and we met with Celena at Kraken Ventures (native garden plants) to get her suggestions. She drew up a wonderful plan using such plants like stokes aster and Black-Eyed Susan.”

Volunteers planted the garden and then had doughnuts and lemonade.

“It was such a joy to help bring this project together. Thanks to all the volunteers for their energy, good conversation and fun,” Brady said.

Highwaymenthemed painting events coming to The Casements

Florida native and artist Gina Bickish is bringing Highway-

some go through the neighborhoods to pray in front of people’s houses,” Vance said. The prayer walk is an event

where praying participants can go out into the community to pray for others. There were also several prayer stations outside of the church for those seeking prayer, but who opted to not walk.

“If there is anyone in the community who feels lost, feels unconnected, there is a place at our church for you. God does love you, and this

might be the time to come home, and find a church home,” Vance said.

men-style paint parties to The Casements this month.

Bickish, who studied for several years with two original Highwaymen artists — the late R. L. Lewis, Jr. and Curtis Arnett — will lead three painting events at The Casements: „ 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15 „ 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 „ 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22

Students will paint a view

FARMER’S MARKET

of the Loop with overhanging Spanish moss on May 15, a local beach scene on May 16, and a Tomoka River painting on May 22.

The original Highwaymen artists were a group of 26 Black artists from Central and South Florida who largely bypassed the art gallery system during the Jim Crow years and afterward. Several were taught by well-known white artist “Bean” Backus, and they, in turn, taught or influenced others. Their work usually depicts natural Florida themes. The paintings are highly collectible now, and the original 26 artists were inducted into the Florida Artists’ Hall of Fame.

The classes are $40, which includes all supplies. It will be held in The Casements’ upstairs art room at 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach. Students should bring a smock or apron and a light lunch. Call or text 386-9566891 to register.

—ABBIE PACE

Students will paint a local beach scene on May 16.

Volunteers who helped refurbish the Palm Coast Historic Society’s museum garden bed. Courtesy photos

State champs!

Father Lopez’s Joseph Abrantes and Maverick Grimm win state weightlifting championships.

PAGE 8B

Bulldog champions

FPC’s Karina Marcelus, boys 4x400 relay win state track championships

Marcelus won the triple jump, placed second in the 100 hurdles; Jordan Haymon took home two medals.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Because of a rain delay, Karina Marcelus’ state track and field events were condensed into a 60-minute time frame.

During that hour, the Flagler Palm Coast senior won the girls triple jump title and finished second in the 100-meter hurdles — breaking her own school records in both events.

In all, FPC athletes won two events and placed second

in two others, and FPC’s boys placed sixth as a team at the Class 4A state championships on Saturday, May 9, at the University of North Florida.

“I don’t think it has hit me yet that I’m a state champion,” Marcelus said on Monday, “but I know it’s coming soon.”

FPC also won the boys 4x400 relay in the last — and most exciting — race of the evening. The relay team of Logan Jacobelli, Will Roberts, Mikey Najpaver and Jordan Haymon won in a photo finish by eight-thousandths of a second over Miami Columbus. Haymon crossed the finish line in 3 minutes, 14.342 seconds, with Columbus’ Alexander Lopez crossing in 3:14.350.

“I had to lean over the line,” Haymon said. Haymon said he had aggravated his quad injury while finishing second in the 400-meter dash earlier in the meet. He said, in the relay he didn’t look to see Lopez closing the gap on the Bulldogs’ lead until the final meter.

“It was pretty crazy,” FPC coach David Halliday said. “Jordan’s leg is not 100%, and the kid from Columbus is really, really good. It was very exciting for the whole state, and a little bit of a heart attack for me. But I’m excited for the kids. They sealed the deal on

teams in past years, finishing second at state in 2013, 2019 and 2023, but Jacobelli, Roberts, Najpaver and Haymon are the first in school history to win the state championship.

“They set the school record at the Florida relays, so they definitely solidified themselves as the best ever 4x4 here by having the record and winning the state title,” Halliday said.

what they wanted to do, which was to be state champions in the 4x4.”

The Bulldogs have had some exceptional 4x400 relay

Roberts said they had to wait for what seemed like an eternity but was probably only 30 seconds before the FHSAA announced that the Bulldogs were the winners.

Haymon finished the 400-meter dash in 47.82 seconds in the slow heat with

only Devin Matthews of Ocoee topping that in the fast heat with a time of 47.24. Haymon missed state last year with the injury. In his final high school meet, the senior took home gold and senior.

“Jordan has not been 100% for weeks, and he almost stole the 400 title out of the slow heat,” Halliday said. “I was happy for him after battling that injury.”

