Daytona Beach Observer 7-16-26

DAYTONA BEACH

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 1, NO. 42

Champion’s principal PAGE 4B

FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY JULY 16, 2026

Election guide Operation Slowdown begins at Speedway

Primary is Aug. 18.

Here’s the easiest way to compare the candidates. PAGE 1B

Illumination game

FDOT starts traffic safety campaign.

PAGE 9A INSIDE HONORING ANTHONY Mainland legend Terry ‘T.A.’ Anthony honored after earning top state award PAGE 4A

A SECOND CHANCE

Ormond teacher adopts former student after two-year journey PAGE 6B

SUBSTITUTE HELP

Volusia partners with Kelly.

PAGE 4A

INDEX

Business..................... PAGE 8A Calendar..................... PAGE 5B Cops Corner................PAGE 2A Crossword.................. PAGE 2C Opinion......................PAGE 10A Public Notices............ PAGE 6C Schools....................... PAGE 4B Sports......................... PAGE 9B Tributes ...................... PAGE 4C Real Estate..................PAGE 7B

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Polynesian Fire Luau brings the spirit of aloha to Daytona Beach with worldwide and local talent.

PAGE 3B Co-Owner Jeurell Lavatai holds up Chistian Tolentino as part of a fireknife dance performance at the Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona. Photo by Abe Mills

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THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

NEWS BRIEFS Flagler sheriff helps drive new law targeting crypto ATM fraud

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is applauding a new Florida law cracking down on cryptocurrency kiosk scams after Sheriff Rick Staly personally raised the issue with state lawmakers and helped shape the legislation.

House Bill 505 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027, and requires cryptocurrency kiosk operators statewide to register with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, post clear fraud warnings on kiosk screens, and use blockchain analytics to block transfers to wallets tied to known criminal activity. The law also caps daily transactions at $2,000 for new customers and $10,000 for existing customers, requires a printed or digital receipt for every transaction, and requires kiosk operators to refund a customer’s first fraudulent transaction within 72 hours of a timely report.

Sheriff Staly began pushing for the regulations in 2025 for crypto ATM’s after FCSO’s Cyber Crimes Unit identified the issues with unregulated kiosk transactions and the difficulty in tracking the crypto currency using blockchain technology and crypto wallets. The new law now closes many of these loopholes and warns people they may be the victim of fraud.

Sheriff Staly directed FCSO’s general counsel to research the legislation being used in other states and draft a legislative proposal. Staly then brought the proposal to the Florida Sheriffs Association Legislative Committee and spoke to state lawmakers on the need for crypto ATM regulation, just like the

existing bank ATM regulations. Legislators built on that groundwork with House Bill 505, which passed the Florida House 107-0, which Governor DeSantis signed into law on June 26.

The new law enacts mandatory registration for every kiosk operator in Florida, upfront fraud warnings, blockchain analytics that block transfers to known criminal wallets, daily transaction limits, and a guaranteed refund for victims within 72 hours of a timely fraud report.

“This is a huge win for Flagler County and Florida, especially for our seniors who often fall prey to these scammers,” Staly said. “Crypto kiosk scammers have stolen millions from Floridians. This law finally holds these kiosk operators accountable and gives victims a real path to get their money back. While we didn’t get everything we asked for, this is a great start and gives our Cyber Crimes Unit detective the tools they need.”

In the past two years, unregulated crypto kiosks have been used to facilitate more than $2.75 million in fraudulent transfers from Flagler County residents, most of it stolen from retirees and senior citizens. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office urges Flagler Residents who believe they’ve been the target of a crypto kiosk scam to contact the non-emergency line at 386-313-4911.

13-year-old arrested after sending gun photos, threats According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested a 13-year-old after he threatened to kill another teen and sent him photos of a firearm over Instagram.

FCSO deputies began investigating the incident on July

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7 after the victim’s mother called 911 to report the threat.

The victim, also 13, received several Instagram messages earlier in the day from the suspect, including a photo of the suspect holding a handgun and a written message that read, “Tn 8:00 pm we be there we alr got lo,” which investigators said translates to, “Tonight 8:00 pm we be there we already got location.”

The victim told deputies he believed the suspect planned to show up at his home and shoot him at 8 p.m. that night.

The suspect later told deputies that he and the victim used to be friends but had a falling out. He also said he had messaged the victim that day and that they were planning to fight.

“Threats are no joke, and we take every threat seriously.

This teen had already made plans to fight the victim, and he made it clear it wasn’t going to be a fistfight,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I want to remind parents to stay engaged in what their kids are doing online and who they’re talking to. Teach them the proper way of handling disagreements and be the Sheriff of your home.”

Investigation into 2025 Palm Coast shooting ends with two arrests The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has concluded its investigation into a November 2025 shooting that occurred at a Palm Coast apartment complex. The investigation resulted in two arrests.

On Nov. 16, 2025, the FCSO Major Case Unit responded to investigate a shooting at an apartment complex on Beach Village Circle in which two people — Micah McGill, then17, and Tyree Smith, then-22 — sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. The shooting happened during an altercation that followed a do-

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mestic disturbance between Smith and a family member of McGill’s.

During the investigation, detectives interviewed all parties involved to determine how the shooting occurred.

McGill and Smith provided detectives with conflicting accounts of what happened.

Additionally, McGill changed his statement, first telling detectives that he grabbed the gun before the encounter, then later stating that he had wrestled the gun from Smith.

At the conclusion of interviews and using evidence obtained during a search warrant with evidence collected

by FCSO’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit, detectives determined that McGill shot Smith, then accidentally shot himself during the altercation.

During the initial investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for Smith’s arrest for battery from the domestic disturbance that preceded the shooting and arrested him on Nov. 18, 2025.

Detectives also determined McGill had an extensive juvenile criminal history and had been previously adjudicated a delinquent, making it a felony for him to possess a firearm.

Based on the FCSO investigation, the State Attorney’s Office requested a capias on McGill for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a delinquent, and shooting into a building. On June 4, the capias was approved and issued by Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols.

On July 7, the FCSO Fugitive Apprehension Unit located McGill, now 18, at a residence on Ripplet Place in Palm Coast and he was arrested without incident.

“This investigation was a lot more complicated than it needed to be and took a lot longer than it needed because the people involved did not want to be cooperative or be truthful how this shooting occurred,” said Sheriff Rick

COPS CORNER JULY 5

ORDER CANCELED 2:26 p.m. — 1400 block of West Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach Battery touch or strike.An UberEats customer was left waiting for his order after his delivery driver got into an altercation with a restaurant manager, who believed he was stealing the food.

According to a police report, when the delivery driver arrived at the restaurant to pick up the order, the restaurant manager asked him to verify the order before leaving with the food. The two men each told a different story to police: The delivery driver said he attempted to show he was responsible for the order, but was disre-

Staly. “Despite their attempts to cover up the incident, our Major Case Unit continued to investigate until the truth was proven and an arrest was made. I commend everyone involved for their perseverance during this investigation.”

McGill was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $105,000 bond.

Smith, now 23, later entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the State Attorney’s Office, which included the completion of an anger management course.

Upon completion of the deferred prosecution agreement in March, the battery charge was dismissed by the State Attorney’s Office.

FCSO: Daytona man charged after alleged threats against DCF caseworker According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, a Daytona Beach man has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill a Florida Department of Children and Families caseworker, closing a year-long, multi-agency investigation into threats made against a Flagler County public servant.

According to FCSO, in July 2025, the caseworker reported receiving a series of threatening messages from an unknown number. In one message, the sender allegedly claimed to have an AR-15 rifle ready for her and warned that she would never see her family again.

FCSO said detectives coordinated with Department of Children and Families staff, Volusia County Probation and the Oregon Fusion Center to trace the messages and determine their source.

The sender was identified as Tyler William Stinnett, 30,

garded by the manager, and the manager said the delivery driver ignored his request and grabbed the order from the counter.

The manager and another restaurant employee followed him outside, at which point they claimed the delivery driver “swung his hands” at the manager. The manager got the order back and went back inside. The delivery driver told police that as the manager took the food back, he injured his shoulder. He requested transport to the hospital.

Both men wanted to pursue charges.

JULY 6

LAUNDERING FAKE MONEY 10:38 a.m. — 300 block of Warwick Avenue, Ormond Beach Criminal mischief.A 65-yearold Bunnell man called police after Airbnb guests left counterfeit money and vandalized the property, causing about

of Daytona Beach, who was allegedly upset over a childwelfare case and had sent similar threatening messages using spoofed phone numbers to other DCF employees and a judge. According to FCSO, Stinnett was arrested in February by Volusia County detectives in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and later extradited to Volusia County, where he faces a dozen charges related to similar alleged threats against other government employees.

After completing the Flagler County investigation, FCSO said the State Attorney’s Office issued a capias for Stinnett on a charge of written threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism. According to the Sheriff’s Office, he was served with the charge on July 8 at the Volusia County Jail, where he was already being held on similar charges.

Stinnett remains held at the jail without bond. His bond on the Flagler County charge is set at $10,000.

Overnight closures for Ormond Beach southbound I-95/ U.S. 1 off ramp

The Florida Department of Transportation is implementing overnight closures from southbound Interstate 95 off ramp to U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach on July 19, ending the morning of Tuesday, July 21.

Detour information: Motorists heading southbound on I-95 wanting to reach U.S. 1 should instead take Exit 278 for Old Dixie Highway and continue west for approximately 2.3 miles. At the roundabout, take the third exit to access southbound U.S. 1 and travel south on U.S. 1 for about 6.3 miles to reach the I-95 interchange.

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$300 in damages.

The guests had reserved the vacation rental until July 4, but overstayed, according to a police report. When the property owner came by the house to check it out, he noticed several items were damaged — a closet door, a door lock, the door to the garage and the fence gate, which appeared to have been chewed by a dog.

He then found the counterfeit money on the top shelf of a closet. He later found another fake bill ripped up in a toilet. Additionally, the property owner said that his cameras showed multiple people coming in and out of the house with several suitcases.

He told police he believed the guests were “conducting an abnormal amount of laundry,” approximately 16-17 loads.

The property owner wished to press charges.

JULY 10

CRASH, FLEE, THEN DENY 11:42 p.m. — Evolve Parkway, Palm Coast DUI. A Palm Coast woman was arrested after deputies say she crashed her car into a garage, fled the scene on foot and was later found walking along U.S. 1 while intoxicated.

According to the arrest report, deputies responded to an apartment complex on Evolve Parkway after receiving a report of a vehicle crashing into a closed garage.

Witnesses told deputies the driver left the scene, parked elsewhere in the complex and ran into nearby woods. One said he watched the woman drive around the parking lot screaming before crashing into the garage and fleeing.

Another witness captured the incident on cellphone video.

Deputies later located the 35-year-old woman walking north along U.S. 1. She denied being involved in the crash, claiming she had been walking from a nearby vape shop. Deputies noted she had slurred speech, watery eyes and a strong odor of alcohol.

She was arrested.

ObserverLocalNews.com

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Report from Tallahassee Sen. Leek: Amendment 3 should have been focused on spending. Rep. Greco said state should make sure voucher money is well spent.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Elected officials and local community and business leaders attended the 2026 Legislative Update to hear reports from Flagler County’s local state legislators, Sen. Tom Leek and Rep. Sam Greco.

There were also a couple of elephants in the room — state issues that have taken center stage this election year — at the event, hosted by the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce on July 9 at the Hammock Dunes Club.

Leek, who spoke first before having to leave for another engagement, was asked about Florida Amendment 3, which will appear on the general election ballot in November. If it passes, with 60% of the vote, it will increase homestead tax exemptions to $250,000 over the next two years and limit how counties and municipalities can spend property tax revenue.

Greco was asked about school vouchers, which redirect public school tax dollars to families who choose private or home-school options Leek said he is conflicted about the property tax amendment. He said there should have been a better product presented to voters.

Property taxes have gotten out of control and growth in local government spending has become “insane,” he said.

But rather than focusing on an increase in the homestead exemption, the focus should be on spending, Leek said.

“If you address a single revenue source, you’re going to be playing Whack-a-Mole,” Leek said. “We’ve got an entire budget for years built on this revenue source.”

If Amendment 3 passes, there will be spending cuts, Leek said, but not enough to make up the deficit. As a result, he said, there will be a fee shift.

“Will it help folks that you’re trying to help? Absolutely. Will it shift the burden to properties that are higher valued? Absolutely. Will there be new fees, I don’t see how there won’t,” he said.

Leek’s proposal would limit local spending growth in accordance to a city or county’s population growth, adjusting for inflation, following the Colorado model.

Leek asked for a show of hands for who will vote for the amendment, who will vote against it and who has not decided yet. While there were more people in the room who indicated they will vote against it than for it, a key

Legislative summaries Provided by Sen. Tom Leek and Rep. Sam Greco APPROPRIATIONS Rep. Sam Greco, District 19 $500,000: Flagler County Animal Shelter $1.5 million: Flagler Beach Wastewater improvements $2.6 million: Flagler County Black Branch North Drainage System Project $548,000: Flagler County — Disaster Resilience Staging Sites $1.5 million: SMA Health Care – Flagler County central receiving facility $300,000: Burroughs Drive Stormwater Park Sen. Tom Leek, District 7 $1.5 million: Flagler Beach

Rep. Sam Greco (left) listens as Sen. Tom Leek speaks at the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce Legislative Update. Photo by Brent Woronoff

“Will it help folks that you’re trying to help? Absolutely. Will it shift the burden to properties that are higher valued?

Absolutely. Will there be new fees, I don’t see how there won’t.”

SEN. TOM LEEK, on property tax amendment

indicator, Leek said, is the number of people who are undecided. Most people who are undecided wind up voting no, he said.

“I don’t know if this gets 60%,” Leek said. “I think it struggles to get there.”

TAXPAYER ACCOUNTABILITY

Unlike property taxes, the Florida Legislature took no action on accountability measures for the state’s $4 billion school voucher program. Despite a unanimous Senate vote to address oversight issues flagged by a state audit, the House allowed the legislation to die.

David Ayers, president of Flagler Broadcasting, asked Greco if he thought the school voucher system was working.

Greco said he is a supporter of school vouchers.

Being a relatively new program, he said, he thinks it is approaching a stability point.

The majority of vouchers are now going to families who are leaving public schools, rather than those that were never enrolled, making it easier to track, he said.

Brian McMillan, the Observer’s publisher, asked

Wastewater (Reclaimed) Improvements. The project will install equipment that removes excess salt from treated wastewater so the city can legally recycle and reuse the water by 2031 instead of releasing it into the Matanzas River. $150,000: Palm Coast Burroughs Drive Stormwater Improvements. This project will clean out built-up sediment from Palm Coast’s saltwater canals. $1.3 million: Flagler County Black Branch North Drainage System Project. The project is building a controlled stormwater system that captures runoff, cleans it in a pond and releases it slowly so it reduces flooding, improves water quality and protects nearby waterways. $250,000: Flagler County

about educational accountability with the state setting standards for public school education that do not apply to private or home-school students who receive taxpayerfunded vouchers.

“I look at it the other way,” Greco said. “I don’t think the answer to that is to regulate the private schools more. I think the answer is to decrease regulation where we can on public schools. There are additional costs that we’re placing on our public schools that we don’t need to be. I’d rather cut those costs than to saddle private schools with costs.”

Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore said she wanted to comment as a taxpayer. She stressed that she is in favor of school choice with parents being allowed to educate their children where ever they want. But with $19 million of taxpayer money being distributed in Flagler County through the voucher program, taxpayers should be able to see what the return is on their investment, she said.

“What is important is the accountability to the dollar,” Moore said.

Every dollar the school district spends, it has to provide a record for, Moore said.

“As a taxpayer I just strongly believe that if $19 million is out in our community educating our children, we should be able to track those taxpayer dollars.”

Greco agreed that accountability “is incredibly important, and I want to make sure we can identify where every taxpayer dollar goes and make sure that it’s going where it’s supposed to go.”

LEEK’S TALE OF TWO BILLS

Leek highlighted two bills that he prioritized during the legislative session. The Officer Jason Raynor Act succeeded.

The AI Bill of Rights did not.

Raynor, a Daytona Beach police officer, was shot in the line of duty in 2021 and died of his injuries. The defendant was charged with first degree murder, but in 2023 a Clay County jury found him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The Raynor Act, which Gov.

Animal Shelter. This funding will support the collaboration with Flagler County to expand capacity and enhance the animal shelter facilities serving Palm Coast residents. $250,000: Palm Coast Woodlands Community Stormwater Capacity. This proposed project increases flood protection by creating stormwater storage capacity ponds and increasing conveyance within the drainage basin. $274,000: Flagler County Disaster Resilience Staging Sites. Provides funding for two elevated, paved Disaster Resilience Staging Sites in rural western Flagler County to support emergency supply staging, food and water distribution, response vehicle deployment and basic sanitation services during disasters.

Ron DeSantis signed into law, establishes a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for defendants convicted of killing a law enforcement officer in Florida.

“We took care of that glitch.

It took three years,” Leek said.

The AI Bill of Rights, which was in its first year in the legislative process, passed the Senate but did not pass in the House. The bill was in response to a teenage boy committing suicide after engaging with an AI chatbot.

“You can see the harm out there that some of these things are causing is so great, we just can’t afford to wait,” Leek said. “The Bill of Rights [provides] a lot of protections for children and vulnerable adults. The chatbot has to tell you it’s a computer, not only up front, but remind you periodically you’re talking to a machine.”

He said he believes the bill did not pass in the House because President Trump wants to see a national standard for AI regulation. But Leek doesn’t think Congress will pass an AI bill in the very near future.

“This is a bill I love, I’m passionate about,” Leek said.

“We’ll keep bringing that one back until it passes.”

FUNDS HEADED TO FLAGLER

Greco said Flagler County did very well during the legislative session.

“I had about $20 million in appropriations projects approved by the governor, and about $40 million in Florida’s budget is coming back to Flagler County,” he said.

Greco touched on a few bills that he sponsored which passed in this session: House Bill 679, which modernizes the state’s trademark registration process; HB 1293 which creates a third-degree felony for individuals who take possession of a rental property by using forged documents; and HB 1295, strengthening standards for memory care providers.

Another bill he sponsored was HB 445, Missy’s Law, that requires courts to immediately remand a defendant into custody without bond after they plead guilty or no contest, or are found guilty of a dangerous crime, keeping them detained while they await sentencing.

“This is a common-sense measure to make sure that communities are safe and make sure that people who are convicted are in custody.”

Greco, who was in his second year as a state representative, said he has been able to deliver quickly for his district because he’s had some “really great mentors including Sen. Leek, who helped me establish myself quickly.”

Flagler County School Board member Lauren Ramirez asked Greco if he had any opinions about Flagler Schools’ programs after he toured the district’s campuses this year.

Greco began by congratulating the school district for achieving an A grade earlier this month.

Session results REP. GRECO HB 679. Registration of Trademarks: Modernizes Florida’s trademark registration process.

HB 1293. Fraudulent Entry of Residential dwellings: Protects homeowners by making it a crime to fraudulently enter and take position of another person’s home. The Bill also allows landlords to immediately terminate a rental agreement when false information is used to obtain a lease.

SB 1404 (HB 1295). Memory Care: Strengthens standards for memory care providers, including requirements for resident contracts, facility conditions, and advertising.

SEN. LEEK SB 156. Protecting Law Enforcement Officers: Officer Jason Raynor Act, prohibits a person from using or threatening to use force to resist any arrest or detention, or to resist an officer engaged in the performance of his or her official duties, if the officer was acting in good faith. (Passed) SB 990. Diversifying Florida’s Insurance Market: seeks to create more capacity within the insurance market by allowing a business, or a designated protected cell captive insurance company, to insure specific and specialized types of risk. A pool of assets and liabilities are insured separate from other assets and liabilities, with the goal to drive down premiums.

(Passed as HB 883) SB 1620. Cementing School Board members’ Bill of Rights: clarifies School Board members’ oversight authority by allowing them to request information from the District CFO and other staff. It also expands what public records shall be kept

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with meeting minutes.

Finally, school districts are prohibited from requiring or incentivizing district employees to sign an NDA. (Passed as HB 1073) SB 436. Felony Battery: Fills a gap in the battery enhancement statute by adding “resisting an officer with violence” to the list of prior convictions that are eligible for enhancement as a repeat battery offense.

This ensures that repeat violent offenders are treated as such.

(Passed) SB 398. Child Pornography Terminology: Removes all statutory references to “child pornography” and replaces it with “Child Sexual Abuse Material” (CSAM). This bill reinforces that any such material is a serious crime against a child.

(Passed as HB 245) SB 434. Windstorm Mitigation: Ensures that Floridians are not punished for home hardening by requiring that the increase in value attributable to improvements made to residences to increase the property’s resistance to wind damage may not be considered when determining the assessed value. (Passed Senate, died in the House) SB 482. Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights: sought to protect the most vulnerable when it comes to AI. In particular, it would have provided protections related to “companion chatbots.”

These are not the bots you may run into to answer a routine question on a website, but instead they are created to sustain a relationship with a user that may seem real. The bill was narrowly drafted to provide protections for Floridians, while allowing AI to continue to be a valuable tool.

(Passed Senate, died in the House)

“That’s certainly something you all should be proud of,” he said, adding that he was impressed by his visit, particularly with the district’s classroom to careers programs.

