Ormond Beach Observer 10-23-25

NEWS BRIEFS

75-year-old man shoots himself in leg during FCSO firearms course

A retired law enforcement officer participating in a firearms qualification course hosted by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office sustained an accidental gunshot wound to the leg while holstering his firearm on Thursday, Oct. 16.

FCSO reported the 75-yearold man had his finger inside the trigger guard while holstering, causing the gun to fire a single round that went through his leg. On the scene at Flagler Gun & Archery Club, he was treated by deputies, who applied a tourniquet until Flagler County Fire Rescue arrived. Due to his age, the victim was transported via helicopter to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach for further treatment.

His injuries, FCSO states, are not believed to be lifethreatening.

COPS CORNER

— First block of South Yonge Street, Ormond Beach Fight. A 41-year-old Ormond Beach man was trespassed from a local gas station convenience store after an altercation over a cup of ice. The man told police that he frequents the store in the mornings to fill his personal cup with ice, and that the cashier usually working at that time allows this at no extra charge. That morning,

“While this is an unfortunate incident, because the range is in a remote part of Flagler County, our deputies overseeing the annual qualification are highly trained and carry trauma kits,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in the press release.

“Accidents can happen, but our deputies did exactly what they were trained to do to treat the victim’s injury until emergency medical services could arrive. We wish the retiree a full and quick recovery.”

FCSO stated that its Major Case Unit responded to the range and is investigating the incident. The agency will also conduct a separate internal review to ensure all safety measures were followed.

The victim was taking a firearms qualification course for the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, which allows qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms in any jurisdiction in the U.S., with some exceptions. It requires an annual qualification.

FCSO holds this course during the spring and fall of each year, and each retiree needs to bring the firearm they

however, there was a different cashier, and she told him he needed to pay 75 cents for the ice.

According to a police incident report, the man went outside to get his wallet and when he came back, the cashier had moved his cup behind the counter. When he asked for his cup, attempting to hand her a dollar, he said the cashier refused to give it back. Then, he asked her to dump the ice and just give him back the cup, but the cashier refused. The man went outside to call police, and when he came back inside, he went around the counter to try and get his cup. The cashier moved it away from him, placing it be-

plan to carry, ammunition, a holster, eye and ear protection. They also need to sign a release of liability and rules of the range to participate.

“We offer this course as a thank you to nearby retired law enforcement officers for their service,” Staly said.

Necropsy on Flagler K-9 shows he had congenital heart condition

A necropsy performed on Flagler County Sheriff’s Office K-9, Kyro, on Oct. 15 indicated in preliminary findings that Kyro had a congenital heart condition, according to an FCSO press release.

Kyro died the day before, on Tuesday, Oct. 14. He was 2 years old.

While Master Deputy Marcus Dawson, Kyro’s partner, was overseeing the training of a new K-9 team, Kyro was inside Dawson’s patrol vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with an air conditioner and heat alarm that transmits a distress signal to the K-9 handler should a mechanical issue occur.

hind her body, and as he was reaching around her, three men entered the store and pulled him away. One of the men struck him in the face. The men told police they heard the cashier calling for help and spotted the man behind the counter. Thinking that a crime was taking place, the men got involved.

The cashier told police she refused to give the cup to the man until he paid for the ice, stating the man had been arguing about the price. She asked that he be trespassed.

OCT. 17

SHOT FIRED 9:38 a.m. — 800 block of Airport Road, Ormond Beach Person shot. Police officers

During a scheduled break, Dawson returned to his vehicle and found Kyro unresponsive. All K-9 and vehicle protective systems were on and functioning at the time, the FCSO said in a press release.

Dawson immediately drove to an emergency veterinary clinic, where staff performed lifesaving efforts.

“Unfortunately, despite their exhaustive efforts, Kyro succumbed to an unknown medical issue,” the FCSO said before the necropsy was performed.