CERASI TAKES HOME

TWO MEDALS

Matanzas sophomore Peyton Cerasi collected two medals at the Class 3A state championships on May 8, at UNF.

She broke her own school record in the 1,600-meter run to place fourth with a time of

4:55.78. She also placed seventh in the 3,200 with a time of 11:03.41.

Cerasi has now won three medals at state. As a freshman last year, she placed second in the 3,200.

Mainland’s Michael London placed seventh in discus with a personal-record throw of 49.47 meters.

Seabreeze senior Drayton Brackett missed a medal by 16-hundredths of a second, finishing ninth in the 110 hurdles with a personal record time of 14.75 seconds.

‘AMAZING 60 MINUTES’ For FPC, Marcelus was the star of the day, or at least the

Bulldogs’ Matt McFall and Cody Strawser win titles, break state records

McFall and Strawser won Olympic titles at the Class 3A meet as the Bulldogs placed third as a team.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Palm Coast’s Matt McFall and Cody Strawser celebrated their state weightlifting championships on May 7 with some apple cider at the hotel.

“We acted like it was champagne,” said Strawser who won the 129-pound Olympic title and was runner-up for the traditional title at the Class 3A boys championships at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

McFall won the Olympic championship in the unlimited weight class and placed third in the traditional competition. They both set state records.

“It felt pretty good. There’s no better feeling,” Strawser said. “I would say that I did expect it, but knowing that it really did happen is pretty crazy.”

A day later, McFall said it had not really sunk in.

“It just feels like a normal meet,” he said. “But then it’s like, ‘Oh, I’m a state champ.’” FPC placed third in the Olympic team standings

“It was a really good play by coach, just to hit a number that I knew I could hit. ... I knew right when I got to the top of the pull that I was going to get under that bar and I was going to stand up with it, because I’ve hit it before.”

CODY STRAWSER

STRAWSER SETS TWO STATE MARKS

Strawser, a junior, broke two state records with a 260-pound clean and jerk and a 460-pound Olympic total. His snatch lift of 200 pounds was five pound short of tying a third state record.

then I’ll have the confidence going up to the bar,” Strawser said. “I knew right when I got to the top of the pull that I was going to get under that bar and I was going to stand up with it, because I’ve hit it before.”

Strawser hit a 225-pound bench press on his second lift to give him a 485-pound traditional total. Ethan Martin of Punta Gorda won traditional with a 500-pound total.

“I feel like I’ve come really far,” said Strawser, who placed third in Olympic and fourth in traditional at state last year. “My first attempts

in snatch and clean and jerk were five pounds over my third attempts last year. So, that shows the progress I’ve made. It’s a great feeling knowing that, even though I stayed the same body weight, my numbers were going up.”

MCFALL WINS BY 70 POUNDS

McFall won the unlimited Olympic title with a 660-pound total, breaking the state record by 15 pounds.

behind Pace and Spruce Creek. The Bulldogs were sixth in traditional. Pace swept both titles for the third straight year.

“The team did well,” McFall said. “We went into the season thinking we were going to be up there, and we were.

“We fell just short, and it’s bittersweet, but even getting third in 3A, I take that as an accomplishment, because the 3A was absolutely insane this year.”

In addition to McFall and Strawser, three other FPC lifters placed in Olympic competition: Anthony Giacobbe was fourth at 119 pounds, Jackson Fedun was fifth at 169 pounds and Joe Casanova was fifth at

238 pounds.

Mainland’s Ray Tatro placed fourth in traditional in the 129-pound weight class.

At the Class 2A meet, Seabreeze’s Vincent Pedersen placed sixth in Olympic at 129 pounds.

At the Class 1A championships, Father Lopez’s Joseph Abrantes (154-pound weight class) and Maverick Grimm (169-pound class) each won championships in the Olympic competition to lead the Green Wave to the runner-up spot behind Olympic team champ Keystone Heights. Abrantes also placed second in traditional, while Grimm placed third.

“I originally did want the snatch state record, but honestly, the state championship wasn’t really won by numbers, it was really won by consistency,” said Strawser, who went 6-for-6 on his Olympic lifts (snatch and clean-andjerk). “If I made that jump to 210 [in snatch], and I missed it, I [might] have gotten second.”

Coach Duane Hagstrom had Strawser go up from 190 on his second snatch to 200, a mark he was comfortable with. With the lift secure, Strawser won the title by 20 pounds.