“I hope you continue to grow that program,” he said. “I hope other districts can learn from the success that you’ve had here with those programs, and we can continue to create, obviously a strong education environment, but a workforce that is attractive to businesses who want to come here.”

Palm Coast Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri asked Greco about getting dispatchers designated as first responders for benefit purposes and the lack of indemnity benefits for first responders with PTSD that is not necessarily connected to a physical injury.

Greco said he believes those bills will come back to the Legislature.

“Anything we can do to support our first responders is something that I’m in full support of,” he said. “I served in the military, and PTSD is a real problem and a real issue we need to be addressing any time.”

“There are additional costs that we’re placing on our public schools that we don’t need to be.

I’d rather cut those costs than to saddle private schools with costs.”

REP. SAM GRECO

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THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Palm Coast | The Hammock | Ormond Beach | Daytona Beach

Volusia partners with Kelly Education for substitute teachers

Mainland legend Terry Anthony honored for earning top state award

Last year, 1 in 4 middle school classrooms went without a dedicated substitute teacher every day.

Athletic director recognized by city following selection as FHSAA’s Male Educator of the Year.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

For at least the next three years, Volusia County Schools will be partnering with Kelly Education for the staffing of substitute teachers.

The Volusia County School Board approved a contract with Kelly Education last month for the recruitment, hiring and support of substitute teachers and substitute paraprofessionals across the district. The contract will be active through June 30, 2029, with one optional five-year renewal.

In a press release, Kelly Education stated that it will serve as the staffing partner for the district, and that the partnership “connects Volusia County residents with meaningful, flexible work in local classrooms while ensuring students have consistent, qualified educators throughout the school year.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Volusia County Schools and the community they serve,” said Tina Mosley, Kelly Education vice president of Florida Operations, in a press release. “Kelly Education manages the full process, from recruiting and hiring to training and scheduling, so district leaders can focus on what matters most — student achievement.”

VCS has a “deep respect and appreciation” for substitute teachers, said Dr. Wil-

liam Ryser, executive director of Human Resources for VCS. “The two top priorities for this school district are the safety and security of our children, and our children’s learning,” Ryser said. “By ensuring a caring adult is with them every day, this initiative makes that more likely and at the same time, takes care of the people who are taking care of the children, which is very important to us.”

The school district has an 86% fill rate. However, its fill rate for same-day vacancies is at 66%. Middle schools are also a high-need area, with a fill rate below 75%.

Ryser said that means that, regardless if it’s a same-day vacancy or not, 1 in 4 middle school classrooms went without a dedicated substitute teacher every day.

“That has impacts in a lot of ways,” Ryser said. “It has impacts on the student in terms of the loss of learning.

We count on our guest teachers, our substitutes, to continue the teaching and learning when our regular staff are not there and they do an amazing job. We deeply value our substitute teachers, but the truth is, when they’re not there, they can’t continue the teaching and learning.”

That often means a class without a substitute teacher is split up and sent to other classrooms.

Kelly Education presented the district with a fill rate of 95% across the state of Florida, Ryser said. In large districts, the company’s fill rate is upward of 98%.

“We’ve looked at districts such as St. Johns County — another very high achieving A-rated district who just adopted Kelly last year and

Hiring events in Daytona Beach 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday, July 20, CareerSource, 359 Bill France Blvd., Daytona Beach 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday, July 27, CareerSource, 359 Bill France Blvd., Daytona Beach 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Aug. 5, Keiser University job fair, 1800 Business Park Blvd., Daytona Beach 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 9, Daytona State College job fair, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach

experienced over a 95% fill rate in their first year,” Ryser said. “Those things are very, very encouraging for us.”

Substitute teachers and paraprofessionals will continue to get paid the same rates as when they were managed by the district: $15 an hour.

ESE separate classroom and middle school teachers are paid $16 and retired VCS educators get $17.50 an hour.

The district expects this to be a cost-neutral initiative, he added, as Kelly Education will be used as-needed and will save the district operational expenses in managing substitutes.

“Truthfully, we’ll have to evaluate it, which we will,” Ryser said. “We’ve committed to taking a good hard look at this. ... Because if it’s not working for our students and our staff, we’re not going to keep doing it.”

RICH CARROLL MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER

The Daytona Beach City Commission recognized one of the city’s most respected educators and coaches on July 1, honoring Mainland High School Athletic Director Terrence “T.A.” Anthony after he was named Male Educator of the Year by the Florida High School Athletic Association during its inaugural FLASHYS awards.

Mayor Derrick Henry presented Anthony with a proclamation declaring July 1 as “Terrence T.A. Anthony Day” in Daytona Beach and surprised him with the Key to the City, praising his decades of service to Mainland High School and the Daytona Beach community.

Henry, who has known Anthony since they were students together, described him as more than an accomplished coach or administrator.

The mayor reflected on Anthony’s lifelong connection to Mainland High School, noting he graduated from the school in 1986 after an accomplished athletic career in football, basketball and track before playing football at Florida State University and later reaching the National Football League. Instead of pursuing opportunities elsewhere, Anthony returned home to Daytona Beach to invest in the next generation of student-athletes.

Mayor Derrick Henry (left) presents Terry Anthony (right) with the Key to the City and proclaims July 1 as “Terrence Anthony Day” during the July 1 Daytona Beach City Commission meeting in recognition of his selection as the FHSAA’s Florida’s Male Educator of the Year.

According to the proclamation, Anthony has spent more than three decades serving his alma mater as a teacher, coach, mentor and athletic director. During that time, he has coached multiple sports while helping guide studentathletes on and off the field and contributing to numerous district, regional and state championship teams.

Anthony recently received statewide recognition when the FHSAA named him its inaugural Male Educator of the Year during the organization’s first FLASHYS awards ceremony, which celebrates leadership and excellence in high school athletics across Florida.

During the City Commission meeting, Henry said the award also recognized the unique challenges educators face at Mainland High School.

The mayor said the school

serves students who often face obstacles beyond the classroom, making Anthony’s work especially meaningful. He praised Anthony for remaining committed to Mainland throughout his career and continuing to mentor generations of young people.

Henry also defended the city’s continued financial support of Mainland athletics, noting the commission recently approved a $25,000 contribution to the school’s athletic department. He said fundraising can be more difficult for Mainland than at many other schools, making community support especially important.

The mayor highlighted the school’s recent academic progress as well, telling commissioners Mainland has earned an “A” school grade for the second consecutive year. He credited athletics as one factor that helps students remain engaged and accountable.

“I always tell people, I don’t care what your kid does,” Henry said. “Have them do something. A sport, be engaged in the band, be engaged in something, because those are the things that keep kids propped up and push them to their destiny.”

After presenting the proclamation, Henry surprised Anthony by presenting him with the Key to the City, calling him a “hometown hero” whose impact extends far beyond wins and championships.

Anthony received a standing ovation from those in attendance as family members, colleagues and community supporters joined him for photographs following the presentation.

ObserverLocalNews.com

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

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Historical Society, Casements Guild mail 300 postcards in new initiative The postcards promote Ormond Beach’s historical sites.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Local history, postmarked and delivered.

The Ormond Beach Historical Society and The Casements Guild have collectively mailed over 300 postcards this year. The Casements has mailed over 200 and the Historical Society recently sent out its 100th.

“They’re going all around the world,” said Jayne Fifer, president of the Historical Society. “A part of Ormond Beach is just going to different countries and different states and cities.”

The idea for complimentary postcards for those who visit The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, and the Stout-MacDonald House, 38 E. Granada Blvd., came from Christine Davenport, an immediate past president of the Guild and member of the Historical Society.

YOUR TOWN

Patriotic groups read Declaration on 250th anniversary A reading of the Declaration of Independence was held on the steps of Ormond Beach City Hall on July 8, in honor of the 250th anniversary of its first public reading on the same date in 1776.

Members of the Capt.

Jayne Fifer, president of the Ormond Beach Historical Society, holds a postcard of The Casements.

Photo by Jarleene Almenas

encountered many people who have lived in Ormond Beach for decades and never stepped foot in The Casements. So getting the word out, she said, makes a difference.

The reception surrounding the postcards has been very positive, Davenport said.

“One little girl said, ‘I’m going to send this to myself because I never get any mail,’” Davenport recalled. “Which is fine because she got it at home and probably told her friends about it.”

Jayde Lyle, president of The Casements Guild, said she had a couple from Melbourne on a tour this past Saturday. The wife and her sister come every fall to visit Ormond, but they had never visited The Casements.

“She filled out a postcard to send her sister that says, ‘This is our stop when you come,’ because she was excited about it,” Lyle said. “So now it gives her sister something to look forward to, and maybe even do a little research before she gets there.”

At The Casements, visitors can mail a postcard of the his-

toric home, which identifies it as John D. Rockefeller’s winter home from 1918 to 1937. The Historical Society has a variety of postcards available.

Fifer’s favorite? The one of the Anderson-Price Memorial Building.

Knowing so many postcards have been mailed makes the Historical Society happy, Fifer said. The purpose of the organization is to preserve, educate and share Ormond’s story.

“I believe that the whole town of Ormond Beach is a museum because we have so many things, from the Indian Mound to the Anderson-Price to the Nathan Cobb to the Cupola to the Ames House,” Fifer said. “All over the place, it’s nothing but history, and that’s what makes this a charming town.”

The Casements Guild is also getting ready for its annual Christmas Gala. This year’s theme is “Home for the Holidays” and the Guild is asking locals to provide a holiday family photo from any year to display inside the historic home.

Davenport is an avid traveler, and she always mails postcards. While on a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska, she discovered that the city’s Chamber of Commerce mails free postcards for visitors.

“I’m one of probably the last remaining people that

sends postcards, and when I got back here, I thought this would be an absolutely perfect way — inexpensive way — to get the word of Ormond Beach out into the country,” Davenport said.

Postcards have been mailed all over the United States and

James Ormond Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daytona-Ormond Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Ormond Strong and the Ormond Beach Historical Society attended.

The reading was done by Mayor Jason Leslie; retired Col. William Ashmore, president of the Daytona-Ormond Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution; Stacey Simmons, first vice president of the Ormond Beach Historical Society; Debbie Kruck Forrester of Ormond Strong; and Deb Lovett of DAR.

The readers: Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie; retired Col. William Ashmore, president of the Daytona-Ormond Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution; Stacey Simmons, first vice president of the Ormond Beach Historical Society; Debbie Kruck Forrester of Ormond Strong; and Deb Lovett of the Capt. James Ormond Chapter of National Society Daughter of the American Revolution. Photo courtesy of Steve Meeske/SAR

as far as Canada and Germany.

“I’m pleased as punch,” Davenport said with a laugh. “... I’m really pleased to get the word out because I love Ormond Beach.”

As a docent of the Guild, Davenport regularly gives tours of The Casements. She’s

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THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Palm Coast | The Hammock | Ormond Beach | Daytona Beach

Q+ A LORI TOLLAND, ORMOND BEACH DEPUTY MAYOR

Quality of life, fiscal stewardship and sustainability spends funds maintaining trees on city grounds, celebrates Arbor Day while promoting sustainable plant and tree education. The city recently studied and adopted protections for tree preservation and increased use of native plants.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

G

rowth and development: Those are the issues Ormond Beach City Commissioner and Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland hears about most consistently from residents.

“Our community has seen minimal yearly growth, 1-2%, but we have felt the impact of our neighboring communities,” Tolland said. “Residents note traffic congestion as the biggest impact on their quality of life. Preserving our precious green space ranks high with residents as well.”

Much of the proposed westward development that will impact Ormond is in the City of Daytona Beach, with the exception of Ormond Crossing, a residential and commercial development near the I-95 and U.S 1 interchange, which was approved in the early 2000s.

Tolland, who represents Zone 1 on the commission, recently participated in a Q+A with the Observer on issues including development, tax reform, tree preservation and the city’s proposed tax rate.

What are some things you think the city is doing well for its residents, and what are some things you think can be improved?

I believe Ormond Beach provides a high quality of life through our parks and sports facilities, recreation programs for our youth, vibrant downtown and unique restaurants, historical preservation, and our gardens and art museums.

Ormond has thoughtful development standards that preserve our unique charm. There is emphasis on environmental sustainability and there is a beautiful lake system and green space centrally located. Residents enjoy reliable public services

such as road maintenance and water and utilities management, and of course our public safety.

While Ormond Beach is an amazing city, there is always room for improvement. I believe working to continue to address traffic flow is important as well as keeping it safe for our pedestrians and cyclists. We need to continue to find ways to protect our natural resources.

Residents have also stated the need to address code enforcement within the city.

It is my hope to advocate for the residents while staying compliant with state statute.

With Ormond Crossings on the horizon, how can the city best prepare to ensure

ELECT

Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland. File photo by Jarleene Almenas

needed infrastructure is in place?

Ormond Crossings has been in the making for over 20 years. It is important that the city ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with the development to better protect our residents.

New construction can occur only when the roads, water, sewer, stormwater, and public safety support it. It will require collaboration, responsible phasing, and making sure that new development contributes its fair share of costs.

Ormond Beach has been a tree city for a long time.

What are some standards that help maintain that designation, and should the city strengthen protections for greenbelt buffers? If so, what could that look like?

The city of Ormond Beach has enjoyed the designation of Tree City USA since 1991. This means there is a commitment to sound urban forestry and care for its public trees. The city

The governor recently signed a law allowing local governments to regulate AI data centers. Is this something the city should explore, and if so, how should they be regulated?

Data centers may be appropriate in some communities but are not compatible with Ormond Beach’s vision. There are significant drawbacks associated with data centers, particularly as it relates to land, electricity, and water. I support keeping data centers out of our community and support policies that promote businesses that enhance our economy while respecting our environment.

With tax reform on the ballot, what are some priorities you’d like for the city to keep in mind as it plans the budget for next fiscal year? Is going flat the right decision for the tax rate?

Keeping our property tax rate flat is an important commitment to the residents because it reflects responsible stewardship of our taxpayer dollars.

Prioritizing public safety, infrastructure investments, and protecting our natural resources and parks rank high. The budget conversation should focus on essential services with

fiscal responsibility, while maintaining our quality of life.

Is there an update you can share about the median issue at Prince of Peace Catholic Church?

Due to persistence and the desire to find resolution, Prince of Peace demonstrated what can be accomplished when church, city, and county can work together. The county maintained the median provided safety, while the church desired a left turn access point. With the help of Alann Engineering, a design giving left turn access was presented and accepted by the church and now waiting final approval from city, county, and St. Johns River Water Management District. If all goes as planned, construction should occur in September.

You were first elected in 2022. What are some things you’re proud to have accomplished, and what are some things you’d like to continue working on?

Since being elected in 2022, I am most proud of working collaboratively to protect our character while addressing our future needs. I have worked with my fellow commissioners to keep our taxes low while maintaining our quality of life. Ormond Beach has consistently remained the second lowest milage rate in Volusia County. I am proud to consistently support public safety while addressing recruitment and retention.

While serving on the County Stormwater

Keeping our property tax rate flat is an important commitment to the residents because it reflects responsible stewardship of our taxpayer dollars.

LORI TOLLAND

Mitigation and Flooding subcommittee, I am proud to have been a part of the solution addressing and funding regional projects helping our community.

Having served the city through the parks and recreation advisory board for over 20 years, I understood the needs and the challenges of our leisure services programs and championed dedicated funds to maintain excellence.

I am also quite pleased to have served on the Opioid Abatement Committee, dispersing funds to programs that support recovery. I was particularly thrilled to be a part of Narcan distribution in areas of need. Lastly, I am honored to have been part of a collaborative effort for resiliency highlighting native plants in Cassen Park.

I would like to continue to work on keeping Ormond Beach financially strong while preserving the character that makes our town so special. I also want to continue to listen to residents and make thoughtful, balanced decisions that keep Ormond Beach a safe, beautiful, and desirable place to live, work and play.

Alan

BURTON For Ormond Beach City Commissioner Zone #1

Alan Burton

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WILL vote for Save Our Homes Property Tax Cap. WILL support Save our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes.

Ad paid for and approved by Alan Burton for City Commission Zone #1 Ormond Beach.

ObserverLocalNews.com

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

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ObserverLocalNews.com

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Law enforcement officers came together for the launch of Operation Southern Slow Down at Daytona International Speedway. Photo by Rachel Mills

Operation Southern Slow Down aiming to save lives in Florida Authorities and law enforcement agencies from five states join together to keep public safety top of mind.

ABE MILLS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies came together at the Daytona International Speedway to launch the ninth annual Operation Southern Slow Down.

Florida joins Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee in a coordinated traffic safety campaign with a shared mission to encourage drivers to take responsibility for making good decisions on the road.

“Our shared mission is straightforward to encourage every driver to respect posted speed limits and make safer choices behind the wheel,”

said Maj. Mark Castleberry, FHP Troop D Commander.

“Throughout the campaign, troopers, deputies, and police officers will be conducting high visibility enforcement on both local roads and major interstates.”

Castleberry called upon all drivers to help as well.

“If you observe aggressive or dangerous driving, please report it by calling 911 or STAR FHP, which is Star 347,” Castleberry said. “[Law enforcement’s] presence is intended to deter dangerous driving behavior and reinforce the fact that roadway safety is a responsibility we all share.”

This effort is just one way for authorities to counter the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” which refers to the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when car accidents and fatalities spike each year especially among young, inexperienced drivers.

“Even one fatality is one too many,” said Jim Stroz, P.E., the District 5 Director of Transportation Operations.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods shared a story of four young adults between the ages of 21-22 years of age.

“The female driver failed to negotiate the curve at the speed in which she was traveling,” Woods said. “[She] took on a concrete wall, basically, is what it was, killed her instantly, car ignited on fire.

As far as we can tell, two of the four were alive and the car was burning. They were trapped inside. I had her at 136 [mph] when she struck a concrete wall. So if you want to know consequences, it’s not necessarily the fines or going to jail.

It’s lives.”

Operation Southern Slow Down is a reminder for drivers to take a minute and take a breath because decisions can have a large and sometimes permanent impact on young lives.

“One decision, one act that changes not only their lives forever, but their families and our communities.” said Manuel Marion the Port Orange Police Chief.

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THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Palm Coast | The Hammock | Ormond Beach | Daytona Beach

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Who is Jason Leslie?

Dear Editor: Have you ever wondered who is really running our town? Jason Leslie moved to Ormond Beach from New Jersey in 2021, and with no political experience, much education or any city involvement, was quickly elected mayor in 2024. As someone who was once close to him, Ormond Beach deserves to know everything I know as well.

Jason claims that “The Great Gatsby” was written about his family. When questioned, it turned into “the idea for the Great Gatsby was inspired by Scott Fitzgerald while he attended one of Jason’s great aunt’s parties.”

It seems Mr. Leslie likes to think that anyone with the last name Leslie is related to him.

Jason claims that Capt.

James Ormond worked for one of his family’s companies Panton, Leslie and Co. Jason bragged about this at an Ormond Beach Historical Landmark Preservation Board meeting. Only, John Leslie of Panton and Leslie’s legitimate children died in infancy per Ancestry and his wife passed away in 1805. Again, Jason Leslie seems desperate to give off the impression of family wealth, and claims to be related to anyone prominent with the last name Leslie that he can find.

Also to note, Panton and Leslie were famous slave traders.

He claims to have been a major business consultant for Fortune 500 companies.

He mentions this quite frequently from the dais. This is another inaccurate statement. Jason has multiple failed small businesses, such as failed buy-here, pay-here lots in New Jersey, many lawsuits against him due to the

quality of the cars sold.

His city biography states he holds a real estate license and provide consulting services for new business start-ups and real estate sales agents.

But according to the state of Florida, he doesn’t even have a real estate license. There is no evidence or websites soliciting consulting services for business starts-ups.

Something that is true is that Jason sued Subway because the Footlong was not exactly 1 foot. This is readily available via Google. He settled for $1,000.

He also sued his real estate brokerage in New Jersey over lack of understanding how broker fees work.

With all of these lies, can we really trust him to effectively run our city? His first term has proven he cannot lead effectively and consistently flip flops on voting. I urge you to research who is actually running your city.

DERRICK WEADER Ormond Beach

Editor’s note: Derrick Weader is the ex-boyfriend of Jason Leslie’s sister. The Observer has reviewed the claims in his letter, independent of the family connection. According to a biography on the Panton, Leslie & Company, written by William S. Coker and Thomas D. Watson, John Leslie had three children — all girls — and none lived past 5 years old, meaning he has no direct descendants. Additionally, public court records from the state of New Jersey show at Leslie’s previously owned used car dealership was sued at least twice for faulty cars; once in 2017, and again in 2019. The 2017 suit was settled. The 2019 suit was dismissed.

Leslie did sue Subway in 2013 and he did sue a real estate brokerage in 2020. The

latter was settled in 2022.

While his city bio does state he holds a real estate license, it doesn’t specify for which state; Leslie doesn’t hold a real estate license in Florida, but he holds one in the state of New Jersey. It will expire on June 30, 2027.

Jason Leslie, who is running for reelection as mayor, was given a chance to respond, and he wrote: “It is disheartening that what should remain a private family matter has become public. It is also troubling that Mr. Weader appears so focused on disputing stories that were shared with me as a child by my grandparents — his children’s great-grandparents — while continuing to make personal attacks.

“Unfortunately, this is one of the consequences of helping my sister leave a years-long contentious and toxic relationship. For those interested in learning more about Mr. Weader, public court records are available through the Clerk of Court.

