BRIEFS
Veranda Bay welcomes
“After many months of hard work and dedication, we are proud that our construction team has completed a section of lots designed specifically for Toll Brothers’ building needs,” Belshe said. “Their luxury semi-custom homes are an exciting addition to our brand, and their investment shows they believe in this community as much as we do.” Toll Brothers’ homes are expected to go on sale by the end of the year. Prices will start in the mid-$500,000s. Toll Brothers at Veranda Bay will feature single- and twostory homes with three to five bedrooms, open-concept
COPS CORNER
JULY 1 ONLINE ORDER
10:55 a.m.
— 200 block of North Nova Road, Ormond Beach Petit theft. Police responded to a local grocery store after the store manager reported the theft of six bottles of shampoo and five subs.
According to an incident report, the suspect is a 36-yearold Daytona Beach woman who was seen on surveillance footage placing items into her basket at around 8:12 p.m. the night before. The subs were ordered ahead online,
floor plans and spacious twoor three-car garages. Veranda Bay is located one mile west of Flagler Beach.
FCSO says Palm Coast couple left infant in car to drink at a bar
A Palm Coast couple was arrested the evening of Friday, July 18, after Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered they had left their infant in their car while drinking at a local bar. According to a press release, deputies received a tip regarding the child shortly after 10 p.m. When they arrived on the scene, they found the infant sleeping in a car seat that was improperly secured in the back seat. The vehicle had been left unlocked, with the keys in the ignition and the engine running. While deputies were assessing the infant, 28-yearold Clarisse Finnegan approached the vehicle, telling deputies she was the owner and that her husband, 60-year-old Norman Finnegan
meaning they were under the suspect’s name. In total, the suspect stole over $270 worth of merchandise. The grocery store wished to pursue charges.
JULY 5
CRACKS IN THE NIGHT SKY
5:30 p.m. — 900 block of North Beach Street, Ormond Beach Vandalism. Egged over fireworks that never happened?
An Ormond Beach woman called police after she walked to her back patio and found broken eggs and shells around her pool, as well as one unbroken egg in her yard. She told the reporting officer that her daughter and a friend had been in the pool the previous night, when a neighbor
Jr., was inside the bar.
Clarisse Finnegan told deputies that she had gone inside the bar to use the restroom and to get money from her husband for necessities to care for the infant, according to the press release. She added that she later went back inside, after checking on her child, to see if he was ready to leave. When she came back outside, she was detained for questioning by deputies.
The FCSO noted, however, that the “couple gave conflicting statements about Clarisse’s time inside the bar, and witnesses confirmed that both Norman and Clarisse were at the bar drinking.”
The couple were both arrested for felony child neglect without great bodily harm.
19 suspected drug dealers arrested by FCSO
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has concluded a sixmonth undercover operation targeting suspected drug dealers throughout Flagler County.
came out and started screaming at them.
According to the incident report, the neighbor screamed, “Stop setting off the f------ fireworks.”
The woman told police that they had not been setting any fireworks. She didn’t wish to pursue charges for the vandalism.
JULY 13
SECURITY DEPOSIT LOST
8:03 p.m. — 100 block of Flagler Plaza Drive, Palm Coast Criminal mischief. Employees at a local hotel contacted deputies after a 46-year-old Palm Coast man was seen using a hammer to try to break out of a room’s window. When deputies arrived, they could hear loud banging
According to a press release, Operation: Summer Slammer resulted in 19 arrests, including 10 during a warrant sweep on July 16. The FCSO is still searching for four suspects.
From Jan. 1 to June 30, the FCSO Special Investigations Unit conducted a series of undercover operations, with controlled buys of over five kilograms of various illegal narcotics. This includes approximately one kilogram of cocaine; 120 grams of methamphetamine; and 60 grams of fentanyl, which the FCSO said it’s “enough to potentially kill 30,000 people.”
Operation: Summer Slammer also resulted in the seizures of 13 firearms, five vehicles and $22,000 in cash profits.
During the operation, detectives obtained arrest warrants for 24 suspected drug dealers, all who had a combined 316 previous arrests.
Those arrested during Operation: Summer Slammer include:
Kyle Ellis, 27, Bunnell; Edriel Fernandes, 52, Palm Coast;
and commotion coming from the room, according to the arrest report. The man refused verbal commands to open the door, and a deputy was given a room key to enter, at which point the man threw a “large metal object” in his direction.
The report never stated what the metal object was; but it noted that the room had a substantial amount of damage “consistent with the metal object that he was observed throwing towards deputies.” The window in the room by the bed was also shattered.
The damage was estimated to cost the hotel about $2,500.
The man was taken to jail.
Shannon Foster, 47, Bunnell:
Leonard Fries Jr., 50, Ormond Beach;
Robert Galvin, 48, Bunnell;
Wanda Hadley, 45, Bunnell;
Eric Harrell, 29, Bunnell; Eric Hoover, 30, Palm Coast;
Russell Laster, 53, Bunnell;
Terrence Leeks, 37, Bunnell;
Thomas Leto Jr., 53, Palm Coast;
Christopher Love, 33, Altamonte Springs;
Heather Noack, 41, Palm Coast;
Khong Siharaj, 43, Palm Coast;
Keith Smith, 51, Daytona Beach;
Antonio Watson, 34, Bunnell; Jennifer Wood, 42, Bunnell; Derick Zamora, 29, Palm Coast;
Confidential informant: Sale of methamphetamine One suspect, Brandy Lynn Gochenouer, whom detectives had planned to arrest for selling fentanyl, died of an overdose during the operational period. She was 51.
Four suspects are still outstanding:
Everett Bullard, 63, Bunnell;
JULY 15
BACKYARD SCAVENGER HUNT
1:50 a.m. — First block of Flagler Place, Palm Coast Loitering or prowling. Deputies arrested a 31-year-old Palatka man who was found trespassing in a resident’s backyard.
The resident called 911 after she spotted the man in her yard.
She told deputies that she had received an alert on her surveillance camera, which caught the man enter her home’s side gate and approach her pool screen. She then used the microphone on her camera to ask him what he was doing, and to order him to get out of her yard.
The man did as she asked.
Terrance Dudley, 35, Daytona Beach; Gaines Smith Jr., 28, Bunnell; Logan Wells, 25, Palm Coast.
Palm Coast releases storm prep video series
Each year, hurricane season can bring potential challenges to residents and their homes — especially when it comes to swales and the greater stormwater system. The City of Palm Coast’s Stormwater and Engineering department has created a video series highlighting these and other topics.
The City of Palm Coast has nearly 1,200 miles of swales throughout the city, all of which collect runoff water before beginning the slow process of making its way to ditches and canals, which ultimately recharge the superficial aquifer beneath the surface. This video series will cover common concerns, such as full swales. Visit https://www. palmcoast.gov/stormwater.
Deputies canvassed the area and located him near the intersection of Palm Harbor Parkway and Farmsworth Drive. The man told deputies that he was out walking around “when someone from the bushes advised him that there was a lighter in another bush.” He said he was trying to locate it.
When asked why he had been in the resident’s backyard, he initially denied it, but then said he had been looking for the lighter in the bushes, saying “the lady” told him he could get it. The man also admitted to consuming methamphetamine throughout the day. He was taken to jail.
Ormond Beach residents launch Protect Volusia nonprofit
Elena Krafft, Robin Magleora and Britney Álamos founded the nonprofit this summer to keep the community engaged and informed.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
For three Ormond Beach women, what started as a battle to protect their community from a fuel terminal project is now the foundation for a new organization aiming to keep people engaged and safeguard what they love most about their hometown.
Residents Elena Krafft, Robin Magleora and Britney Álamos are the founders of Protect Volusia, a recently launched nonprofit with a mission to advocate for responsible growth, government transparency and environmental preservation.
The founders announced the creation of the nonprofit on July 17 on the Protect Volusia Facebook page. Creating an organization had been on their mind since 2023, when the women led a local grassroots effort to push back against the development of a fuel farm by Belvedere Terminals near the city limits of Ormond Beach at 874 Hull Road.
“With the fuel terminal, we all came together to try to protect our community,” Krafft said. “We got to meet such wonderful people. I couldn’t believe the amount of people that were just, absolutely ready to fight, ready to protect the place.”
Throughout the next two years, they developed a good relationship with others in the community — and that stayed with them, Krafft said. It organically grew into advocating for other issues people were facing, like flooding, development concerns and feeling unheard by their elected officials.
Founding Protect Volusia was a way they could help people stay connected and provide resources to help bridge the gap between citizens and
their elected representatives. And, do so with a countywide scope.
“By getting the community together, there’s a place where they can come and say, ‘Hey, these are our concerns in our area,’ and we can all help each other here in Volusia County,” said Magleora, a former firefighter/paramedic. “We all live here. We should be working together as a group.”
Additionally, part of their nonprofit’s mission is to highlight the positive things occurring in the county to showcase why it needs to be protected, Magleora added.
As a way to fund their efforts, Protect Volusia has launched a shop on its website, with 100% of the proceeds going directly toward advocacy efforts. Among the items for sale are some of Magleora’s own wildlife photography.
“We have so much good in this county,” she said. “People should be proud to live here.”
For Álamos, part of that is also emphasizing the need to protect local wildlife and green spaces.
“Living here, we see how beautiful it is,” Álamos said, adding that her motivation for the nonprofit revolves around “how beautiful our natural resources are, and protecting those resources — keeping nature natural.”
What Protect Volusia is not, the women said, is political.
“Protect Volusia has always been non-partisan,” Magleora said.
Krafft said that’s very important to her. As a public health professional, community outreach is a big part of her job. It makes her upset, she said, to see people feel helpless.