“It was a really good play by coach, just to hit a number that I knew I could hit, because

FPC’s Karina Marcelus won the triple jump and was runner-up in the 100 hurdles. Courtesy photos

FPC’s Matt McFall dominated the unlimited weight class to win the Olympic title with a state-record 660-pound total at the Class 3A weightlifting championships. Courtesy photos

FPC’s state champion 4x400 relay team: Jordan Haymon, Will Roberts, coach David Halliday, Mikey Najpaver and Logan Jacobelli.

Matanzas’ Peyton Cerasi placed fourth in the 1,600 and seventh in the 3,200.

Cody Strawser won the 129-pound Olympic title and set two state records at the Class 3A state boys weightlifting championships.

Father Lopez’s Abrantes, Grimm win state weightlifting championships

With the two titles, the Green Wave won the Olympic runner-up trophy at the Class 1A state meet.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

When Mark Gabbard took over Father Lopez’s boys weightlifting program before last season, he immediately went about changing the team’s culture. But there were two lifters he didn’t have to worry about.

Joseph Abrantes and Maverick Grimm each won a Class 1A state championship on Friday, May 8, at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. The two titles in the Olympic competition propelled the Green Wave to a runner-up Olympic finish behind state champ Keystone Heights.

“I inherited a couple of kids that are pretty phenomenal,” Gabbard said.

Abrantes won the 154-pound Olympic title with a 480-pound total in snatch

State track

star of the hour.

“She had an amazing 60 minutes,” Halliday said. “She got pushed back, so we really wanted to get all of her triple jump done before she got to the hurdles. And we got it with about 12 minutes to spare. She did a great job by going out and putting her best jump on the first jump and put all the pressure on the rest of the girls. It was over after that first jump.”

Her 12.41-meter leap broke

and clean-and-jerk lifts. Grimm won the 169-pound Olympic title by 60 pounds with a 525-pound total. They both also placed in the traditional competition with Abrantes placing second and Grimm placing third.

Abrantes had a chance to win both titles, coming up five pounds short to Fort White’s Jonathan Ulsch in traditional with a 550-pound total.

“Joe had a chance going into the last bench press,” Gabbard said. “He went after it (with a 295-pound attempt), but couldn’t complete it.”

In Olympic, Abrantes won by 10 pounds over Ulsch and Lake Highland Prep’s Zach Kirson. He hit a 265-pound clean and jerk on his last lift and Ulsch and Kirson both missed at 280.

“Both of Joe’s competitions were incredible,” Gabbard said. “[In Olympic], the two other kids weren’t prepared to get those lifts. He put pressure on them to go higher than they were comfortable with.”

Grimm dominated the Olympic lifts despite hitting only his first snatch of 225 pounds. He jumped up to

240 but couldn’t hit it in two attempts. Still, his 225 was the top snatch among all the 169-pound competitors, and his 300-pound clean and jerk was 25 pounds more than the next best lifter. In traditional, Grimm had a 540-pound total in traditional. Jackson Jones of First Academy won the 169-pound traditional title with a 605-pound total. Last year, Abrantes was the runner-up in both competi -

tions in the 139-pound class, and Grimm was second in Olympic and third in traditional at 169. They are both juniors, so they will be back next year with a chance to repeat.

The Green Wave qualified eight lifters to the state championships, a year after qualifying three. Only one of the eight qualifiers in a senior. Gabbard came to Father Lopez from Arizona two years ago

because of football. He was the Green Wave’s offensive coordinator his first year and became the head coach last season.

But when he was named weightlifting coach in December of 2025, he wanted to make it clear that the team was not an extension of the football program.

“One thing we did immediately was change the culture and expectations,” he said.

“We introduced a competitive mentality, and the kids bought into that. The result was kids wanted to come in and compete. This year, for the first time in a long time here, we had to make cuts.

“I wanted to make sure this wouldn’t be just a bunch of football players wanting to get more weightlifting in,” Gabbard said. “We wanted to make sure the two programs were separate.”

the school mark of 12.29 meters that she set a week earlier at regional. Marcelus then hopped over to the track and ran her fastest 100 hurdles in 13.69 seconds, finishing second behind Nia Armstrong of Tampa Sickles, who crossed the finish in 13.41 seconds. Marcelus broke her own school record of 14.11 seconds.

”With rain nonstop and the delay, it was a little hectic, but I made sure I stayed

positive,” Marcelus said. “I did the [first] jump and I was obviously proud. I did want to reach further. But I wasn’t stressing it, because I knew I

had a safe spot. When I completely finished [the triple jump], my mind shifted, ‘Now I have another event I have to focus on.’”

Marcelus who has received a full track scholarship at Florida A&M; University, dedicated her meet to her brother, Malique Joseph, who died unexpectedly last November.