“Rather than continuing personal attacks, I believe his time would be better spent securing stable employment and fulfilling his obligations to his children. He should also read the City Charter and understand that the City of Ormond Beach operates under a city manager form of government, where the mayor does not manage the day-to-day operations of the city.

“I wish him well. My focus remains where it belongs— serving the residents of Ormond Beach and preparing for the important city matters and upcoming initiatives that affect our community.”

Let’s clean up River Bend

Dear Editor: On the 250th anniversary

of the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson’s words still resonate: “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable, that all men are created equal and independent...”

Our Constitution and the First Amendment enshrine five fundamental freedoms.

Among them, freedom of speech and of the press allow this letter, while the right “to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” inspires my focus today.

Alexis de Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, celebrated the American genius for voluntary association — the powerful way citizens come together to offset concentrated power and solve community problems. Volunteerism remains a cornerstone of Florida’s strength, as shown by many local successes: As a member of the Kiwanis Club of Ormond Beach, we partnered with Ormond Beach Elementary School on a summer reading challenge.

The program earned a Kiwanis International Signature Project Award through book giveaways and thousands of tracked reading hours.

The Jaycees of Park Ridge helped build Jaycee Park during our nation’s Bicentennial in 1976; that park continues serving the community today through volunteer efforts.

ReGrow the Loop/Volusia volunteers, supported by Tree-giveaways, have planted native trees and strengthened our neighborhoods’ unique quality of life.

The expansion of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum (OMAM) stands as another shining example of volunteerism and collaboration honoring our veterans while enriching cultural life. Donations count as volunteering, freely given.

The same spirit of volunteerism that built these successes can restore the past glory of the River Bend Golf

Course. In the Spirit of ’76, I offer to volunteer cleanup of the parking lot, landscaping, and grounds at 730 Airport Road. I invite residents who want to see River Bend returned to a community asset like the Ormond Beach Sports Complex to join me.

I respectfully ask the Ormond Beach City Commission to set a date and time for this first cleanup at the City Commission meeting on July 28 at 7 p.m. This is citizen petition in action.

ALAN BURTON Ormond Beach

Editor’s note: Alan Burton is running for Ormond Beach City Commission Zone 1.

Florida can’t afford to block climate solutions Dear Editor: Floridians are living through an affordability crisis. I know because in just nine years, my property insurance premiums have doubled. Families in Ormond Beach and across the state are being squeezed by rising housing costs, higher energy bills, and the growing cost of extreme weather.

Research has shown that climate change is helping drive up home insurance costs in Florida. But just this month, HB 1217, a new state law championed by public officials that would limit local governments from regulating pollution, went into effect.

Our state leaders should be doing everything possible to lower costs instead of creating policies that tie the hands of communities.

Local governments are on the front lines. Cities and counties know where flooding is getting worse, which neighborhoods are more prone to heat, and what investments must be made to save money over time.

We build community spirit and bridges of understanding through accurate and compelling journalism.

Publisher Brian McMillan, brian@observerlocalnews.com Managing Editor Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@observerlocalnews.com Associate Editor Brent Woronoff, brent@observerlocalnews.com Multimedia Producer Rich Carroll, rich@observerlocalnews.com Operation and Design Manager Hailey McMillan, hailey@observerlocalnews.com Marketing Consultants April Koehler, april@observerlocalnews.com; Travis Hurlbut, travis@observerlocalnews.com Office Coordinator Kay Raymond, Kay@observerlocalnews.com Locally Owned / Publishers of the Palm Coast Observer McMillan Ink LLC 50 Leanni Way, Unit C3 Palm Coast, FL 32137

Blocking them from pursuing clearer and more affordable solutions won’t make Florida stronger; it will just leave us less prepared.

Unfortunately, politics on both sides of the aisle too often descends into mudslinging instead of focusing on what really matters to Floridians. Ignoring the impacts of a changing climate comes at the expense of Floridians who are already paying the price.

If public officials are serious about affordability, they should stop blocking local solutions and start addressing the root causes of rising costs, including the growing impacts of a changing climate.

VATCHE TAVITIAN Ormond Beach

WE’RE INVITING THE COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Enjoy your favorite Christmas hymns and songs at our regular service schedule of 8:30am and 10:15am on July 26.

We don’t need to wait until December to spread Christmas cheer.

Help us spread Christmas joy in July by bringing bars of soap or 6-16oz bottles of shampoo or conditioner for a local low-income senior home in South Daytona.

Holy Cross Lutheran • 724 Big Tree Road • South Daytona, FL (386) 767-6542 • sdhc1960@aol.com • daytonaholycross.org

ObserverLocalNews.com

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

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MY VIEW DONNA BROSEMER, VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

An ‘A’ for Volusia County Schools? Grades are not what they used to be.

Out of a possible 1,200 district points, 64% gets you an A.

DONNA BROSEMER VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

When faced with a structure that requires high performance, human nature finds creative ways to meet that standard. Our Volusia County Schools district administration is exceptionally creative.

School and district grades are out. Volusia County Schools has received an A. So did most of Florida’s schools. According to the Tampa Bay Times, 74% of Florida schools earned an A or B rating.

That’s great! Local governments, Realtors, chambers of commerce, elected officials all love the high district grades that keep our property values up, and help us recruit new businesses.

Meanwhile, our enrollment is declining. School choice may be a factor, but why?

In grading both school districts and students, an A is not what it used to be. Student proficiencies are calculated in a mind-numbingly complicated formula that includes all kinds of contexts and comparisons that bear no

resemblance to the right-orwrong answers and resulting scores that most of us knew as kids. A is not 95-100%. B is not 88-94% C is not…you get the point.

Schools and districts are graded on achievement, learning gains, and readiness/ outcomes, which includes graduation numbers. Out of a possible 1,200 district points, 64% is an A — also not like when we were kids.

One of the easiest ways for a district to increase its rating is to increase its percentage of graduating seniors who pass their final state tests, based on the number of ninth graders who finished school in four years. Each school is required to test at least 95% of its students. The higher those students score on the final tests, the better the overall school grade, and therefore the higher the district grade.

Theoretically, of course, we would assume that in order to graduate a high number of students with passing tests scores, they would have been at grade level throughout their K-12 experience. Not necessarily.

Some students get all the way to 12th grade but have never reached grade level.

Their poor final test scores would hurt their school grade, and bring down the district grade.

We can’t have that. Volusia County Schools solved the problem by making creative use of Richard Milburn Academy (RMA), a charter school that is now co-located on most of our high school campuses. Students who are identified as unlikely to pass their final test, and therefore are less likely to graduate, are

moved from their assigned school to the RMA program, sometimes with parents’ approval, although not always. That removes them from the number tested at their assigned school, which then helps that school reach its 95% minimum, and it raises the likely test average by removing the lowerscoring students from that calculation.

What happens at RMA? One former teacher describes it this way: “Edgenuity is an online platform for coursework. A typical semester takes roughly 25-40 hours to complete.

Courses at RMA on Edgenuity are stripped down to merely nothing except for the quiz.

How does a student pass a quiz if the instruction video is taken out and not required to watch? This encourages students to guess or Google the answers and move along.

They aren’t learning. An average Edgenuity course at RMA takes 5 hours to complete a semester of work.

“When teachers and administrators from traditional schools encourage these students to go to RMA, they are letting students know loud and clear that it doesn’t really matter if you LEARN. It diminishes everything that educators have tried so hard to teach.

This message shows these students that it is OK to take the shortcut and the easy way out because the end result will be the same … a high school diploma, even if you didn’t have to do the work to earn it.”

According to U.S. News and World Report, RMA students are 2% proficient in reading and math. They

graduate anyway; their graduation rate is 77%. In 2019-2020, their enrollment was 283. Five years later, that number had exploded to 907.

Meanwhile, back at the district schools, our enrollment is down from five years ago, and our grades are up.

In 2019-2020, Volusia County Schools graduated 84.5% of our students. This year, our number was 95.6%.

Our average proficiency numbers have consistently hovered in the general range of 50%-60%.

In short, we graduate 40%-50% of students who are not reading and doing math at grade level. The removal of RMA students into their own category is a very effective way to keep our numbers up, and our district grade at “A.” Florida created a wellintended structure that was meant to incentivize high performance. In some cases, it has instead incentivized ways to game the system so the adults look good. And campaign contributions from RMA interests are a nice touch too.

Donna Brosemer is a member of the Volusia County School Board.

Editor’s note: Volusia County Schools was given an opportunity to respond. Here is what they submitted.

DISTRICT ON RMA

A recent op-ed on school and district grading and our partnership with Richard Milburn Academy (RMA) raises fair questions, but several of its core claims don’t reflect how Florida’s accountability system actually works. We want the public to have the

full picture.

1. Grades are set by the state, not the district.

School and district grades are calculated using up to 12 statewide components under Rule 6A 1.09981, F.A.C., achievement, learning gains, acceleration, and graduation measures. The formula is set by the state and applied identically to every Florida district. No district, including ours, sets its own criteria.

2. RMA’s outcomes remain part of our district accountability, and RMA serves a distinct population.

The op-ed’s premise is that moving students to RMA improves district outcomes.

It doesn’t: RMA’s assessment results, graduation outcomes, and accountability measures continue to count toward VCS’s overall district performance. The state calculates district grades as if every student countywide, including those in our sponsored charter schools, is part of one combined school.

It’s also true that RMA is designed to serve students who are older, credit deficient, and in alternative education programs, which is the population the program exists to support. That population’s results are not excluded from our accountability picture; they remain part of it.

3. The scale makes the claim implausible.

VCS serves roughly 60,000 students, and the state’s 95% testing participation threshold requires testing at least 57,000 of them. RMA’s cited enrollment of 907 students is about 1.5% of our total population, spread across more than 80 schools, far too small a share to meaningfully shift

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a districtwide calculation of this size.

4. Graduation rates and FAST proficiency measure different things.

Florida law provides multiple pathways to a diploma approved by the state, including concordant or comparative scores on the SAT, ACT, CLT, and PSAT alongside FAST results. Every VCS student, at a traditional high school or at RMA, must meet the same statutory requirements: 24 credits (or 18 under ACCEL/CTE), a cumulative 2.0 GPA, and passing scores on the Grade 10 FAST ELA and Algebra 1 EOC or an approved concordant score, per s. 1008.22, F.S. Comparing graduation rates directly to FAST proficiency rates does not capture the full picture of how students become eligible to graduate.

We welcome thoughtful discussion about student readiness, assessment performance, and how Florida measures student and district success. However, that discussion should begin with a clear and shared understanding of the state’s accountability system. Volusia County Schools remains committed to transparency and is prepared to provide Mrs. Brosemer with the applicable state statutes and calculation guides in greater detail.

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“Florida created a structure to incentivize high performance.

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12A

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Palm Coast | The Hammock | Ormond Beach | Daytona Beach

ENROLL NOW! DaytonaState.edu

JULY 16, 2026

ELECTION GUIDE 2026 Primary August 18

HOW TO USE THE GUIDE

As a voter, what do you think about the state of our community? What do you want to see in the future?

We asked the candidates who are on the Aug. 18 Primary ballot to consider several statements and tell us how much they agree or disagree, on a scale of 1-10. A “1” means you completely disagree; a “10” means you completely agree. (Note: There is no neutral number. A “5” means you slightly disagree; a “6” means you slightly agree.)

The candidates then explained their responses in 25 words or less.

At a glance, you can now see where the candidates differ, and why, in each race. You can thank us later. Or, just vote.

— BRIAN MCMILLAN, PUBLISHER

COUNTY COUNCIL AT-LARGE

Nancy Miller

rent Mayor of Daytona Beach Shores. Advocating on behalf of residents of not only Daytona Beach Shores but entire Volusia County as co-chair of Storm Water Mitigation and Flooding.  Priorities: Public safety, flooding, keeping taxes to a minimum,

 Years in Volusia County: Daytona Beach Shores, 16 years  Qualifications: Cur-

Mike Poniatowski  Years in Volusia County: Unicorporated Port Orange, 40 Years

Dr. Barry Powell  Years in Volusia County: Daytona Beach, lifelong resident  Qualifications: I am

 Qualifications: 47 years as a firefighter, EMT, paramedic, law enforcement officer, business owner, emergency manager and U.S Govt. contractor. President of the Tomoka Farms Village.  Priorities: Tax Reform related cuts, a comprehensive Stormwater Management Authority, prevent sprawl, embrace low impact development, look at rural boundaries, give voters choice on “toiletto” tap. a lead pastor, a community advocate, and a Community Engagement Liaison who has spent decades serving Volusia’s families, neighbors, and neighborhoods for more than 30+years.  Priorities: Investing in flood mitigation. Reviewing development codes countywide through a blue ribbon commission review. Accountability and transparency of every taxpayer dollar spent.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you agree with these statements?

If tax reform is approved by voters, the county can maintain its current level of service without adding new taxes.

Blackwater reuse, or toiletto-tap, may have to be considered for future water use.

3

There should be no changes to the Volusia Forever land conservation program.

3

Disagree

Agree

The county will need to relook at each budget line by line. Some services will need to be reduced or eliminated.

Disagree

10 Agree

Water is one of our most important commodities. This is not a current plan of the county or any of the cities. When the time comes (if it does) we’ll look into all aspects of such a plan and evaluate at that time.

Disagree

Agree

The county currently has a budget FY25/26 of $1.4B. Will Roberts has estimated that the budget will take a $93M hit should the exemption be raised. We will find savings to equal to the $93M.

Disagree

Agree

I personally feel that voters should continued to be educated on property tax reform and fees.

As many Floridians may approve of this measure because home values have been overinflated.

Agree Disagree

Agree

Forever means Forever. No changes, no amendments that allow land to be listed and then put up for sale or used for a “public purpose!”

10

10

Disagree

Agree Disagree

As a Volusia resident and voter, I believe we should be educated on this matter more. Then we can make an informed decision as to whether to allow recycled, reclaimed water to be injected into the aquifer.

Agree

Volusia Forever is a voter-approved initiative funding the acquisition and management of environmentally sensitive lands.

Since inception, it has helped protect about 30,00060,000 acres.

Cutting funding for arts and cultural organizations was a fiscally responsible decision.

7 Disagree

Agree

Look at each request on a case by case basis to see what the impact will be to the residents, cities, county and property owners.

8

Disagree

Agree

Final decisions on funding should be made after we see the outcome of the property tax decisions made by our voters.

Agree

I would ensure staff enforces existing rules, no waivers for construction, no upzoning, and respect private property rights on both sides. Stormwater from one property must not flow onto another’s.

7 Disagree

Disagree

Agree

These are both economic drivers that bring millions of dollars to the area in tourism.

Agree Disagree

In my opinion, this was done for politically motivated reasons. The arts are enjoyed throughout Volusia County. The effect of the arts is to bring millions back into the community yearly. It’s an investment.

4

Agree Disagree

This is a highly debated subject among Volusia County residents.

We must look at SB 180, which prevents the county from directly passing stricter rules. We should continue to lobby for a change.

Disagree

5

10 1 Disagree

The county’s investment in the Ocean Center and the Daytona Beach International Airport is a good use of taxpayer dollars.

2

10

The science still does not convince me that anything put down the drain like medications, hormones, etc., can be filtered. I won’t allow wastewater treated or not to be injected into our acquifer for growth.

5 Disagree

Agree

Conservation is important to the residents and the county. Volusia Forever supports this program.

10 1 Disagree

The county should enact stricter development standards.

Agree

The airport is an important facet of business development and tourism.

But we should not subsidize airlines only for them to pull out. Ocean Center needs entertainment for all ages on an ongoing basis.

5 Agree

I feel that cutting funding for the arts depends on how an administration defines fiscal priorities and measures economic impact.

Some argue cultural investments stop substantial economic return.

Disagree

Agree

This depends on how we measure the ROI. Due to both entities serving as primary gateways for tourism and commercial infrastructure, their funding structures provoke distinct fiscal arguments.

2B

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

ZONE 3

DAYTONA BEACH CITY COMMISSION in psychology University of Central Florida; small business owner  Priorities: Economic development throughout the city, revitalizing entire beachside and increase access to beaches. Increased law enforcement in tourist areas.

Christos Mavronas

On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you agree with these statements?

Daytona Beach If tax reform is growing at a is approved by sustainable pace. voters, the city can maintain its current level of service without adding new taxes.

5

Blackwater reuse, or toiletto-tap, may have to be considered for future water use.

The city should fix flooding in Midtown, even if it means creating a special assessment district for funding.

1

Disagree

Agree

Daytona can manage rapid growth by investing in infrastructure, encouraging higher-density development in appropriate areas, protecting natural spaces and coordinating regional planning.

Disagree

Agree

Disagree

Agree Disagree

Despite recent spending concerns, the city has done a good job in being fiscally responsible.

10

5

Agree

Disagree

No response.

No toilet to tap at all.

The flooding in midtown needs to be dealt with. Even if it means creating a special assessment district for funding.

2

2

2

Redeveloping the Main Street corridor should be a priority to attract more tourists outside of Bike and Race weeks.

10 Agree

The state is still investigating the spending concerns.

Disagree

Agree

Redeveloping Main Street should be a top priority.

Incumbent ZONE 3

 Years in Daytona Beach: 31 years  Qualifications: B.A

Palm Coast | The Hammock | Ormond Beach | Daytona Beach

Quanita May

ZONE 3

No response

for IRS & 45-year-owner Tax Consulting Business  Priorities: Affordable housing, infrastructure, flooding, public safety

Steve Miller

ZONE 5

 Years in Daytona: 45 years  Qualifications: Professional experience working tion to detail, unwavering integrity  Priorities: Debt; graft, waste and abuse; transparency; and overregulation

John Counts

ZONE 5

 Years Daytona Beach: Lifelong resident  Qualifications: Engineering mindset, atten-

Aaron Harrison

now I own a home in Daytona Beach for a little over a year.  Qualifications: A U.S. Army veteran, years of organizing experience, and a hard worker  Priorities: Fixing our infrastructure, creating more government transparency, and helping working class families by lowering cost of living

ZONE 5

 Years in Daytona Beach: I’ve rented around the Volusia County area since I was a kid, but

Willie F. Williams

 Years in Daytona Beach: 57 years  Qualifications: 25-year

resident for Zone 5! 32 years of Service in Volusia County Schools! Record of service to the community! Experience in Leadership and working as part of a team.  Priorities: Affordable Housing, Infrastructure Development, Derbyshire Park Development, Road Paving, Continue Community Partnerships with the Police Department

7 Disagree

Agree

We are approaching 90,000 residents and 44,000 students. We need to slow the growth so infrastructure can catch up. Also we need more opportunity for graduate students to become residents.

Disagree

Agree

I strongly disagree.

The city cannot maintain services without additional funding sources for the $15 million shortfall that is predicted if the proposal passes.

Disagree

The current commission rejected toilet-to-tap and I agree with them.

6 Disagree

Agree

Infrastructure must keep pace no matter the rate of growth, and that is a task and responsibility, not so much a setting to control.

3 Agree

Agree

Funds will need to be diverted from unnecessary pet projects to the appropriate functions of government, but once done, necessities can be provided for adequately.

With our current infrastructure, new residents are going to increase our traffic heavily. Along with that will come flooding. We need to start working on improving our city to protect safety of our communities.

6 Agree

Growth and Development is a welcome addition to the area. We just have to be mindful of the infrastructure challenges with population and economic development.

Disagree

Disagree

Agree

I completely reject creating a special assessment district but I do support moving residents out of the flooding areas as planned.

7 Disagree

Agree

Disagree

Agree

The remedies available to us are applicable only at the property level. the city should facilitate property owners making their properties more flood resilient.

7 Agree Disagree

Agree

Disagree

Agree

Although I hesitate to consider this as a reliable source of recharging our aquifer, I could see other useful applications. Cleaning out septic tanks for drainage storage could stop flooding in some areas.

Flooding in midtown is only going to get worse. Working with the county will be a necessity, but more important is funding. I can’t see funding going to this in a proper way unless we create these districts.

2

1

2

Agree

Our city is uniquely suited to be able to handle the challenges associated with the tax reform.

The services that we now receive will continue and realistically, user fees or new taxes will become a reality.

Disagree

Disagree

Disagree

Agree

It is imperative that we redevelop Main Street so that we have year round business opportunities for residents and the business community.

Agree Disagree

Daytona Beach City Commission recently voted unanimously against the practice currently and in the future and I support this position.

3 Disagree

Agree

10 Agree

Our city has been ineffective in creating a proper budget that doesn’t keep giving our tax dollars to corporations that build housing that our common working family can’t afford.

Disagree

Agree

The free market will dictate what should be prioritized regarding any particular area. The role of the government is to facilitate economic activity.

Disagree

Agree

The city has a system in place that fosters a process to ensure fiscal responsibility and oversight. The move to hire an internal auditor to provide transparency and corrective action has been beneficial.

Agree

Main Street has been a one trick pony for too long.

We have our beautiful beach and empty buildings that only appear for events. We need to start thinking about what locals want, not just tourists.

9

The resources needed to fix the issue can’t be achieved by a special assessment in the short term. Options for relocation, future development standards to alleviate flooding must be considered.

Vote in the Primary on August 18.

Agree Disagree

The city is currently $220M in debt.

When an organization is hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, it is definitionally not being fiscally responsible.