“I want them to know that their voice matters — it truly does,” Krafft said. “That is it. That is really the
bottom line: amplifying community voices.”
The next step for Protect Volusia is to find community liaisons at every level of government and municipality, Krafft said. They want to hear what concerns their communities have, and work together to give them the tools and resources to spread the word at the local level.
There are many citizens who aren’t aware of when their city meetings are held, or what’s coming up on the next agenda, Magleora said. Protect Volusia has compiled a lot of that information on their website to make it easier for people.
“If there’s one thing we’ve learned because of Belvedere, is that our voices do matter,” Magleora said.
“And that when the community comes together and uses their voices, we can make a change.”
Visit https://protectvolusia.org.
Three new officers sworn in to serve community with OBPD
The department welcomes Officers Arthur Abraham, Dante Eggins and Brianna Kennedy.
OBSERVER STAFF
The Ormond Beach Police department swore in three new officers on Thursday, July 17.
Officers Arthur Abraham, Dante Eggins and Brianna Kennedy have officially completed both the Law Enforcement Academy and inhouse training by OBPD, according to a post shared by the department on Facebook. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by local elected officials as well as police department leadership.
“Next up: field
and soon,
D.B. Pickles closes in Ormond Beach
The restaurant owner plans to file for bankruptcy, according to statements made by employees on social media.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
D.B. Pickles in Ormond Beach has now closed.
The restaurant announced its closure with a sign posted on the building’s front door, dated July 20. Longtime employees stated on various Facebook pages that they were notified of the restaurant’s closure via a text shortly after midnight on Monday, July 21.
“Everyone, with great sadness, and my apologies for sending so late, I am informing you that we can no longer stay in business, the extraordinary costs of repairing, and lately the replacing of high value equipment, and now roof top AC replacement is just not feasible, the hole is just too deep, and no help is available, as I hoped I may find out today, and confirmed,” the text read.
Employees were also told that the restaurant’s owner, listed as Michael Dekorte on the Florida Division of Corporations, would be filing for bankruptcy and that they would all be named as there are not enough funds for the past payroll. The text stated they would all be contacted by a court appointed trustee.
“I am sorry, I tried, and hoped to find a way to pull through the slow season, but it’s just too high of a hill to climb,” the text, as shared on Facebook, continued. “Thank you to all for your support and contributions to help make Pickles a success, many of you have so many years here, thank you!”
According to the Division of Corporations, DeKorte took over the restaurant in 2022.
Three employees launched a GoFundMe page shortly after hearing the news, with a goal to raise $88,000.
“DB Pickles, a unique deli and bakery, has been a staple in our community since the early 2000s,” the GoFundMe states. “Overnight, our team of 22 dedicated workers lost our jobs when the restaurant closed unexpectedly. Many of us have worked together for years, building close relationships with each other and with our loyal customers. The sudden closure has left us without our paychecks for this week, and we’re all facing immediate financial challenges as we try to cover rent, groceries, and other essentials.” Every dollar raised, the page stated, will be split among all 22 workers.
The Ormond Beach Observer reached out to two DB Pickles employees via email and social media, as well as the restaurant, but did not receive responses in time for publication. Email jarleene@observerlocalnews.com.
Protect Volusia founders Robin Magleora, Britney Álamos and Elena Krafft. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
D.B. Pickles at 400 S. Nova Road in now closed. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Officer Brianna Kennedy
Officer Dante Eggins
Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey, Capt. DW Smith, Officers Arthur Abraham, Dante Eggins and Brianna Kennedy, Capt. Chris Roos and Sgt. Jay Brennan.
Officer Arthur Abraham has his badge pinned.
Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey swears in Officers Dante Eggins, Brianna Kennedy and Arthur Abraham. Photos courtesy of Pauline Dulang/Ormond Beach Police Department
Utility rate increases for Ormond?
City Commissioner Kristin Deaton said she is concerned for residents on fixed incomes.
JARLEENE ALMENAS
MANAGING EDITOR
The city of Ormond Beach is proposing increased utility rates for fiscal year 2025-2026.
During a budget workshop on Tuesday, July 22, City Finance Director Kelly McGuire presented the following rate increases:
Stormwater: $2 per month, or $24 annually
Water and wastewater: $11.59 per month, or $139.08 annually
Solid waste: $1.97 per month, or $23.64 annually
City Commissioner Kristin Deaton said she had a lot concerns about these increases, particularly for residents on fixed incomes.
“While this may not look a lot to some people, this is going to be detrimental to those who are not seeing these types of increases on their Social Security or their pension,” Deaton said. “I have a problem with that.”
McGuire said that the city’s current rate structure isn’t the only possibility. There are others that the city could implement that could address the commission’s concerns.
Currently, the city has a minimum utility bill; the city could lower it, McGuire said.
A workshop will be scheduled for Aug. 19 to discuss options for the city to structure its rate increase.
“Obviously, every time we move one piece, all the other pieces have to move,” McGuire said. “We understand what your concerns are ... We’ll get together, we’ll brainstorm, we’ll bring you back some options to address those concerns.”
Flagler sheriff to propose e-bike ordinance for Palm Coast
Palm Coast’s contract with the FCSO is also set to increase 26.5%, from $8.9 million to $11.3 million. Nine new deputies will be added through this contract.
SIERRA WILLIAMS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly is working on an ordinance that would restrict some uses of e-bikes in Palm Coast.
Staly said the ordinance is not aimed to “kill the fun of an e-bike,” or to restrict it for people who may be disabled or use it to get to work. Instead it will address those that are driving recklessly.
Staly said since the Florida law was loosened by the Legislature, “e-bikes have become somewhat out of control.”
“It’s not ready for prime time yet, but I would ask that you [the Palm Coast City Council] encourage it, because we need to get ahead of it now,” he said.
The announcement came dur-
ing a budget presentation with the Palm Coast City Council on July 22. While the ordinance is not finished, Staly said, the FCSO general counsel is working on a draft of it with Palm Coast’s attorney.
Florida State Statutes classify e-bikes like regular bicycles and allow them to be used wherever bicycles are. Florida law also requires riders under 16 to wear helmets and follow traffic laws.
The proposed ordinance, Staly said, would not allow e-bikes on sidewalks, though they would still be allowed on bike paths. FCSO deputies recently arrested two teens for driving their modified e-bikes recklessly.
Staly said that e-bikes do serve a purpose and the ordinance is meant to address those driving recklessly.
“I’m not trying to kill e-bikes,” he said. “[The ordinance] is for those that are driving recklessly without regard to the bicycle laws. Really what I’m looking for is a tool in the toolbox for my deputies.”
PALM COAST-FCSO CONTRACT
TO INCREASE 26.5% FOR 2026
To accommodate cost of living and health care adjustments and to fund
nine new deputies, Palm Coast’s contract with the FCSO is increasing to $11.3 million for the fiscal year 2026 budget from the adopted $8.9 million in the fiscal year 2025 budget. That is a 26.5% increase.
The increase in deputies is the second year of a three-year initiative to increase the number of deputies serving Flagler County and its municipalities. The additional deputies address a deficit of FCSO deputies needed to service Palm Coast and Flagler County.
Staly said there were 13 years between 2002 and 2025 where the previous Palm Coast City Councils did not add any additional deputies. Palm Coast has added new deputies for the last four consecutive years.
“You’re paying a little bit for the sins of the past,” Staly said.
Mayor Mike Norris asked Staly to address concerns some residents have that the county and Palm Coast are “double dipping” by having Palm Coast residents pay the county tax for law enforcement and Palm Coast pay its own contract.
Staly said that it is not a double taxation because Palm Coast, years ago, decided it wanted a higher level of service than what the standard
level of service set by the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners at the time.
During public comment, resident Mark Webb said the FCSO provides “phenomenal” service.
But, he said: “I think where the sheriff’s department is failing, and it’s not their fault, is informing the public, especially Palm Coast, of what that is.”
Staly said that without Palm Coast’s contract, there would be “a reduction of 67 deputy sheriffs.”
That includes, he said, 50 deputy sheriffs, the Town Center deputy, a school resource deputy, the additional deputies in the 2026 budget, two deputy corporals, three deputy sheriff sergeants and one commander.
“That’s what your enhanced service pays for,” Staly said. “That would gut the service to the City of Palm Coast.”
If Palm Coast wanted to start its own police department, Staly said, to get started, the city would need a building for it and to purchase equipment and fleet vehicles in advance as well. Liability would also increase.
“You’re looking at a significant investment,” he said.
Ten selected for Palm Coast Charter Review Committee
SIERRA WILLIAMS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Palm Coast City Council has selected 10 members to its Charter Review Committee, five members and five alternates.
In public meetings, the citizenled committee will review the language, policies and inconsistencies in the charter and recommend potential updates to the Palm Coast City Council. Each member was appointed by a City Council member and will serve one-year terms on the committee.
The members and alternates are
Ramon Marrero with Greg Blose as an alternate; Donald O’Brien with Karen Sousa as an alternate; Perry Mitrano with Donna McGevna as an alternate; Michael Martin with Donna Stancel as an alternate; Patrick Miller with Chantal Preuninger as an alternate.
“I appreciate everyone that applied,” Mayor Mike Norris said at the July 15 council meeting. He asked Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston to read the names of all 27 applicants to thank them. “Thank you everyone for applying. I appreciate it, and our community appreciates it.”
Council member Dave Sullivan said he looks forward to the committee’s recommendations.
“I do think this is an important charter review,” Sullivan said. “We recently found that the charter has too much subjectivity in it.”