“It was definitely bittersweet. It was emotional for me, losing my brother [last] year,” she said. “We talked about [dedicating the state meet to Malique]. I’m definitely satisfied I ended the season the way I wanted to with two PRs.”

THREE MEDALS FOR JACOBELLI

Jacobelli came home with three medals. In addition to running the first leg of the winning 4x400 relay, the junior broke the 15-year-old school record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.53 seconds to place seventh. He also placed fifth in the 200 with a time of 21.27 seconds.

With a 10.91 time in the 100 at regional, Jacobelli was seeded last out of 18 runners at state and was in the slow heat. He was also in the slow

heat in the 200.

“I knew I was last in, but I wasn’t the slowest person there,” he said. “I knew I belonged [on the podium].”

FPC’s La’Darius Simmons placed fourth in javelin with a throw of 54.18 meters.

Several other FPC athletes had a record-breaking day but could not place in a highly competitive Class 4A meet. The girls 4x800 relay broke the school record by three seconds with a time of 9:32.05 but finished ninth, less than a second from gaining an eighth-place medal.

“They ran 10 seconds faster than they did last year when they placed seventh,” Halliday said.

FPC’s boys 4x800 relay finished 10th in 8:00.58, its best time of the season. Arianna Slaughter nearly tied her best time in the 1,600 with a 5:06.94 and finished 14th. She was also 14th in the 800 in 2:18.04, the second fastest time in school history.

“It’s just crazy, the amazing performances. But the kids fought hard,” Halliday said. “I understand the kids were really gunning for medals, but it just shows how dominant 4A is.”

State wrestling

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7B

He won the title by 70 pounds over runner-up Luis Feliz of Lake Howell.

McFall snatched 290 pounds and hoisted 370 in the clean and jerk, breaking his own school record. With a 360-pound bench press, he put up a 730-pound traditional total, five pounds behind runner-up Kyvon Love of Sarasota Riverview.

“I had fun in traditional for once,” McFall said. “That was a good battle. I’m really happy I got third.”

McFall has already turned his sights to the USA Weightlifting National Championships on June 20-28 in Colorado Springs. Strawser and other FPC lifters will be joining him.

“I’m really excited about that,” McFall said. “I’m really happy I won states, but I won by 70 pounds. It’s going to be so much more fun when I get competition at nationals. I’m super excited for it.” McFall plans to continue weightlifting in college next year. The senior is considering scholarship offers from several small schools. He joined FPC’s weightlifting team as a sophomore after only lifting previously for football. He quit football a year later.

“I realized I probably have a better chance to go to college with weightlifting,” he said.

State champs Joseph Abrantes and Maverick Grimm hold up Father Lopez’s runner-up trophy for the Class 1A Olympic competition and their classification’s results. The Green Wave had eight lifters qualify for state. Courtesy photo

FPC’s boys medal winners, including Logan Jacobelli (fourth from right) who earned three medals, at the Class 4A state track championships.

Flagler Palm Coast brings football practice to Carver Center

The Bulldogs will host Seabreeze on May 22; Matanzas and Mainland will play in jamborees on the road.

Instead of the community coming out to Flagler Palm Coast High School to watch spring football practice, the Bulldogs took their first spring practice in full pads to the community on Tuesday, May 5. FPC practiced on the field at the George Washington Carver Community Center in Bunnell.

“A lot of people came out to

first full-pad practice this spring at the Carver Center field. Courtesy photo

watch us,” FPC football coach Patrick Turner said. “There was a lot of energy. And the kids were excited.”

SIDELINES

community in our thoughts and prayers,” the social media messages read.

Mainland High School, on its Facebook page, posted: “Mainland sends its heartfelt sympathies to the Spruce Creek High School family as they grieve the loss of a dear friend, faculty member, and coach.”

Smith coached catchers at Spruce Creek for the past three years. He played baseball at New Smyrna Beach High School and before joining Spruce Creek’s program he coached at New Smyrna and DeLand.

Pirates’ Dormevil signs with Glenville State

Matanzas defensive back

Jaden Dormevil has signed a scholarship with Glenville State to play football next season at the NCAA Division II school in West Virginia. Dormevil had four interceptions and scored two touchdowns for the Pirates during his senior season.

Condolences for Spruce Creek baseball coach

Mainland, Seabreeze and Flagler Palm Coast baseball were among the teams that sent messages of sympathy and support to the Spruce Creek baseball program, which lost a beloved assistant coach over the weekend.

Adam Smith, 26, died in a single-car crash in Port Orange during the early morning hours of May 10.