Your vote votematters matters Your Election guide presented in part by

Agree

I was president of the Charter Review Commission that recommended the city hire an internal auditor. Nothing fraudulent has been found to date. We have updated our procedures regarding P-cards.

7

Our over-reliance on property and sales tax only serves to harm working class citizens. We need a smarter tax plan to keep costs down for the average citizen, lest we cut social programs we desperately need.

Disagree

Disagree

10

1

The processes being discussed are nearly identical to those already used in almost every municipal water treatment facility in the industrialized world, including our own.

1

Disagree

Disagree

Disagree

Agree

8

8 Disagree

Agree

Main Street Corridor should continue to be a priority to attract more tourist outside of the amazing job for Bike Week. The city is moving in the right direction, with a focus to bring more families here.

ObserverLocalNews.com

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

3B

Polynesian Fire Luau brings the spirit of aloha to Daytona Beach Two local brothers help Polynesian Fire Luau bring a taste of Pacific Island culture to Daytona Beach.

ABE MILLS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona has added two local brothers to their world class team and is sharing the tastes, sights, sounds, traditions, and cultures of Polynesia with tourists and locals in Daytona beach.

Every visit to Polynesian Fire Daytona’s luau experience starts with an “aloha” greeting and a lei around the neck; then, features a buffet dinner and dances and music from Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Fiji, including the popular fireknife dance and the Haka.

“You could say that [the performances] are world class,” said Jeurell Lavatai, co-owner and performer at Polynesian Fire Daytona. “We

Tyson Mills and Chaira Sailiata do a pukana pose at the Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona. Photo by Rachel Mills

sweat and bleed for the show, for the luau.”

Lavatai is an award winning fireknife dancer. The fireknife portion is the climax of the

show.

“I just hope people realize how much effort and work we put into this,” dancer Chaira Sailiata said. “Definitely fire-

Co-owner/performer Jeurell Lavatai and drummers Jackson Mills and Pamata Sio get ready to provides the beats of island music at Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona. Photo by Rachel Mills

Christian Tolentino performs a fireknife dance at the Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona. Photo by Abe Mills

knife and haka are two of the highlights of the show.”

While most of the luau performers are from the Pacific Islands, Micronesia and Melanesia, there are two that are from right here in Volusia County.

Brothers Jackson and Tyson Mills, who are my sons, received their training and experience while living in the Pacific Islands.

Jackson Mills worked and trained as a dancer and drummer at the world renowned Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii, while attending college.

Tyson Mills was a missionary in Fiji, where he learned the culture and language. He later joined his brother, Jackson, at the Polynesian Cultural Center where he learned and performed cultural dances at the Fijian village exhibit while attending school.

We’re always very lucky to find local talent because that doesn’t happen very often, said Jason Wright, Polynesian Fire Daytona co-owner.

“Usually we have to bring our people in from Hawaii or even further.”

“We’re lucky to have these guys,” Lavatai said. “I’m pretty sure they’re excited to be with us too. We have Tysons’ energy and Jackson’s drumming. They had no problem fitting in.”

Though the performers are from different parts of the world, the spirit of family is what seemed to be the common theme among performers as well as show attendees.

“The best part of our show is sharing the experience of ‘aloha’ and the spirit of ‘ohana’”, said Simi Hansen-Paiali’i the master of ceremonies and a performer at Polynesian Fire Luau.

The “spirit of aloha” has been described as love, compassion, peace, and mercy and “ohana” means family.

“We want everyone that comes in to feel like family,” Tyson Mills said.

The show includes audience participation for audience members of all ages.

“We love when locals come because they get to not only experience [the spirit of] aloha of Hawaii, but sharing it here in Daytona is a blessing,” Hansen-Paiali’i said. “So hopefully we bring the spirit of Polynesia and everybody’s able to perpetuate it throughout Daytona and Florida.”

Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona is located at 180 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach. Luau experiences start at 5 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday. For more information, visit www. polynesianfire.com.

4B

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Palm Coast | The Hammock | Ormond Beach | Daytona Beach

YOUR SCHOOLS Champion Elementary’s new principal seeks to foster a positive culture Meet Samantha Fabulich, Champion Elementary’s new principal.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Positivity is important to Samantha Fabulich.

It’s what she wants to build a culture around at Champion Elementary, where she has been appointed as the school’s new principal. Fabulich, an Ormond Beach resident, was most recently the school’s assistant principal.

“Our culture needs to be built on the fact of we are here and we are supportive of each other — no matter if we’re staff, students, anything,” Fabulich said. “We need to be accepting and kind.”

Fabulich began her education career in Volusia County Schools, having interned at Pathways Elementary in 1998-1999. A graduate of Florida State University, she was hired by the district in 2000. She worked as a teacher at Pathways for the bulk of her career — 21 years. She also previously coached the swim team at Seabreeze High School.

A passion for education runs in her family, as Fabulich is the daughter of two longtime former school administrators, Melissa and Fred White. Her sister is also a teacher.

“It runs in my blood,” Fabulich said.

Before making the jump to administration, Fabulich taught a variety of grades and held several roles in education throughout her career, including as an ESE support facilitator and teacher on assignment. She said she’s a firm believer in gaining experience in different roles to have a better understanding prior to leading others.

“It helped to open my eyes to some things that I might not have seen if I was only in my four walls, shall I say,” she said. “I think it helped me grow, not only as an educator, but just as somebody who is out in the community. ... It amazes me what our kiddos come to school with on their shoulders.”

For example, Champion Elementary is the second highest served school in Volusia County by local nonprofit Provision Packs, which provides food to students at risk of hunger on weekends and extended school breaks.

According to the nonprofit’s 2024-2025 impact report, students at Champion Elementary received 2,048 packs, totaling about 22,528 meals.

“When I go drive up there to go put them in my car, [the packs] barely fit,” Fabulich said. “It’s that many.”

Champion Elementary improved its school grade

IS YOUR AC READY FOR THE HEAT?

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America 250

As our nation continues to celebrate its 250th anniversary, and in recognition of Ormond Memorial Art Museum’s 80th anniversary, we invite you to discover how local, state, and national history intersect — from Indigenous communities and colonial settlements to the Revolutionary War and the development of modern Florida. Please join us in celebrating the ideals of freedom, creativity, and opportunity, the same ideals upon which this country and OMAM were founded. We hope this series will broaden your knowledge of our community and how we came together in 1776 to forge a new nation and then fought again to preserve what it stood for in the mid 20th century.

19

AUG 2:00PM | Ormond Memorial Art Museum - Boardroom St. Augustine’s Role in the American Revolution Dr. Trevor Bryant, Professor of History Flagler College

Explore how the people of St. Augustine navigated the American Revolution, balancing loyalties to Spain, Britain, and the emerging United States during a time of political uncertainty and change.

Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens 78 East Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach, FL 32176 O R M O N D A R T M U S E U M . O R G | ( 3 8 6 ) 6 76 - 3 3 4 7

Engravings of the Timucua People: The Past Is Not Always What It Seems

Dr. Jerald Milanich, Curator Emeritus of Archaeology Florida Museum of Natural History at University of Florida

Uncover the truth behind Theodore de Bry’s iconic Timucua engravings and the surprising history of Ormond Beach’s Halifax River mound in this illustrated lecture.

NOV

07

2:00PM | Ormond Memorial Art Museum - Boardroom

The Gilded Age of Ormond Beach: John Anderson, Joseph Price & Others Alice R. Howell and Ronald L. Howell Volusia County Historians, Renactors & Authors

Step back in time to Ormond Beach’s glamorous past, when the Ormond Hotel and The Casements welcomed America’s most influential families and helped shape the town’s golden era.

JULY 2:00PM | Ormond Memorial Art Museum - Boardroom

Discover the often-overlooked story of East and West Florida during the Revolutionary War, when both remained loyal to Britain and became key battlegrounds in the struggle for independence.

vision forward by preparing the next generation of leaders to make a meaningful difference in the world.”

The July 9 celebration included a free kids’ fun zone at Daisy Stocking Park in Daytona Beach, as well as an archive exhibit at B-CU’s Carl S. Swisher Memorial Library.

SEPT 2:00PM | Ormond Memorial Art Museum - Boardroom

Florida’s History Through Power, People & Place

Dr. David Head, Associate Lecturer of History University of Central Florida

“Each year, we gather to celebrate Dr. Bethune’s life while recommitting ourselves to the principles she championed through faith, education and service,” said Dr. Albert D. Mosley, B-CU’s president.

“As we honor her 151st birthday, we celebrate not only her extraordinary legacy, but also the responsibility to carry her

All lectures are FREE but registration is requested as spots are limited! Sign up online by scanning this QR code or by calling the museum at 386-676-3347.

AT

22

Bethune-Cookman University lays a wreath at Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s statue on campus. Photo courtesy of B-CU

Bethune-Cookman University recently welcomed students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the Daytona Beach community to campus on Thursday, July 9, for the annual birthday celebration honoring the life and legacy of founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.

386-339-2936

22

from a “C” to a “B” in the 2025-2026 school year. For the upcoming year, Fabulich said she and the school leadership team will be focusing on continuing to improve and help students with goal tracking. Improving scores in science and ELA will be a priority, as well as addressing chronic absenteesim.

“We have some ideas,” Fab-

CLASS NOTES B-CU honors Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune with annual birthday tradition

Britain’s Loyal Colonies Lost: The American Revolution in Florida

Champion Elementary Principal Samantha Fabulich began her career with Volusia County Schools in 2000. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

ulich said. “We have teachers that are very excited to bring some new, fresh light to some things and get kids interested and families interested. We want to bring the community back here.”

Champion is also bringing a new STEM teacher, with the hope of getting kids interested in subjects like robotics, engineering and coding.

Fabulich and fellow faculty members have been brainstorming a new motto for the school. For many years, it’s been “Champions on the move,” but Fabulich said they wanted something that would stick with them and the students.

They found that motto in the phrase, “Be the One.” “Be the one who’s the leader,” Fabulich said. “Be the one who’s the positive light with somebody. Be the one who is kind. What one are you going to be throughout the year?”

| 715 W Granada (park at 725 W Granada Blvd.)

DEC 2:00PM The Three Chimneys Historic Site

05

Walking Talk & Tour

Stacey Simmons with Laurie Taylor and Jonathan Morgan from the Ormond Beach Historical Society

Visit the first successful British sugar plantation, sugar mill, and rum distillery in the United States, operated as part of the Swamp Settlement from about 1768 until England ceded Florida back to Spain after the Revolutionary War.

Presented by: Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Additional support is provided by the Jacarlene Foundation. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities, or the Jacarlene Foundation.

ObserverLocalNews.com

LOCAL EVENTS FRIDAY, JULY 17

SUMMER SOUNDS When: 6-8 p.m.

Where: Rockefeller Gardens, 26 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach Details: Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a free concert by Thompson-Browne, which will perform a variety of genres, from ABBA to Led Zeppelin.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22

LECTURE — BRITAIN’S LOYAL COLONIES LOST: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IN FLORIDA When: 2-3 p.m.

Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach Details: Dr. David Head, associate lecturer of history at the University of Central Florida, will present this illustrated lecture on how Florida colonies remained loyal to Britain until Spain cut off Britain’s dominance by war’s end. Free program.

Registration required. Visit www.ormondartmuseum.org/ classes-programs.

THURSDAY, JULY 23

PENINSULA WOMENS CLUB GAMES When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Where: Peninsula Womens Club, 415 S. Peninsula Drive, Daytona Beach Details: Play Bridge, Samba, “Hand, Foot and Elbow” players. All ladies who enjoy cards welcome. Call Betsy Patton at 386-843-1061.

Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach Details: Gina Bickish will lead this step-by-step painting instruction. All supplies provided. Bring an apron, smock or old shirt. Class costs $40.

Call 386-956-6891 to register.

BEGINNER FIGURE DRAWING When: 1-2:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, July 23 and 24 Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach Details: This two-day class

by Sylvia Gortz will introduce students to the basics of drawing the human figure.

Costs $120 for museum members; $140 for nonmembers. Register at www. ormondartmuseum.org/ classes-programs.

SUMMER SOUNDS When: 6-8 p.m.

Where: Rockefeller Gardens, 26 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach Details: Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a free concert by Stealing Vanity, a Daytona Beach rock band.

PABLO CRUISE AND ORLEANS When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach Details: Presented by Elko Concerts, see Pablo Cruise and Orleans perform their Yacht Rock summer tour.

Tickets cost $75-$85. Visit https://ormondbeachperformingartscenter.csstix. com/.

FRIDAY, JULY 24

WELLNESS PAINT PARTY When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: The Casements, 25

SATURDAY, JULY 25

CHRISTMAS IN JULY HOLIDAY HUNT When: 8 a.m. to noon Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach Details: Take part in a hunt for hidden beach balls during a self-guided tour of The Casements. Pick up a tally sheet at the front desk and return it for a prize. Free for ages 16 and under.

NINTH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN JULY When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Granada Boulevard, from A1A to Orchard Street, Ormond Beach Details: Join Ormond MainStreet for its annual shopping and dining event in the downtown. Santa and Mrs. Claus will spread holiday cheer at participating businesses. Take

Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church is kicking off its back to school celebration with a

glow dance party, to be held on Friday Aug. 7 from 6:309:30 p.m.

All ages are welcome at the event, according to Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church’s website, which states the church will be transforming the fellowship hall into a

CHRISTMAS IN JULY AT OMAM When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach Details: OMAM will celebrate

Christmas in July alongside Ormond MainStreet. Enjoy the summer art exhibitions, light refreshments, and the Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt.

Free admission.

HEALTHIER, WEALTHIER, WISER, INC. SEMINAR When: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Regional Library, Sandcastle room, 30 S. Beach St., Or-

mond Beach Details: Attend this free seminar, featuring Dr. Aneesah N. Farris of Helping Hands Family Chiropractic as guest speaker. Learn summer health tips for kids. A complimentary lunch will be served.

Free health screenings and take home snack packs for children, while supplies last.

RSVP to investinhealth2022@ gmail.com.

The City of Ormond Beach Parks & Recreation Dept. Presents

summer soun s FREE CONCERT SERIES Grab a lawn chair or a blanket, and come celebrate summertime with a FREE night of great music.

6pm - 8pm

Friday, July 17th • Thompson-Browne

Playing a wide variety of genres, from Abba to Zeppelin. Listeners love the savory way they flavor the songs they cover and their three-part harmonies.

Friday, July 24th • Stealing Vanity

Stealing Vanity is a rock band from Daytona Beach. The band has carried an outstanding reputation for their unique sound, and the chemistry that creates it.

FOCUS ON FAITH Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church to host ‘glow dance party’

part in an “Elf on the Shelf” scavenger hunt. Visit www.ormondbeachmainstreet.com/ christmasinjuly.

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“neon wonderland.” The event will feature dinner, dancing and glow activities.

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To RSVP, or for more information, call Amanda WilsonStovall, at 386-214-7696.

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5B

Thank You Sponsors

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6B

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Palm Coast | The Hammock | Ormond Beach | Daytona Beach

so well,” Graf said.

Jaden has had a special place in her heart since he was placed in her classroom.

Coombe provides her with updates regularly, including sending her photos of the adoption day at the courthouse.

“I’ve been in education for 29 years, and you always have those little ones that tug at your heart sometimes,” she said, and with a laugh, added, “but Jaden really, really, he did a toll on me and Jackie.”

JADEN’S JOY

Jackie Coombe and her sons Jaden and Robert. Courtesy photos

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410017-1

SOUTH DAYTONA 10-ACRE LOT

Jackie Coombe’s life changed in October 2023. That’s when she met Jaden.

Coombe had recently decided to go back to work as a teacher and was assigned to Jaden’s second grade class at Pathways Elementary.

The boy she encountered in the classroom was spirited and goofy, and he made an impression.

“He has that magic,” Coombe said.

Toward the end of the school year, she learned Jaden was in foster care. He was one of six siblings, and Coombe learned

Jaden and Coombe had their first interaction as future mother-and-son at a visitation center in June 2025.

“They told him on his way over that he was going to be seeing me and I don’t think he believed it,” Coombe said.

“He came in the door and his eyes just lit up, and he started out with, ‘Ms. Coombe, Ms. Coombe!’”

Jaden was a little shy on that first visit, as being with his former teacher in a nonclassroom setting was unfamiliar. Coombe was overwhelmed, but she didn’t let that discourage her.

And every visit after, no matter how shy, Jaden was excited to see her, she said.

Their first supervised visit took place at Rainbow Park in Ormond Beach. They stopped at Publix and got Jaden his sandwich of choice: roast beef with mustard and pickles.

JOHN ADERSON ORMOND BEACH

MANAGING EDITOR

MAKING PROGRESS

RIVERFRONT ESTATE ORMOND BEACH

JARLEENE ALMENAS

that the hope was that he would be adopted alongside one of his older brothers.

Learning that Jaden was navigating the foster care system planted a seed and motivated her to start filing adoption paperwork. Even if she didn’t adopt Jaden, perhaps there would be another child that she’d feel the same connection with.

Then in February 2025, she learned that Jaden was still waiting to be adopted.

“It turns out that, because I’d contacted the social worker the spring before, they were trying to find what teacher it was that was looking to adopt him,” Coombe said.

So Coombe reached out and let them know it was her, and, that she was still interested in adopting him.

On June 10, over two years since Coombe started the process, her adoption of Jaden

DAYTONA BEACH JOHN ANDERSON

Ormond Beach teacher Jackie Coombe adopts former student after two-year journey.

was finalized. The 11-year-old boy had officially become her son.

For their first visit on their own, Coombe took Jaden to a friend’s birthday party in Palm Coast.

And slowly, they found their footing. By Halloween that year, he asked her if she was going to be his mom. Jaden was placed in her home permanently that December.

“The more we saw each other, the awkwardness went away,” Coombe said. “It was exciting to have him come to the house and show him his bedroom. ... He started imagining staying the night over.

He was really all for it.”

Because Jaden has some special needs, including a speech delay, Coombe knew that taking on the role of mom would need to come with resources to help.

Adoption opened the door for him to benefit from those resources, Coombe said. He’s been able to receive speech and occupational therapy, and has recently started equine therapy as well.

Leah Graf was Jaden’s first grade teacher at Pathways Elementary. When he was put in her classroom, Jaden would not make eye contact and hardly said a word. He struggled with reading and writing.

Throughout the school year, he progressed enough to where he would play with other children side-by-side.

Today, he’s able to communicate in full sentences and play sports.

“From where I saw him back in first grade to where he is now, it’s just awesome to see that little boy flourish and do

Over time, Coombe had learned two major things about Jaden: He wanted to be adopted very much, and he wanted to play baseball.

“I was like, ‘Oh, we can do both of those,’” Coombe recalled.

This past season, Jaden played with the Ormond Beach Youth Baseball and Softball Association’s Cubs 10U minor league team.

Jaden was very shy when Coach Gordy VanDusen first met him. When the league director asked him if he’d be willing to coach Jaden, VanDusen, a New Smyrna Beach Police officer, agreed without hesitating.

“For me, coaching little league sports is to make sure kids are having fun, and that means all kids and every kid,” VanDusen said.

Seeing Jaden on the field having fun brings a smile to your face, he said.

“It really brings back the whole point of playing sports

in general, and that’s just having the joy of the game,” VanDusen said. “I think watching Jaden play really revitalized that for everyone.”

Coaching Jaden came at the perfect time for VanDusen too, as he and his wife are in the process of adopting a child too.

“Being able to hit those parenting milestones and seeing Jackie do that with Jaden is huge, because you can tell that she is putting in a lot of effort,” VanDusen said. “Her and I would have very lengthy conversations about him hitting milestones and progressing to have the normalcy of a childhood that he deserves and can definitely get with her and her family. Gosh, her and her son Rob just pour an enormous amount of time into Jaden and his success.”

Jaden likes the same things as most boys his age. He loves to play Roblox, ride his bike and he swims like a fish, Coombe said. He also loves the family’s cats.

“He’s curious,” Coombe said. “He’s very loving. He is very friendly. He’s just very active, which is good.”

Coombe has two biological sons, ages 29 and 27. When asked if she ever thought she’d be a mom to a young child again, she said she “really, really wanted to.”

The age Jaden is at were her favorite years with her sons, she said.

“I get to do all that again,” she said. “I get to go relive a childhood with him.”

Jaden greets Shelldon from the Daytona Tortugas.

ObserverLocalNews.com

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

7B

REAL ESTATE ORMOND BEACH

Ormond Lakes home sells for $775K A

house in Ormond Lakes at 3 Cliffwood Circle was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea for the week of June 20-26. The house sold on June 22, for $775,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 5/3 and has a fireplace and 3,558 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $107,000.

The house was listed by Patricia McKinley, of Realty Pros Assured.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Condos The condo at 2750 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 3, sold on June 24, for $218,500. Built in 1973, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,184 square feet. It last sold in 2015 for $140,000.

sold on June 22, for $295,000.

Built in 2005, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,684 square feet. It last sold in 2025 for $342,900.

A house in Ormond Lakes at 3 Cliffwood Circle was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea for the week of June 20-26. Photo courtesy of Patricia McKinley/Realty Pros Assured

$312,400. Built in 2002, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,684 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $315,000.

The house at 2763 Kinsale Lane sold on June 22, for $292,975. Built in 2026, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,564 square feet.

The house at 2974 Monaghan Drive sold on June 26, for $492,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 3/3 and has 2,040 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $472,300.