“There’s a saying that ‘all dogs go to heaven,’ and Master Deputy Dawson did

responded to a call about a person shot after a 38-yearold Deltona man accidentally fired his gun while retrieving it from his waistband.

According to a police incident report, the man was found lying on the grass on the side of the road by his friend’s pickup truck. Deputies who arrived on the scene first applied a tourniquet to his right leg, and the man was transported to the hospital as a trauma alert.

Officers went to the hospital to speak with the man, who said he fired a round into his right testicle while removing the gun from his waistband. He pulled the bullet out himself, the report states.

everything he could to save his beloved partner,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “But sadly, just like humans, our fourlegged partners can also have undiagnosed medical conditions. I guess God needs a well-trained and beautiful K-9 in heaven. I continue to ask everyone to keep Master Deputy Dawson and our team in your thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.” Kyro, a German Shepherd, was born on Dec. 13, 2022. He joined the agency in August 2024 and was trained as a dual-purpose K-9 in both patrol and narcotics detection. He aided in arresting 37 subjects, helped in the detection and seizure of 65 grams of illegal narcotics and located 25 items of drug paraphernalia.

Employee at Palm Coast Popeyes arrested in credit card scheme

A second suspect and employee from the Palm Coast Popeyes has been arrested in an “organized scheme” to fraudulently charge customer credit cards, according to

OCT. 17 NO OCCUPANCY

5 p.m. – 1200 block of South Ocean Shore Boulevard, Flagler County Utility theft. A transient Flagler Beach man was arrested after he was found to be living in a motel that is not open for business.

The motel owner said he spotted the suspect on the motel’s surveillance cameras entering and leaving several of the rooms.

The officer went to the room and found the bed had been slept in and there was trash around the room.

the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Shaunta Johnson, 42, of Palm Coast was arrested on Oct. 15 following a sevenmonth fraud investigation by the FCSO General Assignment Unit. Johnson and her coworker and friend, Chaniqua Richberg, 49, of Palm Coast, made fraudulent charges to customer credit cards while working at the Popeyes drive-thru, according to a FCSO press release. Richberg was arrested in April. Johnson orchestrated the scheme to make commissary payments to her boyfriend, who is an inmate in the Apalachee Correctional Institution in Sneads, Florida, the press release said. She was arrested on multiple felony charges including fraudulent use of a credit card, unlawful use of a communication devise, and unlawful use of personal ID information. Sheriff Rick Staly said it was thanks to the cooperation of the new owners of the Popeyes that the FCSO was able to “put the missing pieces together and arrest the mastermind in this case, in addition to her associate.”

OCT. 19

SUPER SPEEDER

Another officer later on found the man at a public bench drinking beer. When confronted, the suspect admitted to staying in the room and showering for a few days. He was arrested.

9:19 a.m. – Mile marker 293 on southbound Interstate 95, Flagler County Dangerous excessive speed of 100+ mph. A Jacksonville man was arrested on Oct. 19 after he was caught going 117 mph on Interstate 95. The deputy immediately activated his emergency lights and followed the Camaro which pulled over at the 293 southbound exit. The driver, a 30-year-old man with a temporary Florida driver’s license, is now facing a misdemeanor “super speeder” charge.

Flagler Master Deputy Marcus Dawson with his K-9 partner, Kyro. Courtesy photo

No to kings, yes to peace

Beach

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“No Kings” protesters gathered on the steps and sidewalks in front of the Daytona Beach City Hall on Saturday, Oct. 18. Close to 4,000 attendees carried signs and chanted epithets promoting democracy and rallying against President Donald Trump’s executive orders and policies issued by his administration.

Daytona Beach organizer

In Palm Coast, the rally at the intersection of Old Kings Road was one of three in Flagler County and over 2,000 nationwide on Oct. 18.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Hundreds participated in the “No Kings” rally at Palm Coast Parkway east of Old Kings Road. They waved signs and American flags as car zoomed by, some honking their horns in approval.