“Our hearts are with the Spruce Creek baseball family during this incredibly difficult time. We are keeping your players, families, coaches and

Spruce Creek baseball parent Blanca Christen set up a Gofundme for Smith’s family to help pay for final arrangements. Go to gofundme.com/f/support-forcoach-adam-smiths-familyfor-final-arrangements

When Turner and his coaches were painting lines on the field in preparation for the practice, FPC grad Kent Cole-

Lopez’s Lancing gets up when chips are down

Father Lopez junior Lauren Lancing didn’t allow what could have been a disastrous turn weaken her resolve at the Class 1A track and field championships on May 6 at the University of North Florida.

Lancing qualified in four events for the state championships. Her best chance of winning a medal was in the 100-meter hurdles, where she was ranked fifth. But Lancing clipped one of the final hurdles, resulting in a disqualification.

“Instead of stopping, she rose, finished the race, and reminded everyone watching what true sportsmanship looks like,” said Father Lopez track coach Sue O’Malley.

“Champions are not only defined by victories, but by how they respond when

man, now the Bulldogs’ head JV coach and varsity defensive line coach, told them a little bit about the history of George Washington Carver High School.

The school, built in the 1949, was Flagler County’s first Black high school. It closed as an all-Black school in 1967 when Flagler County schools were integrated.

“Kent Coleman’s grandmother attended Carver High School,” Turner said. “When we were painting the field he told us that the field was where the school sat. For all the heritage of the players that came out of Bunnell, it [was important] for us to get out there and put ourselves in the community.”

Turner said he did the same thing when he was the head

coach at Menendez High School in St. Augustine, bringing his team to the historic Hastings High School for a practice.

The short trip down the road to the Carver Center also gave the new Bulldogs a taste of what football season will be like, Turner said.

“We put the kids on a bus and treated it like an away game, because every spring you have new kids who haven’t done it before,” he said.

FPC returns seven players on defense who started at least one game last season.

Kicker/punter Garrett Tucker and long snapper Brady Gerling return on special teams. The offense will feature a lot of new faces, Turner said.

things do not go according to plan. Lauren showed the heart of a true champion of character.” Lancing had barely 10 minutes to regroup for the

100-meter dash and placed ninth, with a time of 12.65 seconds, missing eighth place and a spot on the medal stand by just two-thousandth of a second.

Spring Games

The Bulldogs will hold their Green and White intrasquad scrimmage at 6 p.m. Friday, May 15, at FPC’s Sal Campanella Stadium. FPC will host Seabreeze in a spring game at 7 p.m. Friday, May 22.

Matanzas will play in a jamboree with Eustis and Pine Ridge at 6 p.m. May 21 at Pine Ridge. Mainland will travel to Palm Beach Gardens for a six-team jamboree on Thursday, May 14, beginning at 5 p.m. The Bucs held their Blue and Gold scrimmage on May 9. Seabreeze will have its Red and White scrimmage at the school at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 16.

After another quick turnaround, Lancing anchored the Green Wave’s 4x100 relay team to a 12thplace finish with a time of 50.37 seconds. Before the night was over, she also anchored the 4x400 relay, which finished in 4:17.3. Both relay times were just short of the Green Wave’s season best.

Caroline Curtis, who ran on both relays, set a personal record in the 800 with a time of 2:26.

“This state meet was more than times, places and marks. It was a reminder that courage can be found in getting back up after disappointment, in competing for your teammates when exhausted and in giving your very best under the brightest lights,” O’Malley said.

Email sports news to brent@observerlocalnews. com

Flagler Palm Coast holds its

Father Lopez’s Lauren Lancing set a school record to win the 100-meter hurdles title at the Region 2-1A meet on May 1.

Matanzas’ Jaden Dormevil signed a football scholarship with NCAA DII Glenville State.

CLASSIFIEDS

For Rent APT FOR RENT 3B/2B Living Room, Kitchen, Appliances, Garage. $1350/mo Please Call Mery 908-930-9108

Room For Rent in “B” Section, 2900 sq.ft. All Utilities & Cable, Wifi Included. No Pets $600/ mo $400 Deposit 239-821-4682

LARGE MASTER SUITE APT with Utilities, Private Entrance $1200/mo (PC) B-section call Michael 386-931-9159

DUPLEX FOR RENT 3b/2b 2 Car Garage, New Construction, E Section $2100/mo 224-616-0259

For Sale

New Never Used Predator Generator Model#71367 5000W Duel Fuel Remote Start, Quiet. $799 386-206-9006