There have been several instances in the last year where the charter left a measure of ambiguity, including after an investigation into Norris potentially violating the City Charter.
The investigation found Norris had violated the charter by asking for Johnston and then-Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo’s resignations. But the third-party investigator, said the
charter does not outline what should be done if a council member violates the charter. He recommended the charter take that under review in the future.
Any changes the committee proposes to the council that are then approved will need to be approved by Palm Coast residents in a referendum vote. In addition to reviewing the charter and submitting applications, the committee members will help create “clear and accurate language” explaining the change that will go on the ballot, according to the Charter Review Committee city website.
Ormond Beach pursues 10% tax rate increase to fund public safety needs
The City Commission voted unanimously to set a tentative millage rate of 4.5220 mills, which could raise taxes for the average home $9 per month.
JARLEENE
ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Ormond Beach residents are likely to see an increase on their property taxes, as the city moves forward with a 10.2% tax rate increase over last year’s.
On Tuesday, July 22, the City Commission voted unanimously to set a tentative millage rate of 4.5220 mills — or $4.5220 per $1,000 in taxable property value. The proposed rate is 15.82% above the rollback rate of 3.9024 mills, or the rate that would generate the same amount of tax revenues as last year’s rate. With the city seeking to address needs that some officials said “have been kicked
BRIEFS
Oceanside
Country Club
donates $26,000 to Halifax HealthFoundation
Oceanside Country Club
recently donated $26,000 to the Halifax Health - Foundation to support women and children’s health in the community.
The funds were raised through the 99th South Atlantic Women’s Amateur Championship and the Taste of Oceanside and Friends event, according to a press release.
“We are incredibly thankful for the longevity, generosity, and local spirit of Oceanside Country Club,” said John Guthrie, executive director of the Halifax Health - Foundation. “Like Halifax Health, OCC has been part of this community for generations. Together, this program helps ensure that women and children receive the compassionate, advanced care they need close to home and we are looking forward to an extra special event as Oceanside Country Club and the SALLY celebrate 100 years.”
The South Atlantic Women’s Amateur Championship, also known as the SALLY, dates back to 1926 and continues to field contestants from all over the world. The weeklong event held in January is features some of the best amateur women golfers in the world.
“The commitment of the Oceanside Country Club community to women’s health and the SALLY Championship is inspiring,” said Chuck Grant, chairman of the SALLY. “As we approach the 100th SALLY next year, this gift demonstrates how the tournament’s legacy goes beyond the game and players and directly impacts lives in our area.”
Oceanside Country Club was founded in 1907.
“For over a century, Oceanside Country Club has been a fixture in this commu-
down the road” for years — including the funding of police salary adjustments, parks and recreation projects and needed vehicles — City Commissioners agreed that a tax rate increase was acceptable.
“I wouldn’t personally ever go to pull from first responders,” City Commissioner Kristin Deaton said. “We have to take care of them. ... I would love, love, love to save money for our residents, but I understand it’s probably not the time.”
The average homesteaded resident with a taxable property value of $250,000 will see an increase of $106.92 in their tax bill, or $8.98 a month.
So what will the city’s $143 million dollar budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 cover?
POLICE, FIRE AND VEHICLES
Last year, the city approved salary market adjustments for police officers, and used money from reserves in its workers’ compensation plan to fund it.
But the city is in need of an ongoing revenue source, and
nity in one form or another,” said David Main, general manager of Oceanside Country Club. “Hosting the Sally each year is an honor for our club and our members, and supporting Halifax Health through this event is one way we live out our role as community partners.”
Volunteers needed for the 40th annual International Coastal Cleanup
Volusia County residents are invited to participate in the annual International Coastal Cleanup at more than 20 sites along the beach, Halifax River and Indian River from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. Volusia County’s Environmental Management Division is hosting the event. Last year, 1,562 Volusia County volunteers collected 8,500 pounds of trash during the cleanup.
Volunteers can register online between Aug. 1 and Sept. 8 at www.volusia.org/cleanup.
Participants are asked to come prepared by bringing garden gloves, drinking water in refillable bottles, and grabbers for collecting trash. Bags, buckets, plastic gloves and water will be provided.
Attendees should wear a hat, sunscreen, comfortable clothing and outdoor footwear.
The first 1,200 preregistered participants will receive a commemorative giveaway item featuring the 40th anniversary International Coastal Cleanup Logo, designed by the Ocean Conservancy.
Preregistered participants will also receive a native tree. Tree species include sea grape, green buttonwood and Simpson’s stopper. Trees will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at three giveaway locations: Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park in Ormond-by-the-Sea, City Island Park in Daytona Beach, and the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach. Beach cleanup sites include:
as such, this year’s budget allocates $1 million toward that, said City Finance Director Kelly McGuire during a workshop prior to the City Commission meeting.
“These are ongoing expenses, obviously,” she said. “So we need to have an ongoing revenue source.”
Additionally, the city is anticipating $1.8 million of funding needed as a result of the new collective bargaining agreements, which are slated to start on Oct. 1.
The tax rate increase will also help fund new vehicles for its general employees — public works, building inspectors and leisure services.
“This is the one that we have not adjusted in probably 15 years, and those vehicles are getting more and more expensive,” McGuire said. She echoed the same sentiment when it came to police vehicles, of which the city has committed to replace nine each year. The fire department also asked for an ATV with trailer to be able to perform rescues in smaller areas and for a new set of extrication equipment.
Highbridge Park, 40 High Bridge Road, Ormond-by-the-
Sea
Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park, 1800 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond-by-the-Sea
Tom Renick Park, 1575
Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormondby-the-Sea
Birthplace of Speed Park
(Granada ramp), 21 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach
Cardinal Drive Beach Park, 650 S. Atlantic Ave., Ormond
Beach
Sun Splash Park, 611 S.
Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach
Van Avenue Park, 3101 S.
Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach
Edwin Peck Park, 3167 S.
Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach
Dahlia Avenue Park, 3625 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach
Shores
Winter Haven Park, 4589 S. Atlantic Ave., Ponce Inlet
Smyrna Dunes Park, 2995 N. Peninsula Ave., New Smyrna Beach
North Beach Community Park, Sapphire Road and North Atlantic Avenue, New Smyrna Beach
Flagler Avenue Beachfront Park, 100 Buenos Aires St., New Smyrna Beach
Hiles Boulevard., 4516 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna
Beach
Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach
Most river locations have boat launches where participants are encouraged to bring their kayaks, paddleboards, canoes or motorboats (where permitted) to access hard-toreach coastlines.
River cleanup sites include:
Highbridge Road, 40 Highbridge Road, Ormond-bythe-Sea
Tomoka State Park, 2099 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach
Sanchez Park, 329 Sanchez Ave., Ormond Beach
Sunrise Park South, 1135 Riverside Drive, Holly Hill
City Island Park, 105 E. Magnolia Ave., Daytona Beach
Port Orange Causeway Park, 93 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange
Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve, 6250 S. Ridgewood Ave., Port Orange
George R. Kennedy Memorial Park, 103 N. Riverside Drive, Edgewater
River Breeze Park, 250 H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill
In addition to participating in the annual cleanup, residents can help decrease marine debris simply by reducing the amount of waste and single use products they generate. Remember: “Refuse, reduce, reuse, then recycle.”
For information about the cleanup or to register, visit www.volusia.org/cleanups or contact the ICC coordination team at internationalcoastalcleanup@volusia.org.
These items, when taking into account a reduction in millage from the voter-approved debt for Andy Romano Beachfront Park, have added 0.4240 mills to the tax rate.
The budget is also accounting for $200,000 for enhanced code enforcement; $25,000 for flood mitigation software; $105,000 for security at City Hall; and $210,000 for three new jobs, an IT analyst and two parks maintenance employees.
“Staff has usually been very good about coming to us when they actually have a need, not a want,” City Commissioner Harold Briley said. “That these vehicles need to be replaced and we have to have some of these positions is because they’re needed.”
On police wages and pensions, Mayor Jason Leslie said that the city wants to make sure they remain competitive with the surrounding cities.
“We want to be able to hold good staff and good employees and good police officers and fire, and the only way to do that is to offer them a good compensation,” He said.
YOUR TOWN
Ormond Beach girl to compete in national Miss Junior All American Pageant
Gianna Capri, of Ormond Beach, will compete as Miss Volusia County Junior All American in the national Miss Junior All American Pageant, to be held July 30 to Aug. 2, in
DISCUSSION ON CUTS: $100,000 FOR TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES
The commissioners spent a good deal of time during the workshop trying to see if there were budget items that could be cut.
One item quickly gained consensus — the $100,000 line item for traffic calming measures in the downtown.
With the ongoing work by the Florida Department of Transportation in the Granada Boulevard corridor, which has narrowed traffic lanes and added concrete medians, commissioners felt like the corridor has been impacted enough.
“To do $100,000 for traffic calming in our downtown after FDOT just redid the pattern, slowed it down, and now you want to add another sign to tell people how fast they’re going?” City Commissioner Travis Sargent asked. “Think of how this is going to look. Drive down to A1A and look what they’ve done to all the signs. It’s horrible, and now we want to do it in our downtown?”
But, seeing as the traffic
Charleston, South Carolina.
The Miss Teen All American Pageant was founded in 1979, later crowning actress Halle Berry in 1985. This year’s Miss All American Pageant has three divisions — miss, teen and junior — will bring 115 women together from across the country.
Gianna will compete in categories including interview, evening gown, and activewear, vying for the national title in the junior division.
calming measures were to be funded with Community Redevelopment Agency dollars, the cut won’t affect the millage rate; those dollars will go into the CRA reserves, and may be used for another project within the district.