The rally was one of three in Flagler County on Saturday, Oct. 18. According to a nokings.org press release, nearly 7 million people attended more than 2,700 rallies in all 50 states protesting the direction of the country under the Trump administration.

Across Palm Coast Parkway, at a much smaller counterprotest, people also waved American flags as well as Trump 2024 election banners.

The first Flagler County “No Kings” rally of the day was held at A1A and State

Kelly Czajkowski said that, prior to event, they installed a safety team and implemented a safety plan in order to ensure that the protest remained peaceful. She said it worked well when 12 members of the Proud Boys, a far-right organization, arrived across the street from City Hall. Five of them moved to the median to heckle the protesters.

“We are a peaceful group and we keep each other safe,” Czajkowski said. “We don’t engage and seek to deescalate tense situations.”

Seabreeze High School senior Jerry Smith said he went to the protest because he does not agree with everything that is happening with the government. He said he cannot agree with the administration’s approach in Gaza, nor “Alligator Alcatraz,” the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades.

“I understand, first and foremost, that we’re a nation of laws and not men,” he said.

“The person who is in office right now is doing a lot of things to supersede everything that we hold dear in this country, like the democratic process and the rights and protections and freedoms that we enjoy as Americans and just as humans in general. I will not sit idly by while they usurp everything we hold dear in this country.”

Ormond Beach did not have a “No Kings” protest in June this year, so Suzanne McCarthy opted to attend one in Daytona Beach. In September, she learned the No Kings

organization was orchestrating another nationwide protest. She jumped at the opportunity and organized one in Ormond, recruiting her friend Melissa Guinta to help.

Approximately 500 protesters congregated at the corners of the West Granada Boulevard and Beach Street intersection in Ormond Beach. McCarthy was pleased with the turnout.

“The main reason is to come out with our friends and neighbors and nonviolently protest,” she said. “There are no kings, there are no crowns, and there are no thrones, and that’s what we’re out here for today.”

Czajkowski encouraged everyone to use the protest as momentum to do more — call your elected representatives, write opinion pieces, get involved, help your community and check on your neighbors, she said.

“Make sure your voter’s registration is accurate and vote in every election,” she said. “Your vote is private. Use your voice — it matters.”

Road 100 in Flagler Beach at 10 a.m. Before the 11 a.m. scheduled start of the Palm Coast Parkway rally, a large crowd had already gathered on the median and on both the north and south sidewalks. At the same time, another rally was held near the Target store on S.R. 100. Cindy Fox, one of the organizers, said about 1,000 people, three rows deep, participated in the rally along SR 100 in front of the Target parking lot with an estimate of about 500 at Palm Coast Parkway and 150-200 in Flagler Beach. Fox said there were a few heated exchanges.

“There were a few nailbiters. You have people on both sides who are opinionated,” she said.

Young and old participated in the Palm Coast Parkway rally. A teenager held up a sign that read, “If Trump gets to be King George III, then I’m going to be Hamilton.” Jean Yearick, who will be 90 next month, held up an American flag in her right hand and a “No King” sign in her left. She said she was participating because, “The world depends on us.”

Jean Stover said she is a grandmother who wants a better country for her grandchildren. Her husband served in the Navy. William Beaman, a Vietnam veteran, held up a

double sign that read, “We

The People Serve No King.” Raul Jimenez served in the Air Force for 25 years. He said he also participated in the “No Kings” rally in June, but this one was much larger. “I just feel like we’re headed in the wrong direction with this administration. He’s trying to control everything,” Jimenez said of the president. “We need to get back in the middle.” Fatima DaSilva wore a cape that said, “Only Queens,” with

the “No Kings” logo of an X drawn over a crown. Chris, who attended with his sister, his niece and friends, said, “This is what democracy looks like. It’s not about left or right. I think we’re having increasing tyranny in this country, and I’m standing up against it.”

Some other signs read, “Hate doesn’t make America great,” “When cruelty is normal, compassion looks radical,” and “Make Orwell fiction again.”