Milk Glass $15 386-627-8195 New Samsung Galaxy A15 Phone 5Gig $50. Blue Adirondack Chairs with Full Cushions $30/pair. Tan Recliner Clean $30 386-206-9006 Automotive Cash Buyer for ALL Classic and Antique Cars Call or Text 407-366-0000 Sell me your car! Cash money. All makes, any condition. Stop calling junk yards. Your car isn’t junk. We pay the most. Call 386-359-2460 Cleaning Services Ana’s Personal housekeeping. One Time, Weekly, Or Monthly Service (PC) anaspersonalhousekeeping@gmail.com 386-868-9662

Home Services Construction Cleanup Derrick The Clean Up Man. Haul Trash, Clean Flower Beds, Honey Do’s, Pressure Wash, Construction Cleans. No Job Is TOO BIG or TOO SMALL. Licensed. Insured 386-503-5536

HARPER’S HANDYMAN SERVICES AND POWERWASHING Count On Us For All Your Handyman Services, Powerwashing Needs and Windows Too. Licensed and Insured happyharpers@att.net 386-843-5906

Pet Services

COUNTRY HOME PET CARE. Short/Long Term Pet Sitting+Walks. Palm Coast, Flagler, Bunnell. 40+yrs Exp. 941-299-5984

Real Estate PALM COAST VACANT LOT OWNERS. LOTS BOUGHT IN ALL SECTIONS. SELL US YOUR LOTS. OFFICE 386-437-7058

Yard Sale

Garage/moving sale Fri/Sat, May 15/16, 0800 -1:00pm, 78 Club House Dr, Men’s/women’s clothes, deck/household furniture, weight bench, pictures, plants, tools, kitchen/misc items + more!

Estate blowout 9am-2pm: 4162 Acorn Ave Bunnell, riding mower, generator, hurricane/ camping gear, furniture, tools etc. must go SAT&SUN 5/16&5/17

Moving Sale! Saturday May 16, 8:00 AM-2:00 PM - , Sunday May 17, 8:00 AM-2:00 PMRain or Shine 5 UNISON COURT Tools, gas generator, large air compressor, yard work tools. Kitchen appliances, refrigerator, dishes, utensils. Home decor. Tons of kids toys! Pop up camper, camping gear, fishing tackle. 4 wheelers. Something for everyone! Rain or shine, we will have many items indoors.

PINELAND COMMUNITY

SALE Sat May 16 8 - 1 ORMOND wood art, jewelry, decor, plants, Marilyn Monroe books, Barbie, double stroller, games, Bluey items, Pokemon, Football jerseys, cleats, etc. bike rack, Labubu, flowerpots, outdoor table, fish tank, skateboard, helmets. Granada to R on Tymber Creek, R on Airport, L on Ormond Green, L on Pineland Trails to Pineland on right.

Wanted

Bayside Collectibles Buying and Selling Vintage Sports Cards (386) 346-7376

TRIBUTES

G. Carol Fabbrini

February 17, 1933 - January 31, 2026

G. Carol Fabbrini, devoted mother, gifted musician, and lifelong educator, passed away on January 31, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. She was 92 years old.

Born in 1933 in Royal Oak, Michigan, Carol grew up in a home where curiosity, learning, and music were cherished. Her exceptional musical talent emerged early, and she pursued it with unwavering dedication. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano from the University of Michigan, where her artistry flourished. She later completed her academic journey with a PhD in Music Education from Columbia University, a testament to her deep commitment to teaching and to the transformative power of music.

After meeting her husband, Alfred, Carol settled in northern New Jersey, where they raised their family and built a warm, supportive home. It was there that she discovered her true calling as a music educator in the Newark, New Jersey school system. Carol approached teaching with patience, joy, and a belief that

Kate Mashamesh

every child deserved access to the world of music. She opened doors for countless students, many of whom went on to pursue musical careers shaped by her encouragement and guidance.

One of her proudest professional achievements was preparing her school choir to perform Handel’s Messiah under the direction of renowned American composer William L. Dawson—a remarkable opportunity that left a lasting imprint on her students and community. Carol will be remembered for her kindness, gentleness, and deep concern for others. She was a loving mother who cared profoundly about her children’s welfare and guided them through life’s challenges with wisdom and compassion. Her presence brought comfort; her patience created space for growth; her love shaped the lives around her.

Carol is predeceased by her beloved husband, Alfred, her brother Robert, and her sister Rosemary. She is survived by her two sons, Mark and Chris, and her daughter in law, Bernice, who will carry forward her memory with gratitude and affection.

November 20, 1932 - April 23, 2026

Kate Osborn Bromley Hitchcock Mashamesh, 93, of Palm Coast, FL, passed away peacefully in her home on April 23, 2026. She was surrounded by the love of her family. Her daughters will cherish her memory.