The commission was also looking at a few other options to cut from the budget: downtown public art, neighborhood traffic calming, the Riviera Park fishing pier and the redevelopment of Nova Field 1, which has been pushed off the budget for at least three years.
Commissioner Lori Tolland said she didn’t have a problem with where the money was being spent.
“I think we’re doing what’s been done in the past,” she said. “We worry, worry, worry in trying to keep everything so low, and I think it’s just time that we take hold of it and do the things that we need to do — that we’ve all bee complaining about up on the dais.”
The first public hearing for the budget is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Email letters to jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com.
The national judging panel includes: Vanessa Lachey; Asya Branch; Shawnae Jebbia; Daniel Musto; Rusty Joiner; Christopher Todd; and Eddie Edwards.
Gianna Capri. Courtesy photo
John Guthrie, executive director of the Halifax Health — Foundation; Chuck Grant, chairman of the SALLY; and David Main, general manager of Oceanside Country Club. Courtesy photo
Holland Financial helps fight cancer
$5,000 donation is aimed to help kick off Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraiser in October.
JARLEENE
ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Holland Financial presented the American Cancer Society with a $5,000 donation on Thursday, July 17, to help launch the nonprofit organization’s upcoming Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraiser.
Every year, Holland Financial identifies charities that align with the company’s values and contribute to the community. The company then gives back to the charity as part of its PlanStronger Together Program.
This year, the cause hits close to home for Holland Financial CEO David Holland and his wife Toni, who was diagnosed with breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Running helped her to cope and stay healthy on her journey to remission, she said.
Following a double mastectomy, a choice she made due to losing her mom to breast cancer, Toni has been cancerfree for four years.
In speaking of raising awareness for breast cancer, she said “it’s critically important because you never know who it’s going to touch.”
She referenced Melissa Etheridge’s song, “I Run For Life,” in which the American singer-songwriter shares her own journey through breast cancer.
“I run for your sister, your mother, your wife,” Toni said. “It impacts everyone and you don’t know it’s going to until
it does, and I think the more knowledge people have, the better they’re prepared for if and when that moment comes.”
The 23rd Volusia-Flagler
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event will take place at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Riverfront Esplanade in Daytona Beach.
Shady Bauer, senior development manager for American and Cancer Society, said they’re expecting about 10,000 people to attend, as this is the second largest Making Strides fundraiser held in Florida.
It’s free to register for the 5K fundraising walk.
Having the support of local businesses ensures the ACS can continue its advocacy, research, development and patient support programs, Bauer said.
“If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to provide the resources that our company provides to all the patients,” she said. While the ACS does receive resources through philanthropy, not everybody is aware of it, Bauer said. That makes grassroots efforts important.
“Community events are rain or shine,” she said. “We
keep it going ... because we’re out there for a reason and without that money, without those funds, we couldn’t do what we’re doing right now.”
Holland Financial reached out to the ACS for the donation knowing that, like the Holland family, many others are often impacted by cancer, David Holland said.
“It’s personal and we also have a number of clients and employees who have been affected by cancer,” he said.
“So we’re very attuned to the impact on, not only the the family from an emotional and personal standpoint, but also the disruption of their lives — their retirement and even their finances.”
Holland Financial will also a “Team Holland” participating in Making Strides. David’s hope is that they’re top team for the number of participants and/or fundraising.
His wife will be part of the team. As an avid marathon runner, she’s completed 25 races, including a 100K.
David Holland will be.
“I’m the emotional support husband,” he said. “So I go along for the ride.”
Email Jarleene Almenas at jarleene@observerlocalnews. com.
Palm Coast, the next tech hub?
Impact of Google’s undersea cable
Digital infrastructure provider DC BLOX will construct the new data center in Palm Coast, to bolster Google cloud capability.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Earlier this month, Google announced an new undersea transatlantic cable system that will connect the United States to Europe — anchored in Palm Coast, an investment that City Economic Development Manager Craig McKinney said is a “landmark investment” for the city.
“Beyond that, what we hope is it’s going to be a magnet for other industries like cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI, perhaps data analytics,” McKinney said. “All who rely on good global connectivity.”
The cable system, named “Sol,” will extend to Santander, Spain, and bolster capacity and reliability for the network of 42 Google cloud regions worldwide, according to Google’s announcement. Once complete, Sol will be the only in-service fiberoptic cable between Florida and Europe.
Digital infrastructure provider DC BLOX will construct the new data center in Palm Coast, to be located on a 34-acre site in Town Center. The data center has been in the works since early 2023, said Chris Gatch, Chief Revenue Officer for DC BLOX.
“We wanted to be in the northern Florida region,”
Gatch said. “And that was really for diversification reasons from the cable landing stations that are already in existence on the east coast.”
Available land was a big factor, he added. So was the lack of obstacles to route a cable to the ocean.
“Once you go through all those factors, and then we engage, we score very highly with communities that want us to be there and that we feel like we can work with — they’re going to support the project,” Gatch said. “And so, community support is critical as well, and we felt, from our early engagements with the economic development team, we felt very good about that.”
In addition to the data center campus, DC BLOX will be developing the bore pipes to the ocean and the conduit system from the landing site to the data center. The campus will be composed of six buildings: one Google-only building, a DC BLOX building, two cable landing stations for Sol, a building to house Google’s technology and another cable landing station for other cables that can connect to the site.
Gatch estimates the data center will employ about 12 people.
The data center will also diversify the city’s commercial tax base, McKinney said.
“We hope that it’s pushing the city as an emerging tech
destination in Florida,” he said.
Nationally, subsea cables are “absolutely essential” infrastructure for the U.S economy, and the global economy, Gatch said. A local data center will also lead to more fiber optics in the area, something his company has seen happen around its Myrtle Beach hub.
“We’ve already seen probably a couple hundred million dollars of fiber built in the region as a result of our project, and I would expect something similar over time in the Palm Coast area,” Gatch said. One misconception surrounding this data center project is regarding energy and environmental impact. Gatch said that data centers around the country have become somewhat controversial due to their usage of groundwater and amount of power consumed.
In contrast, the data center in Palm Coast will a refrigerant-based cooling system, and won’t use groundwater. Plus, it’s much smaller than most.
“Once we’re done putting it in, you won’t know we’re here,” Gatch said. “For better or worse, we don’t employ a ton of people, so we’re high taxpayers on a per-acre basis, with very little impact on local resources, and you get all the digital infrastructure benefits.”
Data centers around the country have become somewhat controversial due to their usage of groundwater and amount of power consumed. In contrast, the data center in Palm Coast will a refrigerant-based cooling system, and won’t use groundwater. Plus, it’s much smaller than most.
Shady Bauer, senior development manager for American and Cancer Society, and Toni Holland. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
New menu and chef at Atlantic Grille
The menu highlights summer flavors and local seafood.
SIERRA WILLIAMS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Chef Bryan “Scott” Downs had never heard of the Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa until five years ago when someone recommended he check it out.
“It’s tucked away. It’s hiding here,” Downs said. “... This is like a little hidden gem.”
Years later, Downs is now the new Chef de Cuisine at the Atlantic Grille, an oceanfront restaurant at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa that is open to the public.
Downs has joined the resort’s team during the restaurant’s new summer menu, which combines fresh local seafood and bright, citrusy summer flavors.
Food & Beverage Director Woody Mitchell said the goal for Atlantic Grille is to be “one of the nicest, upscale seafood dining experiences that you can have on the ocean in Northeast Florida.”
“It’s a big, lofty goal; and one of the driving forces behind the menu creation to support that goal is ‘freshness,’” Mitchell said.
A LOVE OF FOOD
Downs’ favorite dish to cook is a comforting one-pot dish.
“Like a classic beef bourguignon,” Downs said. “Something that takes, like, four hours. Like a ‘day off’ meal.”
Downs has a passion for food that begins with his childhood in South Florida. He said his grandfather and parents brought him up on hunting and fishing. From there, he took the culinary tract at his high school,
Atlantic Vocational Technical School, and then graduated from Florida Culinary Institute in West Palm Beach.
But, he said, his journey really began at his first job.
“School is great. It opens many doors,” he said. “But my journey started at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, because hands on training — it beats everything in school.”
Mitchell said Downs brings a passion and respect for the food and beverage industry.
“What chef does a really great job of is, he brings this extra level of refinement to our menu and to our dishes here,” Mitchell said, “and that’s constantly teaching our team to do the same.”
For Downs, he said that team at Atlantic Grille and Hammock Beach Golf Resort has set him up for success.
“Ultimately, I just I want to do a great job and cook great food,” he said. “That’s why I started doing this, because of the love of food. I just want to make great food.”
‘AS AUTHENTICALLY AS POSSIBLE’
Atlantic Grille’s spring and summer menu launched in February. Now, halfway through the season, Mitchell said they have had nothing but positive feedback. The menu is filled with local seafood options and seasonal
flavors. The Hammock Beach resort begins planning its summer menu in November with research and development: scoping out new trends, testing ideas and looking at what items were already selling well.
With its guests coming from all over the world and the member base filled with welltraveled individuals, Mitchell said: “Whatever we’re doing, we have a passion for doing it as authentically as possible. So if we’re making a French dish, we are researching it and we want it to be as true as we can be to the area comes from.”
So far, Mitchell said, the favorite dish has been the menu’s “Simply Fish”: an assorted option of fish entrees where the customer can choose what fish they’d like, how it is made and the sauce.
“[The customers] really get to drive everything,” Mitchell said.
The menu also includes a house-made crab cake Benedict and super food bowl in the breakfast menu; and in the evenings, a redfish with butternut mostarda and –Downs’ favorite – a Bouillabaisse with shrimp, oysters, mussels clams and crab.