Jeff

to

in

Some protesters dressed in costumes. A man dressed in a dinosaur suit held up a sign that read, “Don’t let democracy go extinct,” and later exchanged it for another that read, “Leave fossils in the museums, not in the White House.”

Mullinax parked

the Island Walk Shopping Plaza next

the Palm Coast Parkway rally. He had several signs on a pole that was fitted with wheels. He put on a Bigfoot outfit over his clothes and walked to the rally.

Protesters at the “No Kings” rally at Palm Coast Parkway east of Old Kings Road. Photos by Brent Woronoff

MICHELE MEYERS

Ormond

holds first ‘No Kings’ protest while thousands rally in Daytona Beach

Thousands carry signage and dress in costumes.

Ron Murchinson-Rivera (left) said the “No Kings” protests made an impact.

Caren Griffin and Dayna West share their signs at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in Ormond Beach.

Alice Jaeger is the self-proclaimed town crier and said she is spreading the word about democracy at the “No Kings” protest in Daytona Beach.

Chris, Ari, Michelle, Amy, Marteen Dinzes and Lily kneeling at the “No Kings” r4ally in the median on Palm Coast Parkway east of Old Kings Road. Photos by Brent Woronoff.

Fatima DaSilva at the “No Kings” rally on Palm Coast Parkway.

William Beaman, a Vietnam Veteran, protests at the “No Kings” rally on Palm Coast Parkway.

Protesters at the “No Kings” rally at Palm Coast Parkway east of Old Kings Road.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students joined the “No Kings” protest in Daytona Beach.

Arts District to bring new sculptures

The City Commission approved the placement of 12 new sculptures in the downtown next year.

JARLEENE

ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

New sculptures will soon grace Ormond Beach’s downtown. The Ormond Beach City Commission approved a request by the Ormond Beach Arts District on Tuesday, Oct. 21, to allow another Seward Johnson sculpture tour. The tour, which will consist of 12 statues, is tentatively scheduled to be in place from Jan. 15. 2026, to June 15, 2026. The city will sponsor two of the sculptures, at a cost of $8,000, to be funded by the CRA.

In November 2024, the Ormond Beach Arts District installed 13 of the late American artist’s bronze statues around town. The sculptures remained in place until May 2025.

“The sculptures were wildly successful,” said Judy Stein, vice president of the Ormond Beach Arts District. “We drew thousands of residents and visitors to the area to see the sculptures.” Stein added that the tour garnered significant media and online attention. She read some of the feedback from visitors, which included remarks stating they fostered a sense of community and highlighted the benefits of public art.

While the vote was unanimous, Commissioner Travis Sargent said the city should look at alternative funding sources for the sculpture tour in the future. Mayor Jason Leslie and Commissioner

Kristin Deaton agreed.

In addition to the city’s sponsorship, the Ormond Beach Arts District raised $41,000 from private sponsors to bring another tour to town. The sculptures will all be different from last year’s tour. Commissioner Harold Briley said the sculpture tour is an example of the type of initiative that brings people to town.

“It brings awareness,” he said. “It brought awareness to Ormond Beach. We were featured on the local news with the statues. Not only does it bring awareness to Ormond Beach, it brings activity to our downtown.”

Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland said this was a “perfect example of public-private partnerships.”

SCULPTURE LOCATIONS:

„ Seacoast Bank, 175 W. Granada Blvd.

„ 70 W. Granada Blvd.

„ Main Street Park, 34 W. Granada Blvd.

„ Bailey Riverbridge Gardens, 1 N. Beach St.

„ Cassen Park, 1 S. Beach St.

„ Fortunato Park, 2 John Anderson Drive

„ Rockefeller Gardens, 26 Riverside Drive

„ The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive

„ Ormond Memorial Arts Museum and Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd.

„ Granada Plaza, 145 E. Granada Blvd. (three sculptures)

“I think that’s how you encourage your residents to live — when they have a little bit of ownership, it’s a lot more meaningful,” she said. Email jarleene@observer localnews.com.