Kate was born and raised in Nyack, NY. Growing up her hobbies were singing in her church choir and performing with choral groups and drama clubs.

She graduated from Plattsburgh State Teachers College and began a career that spanned almost 50 years. She taught in the Islip Public School system in Long Island, NY for 25 years; then after moving to Florida she became a full-time substitute teacher in Flagler County. She loved her students and they loved her back.

In addition to educating children, Kate loved dogs. In NY she owned and showed whippets. Then after moving to FL she became active with the GPA (Greyhound Pets of America) where she volunteered and helped find homes for retired racers.

Kate loved to entertain and throw dinner parties where there was always good food, laughter and singing. She was known for her wit, her spunk and her ability to make people laugh. She will be greatly missed by her friends, neighbors, church family and fellow choir members.

A memorial service will be held at St. Mark’s by the Sea Lutheran Church in Palm Coast, Florida, on May 16, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. The committal of her ashes will take place on May 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vanderbilt University Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, supporting research and care for those affected by memory disorders. Carol’s life was a quiet symphony of dedication, generosity, and grace. Her music lives on in the countless hearts she touched.

She is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth (Betsy) Bromley Jones of Palm Coast and Robyn Bromley Schaper (Timothy D. Schaper) of Concord, NH, four grandsons, one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter.

A Celebration of Life will be held July 18, 2026, at 11am at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Flagler Humane Society.

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2024 10407 CIDL U.S.

vs. MATTHEW A. CORBIN AND AMANDA M. CORBIN, et al.

FLORIDA, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, TOGETHER WITH ITS UNDIVIDED SHARE IN THE COMMON ELEMENTS. Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim before the Clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed. This notice is provided pursuant to Administrative Order No.2.065. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to provisions of certain assistance. Please contact the Court Administrator at Suite 300, Courthouse Annex, 125 E. Orange Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114; call (386)257-6096 within two (2) working days of your receipt of this notice or pleading; if you are hearing impaired, call 1-800-955-8771 (TDD); THIS IS NOT A COURT INFORMATION LINE; if you are voice impaired, call 1-800995-8770 (V) (Via Florida Relay Services). Dated this 1st day of May, 2026. Eric Knopp, Esq. Fla. Bar No.: 709921 Kahane & Associates, P.A. 1619 NW 136th Avenue, Suite D-220 Sunrise, Florida 33323 Telephone: (954) 382-3486 Telefacsimile: (954) 382-5380 Designated service email: notice@kahaneandassociates.com File No.: 25-01567 BSI May 7, 14, 2026 26-00305I

CITY AND VICINITY, COPIED FROM E.R. TRAFFORD’S SURVEY MADE MARCH 1877, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 1, PAGE 7, AS RECERTIFIED IN MAP BOOK 17, AT PAGE 1, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA.

Property Address: 451 E FRENCH AVENUE, ORANGE CITY, FL 32763

Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 45.031. IMPORTANT AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

SECOND INSERTION

CORDED IN MAP BOOK 23, PAGE

A.

M. CORBIN; REDIBS (FL) LLC DBA REDIBS, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY are the Defendant(s). Laura E. Roth as the Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at www.volusia. realforeclose.com, at 11:00 AM, on May 28, 2026, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: PARCEL 5 OF THE PROPOSED SMALL MINOR SUBDIVISION, AS RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS BOOK 4035, PAGE 1651 THROUGH 1661, PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS THE FOLLOWS: THE EAST 87.50 FEET OF THE SOUTH 150.00 FEET OF LOT 5, BLOCK 16, MAP OF ORANGE

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to access court facilities or participate in a court proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. To request such an accommodation, please contact Court Administration in advance of the date the service is needed: Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste D-305, Deland, FL 32724, (386) 257-6096. Hearing or voice impaired, please call 711. Dated this 3 day of May, 2026. ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33487 Telephone: 561-241-6901 Facsimile: 561-997-6909 Service Email: flmail@raslg.com By: \S\Danielle Salem Danielle Salem, Esquire Florida Bar No. 0058248 Communication Email: dsalem@raslg.com 23-133323 - MiM May 7, 14, 2026 26-00308I

SECOND INSERTION

needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Anne Pierce, Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Suite D-305, Deland, Florida 32724 Phone no. 386-626-6561 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.