Donald Heights The house at 1953 Nelson Ave. sold on June 22, for $210,000. Built in 1972, the house is a 4/1.5 and has 1,326 square feet. It last sold in 1996 for $31,000.

The house at 1309 Wicklow Lane sold on June 25, for $575,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 2,267 square feet. It last sold in 2025 for $539,000.

Hunter’s Ridge The house at 12 Foxfords Chase sold on June 26, for $575,000. Built in 1996, the house is a 5/3 and has a fireplace, a pool, a spa and 2,921 square feet.

Halifax Plantation The house at 3013 Glin Circle

The house at 3139 Kailani Court sold on June 24, for

The house at 52 Cambridge Terrace sold on June 26, for $650,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 4/3 and has a pool and 2,652 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $640,000.

ORMOND BEACH

WEST DAYTONA BEACH

$438,300.

A house in Latitude Margaritaville at 103 Flip Flop Court was the top real estate transaction in Daytona Beach’s 32124 zip code for the week of June 20-26. The house sold on June 26, for $637,000.

Built in 2019, the house is a 2/2 and has a pool and 1,681 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $679,900.

The house was listed by Kelley Sarantis, of Bob Hodges and Sons Realty.

Legends Preserve The house at 387 Birkdale Drive sold on June 24, for $396,520. Built in 2026, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,908 square feet.

Latitude Margaritaville The house at 925 Margaritaville Ave. sold on June 23, for $459,900. Built in 2023, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,563 square feet.

It last sold in 2023 for

Mosaic The house at 3309 Mosaic Blvd. sold on June 26, for $490,312. Built in 2026, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,115 square feet.

Lennar at Preserve at LPGA The house at 2147 Green Valley St. sold on June 26, for $317,500. Built in 2024, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,432 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $309,500.

New Britain The townhome at 46 Chippingwood Lane sold on June 26, for $260,000. Built in 1980, the townhome is a 2/2.5 and has 1,139 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $145,000.

Northbrook The house at 1116 Sherbourne Way sold on June 24, for $384,900. Built in 1982, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,917 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $280,000.

Ormond Golfridge The house at 67 Broadmoor Circle sold on June 23, for $220,000. Built in 1974, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,525 square

MUSEUM inMOTION

feet. It last sold in 2007 for $158,800.

Ocean Terrace The house at 216 Ocean Terrace sold on June 25, for $175,000. Built in 1961, the house is a 2/1.5 and has 1,412 square feet.

Plantation Bay The house at 1237 Hampstead Lane sold on June 25, for $490,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, a spa and 2,109 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $460,000.

Ridgehaven The house at 181 Parkhaven Drive sold on June 23, for $282,645. Built in 2025, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,454 square feet.

The house at 457 Brookhaven Trail sold on June 24, for $449,990. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,487 square feet.

The Trails The townhome at 23 Birch-

wood Trail sold on June 23, for $270,000. Built in 1979, the townhome is a 2/2 and has a fireplace and 1,096 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $262,000.

The townhome at 215 Pine Cone Trail sold on June 23, for $288,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 3/3 and has a fireplace and 1,696 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $175,100.

Tomoka Estates The house at 525 Lowndes Ave. sold on June 25, for $335,000. Built in 1960, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, a dock and 2,020 square feet. It last sold in 1991 for $80,000.

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ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA Coquina Key The house at 3806 Islamorada Drive sold on June 26, for $470,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,631 square feet. It last sold in 2016 for $320,000.

Tuscany Trails The house at 25 Apian Way sold on June 25, for $335,000.

Built in 2007, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a fireplace and 2,138 square feet.

Wexford Reserve The house at 2229 Oconnel Drive sold on June 22, for

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

JOAN BURNETT REALTOR® Broker Associate

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Woodmere The house at 61 Merrywood Circle sold on June 24, for $400,000. Built in 1968, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,656 square feet. It last sold in February 2026 for $235,000.

Seabridge South The house at 9 Sand Dollar Drive sold on June 22, for $499,999. Built in 1991, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a pool and 1,811 square feet. It last sold in 2005 for $350,000.

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$445,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,231 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $439,400.

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8B

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Palm Coast | The Hammock | Ormond Beach | Daytona Beach

JULY 16, 2026

SPORTS Seabreeze linebacker Tristen Miller (10) intercepts a pass during the 7-on-7 game against Father Lopez.

Band of Brothers Lori and Mark Spada encourage their five teenage sons as they start their second year at Seabreeze together.

MICHELE MEYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Five Miller and Mellen-Spada brothers will stroll into Seabreeze High School on the first day of school, Aug. 10: two seniors, one junior, and two sophomores. Their presence is also known on the Sandcrabs’ football roster— two wide receivers, two linebackers, and a running back, with a couple of them playing dual positions.

They are brothers — they share meals, jokes, and sprints to the laundry basket under the same roof with the same mom and dad.

Lori and Mark Spada both agree they are proud to be the parents of this crew — seniors Daniel Mellen-Spada and Tristan Miller, junior Kamden Miller, and sophomores Austin Miller and Zachary Mellen-Spada.

“They’re a band of brothers, that’s for sure,” Lori said.

“They support each other; they reach out to each other, even before they reach out to Mark or me. They’ve learned to try to problem-solve because they know we’re still working full time.”

In 2017, Lori moved to Ormond-by-the-Sea from

Austin Miller watch the 7-on-7 action from the sidelines at Father Lopez.

Atlanta, Georgia. She was a single parent to three boys— Tristan, Kamden and Austin.

“I decided to move to the beach and never work for corporate America again,” she said.

By that time, Mark had adopted his nephews, 6-yearold Daniel and his brother, 4-year-old Zachary. He also has four children from a previous marriage: Sebastian, Giovanni, Vanessa and Maximus.

All five boys attended Osceola Elementary School, where they met. Tristan and Daniel were in the same class and became best friends, and their brothers, Austin and Zachary, were also in each other’s class and became best friends.

Lori invited Mark’s kids to Austin’s birthday party in May 2021. Afterward, Daniel told Tristan that his uncle Mark should “go out with your mom.” Tristan agreed it would be a good match. Mark called Lori to thank her, and on Mother’s Day, Lori invited him to the beach.

“Mark said I had the best pickup line,” she said. “I asked him if he wanted to touch toes in the sand.”

On Nov. 11, 2022, at 1:11 p.m., the Spadas were married. They joined forces and became a family of seven, living in a modest home on River Beach. Tristan was happy his best friend, Daniel, would be his brother, and Kamden asked if he needed to

Seabreeze wide receiver Daniel Mellen-Spada (19). Photos by Michele Meyers

Lori and Mark Spada take a photo together after Seabreeze football team’s beach workout at Andy Romano Beachfront Park.

change his name.

Lori said she already had a chore chart on the refrigerator for her sons. It was just a matter of adding Daniel and Zachary. Over time, they worked through the dynamics of parenting.

“We started a partnership,” she said. “Blending the family and blending the chores, so they learn to work and communicate together and build a bond other than just friendship.”

After the family logistics, they had to navigate the cost of everyday living. One week of groceries and toiletries for the family of seven costs $500, and with three teen drivers, their automobile insurance exceeds the household expenses combined.

“It’s crazy, but we make it work,” Lori said. “Luckily, we don’t have a mortgage, and the three older boys work, which helps.”

Tristan has been working at Oceanside Beach Bar & Grill in Ormond-by-the-Sea for two years; Danny works at Neighborhood Scoop in Ormond Beach; and Kamden works at Riptides.

Lori is a licensed Realtor, and Mark is a licensed general contractor. Schedules can be a challenge, with five family members working, Monday-through-Friday summer football workouts, and monthly appointments.

Last month, Lori shuttled the boys to 16 doctor, dental, orthodontic, and dermatology appointments. They had 31 in December, which included physical therapy following Kamden’s injury. But the Spadas always manage to attend church every Sunday, touch a football daily, and fish and surf whenever they can.

Fifteen-year-old Austin recognizes how much work his parents put into raising him and his siblings.

“My parents are great people,” he said. “Five kids are a lot of work. It’s been exciting, though, because I already knew Zach and Danny from school and being friends, so it was just exciting to be in the same house with them.”

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mark played volleyball for the United States circuit while attending Elizabethtown Area High School and playing basketball at the University of Pittsburgh. Twenty-eight years ago, he started his coaching career as a high school girls’ volleyball coach in Rialto, California.

From 2006 to 2016, Mark worked in the security depart-

Seabreeze wide receiver Zachary Mellen-Spada (19) grabs a pass during the 7-on-7 game against Mainland at Father Lopez.

ment at Daytona International Speedway. He got involved with the city of Ormond Beach’s youth recreational baseball league, the Golden Spikes, took over the basketball league, and eventually joined Pop Warner football as an assistant coach. Eventually, he became the commissioner and then the president.

He stepped down last season.

“Your sacrifice isn’t for you, it’s for the greater good,” he said. “Lift our community, lift our program, our school, lift these students up, make them great young men. That’s the goal you have to keep.”

He has been an assistant football coach at Seabreeze for the past three years. Currently, he is the JV head coach and defensive coordinator and will also assist coach Mike Klein with the varsity linebackers this season.

“He’s Mr. Get Things Done,” Klein said. “As a football coach, you wear a lot of different hats, they say. Mark is not above any of it. He can do handy work. If we need something built, he can build it. If we need something fixed, he can fix it. He’s kind of like a right-hand man type of guy, where he’s always there; he’s always accountable.”

All five brothers played basketball and soccer before committing to football. Kamden will be a junior this year and is a running back for Seabreeze. He has played a variety of positions and goes wherever the coaches need him.

“My parents are great, especially my stepdad, Mark Spada,” Kamden said. “He’s my football coach and kind of yells at me a lot. Makes me a 100% better player. Without him, I don’t know where I’d be right now, especially on this football team.”

As the disciplinary coach, Mark stays on top of the

players’ academic progress.

He does whatever it takes to help the kids be successful.

Klein said Mark is the perfect example of what he wants the football program’s ideology to be about: It takes a village to raise kids.

“That’s why I love him,” Klein said. “He’s all go, no show. He works hard, he’s extremely dependable, he’s extremely trustworthy, and, above all of it, he just has a true servant’s heart, and he loves the kids. He treats every kid like they were his own.”

As rising seniors, Tristan and Daniel have really come into their own, Klein said, and have matured into the type of leaders the team needs this season. Both brothers said they want to lead their younger siblings and motivate them to perform at a higher level.

When they are at home, they said they always talk about football.

“I hope talking football helps,” Tristan said. “I want to make sure they know all the plays and the techniques, and make sure they run it right and learn from their older brothers before they graduate. They’ve been getting better. They’re just young.”

Fifteen-year-old Zachary said Daniel helps with everything since they are both wide receivers, and Tristan shows him how to work out in the weight room.

“It’s cool when Zach and I are both on the field, and I don’t get the ball, and he catches it.

It’s cool,” Daniel said.

Klein said there are usually more than just the Spada family hanging out at their house.

Sometimes there are enough players there to have their own football team.

“Even though Ormond Beach is a small community, it’s still a large community to us, because we want to love everybody,” Mark said.

Kamden Miller at Andy Romano Beachfront Park.

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10B

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Palm Coast | The Hammock | Ormond Beach | Daytona Beach

Former FPC baseball player Jace Wilson is the Bulldogs’ new coach

Riccio’s walk-off sets the tone in Big Buoys‘ doubleheader sweep

Wilson graduated from FPC in 2019. He has long hoped to come home and coach at his alma mater.

Palm Coast’s summer collegiate wood-bat team bounced back from an 11-10 loss to sweep NSB.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

After finishing his playing career, Jace Wilson had wanted to come home and coach baseball at Flagler Palm Coast High School. He was hoping to get a chance to be an assistant coach, but when the head coaching position opening up last month, Wilson immediately applied and got the job.

FPC athletic director Scott Drabczyk announced Wilson’s hiring on Thursday, July 9.

“We are excited to welcome one of our own back to Flagler Palm Coast,” Drabczyk said.

Wilson replaces Kyle Marsh, who stepped down last month and was subsequently named the new head coach at DeLand High.

Wilson graduated from FPC in 2019 and went on to play baseball at Daytona State College and NCAA Division II Young Harris College (Georgia). This past year, Wilson was a baseball graduate assistant at NAIA national champ Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he went on to earn a master’s degree in sports leadership.

Returning home to coach has long been his goal. For the second consecutive summer, Wilson is coaching a rising freshman travel team for Orlando Baseball Academy. After Wesleyan won the national title this season, Wilson called up FPC

Jace Wilson, FPC’s new head baseball coach, played for the Bulldogs five years ago. Courtesy photo

assistant baseball coach Pete Celestino, with whom he has maintained a close relationship over the years, and asked if there were any openings on the Bulldogs’ staff. A few days later Celestino called back to tell him FPC was looking for a new head coach.

“Flagler Palm Coast has always been home,” Wilson said. “It’s just awesome to think that I’m the right guy for the team that built me as a player.”

Wilson brings versatility to the role. He played outfield and pitched at FPC. He filled in at catcher as a sophomore at Daytona State, throwing right-handed even though he is a natural left-handed thrower. As a reward, the DSC coach at the time, Tim Touma, let Wilson play all nine positions during a seven-inning game.

“Jace understands what it means to wear the Bulldog uniform because he has lived it,” Drabczyk said.

Wilson said he learned a lot from his FPC head coach, Jordan Butler, as well as from Celestino.

“His son was a grade below me,” Wilson said of Celestino.

“He came in my sophomore year and has been a mentor to me ever since then.”

Wilson played with Aedan Celestino at FPC and at Daytona State.

“Whenever Jace came home in summer time I threw batting practice to him,” Pete Celestino said. “The last couple of years he inquired about coaching at FPC. I was thrilled to death he was interested.”

Wilson will be the fourth FPC head coach that Celestino has assisted. He has coached the Bulldogs’ JV team the last three years. This year, Wilson wants his mentor to be right next to him in the dugout.

“If I can get my staff right and hire a JV coach, I plan on making Pete my right-hand man,” Wilson said.

Wilson said he is looking to bring in two more assistants.

He said he is coaching a talented group of players this summer in Orlando, but he is looking forward to coaching his first varsity team.

“Building a culture is the biggest thing, “Wilson said.

“The guys know I’m a first year coach. I’ll be going in everyday with my lunch pale packed, and I’ll work until there’s no more work to be done. If we get guys on board, bought in, playing for each other and playing for what’s on the front of their chest, we can go far.”

Celestino said Wilson “lives and breathes the game.”

“We’ve had discussion over past few years over the possibility of him coming back and coaching here when he was ready, and the time is right now, “Celestino said. “I’m excited it’s a former player here. I hope he coaches for many, many, many years.”

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Palm Coast Big Buoys swept a doubleheader against the New Smyrna Beach Gnarlies on Saturday, July 11, in an Orange State League game at the Indian Trails Sports Complex.

Nathan Riccio hit a walkoff single in the seventh inning to lift the Big Buoys to a 6-5 victory in the first game.

In the second game, Skyler

Milheiser belted a three-run home run and Isaac Lopez smashed his second homer in two nights to help Palm Coast trounce the Gnarlies 12-4.

Anthony Ruiz pitched a complete game for the win in the opener. Ruiz allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out six. In the nightcap, winning pitcher Owen McKinley struck out 10 batters.

The first-year Orange State League is a summer collegiate wood-bat league with four teams — the Big Buoys, Gnarlies, St. Augustine Sardines and Cocoa Tailgators.

Palm Coast improved to 6-8 with the doubleheader sweep, which came on the heels of an 11-10 home loss to the Tailgators on Friday, July 10.

Lopez went 2 for 3 with

SIDELINES Pirates’ Strickland to play baseball at Keiser University

Matanzas’ Monty Strickland has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Keiser University.

“Monty is the type of guy you love having on your team.

He always shows up with a positive attitude and is ready to work,” Matanzas baseball coach Sean MacManus said.

“Monty really shined for us in the second half of the season when he took over the starting job at first base. He saved our infielders on more occasions than I can count. ...

I’m super happy to see Monty moving and and playing at the next level.”

Ortiz in N.Y. BMX Hall of Fame Victor Ortiz of Palm Coast has been selected as a member of the inaugural class of the New York State BMX Hall of Fame.

Ortiz was recognized for his his contributions and impact on the sport of BMX in New York State. According to a letter to Ortiz from the New York State BMX Hall of Fame organizing committee, Ortiz “helped shape the history and growth of BMX racing and freestyle for all future generations.”

The induction ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 7 in Albany, New York.

“This induction is a massive honor because you are elected by a group of people you do not even know,” Ortiz

a double, a home run and three RBIs in the loss. Logan Hawkins went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. The Big Buoys scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score at 10-10. But the Tailgators scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh on an error.

The two teams combined to score 21 runs on 21 hits and 20 walks.

The big Buoys’ game at St. Augustine on July 12 was rained out. They were scheduled to play four home games in four days July 13-16 ending with a game against Cocoa on Thursday, July 16, at 7 p.m.

The Big Buoys return home for four more contests in four days, July 19-22, at Indian Trails.

said.

Ortiz said he was elected because of his history with freestyle street riding and for owning a skatepark in New York City — Mullaly BMX Bike Park. Ortiz has only been competing himself in BMX racing for five years, he said, “so I still consider myself a rookie in the racing world.”

Pick-up lacrosse at Wadsworth PC Pickup Lacrosse will have its third free men’s pick-up lacrosse event of the summer on Sunday, July 19 at 10 a.m. at Wadsworth Park in Flagler Beach. Bring you sticks, bring your friends. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

Email sports news to brent@observerlocalnews. com.

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Palm Coast | The Hammock | Ormond Beach | Daytona Beach

TRIBUTES Joanna Warren

Paul Richard Seeman III

1947 - July 3, 2026

October 7, 1951- June 26, 2026 Paul Richard Seeman III (Rick) passed away in Palm Coast, FL on June 26, 2026.

He was born on October 7, 1951, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Rick was the son of the late Patricia Everhart Seeman and Paul R. Seeman Jr. Rick graduated from Uniontown High School in 1969 before attending Slippery Rock University, where he earned his degree in teaching in 1973.

He went on to teach at Butler Intermediate High School for 11 years, where he made a positive impact on countless students. Later, he pursued his passion for pharmacy, graduating from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Rick worked as a pharmacist in several hospitals for many years, concluding his career at Shadyside Hospital before retiring. After his retirement, he moved to Peachtree City, Georgia and lived there for 17

years.

Rick was a devoted brother, uncle, great-uncle, and friend who cherished time spent with his family. He is survived by his brother, Jim Seeman; his sisters, Sandy Hudson (David) and Tricia Laskey (John).

He was a loving uncle to Jamie Hudson (Luis), Craig Hudson (Lindsay), Ryan Laskey (Savanna), Tyler Laskey (Laura), Zach Laskey (Arianna), and Leah Hickerson (Ryan). He was also a proud great-uncle to Rydon, Addie, Max, Ellie, Ben, Barrett, Harrison, and Blakely. He was eagerly looking forward to welcoming Parker and Connor later this year.

Rick had a love for music, trivia, and travel. He gave his all to his profession. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

A celebration of life service will be held on September 13th. Please reach out to the family for additional details.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Lotus Funeral Services, 460 Palm Coast Pkwy, Ste 3, Palm Coast.

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April 21, 1932 - Sep 23, 2026

1971. Jennie’s sister-in-law Sheila Vandiver Briley lived in Ormond since the 1940s and welcomed her brother and Jennie by selling them her house on John Anderson Drive.

Jennie was a member of the Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church, Christ United, ERAU Wives Club, a local bridge club that played for 50 years, and Oceanside. From the late 1970s until the 1990s, she worked as librarian at Longstreet Elementary and later Pine Trail Elementary.

She and Robert later retired to the North 40 subdivision at Granada and Clyde Morris. In her last four years, Jennie Mae resided in assisted living in Tallahassee and passed away in her sleep at the age of 93.

She joins her mother Maureen Davies Brewster,

as a founding member of Palm Coast United Methodist Church and in 1983 as the founding director of its preschool. She went on to teach kindergarten at Bunnell Elementary School and helped pioneer the Pre-K early intervention program at Old Kings Elementary School. Together with her husband, Joanna also helped found Flagler County Habitat for Humanity, a reflection of her deep commitment to service and to improving the lives of others.

In her pre-retirement years, she continued to educate, mentor, and encourage others as the real estate education director for Prudential Warren Real Estate.

Joanna will be remembered

CLASSIFIEDS

Jennie Mae Brewster Vandiver Jennie Mae Brewster Vandiver was born in Welch, West Virginia. She was baptized at Welch Presbyterian Church, and grew up in the mountain towns of Welch, Logan, Beckley and Summersville.

Jennie attended Mary Washington College and received her diploma from West Virginia University in teaching. She taught 9th grade Civics and later became a media specialist in elementary education.

Her 6 children Carol, June, Rob, Cindy, Sam and Andrew were all born into a military family--Jennie’s husband Robert was a B-17 pilot in World War II and served 30 years, retiring as an Air Force Colonel. Robert and Jennie said goodbye to military life in Washington D.C. and moved to Ormond Beach in

Joanna Warren, 79, born in St.Paul MN, passed away on July 3, 2026, leaving behind a loving family and a lasting legacy of kindness, service, and devotion to others. She was the beloved wife of Charles Warren and the cherished mother of two sons, Eric Warren of Denver, Colorado, Mark Warren of Neptune Beach, Florida, and 3 Grandchildren.