No taxpayer dollars for the arts

Grant funds still withheld after County Council split vote.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

The Volusia County Council is refusing to budge: Over $611,000 in previously slated grant funding for arts and culture will not be released to local organizations.

The arts community asked the council on Tuesday, Oct. 21, to reconsider its decision to withhold $611,758 in community cultural grants for 33 organizations. Councilman

Danny Robins had pulled the grant awards from the council’s Oct. 7 consent agenda, citing concerns over LGBTQ+ events and drag shows held at DeLand’s Athens Theatre and Lake Helen’s Shoestring Theatre. The events singled out by Robins were put on by Volusia Pride, a third-party organization that rented the theaters.

Both theaters withdrew their applications for grant funding in hopes the council would fund the remaining 31 organizations, which include the Ormond Beach Historical Society, the Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Playhouse, African American Museum of the Arts and the Civic Ballet of Volusia County. With the theaters out of the picture, the grant allocation decreased to $571,926.

But the majority of the council said that they needed to focus on fiscal responsibility, and that funding needs such as roads and transportation is more important.

“I have some stormwater issues that need to be addressed,” Robins said. “In roads, I have some bridges ... that are literally costing my local businesses and residents. It’s not only time, fuel and maintenance, all that stuff, but it’s costing some of these businesses a lot of money.”

A motion to approve funding for the remaining 31 organizations failed 4-3, with only Councilmen Matt Reinhart, Jake Johansson and David Santiago voting in favor.

IS AN INVESTMENT

ARTS

arts is an investment, she said, saying the arts generate $1.99 for every $1 spent on the grant.

“We’re not asking for free handouts,” Vintson said.

“We’re using that investment to provide free and reduced programming to underserved and Volusia County residents.”

ArtHaus was recommended by the Volusia County Cultural Council to receive $31,471 in funds, which Vintson said help with 217 scholarships for kids; these are used for camps, child care and arts education.

The council wanted arts organizations to be more selfsustaining, and that was a direction they took seriously, said Craig Uppercue, president of VCCA.

“It is therefore deeply concerning that hosting certain community groups was used as a justification to withhold this year’s already allocated fund,” he said.

‘A CHILLING EFFECT’

Volusia Pride President AnnMarie Willacker also spoke at the meeting, saying she watched as the council “weaponized” their organization against the Volusia arts community at the Oct. 7 meeting.

“You pander to us when you wanted our votes and then you turned around and used us as pawns in your manufactured culture war,” Willacker said.

“Arts funding is not about giving public money to private business. Arts funding is about upholding freedom of expression, fostering creativity in our youth and investing in the economic vitality of our county through tourism, cultural growth and community identity.”

The councilmen used their position to create “a chilling effect that has made other businesses and organizations given the opportunity to think twice about doing business” with Volusia Pride, said Vice President Heather McLean.

door recreation uses.

“If you want to set aside funding for a particular purpose, you’re free to do so through your budgetary process,” County Attorney Mike Dyer said. “You do not have to have a referendum.” Dempsey said he wanted to get the cultural grant dollars out of the general fund, but Dyer pointed out that ECHO and Volusia Forever are both part of the general fund.

“I’m not opposed to the ECHO portion of our tax dollar being used to maybe help them out, because that seems like that was the will of the voters with ECHO,” Dempsey said. “But I would never want to take anything out of the general fund for the arts, because I don’t think that’s a government purpose, but as long as that goes in place, I think it’s fair that maybe these people should have a shot of putting in for some of that money.”

County Manager George Reckenwald said this year’s millage has already been decided for ECHO, so they cannot change that at this point.

“You’re very limited this year because you’ve already voted on the budget,” he said. Santiago said he would be in favor of revisiting the conversation on using ECHO funds — but for next fiscal year. Since he led the charge on changing the cultural grant funding program, Santiago thought it was wrong for the council to adopt the changes and then walk away from it all eight months later.