13729 CIDL, of the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for VOLUSIA County, Florida. U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SUCCESSOR

BOOK 28, PAGES 32 THROUGH 42, OF THE

Si usted es una persona minusválida que necesita algún acomodamiento para poder participar en este procedimiento, usted tiene derecho, sin tener gastos propios, a que se le provea cierta ayuda. Tenga la amabilidad de ponerse en contacto con Anne Pierce, Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Suite D-305, Deland, Florida 32724 Phone no. 386-626-6561 por lo menos 7 días antes de la cita fijada para su comparecencia en los tribunales, o inmediatamente después de recibir esta notificación si el tiempo antes de la comparecencia que se ha programado es menos de 7 días; si usted tiene discapacitación del oído o de la voz, llame al 711. Si ou se yon moun ki andikape ou enfim ki bezwen akomodasyon pou w ka patisipe nan pwosedi sa, ou kalifye san ou pa gen okenn lajan pou w peye, gen pwovizyon pou jwen kèk èd. Tanpri kontakte Anne Pierce, Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Suite D-305, Deland, Florida 32724 Phone no. 386-626-6561 nan 7 jou anvan dat ou gen randevou pou parèt nan tribinal la, oubyen imedyatman apre ou fin resevwa konvokasyon an si lè ou gen pou w parèt nan tribinal la mwens ke 7 jou; si ou gen pwoblèm pou w tande oubyen pale, rele 711. Dated this 4th day of May, 2026 VAN NESS LAW FIRM, PLC 1239 E. Newport Center Drive, Suite 110 Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442 Ph: (954) 571-2031 PRIMARY EMAIL: Pleadings@vanlawfl.com /s/ Mark Elia Mark C. Elia, Esq. Florida Bar #: 695734 PHH21181-25/sap May 7, 14, 2026 26-00315I

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2024 13186 CICI LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF JESUS D. GARCIA, DECEASED, et al. Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated April 10, 2026, and entered in 2024 13186 CICI of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, Florida, wherein LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC is the Plaintiff and THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF JESUS D. GARCIA, DECEASED; CARMEN L. ALBARRAN are the Defendant(s). Laura E. Roth as the Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at www.volusia. realforeclose.com, at 11:00 AM, on May 27, 2026, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 47, LAKE ELLABELLE EXTENSION #1, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, AS RE-

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026 11121 PRDL IN RE: ESTATE OF FRANCIS COLE, Deceased.

The administration of the estate of FRANCIS COLE, deceased, whose date of death was December 28, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is PO Box 6043, DeLand, FL 32721-6043. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served, must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: May 7, 2026. REMA COLE

Personal Representative 1262 Harms Way Port Orange, FL 32129

Robert D. Hines, Esq. Attorney for Personal Representative Florida Bar No. 0413550 Hines Norman Hines, P.L. 1312 W. Fletcher Avenue, Suite B Tampa, FL 33612 Telephone: 813-265-0100

Email: rhines@hnh-law.com

Secondary Email: ntservice@hnh-law.com May 7, 14, 2026 26-00297I

234, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. Property Address: 916 DERBYSHIRE RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32117

Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 45.031. IMPORTANT AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to access court facilities or participate in a court proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. To request such an accommodation, please contact Court Administration in advance of the date the service is needed: Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste D-305, Deland, FL 32724, (386) 257-6096. Hearing or voice impaired, please call 711. Dated this 4 day of May, 2026. ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC

Attorney for Plaintiff 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33487 Telephone: 561-241-6901

Facsimile: 561-997-6909

Service Email: flmail@raslg.com By: \S\Danielle Salem

Danielle Salem, Esquire Florida Bar No. 0058248

Communication Email: dsalem@raslg.com 24-243211 - MaS May 7, 14, 2026 26-00313I

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026 11122 PRDL IN RE: ESTATE OF DEBBIE HADLEY, Deceased.

The administration of the estate of DEBBIE HADLEY, deceased, whose date of death was January 23, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is PO Box 6043, DeLand, FL 32721-6043.

The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served, must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: May 7, 2026.

GEORGINA DOUGLAS Personal Representative 1610 Pine Avenue Deland, FL 32724

Robert D. Hines, Esq. Attorney for Personal Representative Florida Bar No. 0413550

Hines Norman Hines, P.L. 1312 W. Fletcher Avenue, Suite B Tampa, FL 33612

Telephone: 813-265-0100

Email: rhines@hnh-law.com

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 11744 CICI ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF TROY BEDELL, JR., DECEASED, et al. Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated April 10, 2026, and entered in 2025 11744 CICI of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, Florida, wherein ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC is the Plaintiff and THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF TROY BEDELL, JR., DECEASED; EMILY BEDELL; KERI BEDELL, AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF TROY BEDELL, JR., DECEASED are the Defendant(s). Laura E. Roth as the Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at www.volusia. realforeclose.com, at 11:00 AM, on May 27, 2026, the

LOT 3 AND NORTHERLY 30 FEET OF LOT 4, BLOCK 7, HAR-

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