Mitchell said that while the menu was amazing before Downs arrived, Downs brings “another level of art to the execution.”
Both Downs and Mitchell said hearing the positive feedback from their team and the guests is the best part of the job.
“We are all so appreciative when people enjoy what we work so hard to provide,” Mitchell said, “which is that next-level, high-end, premier seafood culinary experience, in one of the best oceanfront properties in Northeast Florida.”
Flagler County replacing Al Hadeed
The preferred option to be the next county attorney: Rodriguez, who worked for Apopka before resigning ‘in lieu of a protracted constitutional conflict.’
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
The Flagler County Commission unanimously voted to engage with former Apopka city attorney to replace County Attorney Al Hadeed, who is retiring effective Aug. 1. Hadeed has been the county attorney since 2007.
The commission chose Michael Rodriguez for the position during a special meeting on Thursday, July 17.
The commission was choosing between him and former Deltona City Attorney Marsha Segal-George; Deputy County Attorney Sean Moylan, who originally was also in the running for the position, withdrew his application.
“I believe that Mr. Michael Rodriguez packs all the gear,” Commissioner Greg Hansen said. “I think he’s done everything we need to see done. He’s got great experience. I liked his enthusiasm.”
At the special meeting, both candidates were interviewed by the commission, followed by a personal meet-and-greet opportunity.
Rodriguez, a resident of DeLand, asked for a minimum $195,000 salary. Most recently, he was the chief deputy city attorney for the City of Palm Bay.
Rodriguez worked for the City of Apopka from 2020 to 2023, when he resigned “in
lieu of a protracted constitutional conflict between three members of the City Council and the mayor regarding the legal authority to remove a charter officer,” according to his application. Rodriguez also stated that the mayor refused to terminate him and that three council members then “threatened” litigation.
During his interview, Rodriguez said that the issue stemmed from the death of a firefighter while in the line of duty.
“It was a tenuous political situation, and because of the situation that I found myself in, it turned into a legal squabble between two council members,” Rodriguez said. “It was really specific to Apopka because of their form of governance. Apopka is a strong mayor form of government, and the way the charter was written, the council has the authority to terminate their charter officer, and the only two charter officers in Apopka are the city clerk and the city attorney.”
Rodriguez said it became more expedient to resign “than to drag the city into a constitutional crisis.”
“The city is now currently undertaking a charter amendment to try to change that language due to that situation, but that’s unfortunately, the typical political squabbles that are seen in local government in the state of Florida and seeing from the local media, those are things that are not even alien to this area as well,” he said.
Chair Andy Dance thanked him for addressing the matter. Prior to Apopka, Rodriguez also worked as an assistant county attorney for Volusia County. He has over 20 years of experience specific to local government, land use, environmental and litigation.
In his current position with the City of Palm Bay, Rodriguez stated in his application that he makes $12,750 a month, or $153,000 a year. Flagler County advertised the salary range for its county attorney position as $175,000 to $250,000.
Commissioner Kim Carney said salary and benefits will be negotiated with the county’s Human Resources department. She would never make a decision based on salary, she said.
“We have already declared in our budget where we’re going to be with this position and I would like the successful candidate to feel comfortable entering into a relationship with our board by negotiating what best works for that candidate,” Carney said. Flagler County’s offer of employment isn’t the only one Rodriguez has received recently. On July 12, in a 3-2 vote, he was also selected as the top choice to become the city attorney for Titusville.
“Mr. Rodriguez has a choice to make, so best of luck with that,” Dance said. Email jarleene@observer localnews.com.
Michael Rodriguez speaks before the Flagler County Commission during a special meeting on Thursday, July 17. Flagler County’s livestream
Chef Bryan “Scott” Downs
LETTERS
A city manager’s importance
Dear Editor:
When I left the Palm Coast City Council in 2008, I made it a point to stay away from city politics and concerns. For reference, I served as mayor and councilman for 20 years in a New Jersey town with a similar form of municipal government.
If I learned nothing else, it was that the first and most important job of a council was to make sure they had or hired a professional and competent city manager. Elected councilmen can talk forever about what they would like to do, but it takes the manager to build and maintain the organization needed to handle the everyday operations of the community and bring to life the visions of the mayor and council. He sees city needs and advises the council accordingly.
The bottom line is that the last few councils have failed in that duty. And we are experiencing the results.
WILLIAM VENNE Palm Coast
Freedom to paint your house is more important than ‘property values’
Dear Editor:
As anticipated, Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris’s initiative to discontinue city restrictions on house colors and parking has incited wailing and gnashing of teeth among those homeowners who long for the good old days when Palm Coast was an HOA (subject to contracts which evade Constitutional rights), before it became a city (subject to the Constitution). Their tendency is not so much to “Love thy neighbor” as it is to “Control thy neighbor.” (After all, thy neighbor might get uppity
BRIEFS
Flagler County Commission chair gets two state leadership roles
Flagler County Board of County Commissioners Chair Andy Dance was recently elevated to two leadership positions within separate organizations that advocate for counties throughout Florida, thus amplifying the voice of Flagler County during policy discussions that affect the unique needs and priorities of the community.
Dance was elected to the Executive Committee of the Small County Coalition of Florida to represent Region 3, and elected to the Board
notions about having some sort of human right to control his own property!)
I suggest a compromise: “Leave thy neighbor alone.”
The mayor may tend to court controversy, but his instincts on this particular issue are commendable. The city should have the power to impose property restrictions only for public safety purposes. It should not have the power to impose property restrictions based solely on esthetic considerations, even if they are valid (which they may not be) and even if they affect property values (which they may not do).
For those of us living forever in the thrall of those precious “property values” so beloved of Realtors, etc., I suggest that you consider a more important matter: your freedom. Individual freedom necessarily includes control of one’s own property. And controlling your own property is far more important than whether it is worth a few dollars more or less. That reality applies to everyone. My freedom is inseparable from yours. We are all free, or we are all at risk. So if my neighbor chooses to paint his house purple, I may not enjoy it, but I will learn to live with it, because it is his house, not mine.
ANTHONY TEAGUE Palm Coast
Florida’s
new law on Geoengineering and weather modification
Dear Editor:
On July 1, 2025, the legislation known as “Geoengineering and Weather Modification” was signed into law by Gov. DeSantis. Thanks to State Senators Leek and Garcia for sponsoring this law and Representative Partington from Ormond Beach for his support as well. The law prohibits the injection, release, or dis-
of Directors of the Florida Association of Counties to represent District 7.
“As a commissioner, I’ve always been committed to ensuring that our county’s voice is heard in Tallahassee and
persion, by any means, of a chemical, a chemical compound, a substance, or an apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of the state for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of the sunlight. Any person who violates this prohibition commits a third degree-felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. This law repeals all other existing weather modification statutes, including the Department of Environmental Protection weather modification license program.
The goal of the law is to end the so called chemtrails across the Florida skies, which are white exhaust from aircraft that form thin layers of artificial atmospheric cloud cover for the purpose of dimming the sunlight. These differ from trails the aircraft at high altitudes create and dissipate behind the aircraft. For more details on chemtrails and atmosphere aerosol spraying, review The Dimming video documentary, found on Rumble and produced by Dane Wigington of Geoengineeringwatch.
To report a chemtrail, you can call the Department of Environmental Protection hot line (888) 750-4195.
Since passage of this law on July 1, I have continued to observe chemtrail patterns across the skies over Volusia County. If the state of Florida is going to truly enforce this new law, it will need more than a hot line or reporting mechanism to DEP. The State will need to fly its own aircraft to monitor the aircraft that are spewing these aerosol chemicals and begin arresting those in violation of the law.
Look up Floridians and observe for yourself the artificial cloud creation from aircraft and support the efforts to end the chemical aerosol spraying over us.
JOSEPH MANNARINO Palm Coast
beyond,” Dance said. “These new roles will allow me to influence policies and funding decisions that directly impact our community – particularly in the important areas of infrastructure, public safety, education, home rule, and coastal resiliency.”
The Small County Coalition of Florida provides counties with populations less than 200,000 a unified voice that focuses on equitable state funding, legislative advocacy, and collaboration on shared challenges. Dance will help guide the coalition’s strategic priorities and legislative agenda as a member of the Executive Committee.
Similarly, Dance will have the opportunity to help shape statewide policies and programs that support strong,
WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR?
The Observer asked this question on Facebook. Here are some of the responses:
Sharon Holloway Honestly... Everything! I’ve purposed myself to try and see the blessing in everything... Even the stressful things.
I’m trying to learn a lesson from it all.
Shelly Ander
This is paradise. When I came here 7 years ago I did not have a place to live and didn’t know anybody. I thank God everyday for somehow getting me here
Editor’s note: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “chemtrail” is a term “some people use to inaccurately claim that contrails resulting from routine air traffic are actually an intentional release of dangerous chemicals or biological agents at high altitudes for a variety of nefarious purposes, including population control, mind control, or attempts to geoengineer Earth or modify the weather.”
The agency additionally states on its website that the “federal government is not aware of there ever being a contrail intentionally formed over the United States for the purpose of geoengineering or weather modification.”
Florida needs to rethink bear hunt
Dear Commission Members,
On behalf of all animals, and in this case black bears, who have no voice, I would like to ask a question: Why are animals (black bears) being punished because of a problem caused by mankind, which is not very kind if we only look around us?
We humans are taking away the habitat of all wildlife for our own selfish reasons. If we humans treated
responsive county governments as a board member for the Florida Association of Counties, which represents all 67 Florida counties.