The Warren family moved to Flagler County in 1980 from Ithaca New York where she had earned her Master Degree from SUNY Cortland.

She shared her lifelong love of teaching as an adjunct faculty member at the original Daytona Beach Community College Campus. She served

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father C.D. Brewster, husband Robert, sisters in law Kathleen, Sheila, Sarah, daughter Carol, aunts, uncles, and other beloved family and friends.

Jennie’s six children provided her with 16 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

A memorial service will be held for Jennie on Saturday July 18th 2026 at Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church.

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The Phoenix and the Dove J.J. Graham Add a local master to your collection. To see this and the rest of the Observer collection, contact Brian McMillan at 386-864-1003.

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with deep affection for the many lives she touched—as an educator, community builder, wife, mother, and friend. A celebration of life memorial service will be held later this summer.

Donations may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society and Haven Hospice.

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 SOD Removal and installation $650 per pallet Cash Price $625 Cash Price, sod labor prep work and taxes included No fees upfront no hidden charges Call Joe 904-868-7602 Farm fresh Sod every time 7 Days a week License and insured

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Additional Public Notices may be accessed on ObserverLocalNews.com and the statewide legal notice website, FloridaPublicNotices.com

THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

VOLUSIA COUNTY LEGAL NOTICES WALKERS GREEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2026/2027; AND NOTICE OF AUDITOR SELECTION COMMITTEE AND REGULAR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETINGS The Board of Supervisors (“Board”) of the Walkers Green Community Development District (“District”) will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at 908 Taylor Rd, Port Orange, FL 32127 for the purpose of hearing comments and objections on the adoption of the proposed budget (“Proposed Budget”) of the District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027 (“Fiscal Year 2026/2027”). The regular meeting and public hearing will take place immediately following the adjournment of the Auditor Selection Committee meeting where the Board may consider any other business that may properly come before it. The Auditor Selection Committee will review, discuss and recommend an auditor to provide audit services to the District for Fiscal Year 2026. A copy of the agenda and Proposed Budget may be obtained at the offices of the District Manager, c/o PFM Management Services LLC, 3501 Quadrangle Boulevard, Suite 270, Orlando, Florida 32817; Ph: (407) 7235900 (“District Manager’s Office”), during normal business hours.

The public hearing and meeting are open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law. The public hearing and meeting may be continued to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at the meeting. There may be occasions when Board Supervisors or District Staff may participate by speaker telephone.

Any person requiring special accommodations at this meeting because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Manager’s Office at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1, or 1-800-955-8771 (TTY) / 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Manager’s Office.

Each person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the public hearing or meeting is advised that person will need a record of proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

Jane Gaarlandt, District Manager 7764-352812 Jul. 16, 23, 2026 NOTICE OF SALE Pursuant to Florida Statute 713.585 F.S. United American Lien & Recovery as agent w/ power of attorney will sell the following vehicle(s) to the highest bidder; net proceeds deposited with the clerk of court; owner/lienholder has right to hearing and post bond; owner may redeem vehicle for cash sum of lien; inspect 1 week prior @ the lienor facility; cash or cashier check; any person interested ph (954) 563-1999 Sale Date August 7th , 2026 @ 10:00 AM at each individual repair facility.

42034 2008 Chrysler VIN#: 1C3LC65MX8N231977 Repair Facility: Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram 1450 N Tomoka Farms Rd Daytona Beach 386-274-0571 Lien Amt $1,345.36 42035 2012 Dodge VIN#: 1C6RD6FT1CS242277 Repair Facility: Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram 1450 N Tomoka Farms Rd Daytona Beach 386-274-0571 Lien Amt $2,623.84 7764-351349 Jul. 16, 2026

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE The following personal property of BONNIE ANN RAFUSE and MARGARET J. FAXON will, on July 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at 21 Beaver Lake Circle, Lot #373, Ormond Beach, Volusia County, Florida 32174; be sold for cash to satisfy storage fees in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 715.109: 2000 MERT MOBILE HOME, VIN: FLHMBC152544855A, TITLE NO.: 0081838328, and VIN: FLHMBC152544855B, TITLE NO.: 0081838201 and all other personal property located therein PREPARED BY: J. Matthew Bobo Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A. 2 North Tamiami Trail, Suite 500 Sarasota, Florida 34236 (PO#11096-3015) July 16, 23, 2026 26-00506I

FIRST INSERTION Notice Under Fictitious Name Law According to Florida Statute Number 865.09 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the Fictitious Name of BROOKDALE ORMOND BEACH WEST located at 240 INTERCHANGE BOULEVARD in the City of ORMOND BEACH, Volusia, FL 37174 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated this 22nd day of June, 2026 ASSISTED LIVING PROPERTIES, INC July 16, 2026 26-00508I

FIRST INSERTION Notice Under Fictitious Name Law According to Florida Statute Number 865.09 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the Fictitious Name of Daytona Ocean Walk Oasis located at 623 N Grandview Ave Suite 205 in the City of Daytona Beach, Volusia, FL 32118-3813 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated this 9th day of July, 2026 KMSD Hospitality Management Inc. July 16, 2026 26-00509I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF ACTION IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 12950 CICI SERVIS ONE, INC. DBA BSI FINANCIAL SERVICES, Plaintiff, vs.

DIANA TORO A/K/A DIANA E TORO, et al., Defendant.

To: DIANA TORO A/K/A DIANA E TORO 3733 CARDINAL BOULEVARD UNIT #5 DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, FL 32118 UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF DIANA TORO A/K/A DIANA E. TORO 3733 CARDINAL BOULEVARD UNIT#5 DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, FL 32118 LAST KNOWN ADDRESS STATED, CURRENT RESIDENCE UNKNOWN YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose Mortgage covering the following real and personal property described as follows, to-wit: UNIT 5 OF CARDINAL SHORES, A CONDOMINIUM ACCORDING TO THE DECLARATION OF CONDOMINIUM THEREOF, RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS BOOK 6405, PAGE(S) 498, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, TOGETHER WITH ITS UNDIVIDED SHARE IN THE COMMON ELEMENTS. has been filed against you and you are required to file a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it, on Jamie Juster, Esq., McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLP, 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 155, Orlando, FL 32801 and file the original with the Clerk of the above- styled Court on or before August 5, 2026 or 30 days from the first publication, otherwise a Judgment may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

WITNESS my hand and seal of said Court on the 6 day of July, 2026.

LAURA E. ROTH, ESQ. CLERK OF COURT OF VOLUSIA COUNTY (SEAL) BY: /s/ Jennifer Vazquez Deputy Clerk MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLP 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 155, Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: (407) 674-1850 Fax: (321) 248-0420 Email: Kimberlee.Masters@mccalla.com 25-12750FL July 16, 23, 2026 26-00496I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF ACTION IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 13919 CIDL LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff, vs.

APRYL M WESTFALL A/K/A APRYL MARIE WESTFALL, et al., Defendant.

To: JEFFREY H HAY 255 PENIEL RD COLUMBUS, NC 28722 LAST KNOWN ADDRESS STATED, CURRENT RESIDENCE UNKNOWN YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose Mortgage covering the following real and personal property described as follows, to-wit: LOT 2, BLOCK 1931, DELTONA LAKES UNIT SEVENTY FOUR, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 29, PAGE(S) 28 THROUGH 44, INCLUSIVE, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. has been filed against you and you are required to file a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it, on Betzy Falgas, Esq., McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLP, 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 155, Orlando, FL 32801 and file the original with the Clerk of the above- styled Court on or before August 5, 2026 or 30 days from the first publication, otherwise a Judgment may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

WITNESS my hand and seal of said Court on the 6 day of July, 2026.

LAURA E. ROTH, ESQ. CLERK OF COURT OF VOLUSIA COUNTY (SEAL) BY: /s/ Jennifer Vazquez Deputy Clerk MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLP 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 155, Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: (407) 674-1850 Fax: (321) 248-0420 Email: AccountsPayable@mccalla.com 25-14106FL July 16, 23, 2026 26-00497I

FIRST INSERTION Notice Under Fictitious Name Law According to Florida Statute Number 865.09 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the Fictitious Name of Quick & Easy Rentals located at 2918 kirkland st in the City of Deltona, Volusia, FL 32738 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated this 9th day of July, 2026 Reno Mendoza July 16, 2026 26-00510I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE No.: 2025-11024-CICI SWEETPEA HOLDINGS LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company JOSEPH TAVOLACCI, Plaintiffs, vs.

GARY D. SORINO ADKINSON a/k/a GARY D. ADKINSON, individually, GARY D. SORINO ADKINSON a/k/a GARY D. ADKINSON, as Trustee of the GARY D. SORINO-ADKINSON FAMILY TRUST a/k/a GARY D. SORINO-ADKINSON FAMILY TRUST (A Florida Family Trust) Dated 7/17/19; UNKNOWN TENANT 1, Defendants.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated July 7, 2026 in Case No. 2025-11024-CICI of the Circuit Court of the 7th Judicial Circuit in and for VOLUSIA COUNTY, Florida. SWEETPEA HOLDINGS LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company, JOSEPH TAVOLACCI, are the Plaintiff and GARY D. SORINO ADKINSON a/k/a GARY D. ADKINSON, individually, GARY D. SORINO ADKINSON a/k/a GARY D. ADKINSON, as Trustee of the GARY D. SORINO-ADKINSON FAMILY TRUST a/k/a GARY D. SORINO-ADKINSON FAMILY TRUST (A Florida Family Trust) Dated 7/17/19; etc. et. al, are the Defendants, Laura E. Roth, the Clerk of Court for Volusia County will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at: www. volusia.realforeclose.com the Clerk’s website for online instructions at 11:00 A.M. on July 31, 2026 the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: Parcel 1 A portion of the Northerly One-Half of Lot 22, Block 1, L D. Huston’s Subdivision, lying Westerly of Atlantic Avenue, a 75 foot Right-of-Way as now laid out, per Deed Book “P”, Page 583, Public Records of Volusia County, Florida, being more particularly described as: Commence at the Northwesterly corner of said Lot 22; thence North 89

degrees 31 minutes 07 seconds East, along the Northerly line of said Lot 22, a distance of 27.00 feet to the Point of Beginning; thence continue North 89 degrees 31 minutes 07 seconds East, and along the Southerly line of Frances Terrace, a distance of 364.12 feet to a Point that is South 89 degrees 31 minutes 07 seconds West, and 200 feet from the Westerly line of said Atlantic Avenue; thence South 14 degrees 45 minutes 47 seconds East, Parallel with the Westerly line of said Atlantic Avenue, a distance of 50.55 feet to a Point in the Southerly line of the Northerly One-Half of said Lot 22; thence South 89 degrees 31 minutes 07 seconds West, along said Southerly line, a distance of 377.02 feet to a Point in the Westerly line of said Lot 22; thence North 28 degrees 57 minutes 27 seconds West, along said Westerly line a distance of 39.73 feet to a Point therein; thence North 53 degrees 32 minutes 15 seconds East, a distance of 23.94 feet to the Point of Beginning.

Less and Except Parcel 1-A and 2-A described as follows: PARCEL 1-A: A portion of the North One-Half of Lot 22, West of Atlantic Avenue, Huston subdivision, as recorded in deed Book “P”, Page 583, of the Public Records of Volusia County, Florida, being described as follows: Begin at the Northeast corner of Lot 15, Frances terrace, Map Book 11, Page 186; thence on a Northerly extension of the East line of said Lot 15, run North 28 degrees 30 minutes 15 seconds West a distance of 24.17 feet to an intersection with the North line of aforesaid Lot 22; thence North 89 degrees 55 minutes 00 seconds East along said line of Lot 22, a distance of 138.33 feet; thence departing said North line of Lot 22, run South 00 degrees 10 minutes 00 seconds East a distance of 49.39 feet to an intersection with the South line of the North One-Half of said Lot 22; thence South 89 degrees 51 minutes 57 seconds West along South line a distance of 111.62 feet to an intersection with the east line of the aforesaid Lot 15; thence North 28 degrees 30 minutes 15 seconds West along said East

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 2025 13793 PRDL DIVISION: 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF: MARGIE L. MANLEY, Deceased.

The administration of the estate of MARGIE L. MANLEY, deceased, whose date of death was August 26, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for VOLUSIA County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 North Alabama Avenue, DeLand, Florida 32724. 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. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is July 16, 2026.

Personal Representative: /s/ Roberia L. Stewart ROBERIA L. STEWART 612 Tomoka Road Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 Attorney for Personal Representative: /s/ Adam Warren Adam Warren, Esquire ADAM WARREN LAW, PLLC 327 South Palmetto Avenue Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (386) 366-7500 adam@awarrenlaw.com contact@awarrenlaw.com nicole@awarrenlaw.com Florida Bar No.: 0940501 Attorney for Roberia L. Stewart July 16, 23, 2026 26-00504I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF ACTION CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2024 12822 CICI DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR AMERIQUEST MORTGAGE SECURITIES INC., ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-R1, Plaintiff, vs.

JOY M. ZIEKMAN. et. al.

Defendant(s), TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF JOY M. ZIEKMAN, DECEASED, whose residence is unknown if he/she/they be living; and if he/she/they be dead, the unknown defendants who may be spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees, and all parties claiming an interest by, through, under or against the Defendants, who are not known to be dead or alive, and all parties having or claiming to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the mortgage being foreclosed herein.

TO: JASON RICH, whose residence is unknown and all parties having or claiming to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the mortgage being foreclosed herein.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the fol-

lowing property: LOT 105, SPRUCE CREEK VILLAGE SUBDIVISION, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 33, PAGE 36, PUBLIC RECORDS, VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. TOGETHER WITH 1991 MOBILE HOME has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on counsel for Plaintiff, whose address is 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100, Boca Raton, Florida 33487 on or before 8/24/2026 /(30 days from Date of First Publication of this Notice) and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiff ’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition filed herein.

THIS NOTICE SHALL BE PUBLISHED ONCE A WEEK FOR TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. WITNESS my hand and the seal of this Court at Volusia County, Florida, this 6th day of July, 2026.

LAURA E ROTH CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT (SEAL) BY: /s/ T. Lowe DEPUTY CLERK ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, AND SCHNEID, PL ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33487 PRIMARY EMAIL: flmail@raslg.com 24-222652 July 16, 23, 2026 26-00498I

FIRST INSERTION line, a distance of 32.10 feet to the Point of Beginning.

PARCEL 2-A: A portion of the North One-Half of Lot 22, West of Atlantic Avenue, Huston Subdivision, as recorded in deed Book “P”, Page 583, of the Public Records of Volusia County, Florida, being described as follows: Commence at the Northeast corner of Lot 15, Frances terrace, Map Book 11, Page 186; thence on a Northerly extension of the east line of the East line of the aforesaid Lot 15, North 28 degrees 30 minutes 15 seconds West a distance of 24.17 feet to an intersection with the North line of the aforesaid Lot 22; thence North 89 degrees 55 minutes 00 seconds East along said North line, a distance of 138.33 feet to the Point of Beginning; thence continue North 89 degrees 55 minutes 00 seconds East along said North line, a distance of 125.25 feet; thence departing said North line, run South 00 degrees 10 minutes 00 seconds East a distance of 49.28 feet to an intersection with the South line of the North One-Half of the aforesaid Lot 22; thence South 89 degrees 51 minutes 57 seconds West along said South line, a distance of 125.25 feet; thence departing said South line run North 00 degrees 10 minutes 00 seconds West a distance of 49.39 feet to the Point of Beginning.

Parcel 2 Lot 15, FRANCES TERRACE, according to the Map or Plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 11, Page 186, Public Records of Volusia County, Florida.

Any persons 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 within 60 days after the sale.

Dated: July 7, 2026 LAW OFFICES OF JORDAN I. WAGNER, P.A. 320 S.E. 18 Street Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316 Telephone: 954-491-3277 Facsimile: 954-692-9186 By: /s/ Jordan I. Wagner Jordan Wagner, Esq. Fla. Bar No.: 42775 jiw@jordanwagnerlaw.com July 16, 23, 2026 26-00503I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026- 11857 - PRDL Division 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF: DONNA MARIE MCBREEN, a/k/a DONNA MCBREEN, a/k/a DONNA M. MCBREEN, Deceased.

The administration of the estate of DONNA MARIE MCBREEN, a/k/a DONNA MCBREEN, a/k/a DONNA M. MCBREEN, deceased, whose date of death was 01/24/2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is P.O. Box 6043, DeLand, Florida 327216043. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is July 16, 2026. /s/ David A. Burt DAVID A. BURT Personal Representative 501 So. Ridgewood Ave. Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 /s/ David A. Burt DAVID A. BURT, Attorney for Personal Representative Florida Bar No.: 197955 Hawkins & Burt, PLLC 501 South Ridgewood Avenue Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Telephone: (386) 252-4499 E·mail:davidburt@hawkinsandburt.com Secondary: kathi@hawkinsandburt.com July 16, 23, 2026 26-00500I

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No: 2026 11871 PRDL Division: 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF WALTER CHARLES LYONS, Deceased.

The administration of the estate of WALTER CHARLES LYONS, deceased, whose date of death was October 6, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Post Office 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. 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 July 16, 2026 Signed on this 9th day of JULY, 2026. /s/ Christopher C. Lyons CHRISTOPHER C. LYONS Personal Representative 52 Coquina Point Dr. Ormond Beach, Florida 32174 /s/ Robert Kit Korey ROBERT KIT KOREY, ESQUIRE Attorney for Personal Representative Florida Bar No. 147787 ROBERT KIT KOREY, P. A. 595 W. Granada Blvd., Suite A Ormond Beach, FL 32174 Telephone: (386) 677-3431 Email: Kit@koreylawpa.com Secondary Email: dwargo@koreylawpa.com July 16, 23, 2026 26-00501I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File Number: 2026 11811 PRDL Division 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF OLIVE CROYLE Deceased.

The administration of the estate of Olive Croyle, deceased, whose date of death was February 24, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 N Alabama Ave, DeLand, FL 32724. 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. The written demand must be filed with the clerk.

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: July 16, 2026.

Personal Representative: Deborah Langstein 6 Braemar Way Pittsford, NY 14534 Attorney for Personal Representative: Kelly Y. Forrest E-Mail Addresses: kforrest@millmanlawgroup.com amillman@millmanlawgroup.com Florida Bar No. 85504 Millman Law Group 2101 Corporate Blvd. NW, Ste. 404 Boca Raton, FL 33431 Telephone: 561.463.6480 July 16, 23, 2026 26-00502I

ObserverLocalNews.com

7C

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

FIRST INSERTION

FIRST INSERTION

TOMOKA NORTH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF MEETING The Board of Supervisors (“Board”) of the Tomoka North Community Development District (“District”) will hold a special meeting on July 24, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at the offices of Cobb Cole, One Daytona Blvd., Suite 600, Daytona Beach 32114.

The purpose of the meeting is for the Board to effectuate a transition of the Board, as well as consider any other business which may properly come before it. The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provision of Florida Law for Community Development Districts. The meeting may be continued to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at the meeting. A copy of the agenda for the meeting may be obtained by contacting the offices of the District Manager, Wrathell, Hunt & Associates, LLC, 2300 Glades Road, Suite 410W, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 571-0010, during normal business hours or by visiting the District’s website, https://tomokanorthcdd.net/.

There may be occasions when one or more Supervisors or staff will participate by telephone.

Pursuant to provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations at this meeting because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Office at (561) 571-0010 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1, or 1-800-955-8771 (TTY) / 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Office.

A person who decides to appeal any decision made at the meeting with respect to any matter considered at the meeting is advised that person will need a record of the proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

District Manager July 16, 2026

26-00514I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 14775 CICI NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff, vs.

MONTE L. CROSBY, III; BLAIR KENDALL GRUSKIN; JUDITH M. EVANS; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JUDITH M. EVANS; UNKNOWN TENANT NO. 1; UNKNOWN TENANT NO. 2; and ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST A NAMED DEFENDANT TO THIS ACTION, OR HAVING OR CLAIMING TO HAVE ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED, Defendant(s).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to an Order or Summary Final Judgment of foreclosure dated June 24, 2026, and entered in Case No. 2025 14775 CICI of the Circuit Court in and for Volusia County, Florida, wherein NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC is Plaintiff and MONTE L. CROSBY, III; BLAIR KENDALL GRUSKIN; JUDITH M. EVANS; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JUDITH M. EVANS; UNKNOWN TENANT NO. 1; UNKNOWN TENANT NO. 2; and ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST A NAMED DEFENDANT TO THIS ACTION, OR HAVING OR CLAIMING TO HAVE ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED, are Defendants, LAURA E. ROTH, Clerk of the Circuit Court, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash www.volusia.realforeclose.com, 11:00 a.m., on September 23, 2026 , the following described property as set forth in said Order or Final Judgment, to-wit: LOT 23, THE SOUTHERLY 35 FEET OF LOT 22 AND THE NORTHERLY 2 FEET OF LOT 24, BLOCK 4, DAYTONA OAK RIDGE, UNIT ONE, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 10, PAGE(S) 143, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. 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. THE COURT, IN ITS DESCRETION, MAY ENLARGE THE TIME OF THE SALE. NOTICE OF THE CHANGED TIME OF SALE SHALL BE PUBLISHED AS PROVIDED HEREIN. Pursuant to Florida Statute 45.031(2), this notice shall be published twice, once a week for two consecutive weeks, with the last publication being at least 5 days prior to the sale.

REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Court Administration, 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6096, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.

THESE ARE NOT COURT INFORMATION NUMBERS SOLICITUD DE ADAPTACIONES PARA PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDADES Si usted es una persona con discapacidad que necesita una adaptacin para poder participar en este procedimiento, usted tiene el derecho a que se le proporcione cierta asistencia, sin incurrir en gastos. Comunquese con la Oficina de Administracin Judicial (Court Administration), 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6096, con no menos de 7 das de antelacin de su cita de comparecencia ante el juez, o de inmediato al recibir esta notificacin si la cita de comparecencia est dentro de un plazo menos de 7 das; si usted tiene una discapacidad del habla o del odo, llame al 711.

ESTOS NUMEROS TELEFONICOS NO SON PARA OBTENER INFORMACION JUDICIAL DATED July 6, 2026.

By: /s/ Ian Dolan Ian C. Dolan Florida Bar No.: 757071 Roy Diaz, Attorney of Record Florida Bar No. 767700 Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A. Attorneys for Plaintiff 499 NW 70th Ave., Suite 309 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 Telephone: (954) 564-0071 Facsimile: (954) 564-9252 Service E-mail: answers@dallegal.com 1463-221360 / GS1 July 16, 23, 2026 26-00513I

DEERING PARK STEWARDSHIP DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE FY 2027 BUDGET; NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE IMPOSITION OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, ADOPTION OF AN ASSESSMENT ROLL, AND THE LEVY, COLLECTION, AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE SAME; AND NOTICE OF REGULAR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING. The Board of Supervisors (“Board”) of the Deering Park Stewardship District (“District”) will hold the following public hearings and regular meeting: DATE: August 11, 2026 TIME: 2:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Storch Law Firm

420 S. Nova Road

Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 The first public hearing is being held pursuant to Chapter 2020-197, Laws of Florida, to receive public comment and objections on the District’s proposed budget (“Proposed Budget”) for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027 (“FY 2027”). The second public hearing is being held pursuant to Chapter 2020-197, Laws of Florida, and Chapter 197, Florida Statutes, to consider the imposition of operations and maintenance special assessments (“O&M Assessments”) upon the lands located within the District to fund the Proposed Budget for FY 2027; to consider the adoption of an assessment roll; and to provide for the levy, collection, and enforcement of O&M Assessments. At the conclusion of the public hearings, the Board will, by resolution, adopt a budget and levy O&M Assessments as finally approved by the Board. A regular Board meeting of the District will also be held where the Board may consider any other District business that may properly come before it.

Description of Assessments The District imposes O&M Assessments on benefitted property within the District for the purpose of funding the District’s general administrative, operations, and maintenance budget. A description of the services to be funded by the O&M Assessments, and the properties to be improved and benefitted from the O&M Assessments, are all set forth in the Proposed Budget. A geographic depiction of the property potentially subject to the proposed O&M Assessments is identified in the map attached hereto. The table below shows the schedule of the proposed O&M Assessments, which are subject to change at the hearing: Land Use

Total Units or Acres

EAU/ERU Factor

Proposed Annual General Fund per Unit

Proposed Annual Special Revenue Fund per Unit

Proposed Annual O&M (GF and SRF) Assessment*

Deering Park North SF 34’

0

0.9

$789.86

$61.19

$851.05

SF 40’

0

0.95

$833.74

$64.59

$898.33

SF 45’

0

0.97

$851.30

$65.95

$917.25

SF 50’

0

1

$877.63

$67.99

$945.62

SF 60’

0

1.07

$939.06

$72.75

$1,011.81

The proposed O&M Assessments as stated include collection costs and/or early payment discounts imposed on assessments collected by the Volusia and Brevard Counties (“County”) Tax Collectors on the tax bill. Moreover, pursuant to Section 197.3632(4), Florida Statutes, the lien amount shall serve as the “maximum rate” authorized by law for O&M Assessments, such that no public hearing on O&M Assessments shall be held or notice provided in future years unless the O&M Assessments are proposed to be increased or another criterion within Section 197.3632(4), Florida Statutes, is met. Note, the O&M Assessments do not include debt service assessments previously levied by the District, if any.

For FY 2027, the District intends to have the County Tax Collectors collect the O&M Assessments imposed on certain developed property and will directly collect the O&M Assessments on the remaining benefitted property, if any, by sending out a bill at least thirty (30) days prior to the first Assessment due date. It is important to pay your O&M Assessment because failure to pay will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property which may result in loss of title or, for direct billed O&M Assessments, may result in a foreclosure action which also may result in a loss of title. The District’s decision to collect O&M Assessments on the County tax roll or by direct billing does not preclude the District from later electing to collect those or other assessments in a different manner at a future time.

Additional Provisions The public hearings and meeting are open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law. A copy of the Proposed Budget, proposed assessment roll, and the agenda for the public hearings and meeting may be obtained at the offices of the District Manager, Wrathell, Hunt & Associates, LLC, 2300 Glades Road, Suite 410W, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, 561-571-0010 (“District Manager’s Office”), during normal business hours, or by visiting the District’s website at https://deeringparkstewardship. com/. The public hearings and meeting may be continued in progress to a date, time certain, and place to be specified on the record at the public hearings or meeting. There may be occasions when staff or board members may participate by speaker telephone.

Any person requiring special accommodations at the public hearings or meeting because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Manager’s Office at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the public hearings and meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1, or 1-800-9558771 (TTY) / 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Manager’s Office.

Please note that all affected property owners have the right to appear at the public hearings and meeting and may also file written objections with the District Manager’s Office within twenty days of publication of this notice. Each person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the public hearings or meeting is advised that person will need a record of proceedings and that, accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

District Manager

Deering Park Center Townhome

0

0.8

$702.10

$54.40

$756.50

SF 50’

0

1

$877.63

$67.99

$945.62

SF 55’

0

1.03

$903.95

$70.03

$973.98

SF 60’

0

1.07

$939.06

$72.75

$1,011.81

SF 40’ Age Restricted

0

0.87

$763.53

$0.00

$763.53

SF 50’ Age Restricted

0

0.9

$789.86

$0.00

$789.86

SF 60’ Age Restricted

0

0.92

$807.42

$0.00

$807.42

SF 70’ Age Restricted

0

0.95

$833.74

$0.00

$833.74

Undeveloped Land

312.59

Per Acre

$2,479.47

$159.95

$2,639.42

*does not include collection costs and early payment discounts NOTE: THE DISTRICT RESERVES ALL RIGHTS TO CHANGE THE LAND USES, NUMBER OF UNITS, EQUIVALENT ASSESSMENT OR RESIDENTIAL UNIT (“EAU/ERU”) FACTORS, AND O&M ASSESSMENT AMOUNTS AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE.

July 16, 2026

26-00505I

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VOLUME 14, NO. 44

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An ‘A’ forVolusia gets ‘A’ grade schoolsan School district

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CLOSE CALL PAGE 11A Lifeguard, Ormond mayoral candidate survives indirect HOTEL IN PROGRESS lightning strike on July Drury 4.

Plaza Hotel in Daytona PAGE 2A Beach is under construction.

PAGE 7B

BRAVES’ LEADER

Tomoka Elementary has a new GROUNDBREAKING principal in Kelly Moore.

Bethune-Cookman University PAGE 6A breaks ground on campus network improvements.

PAGE 3B CUT THE RED TAPE MY VIEW: Local deregulation is Volusia County’s untapped growth engine.

PAGE 11A

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Veterans celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with City of Daytona Beach.. PAGE 3B

Anita Williams, president of the Halifax Area Chapter of MOAA, and Daytona Beach City Commissioner Quanita May. Photo courtesy of MOAA

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Business .................... PAGE 5B Ormond MainStreet to Calendar host .................... PAGE 2B ninth annual shopping event.

Cops Corner ...............PAGE 2A PAGE 7B Crossword ................. PAGE 2C Letters ....................... PAGE 9A

HELP ON THE WATER Public Notices ........... PAGE 4C

Ormond honors America’s 250th at annual Independence Day fireworks event.

PAGE 3A

Day Out

Brendan OBPD honor Tomoka Outpost Schools ......................St. PAGE 3B Catholic School rising seventh graders (left to right) Lina Quattrocelli, Isabelle Yablonski, Alaina Truesdale and Gianna Capri have fun at Halifax Day Celebration at Rockefeller Gardens. Photo by Michele Meyers Beach’s Independence owner for aid in jet ski incident.

Sports ........................Ormond PAGE 6B Humane PAGE 3B Tributes ..................... PAGE 8C Real Estate ................ PAGE 4B Society seeks

INDEX

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Business .....................PAGE 7B NEWSSTANDS. Calendar ....................ON PAGE 2B Cops Corner ...............PAGE 2A Crossword ................. PAGE 8B Letters ...................... PAGE 11A DRIVEWAY. Public Notices ...........ON PAGEYOUR 5C Sports ........................ PAGE 9B Tributes ..................... PAGE 4C Real Estate ................ PAGE 4B

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Halifax Humane Society seeks volunteers to take rescue dogs on field trip adventure.

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PAGE 6A

8C

Palm Coast

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

FIRST INSERTION RE-NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO. 2025 12459 CIDL PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff, vs.

DONALD JAMES COMARDO; MAJESTIC OAKS PHASE IV HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.; SUNNOVA TE MANAGEMENT, LLC; COVENANT ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION, INC.; Defendants NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to an Order Rescheduling Foreclosure Sale dated July 5, 2026, and entered in Case No. 2025 12459 CIDL, of the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for VOLUSIA County, Florida.

PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION, is Plaintiff and DONALD JAMES COMARDO; MAJESTIC OAKS PHASE IV HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.; SUNNOVA TE MANAGEMENT, LLC; COVENANT ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION, INC., are defendants.

Laura E. Roth, Clerk of Circuit Court for VOLUSIA, County Florida will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash Via the Internet at www.volusia.realforeclose.com at 11:00 a.m., on the 13TH day of AUGUST, 2026, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 25, OF MAJESTIC OAKS PHASE IV, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 63, PAGE 93, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. 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.

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 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.

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 10th day of July, 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 PHH20956-25/sap July 16, 23, 2026 26-00499I

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The Hammock

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FIRST INSERTION DAYTONA WEST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET(S); AND NOTICE OF REGULAR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING. Notice is hereby given that the Board of Supervisors of the Daytona West Community Development District (“District”) will hold a public hearing and regular meeting as follows: DATE: TIME: LOCATION:

August 11, 2026 10:30 A.M. Cobb Cole 231 North Woodland Boulevard DeLand, Florida 32720

The purpose of the public hearing is to receive comments and objections on the adoption of the District’s proposed budget(s) for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027 (“Proposed Budget”). A regular board meeting of the District will also be held at that time where the Board may consider any other business that may properly come before it. A copy of the agenda and Proposed Budget may be obtained by contacting the offices of the District Manager, Wrathell Hunt & Associates, 2300 Glades Road, Suite 410W, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (877) 276-0889 (“District Manager’s Office”), during normal business hours or by visiting the District’s website, https://daytonawestcdd.net/.

The public hearing and meeting are open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law. The public hearing and meeting may be continued to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at the hearing or meeting.

Any person requiring special accommodations at this meeting and/or public hearing or requiring assistance connecting to any communications media technology because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Manager’s Office at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting and public hearing. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1, or 1-800-955-8771 (TTY) / 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Manager’s Office.

Any person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the public hearing or meeting is advised that person will need a record of proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

Ormond Beach

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026 12131 PRDL Division 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF RICK L. HUGHES Deceased.

The administration of the estate of Rick L. Hughes, deceased, whose date of death was November 27, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 N Alabama Ave., DeLand, Florida 32724. 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, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is July 9, 2026.

Personal Representative: /s/ Susan Heineman-Hughes Susan Heineman-Hughes 111 S. Atlantic Ave, #1004 Ormond Beach, Florida 32176 Attorney for Personal Representative: /s/Wendy A. Mara Wendy A. Mara, Esq. Attorney Florida Bar Number: 69872 555 West Granada Blvd., Ste.D-10 Ormond Beach, Florida 32174 Telephone: (386) 672-8081 Fax: (386) 265-5995 E-Mail: wamara@maralawpa.com Secondary E-Mail: jrhood@maralawpa.com July 9, 16, 2026 26-00481I

RE-NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2025 13099 CICI NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING, Plaintiff, vs.

JAMES D. RILEY; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JAMES D. RILEY; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; MV REALTY PBC, LLC; STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; LYNNAYA S. MAINARD; UNKNOWN TENANT(S) IN POSSESSION #1 and #2, and ALL OTHER UNKNOWN PARTIES, et.al., Defendant(s).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Summary Judgment of Foreclosure dated May 27, 2026 and an Order Granting Plaintiff ’s Ex-Parte Motion to Cancel and Reschedule Foreclosure Sale dated June 29, 2026, entered in Civil Case No.: 2025 13099 CICI of the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, Florida, wherein NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING, Plaintiff, and JAMES D. RILEY; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JAMES D. RILEY; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; MV REALTY PBC, LLC; STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; LYNNAYA S. MAINARD, are Defendants.

LAURA E. ROTH, The Clerk of the Circuit Court, will sell to the highest bidder for cash, at www.volusia.realforeclose.com at 11:00 AM, on the 30th day of September, 2026, the following described real property as set forth in said Judgment, to wit: THE NORTHERLY 17 FEET OF LOT 12, AND ALL OF LOT 13, HILL TOP HAVEN - SEC. 1, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 19, PAGE 78, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. If you are a person claiming a right to funds remaining after the sale, you must file a claim with the clerk before the clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed. If you fail to file a timely claim you will not be entitled to

Daytona Beach

FIRST INSERTION THE OAK HILL TOWN CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING The Board of Supervisors (“Board”) of The Oak Hill Town Center Community Development District (“District”) and the Auditor Selection Committee (“Audit Committee”) of the District will hold a regular meeting and audit committee meeting on July 28, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., at Storch Law Firm, 420 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. The Audit Committee will review, discuss and evaluate any proposals the District receives pursuant to the solicitation for auditing services. A regular Board meeting of the District will also be held at that time, where the Board may consider any other business that may properly come before it.

A copy of the agenda for the meetings may be obtained by contacting the offices of the District Manager, Wrathell, Hunt & Associates, LLC, 2300 Glades Road, Suite 410W, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 571-0010 (“District Manager’s Office”), during normal business hours or by visiting the District’s website, https://theoakhilltowncentercdd.net/.

The meetings are open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provision of Florida law. The meetings may be continued to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at the meetings. There may be occasions when one or more Supervisors or staff will participate by telephone.

Any person requiring special accommodations at the meetings because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Manager’s Office at least 48 hours prior to the meetings. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1, or 1-800-955-8771 (TTY) / 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Office.

Each person who decides to appeal any decision made at the meetings with respect to any matter considered at the meetings is advised that person will need a record of the proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

District Manager July 16, 2026

FIRST INSERTION

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR District Manager VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA July 16, 23, 2026 26-00512I PROBATE DIVISION File No. 26-CP-012243 Division: Probate IN RE: ESTATE OF ANDREW F. DEDITCH, Deceased.

The administration of the Estate of Andrew F. Deditch, deceased, whose date of death was February 12, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, FIRST INSERTION Florida, Probate Division, the address WAYPOINTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AGAINST THE PROPERTY WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF TITLE, OR FOR of which is P.O. Box 6043, Deland, FL DIRECT BILLED ASSESSMENTS, MAY RESULT IN A FORECLOSURE ACTION, 32721-6043. The names and addresses NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL WHICH ALSO MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF TITLE. of the Personal Representative and the YEAR 2026/2027 BUDGET; NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE Personal Representative’s attorney are IMPOSITION OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, Additional Provisions set forth below.

ADOPTION OF AN ASSESSMENT ROLL, AND THE LEVY, COLLECTION, AND All creditors of the Decedent and other ENFORCEMENT OF THE SAME; AND NOTICE OF REGULAR BOARD OF The public hearings and meeting are open to the public and will be conducted in persons having claims or demands against SUPERVISORS’ MEETING. accordance with Florida law. A copy of the Proposed Budget and assessment roll, and the the Decedent’s Estate on whom a copy of agenda, for the hearings and meeting may be obtained by contacting Wrathell, Hunt & this Notice is required to be served must Upcoming Public Hearings, and Regular Meeting Associates, LLC, 2300 Glades Road, Suite 410W, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, 1-877-276file their claims with this Court WITHIN 0889 (“District Manager’s Office”). The public hearings and meeting may be continued THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE The Board of Supervisors (“Board”) for the Waypointe Community Development to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record. There may be occasions when staff TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF District (“District”) will hold the following two public hearings and a regular meeting on or board members may participate by speaker telephone. Any person requiring special THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE August 11, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Storch Law Firm, 420 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach, accommodations because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS Florida 32114.

Manager’s Office at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or NOTICE ON THEM. speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1, or 1-800-955All other creditors of the Decedent and The first public hearing is being held pursuant to Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, to receive 8771 (TTY) / 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Manager’s Office. other persons having claims or demands public comment and objections on the District’s proposed budget (“Proposed Budget”) for against the Decedent’s Estate must file the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027 (“Fiscal Year Please note that all affected property owners have the right to appear and comment at their claims with this Court WITHIN 3 2026/2027”). The second public hearing is being held pursuant to Chapters 190, 197, and/ the public hearings and meeting, and may also file written objections with the District ManMONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE or 170, Florida Statutes, to consider the imposition of operations and maintenance special ager’s Office within twenty (20) days of issuance of this notice. Each person who decides to FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOassessments (“O&M Assessments”) upon the lands located within the District, to fund the appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the public TICE. Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2026/2027; to consider the adoption of an assessment roll; hearings or meeting is advised that person will need a record of proceedings and that acALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN and, to provide for the levy, collection, and enforcement of assessments. At the conclusion cordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN of the hearings, the Board will, by resolution, adopt a budget and levy O&M Assessments as including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based. If you have SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA finally approved by the Board. A Board meeting of the District will also be held where the any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the District Manager’s Office.

PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER

Board may consider any other District business.

BARRED. District Manager NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME Description of Assessments PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR The District imposes O&M Assessments on benefitted property within the District for MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE the purpose of funding the District’s general administrative, operations, and maintenance OF DEATH IS BARRED. budget. A geographic depiction of the property potentially subject to the proposed O&M The Personal Representative or Curator Assessments is identified in the map attached hereto. The table below shows the schedule has no duty to discover whether any propof the proposed O&M Assessments, which are subject to change at the hearing: erty held at the time of the Decedent’s death

by the Decedent or the Decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida FY 2027 Proposed Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in Assessment Area One Sections 732.216 – 732.228 applies, or may Unit ERU apply, unless a written demand is made Unit Type Count Factor ERUs Annual O&M Assessment* by the surviving spouse or a beneficiary as specified under Section 732.2211.

Townhome up to 258 0.70 180.60 $711.71 The date of first publication of this Notice is July 16, 2026.

Single-family up to 424 1.00 424.00 $1,016.72 Personal Representative: NOTE: Conditional Assessments will be levied based on the assessment levels for /s/ Aaron C. Deditch platted and sold units as shown above.

Aaron C. Deditch *Does not include the county’s cost of collection fee and payment discounts 30 Wilson Ave. East Hanover, NJ 07936 The O&M Assessments may be collected on the County tax roll or by direct bill from the Attorney for Personal Representative: District’s Manager. Notwithstanding the chart above, the O&M Assessments will only be /s/ Joe C. Cuffel imposed on lots sold to third parties, including lots sold during the Fiscal Year 2026/2027, Joe C. Cuffel and any portion of the District’s Proposed Budget not funded by the O&M Assessments Attorney for Personal Representative will be funded by a developer funding agreement. Note that the O&M Assessments are in Florida Bar Number: 1019964 addition to any debt service assessments, if any, previously levied by the District and due to be collected for Fiscal Year 2026/2027. IT IS IMPORTANT TO PAY YOUR ASSESSMENT SCHOENFELD KYLE July 16, 2026 26-00511I BECAUSE FAILURE TO PAY WILL CAUSE A TAX CERTIFICATE TO BE ISSUED & ASSOCIATES LLP 1380 Royal Palm Square Boulevard Fort Myers, Florida 33919 Telephone: (239) 936-7200 Fax: (239) 936-7997 E-Mail: joec@trustska.com SECOND INSERTION SECOND INSERTION July 16, 23, 2026 26-00515I

SUBSEQUENT INSERTIONS

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26-00507I

SUBSEQUENT INSERTIONS SECOND INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026 11601 PRDL Division 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF GERHARD LINCOLN SCHWARZKOPF Deceased.

The administration of the estate of GERHARD LINCOLN SCHWARZKOPF, deceased, whose date of death was February 14, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 North Alabama Avenue, DeLand, Florida 32724. 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, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is July 9, 2026.

Personal Representative: CHERYL BOEHM 22 Lake Vista Way Ormond Beach, Florida 32174 Attorney for Personal Representative: PAUL A. MARTIN, Esq. Attorney Florida Bar Number: 1000375 4015 Calusa Lane Ormond Beach, Florida 32174 Telephone: (386) 361-3567 Fax: (386) 487-2140 E-Mail: Paul.A.Martin.Esq@gmail.com Secondary E-Mail: Paul@MartinEstateProbateLaw.com July 9, 16, 2026 26-00490I

any remaining funds. After the funds are reported as unclaimed, only the owner of record as of the date of the Lis Pendens may claim the surplus.

REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODASECOND INSERTION TIONS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES If you are a person with a disability NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE scribed property as set forth in said Final who needs an accommodation in order to IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE Judgment, to wit: participate in this proceeding, you are enSEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND LOT 35, JOYELLE AT LPGA INtitled, at no cost to you, to the provision FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA TERNATIONAL, AS ‘PER MAP of certain assistance. Please contact Court GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 48, Administration, 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste. CASE NO. 2016 30931 CICI PAGES 143 - 144 OF THE PUBLIC D-305, DeLand, FL 32724, (386) 257DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, 6096, at least 7 days before your scheduled TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FLORIDA. court appearance, or immediately upon reFOR SECURITIZED ASSET BACKED A/K/A: 183 EKANA CIRCLE, DAYceiving this notification if the time before RECEIVABLES LLC TRUST 2007TONA BEACH, FL 32124 the appearance is less than 7 days; if you are BR3 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH Any person claiming an interest in the surhearing or voice impaired, call 711.

CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-BR3, plus from the sale, if any, other than the THESE ARE NOT COURT INFORMAPlaintiff, vs. property owner as of the date of the lis penTION NUMBERS STEVE SLIWA, SHAMROCKdens must file a claim in accordance with SOLICITUD DE ADAPTACIONES SHAMROCK, INC., SUCCESSOR BY Florida Statutes, Section 45.031.

PARA PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDMERGER TO FLORIDA LIFESTYLE IMPORTANT ADES Si usted es una persona con disHOMES, INC. F/K/A FLORIDA AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. capacidad que necesita una adaptación LIFESTYLE HOMES OF VOLUSIA, If you are a person with a disability who para poder participar en este procedINC., et al. needs an accommodation in order to acimiento, usted tiene el derecho a que se le Defendant(s). cess court facilities or participate in a court proporcione cierta asistencia, sin incurrir NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to en gastos. Comuníquese con la Oficina de to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated you, to the provision of certain assistance.

Administración Judicial (Court AdminisJune 16, 2026, and entered in 2016 30931 To request such an accommodation, please tración), 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste. D-305, CICI of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH contact Court Administration in advance DeLand, FL 32724, (386) 257-6096, con no Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, of the date the service is needed: Court menos de 7 días de antelación de su cita de Florida, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NAAdministration, 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste comparecencia ante el juez, o de inmediato TIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTD-305, Deland, FL 32724, (386) 257-6096. alrecibir esta notificación si la cita de comEE FOR SECURITIZED ASSET BACKED Hearing or voice impaired, please call 711. parecencia está dentro de un plazo menos RECEIVABLES LLC TRUST 2007-BR3 Dated this 6 day of July, 2026. de 7 días; si usted tiene una discapacidad MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFBy: \S\Danielle Salem del habla o del oído, llame al 711.

ICATES SERIES 2007-BR3 is the Plaintiff Danielle Salem, Esquire ESTOS NUMEROS TELEFONICOS and STEVE SLIWA; RENAR GOLF COMFlorida Bar No. 0058248 NO SON PARA OBTENER INFORMAMUNITIES AT LPGA INTERNATIONAL Communication Email: CION JUDICIAL HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC.; dsalem@raslg.com Dated: July 1, 2026 FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY LLC ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, /s/ Brian L. Rosaler F/K/A FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMCRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC By: Brian L. Rosaler PANY; SHAMROCK - SHAMROCK, INC., Attorney for Plaintiff Florida Bar No.: 0174882.

SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO FLORIDA 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100 Attorney for Plaintiff: LIFESTYLE HOMES, INC. F/K/A FLORBoca Raton, FL 33487 Brian L. Rosaler, Esquire IDA LIFESTYLE HOMES OF VOLUSIA, Telephone: 561-241-6901 Popkin & Rosaler, P.A. INC. are the Defendant(s). Laura E. Roth Facsimile: 561-997-6909 1701West Hillsboro Boulevard as the Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell Service Email: flmail@raslg.com Suite 400 to the highest and best bidder for cash at 15-035361 - MiM Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 www.volusia.realforeclose.com, at 11:00 July 9, 16, 2026 26-00491I Telephone: (954) 360-9030 AM, on July 29, 2026, the following deFacsimile: (954) 420-5187 25-51805 July 9, 16, 2026 26-00477I

ObserverLocalNews.com

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE OF ACTION CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 14536 CICI U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, AS SUCCESSOR-ININTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE TERWIN MORTGAGE TRUST 2006-5 ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES, SERIES 2006-5, Plaintiff, vs.

GEA SEASIDE INVESTMENT, INC., et al.

Defendant(s), TO: GEA SEASIDE INVESTMENT, INC., whose business address is unknown TO: JACK ABERMAN, whose residence is unknown and all parties having or claiming to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the mortgage being foreclosed herein.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following property: LOTS 3A, 4A AND 4 AND THAT PART OF LOT 3, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF LOT 3, THENCE EASTERLY ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID LOT 3, A DISTANCE OF 31.6 FEET, THENCE SOUTHERLY IN A STRAIGHT LINE TO A POINT IN THE SOUTH LINE OF LOT 3, SAID POINT BEING 10.18 FEET EASTERLY FROM THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF LOT 3, THENCE WESTERLY ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF LOT 3, A DISTANCE OF 10.18 FEET

TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER THEREOF; THENCE NORTHERLY ALONG THE WEST LINE OF LOT 3, TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER THEREOF, THE POINT OF BEGINNING. ALL OF THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PROPERTY BEING IN SEABREEZE CIRCLE, A SUBDIVISION OF LOT 1, BLOCK 11, MEMENTO, ACCORDING TO THE MAP IN MAP BOOK 8, PAGE 109, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on counsel for Plaintiff, whose address is 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100, Boca Raton, Florida 33487 on or before JUL 06, 2026 /(30 days from Date of First Publication of this Notice) and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiff ’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition filed herein.

THIS NOTICE SHALL BE PUBLISHED ONCE A WEEK FOR TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. WITNESS my hand and the seal of this Court at Volusia County, Florida, this 20 day of May, 2026.

LAURA E ROTH CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT (SEAL) BY: /s/ Jennifer M. Hamilton DEPUTY CLERK ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, AND SCHNEID, PL ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF 6409 CONGRESS AVE., SUITE 100 BOCA RATON, FL 33487 PRIMARY EMAIL: FLMAIL@RASLG.COM 23-148426 July 9, 16, 2026 26-00479I

SECOND INSERTION THE OAK HILL TOWN CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 PROPOSED BUDGET(S); AND NOTICE OF REGULAR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING. The Board of Supervisors (“Board”) of The Oak Hill Town Center Community Development District (“District”) will hold a public hearing and regular meeting as follows: DATE: July 28, 2026 TIME: 1:30 PM LOCATION: Offices of Storch Law Firm

420 South Nova Road

Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 The purpose of the public hearing is to receive comments and objections on the adoption of the District’s proposed budget(s) for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027 (“Proposed Budget”). A regular Board meeting of the District will also be held at the above time where the Board may consider any other business that may properly come before it. A copy of the agenda and Proposed Budget may be obtained at the offices of the District Manager, Cindy Cerbone, Wrathell, Hunt and Associates, LLC, 2300 Glades Road, Suite 410W, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, 561-571-0010 (“District Manager’s Office”), during normal business hours, or by visiting the District’s website at https:// theoakhilltowncentercdd.net.

The public hearing and meeting are open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law. The public hearing and/or meeting may be continued in progress to a date, time certain, and place to be specified on the record at the public hearing and/or meeting. There may be occasions when Board Supervisors or District Staff may participate by speaker telephone.

Any person requiring special accommodations at the public hearing or meeting because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Manager’s Office at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the public hearing and meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1, or 1-800-955-8771 (TTY) / 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Manager’s Office.

Each person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the public hearing or meeting is advised that person will need a record of proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

District Manager July 9, 16, 2026 26-00484I

SECOND INSERTION AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE (Amended As To Time of Sale Only) IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2025 11725 CICI FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff, vs.

TYRE JAMALL WHITE; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF TYRE JAMALL WHITE, Defendants.

NOTICE OF SALE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered on June 25, 2026, in Case No.: 2025 11725 CICI of the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, in and for Volusia County, Florida, wherein FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION is Plaintiff and TYRE JAMALL WHITE is Defendant, the Office of Laura E. Roth, Volusia County Clerk of the Court, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash beginning at 11:00 AM online at www.volusia.realforeclose.com on July 31, 2026, in accordance with Section 45.031, Florida Statutes, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT ELEVEN (11), BEVERLY HILLS - UNIT 5, AS PER PLAT IN MAP BOOK 25, PAGE 3, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. Also known as: 1340 IMPERIAL DR, DAYTONA BEACH. FL 32117 together with all existing or subsequently erected or affixed buildings, improvements and fixtures.

Any person claiming an interest in the surplus funds 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.

Dated this 7th day of July, 2026.

SOKOLOF REMTULLA, LLP Counsel for Plaintiff 1800 NW Corporate Blvd, Suite 302 Boca Raton, FL 33431 Telephone: (561) 507-5252 Facsimile: (561) 342-4842 Primary e-mail: mshapanka@sokrem.com Secondary e-mail: pleadings@sokrem.com By: /s/ Matthew Shapanka Matthew Shapanka, Esq. Florida Bar No.: 52874 Matter No.: 25-01076 July 9, 16, 2026 26-00492I

9C

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION ESTATE NO: 2026 10843 PRDL DIVISION: 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF LAURA MARIE TESTANI, Deceased.

The administration of the estate of LAURA MARIE TESTANI, deceased, whose date of death was January 16, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 N. Alabama Avenue, DeLand, Florida 32724. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this Notice is July 9, 2026.

Personal Representative: Adrian Testani 2612 Bridle Drive Plant City, Florida 33566 Respectfully submitted, /s/ Julia Hannah Weber Julia Hannah Weber Florida Bar No. 1045592 SOUTHRON FIRM, P.A. 400 N. Ashley Drive, Suite 1720 Tampa, Florida 33602 Telephone: (813) 773-5105 Fax: (813) 683-4338 E-Mail: julia.weber@southronfirm.com Secondary E-Mail: eservice@southronfirm.com Attorney for Personal Representative July 9, 16, 2026 26-00482I

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE OF ACTION IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2026 10548 CIDL CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC, Plaintiff, vs.

DERRICK HENRY A/K/A DERRICK WINSTON HENRY A/K/A DERRICK WINST HENRY A/K/A DERRICK H HENRY A/K/A DEREK HENRY A/K/A DERRICK W ROBERTS A/K/A WINTON HENRY A/K/A DERRICK FRIEND, et.al., Defendant.

TO: DERRICK HENRY A/K/A DERRICK WINSTON HENRY A/K/A DERRICK WINST HENRY A/K/A DERRICK H HENRY A/K/A DEREK HENRY A/K/A DERRICK W ROBERTS A/K/A WINTON HENRY A/K/A DERRICK FRIEND Last Known Address: 10097 W VILLA CIRCLE, VERO BEACH, FL 32966 UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF DERRICK HENRY A/K/A DERRICK WINSTON HENRY A/K/A DERRICK WINST HENRY A/K/A DERRICK H HENRY A/K/A DEREK HENRY A/K/A DERRICK W ROBERTS A/K/A WINTON HENRY A/K/A DERRICK FRIEND Last Known Address: 10097 W VILLA CIRCLE, VERO BEACH, FL 32966 You are notified of an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following property in Volusia County: LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 50 OF HAMPTON OAKS, ACCORDING TOT HE PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 61, PAGE(S) 106 THROUGH 118, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA.

SECOND INSERTION

Property Address: 1021 ALABASTER WAY, DELTONA, FL 32725 The action was instituted in the Circuit Court, First Judicial Circuit in and for VOLUSIA County, Florida; CASE NO. 2026 10548 CIDL 2026 10548 CIDL; and is styled CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Q v. DERRICK HENRY A/K/A DERRICK WINSTON HENRY A/K/A DERRICK WINST HENRY A/K/A DERRICK H HENRY A/K/A DEREK HENRY A/K/A DERRICK W ROBERTS A/K/A WINTON HENRY A/K/A DERRICK FRIEND; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF DERRICK HENRY A/K/A DERRICK WINSTON HENRY A/K/A DERRICK WINST HENRY A/K/A DERRICK H HENRY A/K/A DEREK HENRY A/K/A DERRICK W ROBERTS A/K/A WINTON HENRY A/K/A DERRICK FRIEND; HAMPTON OAKS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC; UNKNOWN TENANT IN POSSESSION 1 AND UNKNOWN TENANT IN POSSESSION 2.

You are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to the action on Michelle DeLeon, Esq., Plaintiff ’s attorney, whose address is 300 S. Orange Ave., Ste. 1000, Orlando, FL 32801, on or before JUL 6 2026, (or 30 days from the first date of publication) and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiff ’s attorney or immediately after service; otherwise, a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

The Court has authority in this suit to enter a judgment or decree in the Plaintiff ’s interest which will be binding upon you.

DATED: JUN 4 2026 LAURA E ROTH CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT (SEAL) By: /s/ Shawnee S. Smith Deputy Clerk July 9, 16, 2026 26-00476I

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO. 2025 13561 CIDL LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff, vs.

JULIETA RACAL LICCIARDELLO F/K/A JULIETA LLANTO RACAL A/K/A JULITA LLANTO RACAL; Defendants NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment in Mortgage Foreclosure dated June 4, 2026, and entered in Case No. 2025 13561 CIDL, of the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for VOLUSIA County, Florida. LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, is Plaintiff and JULIETA RACAL LICCIARDELLO F/K/A JULIETA LLANTO RACAL A/K/A JULITA LLANTO RACAL, are defendants.

Laura E. Roth, Clerk of Circuit Court for VOLUSIA, County Florida will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash Via the Internet at www.volusia.realforeclose.com at 11:00 a.m., on the 6TH day of AUGUST, 2026, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 8, BLOCK 644, DELTONA LAKES UNIT TWENTY FIVE, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 27, PAGE(S) 54 TO 57, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. 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.

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 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.

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 1st day of July, 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 RM21138-25NS/sap July 9, 16, 2026 26-00478I

THIRD INSERTION THE OAK HILL TOWN CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF THE DISTRICT’S INTENT TO USE THE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTION OF NON-AD VALOREM SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS Notice is hereby given that The Oak Hill Town Center Community Development District (the “District”) intends to use the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem special assessments to be levied by the District pursuant to Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. The Board of Supervisors of the District will conduct a public hearing on July 28, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Offices of Storch Law Firm, 420 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114.

The purpose of the public hearing is to consider the adoption of a resolution authorizing the District to use the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem special assessments (the “Uniform Method”) to be levied by the District on properties located on land included in, or to be added to, the District.

The District may levy non-ad valorem special assessments for the purpose of financing, acquiring, maintaining and/or operating community development facilities, services, and improvements within and without the boundaries of the District, to consist of, among other things, sanitary sewer system, water distribution system, reuse water system, stormwater management system, undergrounding of electrical service system, conservation/mitigation areas, on and offsite roadway improvements, landscape, hardscape and irrigation improvements, and/or any other lawful improvements or services of the District.

Owners of the properties to be assessed and other interested parties may appear at the public hearing and be heard regarding the use of the Uniform Method. This hearing is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law. The public hearing may be continued to a date, time, and location to be specified on the record at the hearing. There may be occasions when Supervisors or District Staff may participate by speaker telephone.

Pursuant to provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in the hearing and/or meeting is asked to contact the District Manager’s office at 2300 Glades Road, Suite 410W, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 571-0010, at least forty-eight (48) hours before the hearing and/or meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service at 1-800-955-8771 who can aid you in contacting the District Manager’s Office.

Each person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the hearing is advised that person will need a record of the proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

Cindy Cerbone District Manager July 2, 9, 16, 23, 2026

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE The following personal property Whittley McCall and Michael Brown will on the 24th day of July 2026 at 11:00 a.m., on property at 1300 Hand Avenue, Lot #E-1, Ormond Beach, Volusia County, Florida 32174, in Pinewood Mobile Home Park, be sold for cash to satisfy storage fees in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 715.109: Year/Make: 1971 CNCR VIN No.: 3314242294 Title No.: 4513096 And All Other Personal Property Therein PREPARED BY: Rosia Sterling Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A. 2155 Delta Blvd, Suite 210-B Tallahassee, Florida 32303 July 9, 16, 2026 26-00487I

26-00466I

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE The following personal property of Cassandra Wheeler will on the 24th day of July 2026, at 10:00 a.m., on property at 1300 Hand Avenue, Lot F-14, in Pinewood Mobile Home Park be sold for cash to satisfy storage fees in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 715.109: Year/Make: 1975 CLAS VIN No.: 858 Title No.: 13544568 And All Other Personal Property Therein PREPARED BY: Rosia Sterling Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A. 2155 Delta Blvd, Suite 210-B Tallahassee, Florida 32303 July 9, 16, 2026 26-00488I

Notice of Public Hearing and Board of Supervisors Meeting of the Cresswind DeLand Community Development District The Board of Supervisors (the “Board”) of the Cresswind DeLand Community Development District (the “District”) will hold a public hearing and a meeting Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at the Clubhouse – 1325 Cresswind Blvd., DeLand, FL 32724.

The purpose of the public hearing is to receive public comments on the proposed adoption of the District’s fiscal year 2026-2027 proposed budget. A meeting of the Board will also be held where the Board may consider any other business that may properly come before it. A copy of the proposed budget and the agenda may be viewed on the District’s website at www.cresswinddelandcdd.org at least 2 days before the meeting or may be obtained by contacting the District Manager’s office via email at andy@hikai.com or via phone at (813) 565-4663.

The public hearing and meeting are open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law for community development districts. They may be continued to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at the hearing or meeting. There may be occasions when staff or Board members may participate by speaker telephone.

In accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Manager’s office at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-9558771 (TTY), or 1-800-955-8770 (voice) for aid in contacting the District Manager’s office.

Each person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the public hearing or meeting is advised that person will need a record of proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

Andy Mendenhall District Manager July 9, 16, 2026

26-00495I

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026 11791 PRDL Division PROBATE IN RE: ESTATE OF AGNES BABINGTON MORRISON Deceased.

The administration of the estate of Agnes Babington Morrison, deceased, whose date of death was January 24, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for VOLUSIA County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 N Alabama Ave, Deland, FL 32724. 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, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is July 9, 2026.

Personal Representative: /s/ Gregory S. Lew (May 15, 2026 13:05:17 PDT) Gregory Scott Lew 24332 Fairway Lane Coto De Caza, California 92679 Attorney for Personal Representative: /s/Tracey S. Noonan Beacon Legacy Law™ John J. Mangan, Jr., Esq. / FL Bar #: 10020 Tracey S. Noonan, Esq. / FL Bar #: 99907 For the Firm 901 SW Martin Downs Blvd., Ste. 205 Palm City, FL 34990 Telephone: (772) 324-9050 Fax: (772) 919-4291 E-Mail: tnoonan@beaconlegacylaw.com Secondary E-Mail: paralegals@beaconlegacylaw.com Attorney for Petitioner/ Personal Representative July 9, 16, 2026 26-00480I

SECOND INSERTION

SECOND INSERTION

NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2025 14386 CICI CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES LLC, Plaintiff, vs.

MARGARET SPRY; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF MARGARET SPRY; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, Defendant(s).

NOTICE OF SALE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the order of Summary Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated July 2, 2026, and entered in Case No. 2025 14386 CICI of the Circuit Court of the 7TH Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, Florida, wherein Carrington Mortgage Services LLC, is Plaintiff and Margaret Spry; Unknown Spouse of Margaret Spry; United States of America on behalf of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, are Defendants, the Office of the Clerk of Laura E. Roth, Volusia County Clerk of the Court will sell via online auction at www. volusia.realforeclose.com at 11:00 a.m. on the 28th day of August, 2026, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 4, BLOCK C, VIRGINIA HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION, AS RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 9, PAGE 92, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. Property Address: 321 Monroe Place, Port Orange, Florida 32127 and all fixtures and personal property located therein or thereon, which are included as security in Plaintiff ’s mortgage.

Any person claiming an interest in the surplus funds 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.

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 the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Court Administration, 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6096 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.

Dated: 7/6/2026 McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC By: /s/ Craig Stein Craig Stein, Esq. Fl Bar No. 0120464 McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC 3222 Commerce Place, Suite A West Palm Beach, Florida, 33407 Telephone: (561) 713-1400 Email: FLpleadings@mwc-law.com File No: 25-400634 July 9, 16, 2026 26-00493I

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026 11190 PRDL Division 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF JOHN H EVANS, aka JOHN HOWARD EVANS Deceased.

The administration of the estate of JOHN H EVANS, also known as JOHN HOWARD EVANS, deceased, whose date of death was December 11, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 N. Alabama Ave, DeLand, , FL 32724. 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. 732.216-732.228, 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: July 9, 2026.

RYAN JOHN EVANS Personal Representative Heidi S. Webb Attorney for Personal Representative Florida Bar No. 73958 Law Office of Heidi S. Webb 210 South Beach Street, Ste. 202 Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Telephone: (386) 257-3332 Email: heidi@heidiwebb.com July 9, 16, 2026 26-00483I

10C

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