Flagler County receives 3 NACIO ‘Awards of Excellence’
Flagler County is the recipient of three National Association of County Information Officers “Awards of Excellence,” in the category Audiovisual Podcast Series for the county’s new podcast called Flagler in Focus and two writing features. NACIO, which is an active affiliate of the National Association of Counties, made the presentations July 14 during its annual conference in Philadelphia that the county attended virtually.
“Congratulations on the well-deserved recognition,” County Administrator Heidi Petito said. “Your work elevates the voice of Flagler County, and it’s great to see it celebrated. I’m so proud of you and your team.”
Flagler County Communications and Engagement Manager Karen Callahan launched the “Flagler in Focus” podcast – which received an award of “Excellence” – a year ago with Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord to discuss hurricane preparations. The podcasts are available at www.youtube.com/@FlaglerCounty/podcasts and are also available on iHeart Radio, Spotify, Pandora, Audible, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts.
Communications Coordinator Julie Murphy was awarded two out of the four recognition levels (third and fourth place) in the category Writing Features. The news release “It’s official – Flagler County Fire Rescue has a therapy dog” received an award of
and turning my life around 100%. My final chapter of life is headed towards a happy ending. Lovely LJ I am grateful for all the ups and downs along the way, God has used every experience for a greater good that I couldn’t have ever imagined. I have an immense gratitude and love for those I’ve met along the way. Especially those I now call friends, who are truly more like family. Palm Coast did that! Email your responses to brian@observerlocalnews. com.
the world the way animals do (all animals — wildlife, pets, farm, factory farm, etc.) the circumstances of the entire world would be far better than they are now. Just like our medical industry, the approach you are suggesting (killing black bears) is treating the symptom not the cause.
One solution would be to stop the over building of houses, commercial buildings, etc. and stop the destruction of our natural resources — the forests. There are so many houses for sale, empty buildings, empty stores, etc. Why not concentrate on selling the empty or for sale houses and promote the use of the empty stores and commercial buildings rather than building new ones.
Only God can make a tree! I pray for a solution that benefits all wildlife. Please help by rethinking a black bear hunt. Thank you.
PATRICIA HAINES
Palm Coast
Send letters to brent@ observerlocalnews.com. Include first and last name, as well as city of residence. Editor may alter the letter for clarity and/or length.
“Excellence.” The “Coast to Country” – Flagler County’s multimedia magazine, www. CoastToCountry.net – story
“Flagler County awarded Federal Aviation Administration Beyond Visual Line of Sight Waiver” received an award of “Meritorious.”
The NACIO “Awards of Excellence” program honors the innovative, creative, and outstanding work of county government communicators and state county associations communications departments throughout the nation with its annual awards program, according to its website.
Flagler tourism director earns top industry credential
Amy Lukasik, executive director for Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches, Flagler County’s official tourism organization, recently earned the Certified Destination Management Executive designation from Destinations International. Destinations International is the world’s largest trade association for destination organizations.
Lukasik was one of 63 CDME recipients recognized at Destinations International’s annual convention taking place July 9-11 in Chicago, Illinois.
The CDME program is the only industry certification program specifically designed for destination management professionals and is the tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement. The two-year program is designed to prepare destination organization professionals to leverage their experience and to apply their knowledge with a focus on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies.
CORRECTIONS
A story on Palm Coast’s Page 5A reported that a house that was pictured had an LRV of 5. It would be more accurate to say that city staff has reported that the house is outside of the city’s allowed LRV range.
The story on Palm Coast’s Page 3A last week stated that the City Council members’ city-issued cell phone numbers are available on the city’s website, but that’s incorrect. The numbers are on their business cards, available at City Hall and the Community Center; staff members also give out the city cell numbers as requested.
“Earning the CDME designation is a remarkable achievement and a true reflection of Ms. Lukasik’s leadership, dedication, and expertise in the tourism industry,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. Lukasik was also recently appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism the nonprofit organization announced in June. SEE is the professional authority for the ecotourism industry in Florida. It established and maintains the professional code of ecotourism ethics that encourages an awareness and stewardship of Florida’s natural heritage. Board members serve an elected term of two years.
“I am honored to be appointed to the Board of Directors for the Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism, the leading authority on authentic ecotourism in Florida,” Lukasik said. “with the future Flagler County Visitor EcoDiscovery Center, I look forward to helping protect and support Florida’s and Flagler County’s natural and cultural resources via sustainable tourism through my appointment.”
Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Amy Lukasik, Flagler County’s tourism director
Dashing through the stores
Ormond Beach hosts 8th annual Christmas in July event
ALEXIS MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Ormond MainStreet hosted its 8th annual Christmas in July event on Saturday, July 19.
Held in the downtown district — Granada Boulevard, from A1A to Orchard Street — over 40 restaurants and shops participated. Shoppers received special offers from each business and many of the vendors included arts and crafts stations for the kids to create Christmas joy and write letters to Santa.
Mr. and Mrs. Claus made their debut as they traveled between shops, surprising children and customers with candy canes and a chance to sit on Santa’s lap.
Children and adults were able to participate in the Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt throughout the downtown district for a chance to win gift cards from local businesses.
“A grand time was had by all as Santa & his helpers visited our historic downtown
Mr. Claus admire Westyn’s Christmas dress.
RJ Owens with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in Fountain Square.
Becky Parker, executive director of Ormond MainStreet; Santa and Mrs. Claus; Jamie Waters and Cindy Riding; and Ormond MainStreet Board member Nancy Cortez.
Emma Ceku and Rebecca Collins, employees at Fern & Fable bookstore, with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Photos by Alexis Miller
The Jackson family children with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Robin and Elaine Wadsworth with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Ormond Beach!” Ormond MainStreet wrote on its Facebook page. “Special thanks to our shops, eateries & businesses for hosting Christmas in July!”
LOCAL EVENTS
THURSDAY, JULY 24
‘MAGNIFIED’ VACATION
BIBLE SCHOOL
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, July 24, to Saturday, July 26
Where: St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 5400 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast
Details: All kids ages 5-13 are invited to make friends, create crafts, sing and explore the details of God’s world at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. There will also be a celebration at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 27.
RUMMAGE SALE
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursday to Saturday, July 24-26
Where: First Baptist Church Bunnell, 2301 Commerce Parkway, Bunnell
Details: Join First Baptist Church for a rummage sale. There will be furniture, paintings, clothing, dishes, toys, lines and more.
LET’S TALK PALM COAST —
A TOWN HALL SERIES
When: 5-6 p.m.
Where: Southern Recreation Center, second floor, 1290 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast
Details: Meet Council member Ty Miller as he hosts a town hall. Get a chance to ask questions and learn more about local government in this open forum.
FRIDAY, JULY 25
SUMMER SOUNDS
When: 6-8 p.m. Where: The Casements,
25 Riverside Drive, Ormond
Beach
Details: See Cool Breeze perform. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy live music with the city of Ormond Beach’s Department of Leisure Services. Free.
SATURDAY, JULY 26
THE DRAGON INSTITUTE — BACK-TO-SCHOOL KICKOFF
When: 10 a.m. to noon
Where: The Dragon Institute, 501 N .State St. #4, Bunnell Details: Attend this free event featuring information on how to stand up to bullies without violence and boost confidence. Take a Kung Fu class. There will also be a Parent Q+A. Event is catered for children 5-11 years old. Registration required. Call 386-319-6884 to RSVP.
FAMILY MATTERS: FREE SEMINAR
SATURDAY SERIES
When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Ormond Beach
Regional Public Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach
Details: Attend this half-day seminar where participants will explore practical strategies for family empowerment and key principles of child development including health screenings. Hosted by Healthier, Wealthier, Wiser Inc. Seminar will take place in the Aquarium room. Free lunch and resources will be provided while supplies last. All are welcome. To RSVP, email Belinda Davis at investinhealth@gmail.com.
RECIPES AND READS
CULINARY LAB: THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF FOOD — CUBAN
SANDWICH
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Ormond Beach
Regional Public Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach
in Miami. Their site-specific piece, Foundations, explores the connective threads between the visual and performing arts. The performers draw inspiration from the groundbreaking collaboration between photographer Barbara Morgan and dancer-choreographer Martha Graham. Free and open to the public. Tickets may be reserved in advance. Visit https://southeastmuseumofphotography. org.
TUESDAY, JULY 29
ORISIRISI DRUM SERMON: FOLKTALES, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS FROM THE FAR CORNERS OF AFRICA
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Ormond Beach
Regional Public Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach
Details: Includes stories from the far corners of the African continent, spirited drumming, dance, and song, a lesson on African hand drumming technique, and a healthy dose of the obligatory African tradition of audience participation. Free event.
FOOD TRUCK TUESDAY When: 5-8 p.m.
Where: Central Park, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast
Details: Food Truck Tuesday, presented in partnership with the Observer, is returning, and this month’s event supports the City of Palm Coast Summer Camp Scholarship Fund. Registration not required.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
SIGNED & DELIVERED: THE MARY KATHERINE GODDARD STORY When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach
Art League of Daytona Beach seeks artists for ‘Members’ Showcase’
The Art League of Daytona Beach is issuing a call for artists for its “Members’ Showcase” awards exhibit.
The exhibit will run from Oct. 12 to Nov. 8. The opening reception is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12. The art delivery dates are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 6.
The exhibit is open to Art League members and non-members are encouraged to join. One entry may be submitted per member artist. All mediums are welcome. For more information visit www.artleague.org.
When: 6-8 p.m.
Where: The Stage at Town Center, 1500 Central Ave., Palm Coast
Details: Jimmy Buffet cover band Landfall. There will be live music, food trucks, vendors, yard games, and beer and wine. Bring a chair.
SATURDAY, AUG. 2
ORMOND ART WALK When: 3-7 p.m.
Where: Ormond Beach MainStreet Arts District, 128 W. Granada Blvd.
Details: Learn the history of sweet corn in this cooking demonstration, presented by library staff. Free event.
TIMELESS GESTURES — A CELEBRATION OF THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
When: 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Where: Southeast Museum of Photography, second floor gallery, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach
Details: See the museum’s first live dance showcase, featuring original choreography by Aria Reiter and Luciano Olivieri, dance students at the New World School of the Arts
Details: The Casements Guild is presenting this event, featuring the story of the first woman to print the Declaration of Independence. Tickets cost $20 per person and include wine and light refreshments. Call 386-676-3216.
THURSDAY, JULY 31
SMALL BUSINESS
STARTUP TIPS
When: 11 a.m.
Where: Ormond Beach
Regional Public Library Details: Learn what it takes to open a small business in the area, presented by SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) of Volusia and Flagler Counties. Free event.
Details: Join Ocean Art Gallery, Frame of Mind, Art Spotlight, The Studio by Artist Angel Lowden, the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and more on the first Saturday of each month for art openings and art events.
ONGOING MEMORY MAKERS
QUILT GUILD
When: 9:30 a.m. to noon, first Wednesday each month Where: UF/IFAS Extension Flagler County Education Center, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell
Details: Join the Memory Makers Quilt Guild. All are welcome.
FOCUS ON FAITH
Tomoka United Methodist Church bids Pastor John Gill
farewell
On June 15, the Tomoka United Methodist congregation came together to bid farewell to Pastor John Gill.
On Facebook, the church stated, “We are so grateful for the years of love, leadership, and service he poured into this congregation. His impact will continue to ripple through our community for years to come.”
Gill moved to Ormond Beach in 2002 and was the pastor at Tomoka United Methodist until 2011. He then served at the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home for four years, helping children find foster care. Following his service there, Gill spent seven years serving in various places in Florida before returning home, where he again accepted the position of pastor over his Ormond Beach congregation in 2021.
“It has been a joy to serve this fine congregation — twice,” Gill said. “... I have loved all aspects of being pastor, but what I will miss most is not being a part of the Tomoka UMC family for the next year…we hope to reconnect with the Tomoka congregation family in a new role, as one of several ‘retired pastors’ available to support Tomoka’s wonderful new pastor, Rev. Katie Harrington.”
The community welcomed Harrington on July 6 with a
potluck luncheon.
“The advice I gave to the congregation as I was leaving was to love Katie and her family the same way they have loved me and my family,” Gill said.
Palm Coast UMC interns explore vocations through ministry
This summer, Palm Coast United Methodist Church welcomed two interns, Zahir Allen and Armon Flukers, to explore vocations through ministry internships.
The internship began on June 1 and will run through Aug. 1. For Allen, one of his most impactful components of his experience as an intern has been being involved with “Our Father’s Table,” a ministry dedicated to feeding homeless and food-insecure citizens, according to an article by the church.
“Interning at Palm Coast United Methodist Church has been an enriching and handson experience that continues to shape my understanding of ministry, service, and leadership within the church,” Allen said. “Every week brings new
opportunities to serve, grow, and connect with the community in meaningful ways.”
Allen is also involved with the music ministry.
“Each week, I contribute by either playing the piano or singing during Sunday worship,” he said.
Flukers is a recent graduate of Bethune-Cookman University.
“When I stepped into my internship at Palm Coast United Methodist Church, I didn’t just come as a college student looking to complete a requirement,” Flukers said. “I came as a worship leader, a servant, and someone deeply committed to exploring what it truly means to walk in God’s calling.”
Grand Haven Women’s Club donates to feeding ministry
Every Saturday, ladies from the Grand Haven Women’s Club get together and pack up the meals for Palm Coast United Methodist Church’s feeding ministry, “Our Father’s Table,” a program that gives food to those in need. The group also recently donated $2,000 to help fund the program.
“Our Feeding Ministry … continues to do amazing work in the community — with the help of all the dedicated volunteers who give of their time & talents to support this impactful ministry!” Palm Coast UMC posted on Facebook. Send faith-based stories to brian@observerlocalnews. com.
THE FINE ARTS
LIVE DANCE SHOWCASE
The Southeast Museum of Photography will present its first live dance showcase, titled “Timeless Gestures – A Celebration of the Visual and Performing Arts,” on Saturday, July 26, at 2 and 4 p.m. in the second-floor gallery.
The free public performance features original choreography by Aria Reiter and Luciano Olivieri, dance students at the New World School of the Arts in Miami. Their piece “Foundations,” explores the connective threads between the visual and performing arts, according to a press release, and the performers draw inspiration from the collaboration between photographer Barbara Morgan and dancer-choreographer Martha Graham.
Presented in conjunction with “Collected: Connecting Past, Present & Future Acquisitions,” the museum’s current main exhibition, Foundations serves as an interpretive study of Morgan and Graham’s artistic relationship.
“Timeless Gestures underscores the efficacy of Morgan and Graham’s partnership,” said Christina Katsolis, with the Southeast Museum of Photography. “Using contemporary dance as a creative framework, it broadens our audience’s understanding of the photographic record. Both mediums transcend boundaries, using visual storytelling to encapsulate the complexities of the human condition.”
For the eventbrite link, visit https:// southeastmuseumofphotography.org/ museum-events
Breakaway Trails beauty on nearly a half-acre! This 3BR/2BA home features an open floor plan, chef’s kitchen with gas range, quartz counters, SS appliances, & loft off the huge master. Enjoy privacy, trees, & garden space, plus community pool, pickleball, parks & trails—just minutes to town, schools & beach! #1212160 $500,000. Tom Caffrey 386-290-9233.
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Barbara Morgan, “Martha Graham, Letter to the World,” 1940. Gift of Lloyd Morgan. Courtesy photo
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REAL ESTATE
Ocean Hammock home sells for $2.6 million
Ahouse at 34 Ocean Ridge Blvd. S., in Ocean Hammock, was the top real estate transaction for July 5-11 in Flagler County. The house sold on July 9, for $2,575,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/3 and has 2 half baths, an elevator, an electric linear fireplace, a stone fireplace, an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor shower, a pool, a hot tub and 3,975 square feet. What follows is a sampling of other recent sales from Flagler County and Ormond Beach.
PALM COAST
Cypress Knoll
A house at 77 Edith Pope Drive, sold on July 11, for $385,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,337 square feet.
Grand Haven
A house at 129 Front Street, sold on July 9, for $1,452,500. Built in 2002, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool, a boat dock, a boat house and 3,267 square feet. It sold in 2011 for $940,000.
Hammock Dunes
A house at 12 Marbella Court, sold on July 9, for $700,000. Built in 1994, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, a fireplace and 2,093 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $440,000.
Palm Harbor
A house at 8 Cayuse Court, sold on July 11, for $899,900. Built in 1998, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a boat dock, a boat house, a hot tub and 3,190 square feet. It sold in 2024 for $875,000.
A house at 65 Foxhall Lane, sold on July 7, for $380,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,649 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $376,000.
Quail Hollow
A house at 16 Zoeller Court, sold on July 11, for $465,000. Built in 2001, the house is a 4/2 and has a pool and 2,019 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $445,000.
A house at 17 Kalanchoe Court, sold on July 9, for $359,900. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,860 square feet.
Seminole Woods
A house at 19 Utica Path, sold on July 11, for $266,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,451 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $175,500.
A house at 17 Undermount Path East, sold on July 7, for $365,000. Built in 1990, the house is a 4/3 and has a pool and 2,068 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $265,000.
ORMOND BEACH
A house on the Halifax River at 1010 John Anderson Drive was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea for the week of June 28 to July 4. The house sold on July 1, for $2.2 million. Built in 1983, the house is a 5/6.5 and has three fireplaces, a pool, a boat dock, a boat lift, a boat house and 8,960 square feet. It last sold in 1995 for $705,000.
Ann Rustin Estates
The house at 179 Ann Rustin Drive sold on June 30, for $600,000. Built in 1966, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,914 square feet. It last sold in 20021 for $435,000.
Archer’s Mill
The house at 331 Barebow Lane sold on June 30, for $354,990. Built in 2025, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,816 square feet.
on June 30, for $525,000. Built in 1981, the house is a 4/2.5 and has a fireplace and 2,797 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $360,000.
Tomoka Park The house at 55 Hummingbird Lane sold on June 30, for $463,000. Built in 1980, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a fireplace, a pool and 2,104 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $460,000.
Tymber Crossings The house at 12 Peruvian Lane sold on June 30, for $365,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,952 square feet. It last sold in 2010 for $183,000.
Village of Pine Run The house at 61 Village Drive sold on June 30, for $405,000. Built in 1980, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,9552 square feet.
ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA Oakview Estates The house at 13 Sunrise Ave. sold on July 1, for $535,000. Built in 1969, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,552 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $240,000.
Toby Tobin, of gotoby.com, and John Adams, of Adams, Cameron & Co. Realtors, contributed to this report
BACK TO B-CU
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Pat Brown is back in Wildcat territory as Bethune-Cookman University’s newly hired assistant football coach. The 37-year-old B-CU alumnus started the year as the Wildcats’ co-special teams coordinator and running backs coach.
Brown has roots in the area, as he was Seabreeze High School’s head football coach in 2019.
B-CU head coach Raymond Woodie Jr. hired Brown in January after a position opened up on the coaching staff.
Woodie met Brown in May 2024 when Brown spent two weeks in Daytona, as he was transitioning from coaching wide receivers at Valdosta State University, in Georgia, to Abilene Christian University, in Texas, where Brown was slotted as a running backs coach and the pro-
SIDELINES
Matanzas High School hires new boys lacrosse coach
Matanzas High School, in Palm Coast, announced on Facebook on July 15 that it had hired a
gram’s recruiting coordinator.
While in Daytona, Brown was able to speak with the student-athletes on B-CU’s campus.
“I let them (student-athletes) know that alumni in the area and out of the area, as well, are behind them and are supportive,” Brown said. “We see their progress. We’re not expecting things to change tomorrow, but I wanted to let them know that we’re encouraging them, and we are here as a support system for them.”
Brown’s attitude toward the students made an impression on Woodie.
In February 2023, Woodie was hired as the head coach at B-CU, taking over a program coming off of a two-year, 2-9 record. He has spent the past two seasons building a “winning culture” and focusing on player development. Last season, his team’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) increased 91 points, and the
new boys lacrosse coach: Dewey Schoenfelder.
Schoenfelder played two years of lacrosse at Howard Community College, in Maryland, and scored three points in the national championship game.
He then played at Division II University of Bridgeport, in Connecticut. As a senior, he scored 26 goals and contributed 25 assists.
“Please help us welcome him to the Pirate Nation!” the post states..
Flagler Palm Coast topples Matanzas in 7v7 Summer League
Bethune-Cookman University’s new assistant Pat Brown formerly coached at Seabreeze High.
GPA went from a 2.4 to 3.25. Out of 120 players, 19 made the President’s List with a 4.0 GPA.
Woodie said Brown possesses the two components that are necessary in creating a successful football program. He said when hiring a coach, he always looks for a family man and someone who demonstrates loyalty to him and his mission for the football program.
“The players that we teach and mold need positive role models to look up to and to talk to,” Woodie said. “They need to see the loyalty. Is he (Pat) following coach Woodie’s mission? If I leave, I know he’s going to be pushing the message that I have in place. He asks questions, he’s receptive to instruction and has no ego.”
After graduating from Rutgers University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics while playing football as a wide receiver, Brown
played a year in the Canadian Football league with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. During off season, he returned to B-CU to attain a Masters in Transformative Leadership and took on the role of graduate assistant coaching the Wildcat wide receivers.
“That was six months of the other side of being a collegiate coach,” Brown said. “Being in the meeting rooms with them and seeing how they evaluated players gave me insight to that set up and break down at 23 years old. I got a window into the coaching world at that point.”
From 2012-2013, Brown played professionally for the German Football League with the Hamburg Blue Devils. After his professional career, he returned to New Jersey where he began his foray into Pop Warner football. Brown said his primary motivation for coaching has always been to mentor young players.
“My coaches always said I was going to be a coach because I was in those leadership roles on the teams that I played,” he said. “Basketball — I was always a point guard and football, before I got into college, I was always a quarterback.”
Brown said the coaches that he grew up with in the youth league and in high school were always mentor ing their players. He said they galva nized whole communities and kept a lot of kids off the streets. He and his friends did not live in the worst neighborhoods, but Brown said he noticed how easy it was for players and students to get distracted and veer off course.
“I was looking at what the dif ference was,” he said. “I had a lot of positive male (role) models in my life — my dad, my grandfather, uncles, cousins, coaches. I had a true village, in that sense. The only difference was the male figures I had in my life and the male figures they didn’t have because we were in the same social background— went to the same high school, had similar family structures besides those positive male figures. I was just seeing that over and over again.”
“He’s (Pat Brown) a diamond in a rough. I just think that if he keeps progressing, keeps learning like he is, he’s going to go a long way. He has grit, he’s a hard worker, he’s caring and he’s loyal. He’s a family man, number one, and when you when you see that, it’s a lot that he brings to these student athletes. They see a really great father and great husband. He goes over and beyond the call of duty.”
Despite being shorthanded, the Flagler Palm Coast High School boys soccer team came from behind three times to tie Matanzas High School 4-4. That result gave the Bulldogs the 7v7 summer league title, according to the FPC Facebook post. “The boys have now won 3 of the last 4 7v7 leagues,” the post states.
FPC goalkeeper coach Paulo moves on In other FPC soccer news, goalkeeper coach Tanner Paulo has moved on and will no longer be coaching at the school. According to the July 12 Facebook post, Paulo “brought unmatched energy, passion, and expertise to FPC, helping mold our goalkeepers into fearless leaders and dependable last lines of defense. His dedication on and off the field, along with his genuine care for each player, made him a respected mentor and an
unforgettable part of our program.” The post continues: “In his two years at FPC both our men’s and women’s Varsity Goalkeepers were nationally ranked as well as both being selected as All Area Keepers. Both Programs saw a significant rise in clean sheets and saves from their respective keepers and Coach Tanner played a huge part in that.”
Dewey Schoenfelder
FPC soccer team. Courtesy photos
MICHELE MEYERS
Bethune-Cookman University assistant football coach Pat Brown gives some pointers to a receiver at the 7-on-7 camp on Friday, June 27. Photo by Michele Meyers
RAYMOND WOODIE JR., B-CU head football coach, on Pat Brown, who is pictured below
Your Neighbors, Your Bankers
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CRESSWIND DELAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026 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”) for the Cresswind DeLand Community Development District (“District”) will hold the following two public hearings and a regular meeting on August 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., 1230 Club Cresswind Way, DeLand, Florida 32724
The first public hearing is being held pursuant to Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, to receive public comment and objections on the District’s proposed budget (“Proposed Budget”) for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026 (“Fiscal Year 2025/2026”). The second public hearing is being held pursuant to Chapters 190, 197, and/ or 170, 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 Fiscal Year 2025/2026; to consider the adoption
SMALL MINOR SUBDIVISION, AS RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS BOOK 4035, PAGE 1651 THROUGH 1661, PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS THE FOLLOWS: THE EAST 87.50 FEET OF THE SOUTH 150.00 FEET OF LOT 5, BLOCK 16, MAP OF ORANGE
CITY AND VICINITY, COPIED FROM E.R. TRAFFORD’S SURVEY MADE MARCH 1877, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 1, PAGE 7, AS RECERTIFIED IN MAP BOOK 17, AT PAGE 1, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. Property Address: 451 E FRENCH AVENUE, ORANGE CITY, FL 32763
Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 45.031. IMPORTANT AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to access court facilities or participate in a court proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. To request such an accommodation, please contact Court Administration in advance of the date the service is needed: Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste D-305, Deland, FL 32724, (386) 257-6096. Hearing or voice impaired, please call 711. Dated this 21 day of July, 2025. By: \S\Danielle Salem Danielle Salem, Esquire Florida Bar No. 0058248 Communication Email: dsalem@raslg.com
ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33487 Telephone: 561-241-6901 Facsimile: 561-997-6909 Service Email: flmail@raslg.com 23-133323 - NaC July 24, 31, 2025 25-00343I
The Board of Supervisors (“Board”) of the Deering Park Stewardship District (“District”) will hold a
as
hearing and
August 12, 2025 TIME: 2:00 p.m. LOCATION: Storch Law Firm 420 S. Nova Road Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
The meeting will also be held by means of communications media technology as follows: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MmI5ZWNlMjktNTY5N y00ZDFjLWEwN2ItYTQ2ZWVjMTg0OGI3%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid% 22%3a%2294348502-fda0-4a80-8edb-52bd87fa537b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%225 0b37528-b730-4578-8935-dc90866a9569%22%7d Meeting ID: 221 087 084 094 Passcode: dr2YoW
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, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026 (“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, Wrathell, Hunt and Associates, LLC, at 2300 Glades Road, Suite 410W, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, Ph: (561) 571-0100 (“District Manager’s Office”), during normal business hours, or by visiting the District’s website at https:// deeringparkstewardship.com/.
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
FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF ACTIONCONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 11341 CICI CHASE HOME LENDING MORTGAGE TRUST 2023-RPL3, Plaintiff, vs. CHRISTOPHER SCOTT BRYAN, et. al. Defendant(s), TO: CHRISTOPHER SCOTT BRYAN, UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF CHRISTOPHER SCOTT BRYAN, whose residence is unknown and all parties having or claiming to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the mortgage being foreclosed herein. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following property: LOT 33 AND THE NORTHERLY 7.00 FEET OF THE WESTERLY 8.00 FEET OF LOT 32, BLOCK 2, ROOSEVELT PARK, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 11, PAGE(S) 125 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 Avenue, Suite 100, Boca Raton, Florida 33487 on or before AUG 18 2025 /(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
SECOND INSERTION
NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO: 2024-14024-PRDL IN RE: ESTATE OF CHARLENE STRAPP Deceased. The administration of the Estate of CHARLENE STRAPP, deceased, whose date of death was October 7, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 N. Alabama Avenue, DeLand, FL 32724. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below.
NAME OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE: SHALONDA ISSAC, ADDRESS: 1050 Palmer Road, Lithonia, Georgia 30058. RELATIONSHIP TO DECEDENT: DAUGHTER.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s Estate on whom a copy of this notice has been served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE TIME 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 SO FILED 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 the 17 day of July 2025.
Personal Representative: SHALONDA ISSAC 1050 Palmer Road Lithonia, Georgia 30058
Attorney for Personal Representative: JOHN A. GALLAGHER, ESQ. Florida Bar Number: 0592544
cash by electronic sale beginning at 11:00 a.m. on August 8, 2025 at: WWW.VOLUSIA. REALFORECLOSE.COM. the following described real property as set forth in said Summary Final Judgment, to wit: Lot 202, Block 13, Terra Mar Village Mobile
TARGET