“I didn’t give my word on the longevity of the program, but people went through the process for this year and all of us voted for the budget,” Santiago said.

Robins asked how many organizations applying for the grant hosted fundraisers.

A Volusia County Cultural Alliance petition for the council to restore the grant funds, which account for 0.04% of the county’s $1.4 billion budget, has been signed by more than 2,300 residents, said ArtHaus Executive Director Cameron Vintson.

Vintson, who is the vice president of the VCCA and sits on the Volusia County ECHO Gallery Advisory Committee, said the organizations all worked to meet the shortened deadline for the 2025-2026 grant program when the council changed it earlier this year. Funding the

“You grilled representatives from the Athens and Shoestring Theater about their work with Volusia Pride as if it were a crime rather than a business transaction or a community event,” McLean said. “And, you even insinuated that they should think about refusing to work with us, which would be a violation of a current anti-discrimination law.”

None of the councilmen, addressed the LGBTQ+ community or Pride events as they discussed continuing to withhold the grant funding.

WHAT ABOUT ECHO?

Could ECHO provide funding for cultural arts programs?

That’s what Councilman Don Dempsey asked county staff. They explained that the county’s voter-approved ECHO program was written on the ballot to cover capital projects for environmental, cultural, historical and out-

“All of them,” said Tim Baylie, county director of parks and recreation. “Every year, they fundraise, try to get additional funding through other state grants and other entities.”

“One of my colleagues said one or two of them didn’t have any fundraising dollars come in,” Robins replied. “That’s why I’m asking. I’m trying to work something here, but I... That’s it.”

Council Chair Jeff Brower said he hates being “the bad guy,” because he does love the arts.

“This whole thing is more of a philosophical, principled argument,” Brower said. “Somebody said, ‘We’re not a charity.’ And I understand where she’s coming from, but a nonprofit is by definition a charitable organization that you can give money to and then take a tax deduction for it ... I don’t feel comfortable doing that when we have people that are flooded out.”

“Can We Dance Here, Mommy?” Seward Johnson, bronze. This sculpture will be placed at The Casements. Courtesy photo

Volusia teachers demand 4% pay increase

Union holds rally. District offered a 1.5% increase.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

EDITOR

MANAGING

As a union steward for Volusia United Educators, Mainland High School teacher Susan Holbrook asked her colleagues: If you could say one thing to the School Board and the superintendent, what would you say? Their responses? One teacher sells plasma to pay her bills. Another said she wished she could sell plasma to buy her groceries, but can’t due to the cancer treatments. Then there was a statement by a teacher who lives with three roommates to make rent, and another by a teacher who has to work five jobs to make ends meet.

“As teachers, we live near poverty, while expected to give, give, give,” a teacher’s statement said, as read by Holbrook. “Enough. I want to feel valued.” Holbrook read these responses while speaking before the Volusia County School Board on Oct. 14, a meeting during which VUE representatives and educators rallied to advocate for better pay as bargaining with the district has come to an impasse.

According to VUE, bargaining began on Sept. 2 with a $13.8 million salary package proposal that included a 4% cost-of-living increase for all, with other supplements. The district responded with a $3.9 million package that included a 1.5% cost-of-living increase.

On Oct. 8, the district also proposed a redistribution of $17.6 million in salary enhancements for factors such as advanced degrees.

In the district’s final proposal, 90.7% of instructional staff would receive over 3% in monetary increase.

VUE is focused on the 1.5% costof-living increase.

“Our instructional personnel are worth far more than 1.5% for the work they do to increase student achievement,” VUE President Elizabeth Albert said at the School Board meeting. “You can do better. Prioritize your people, invest in those doing the work and restore the dignity to the employees who make our public schools the best place to educate the children of Volusia County.”

According to the National Education Association, Florida ranks 50th in the nation for teacher pay. The current base salary offered by VCS — $49,201 – is not competitive with surrounding districts, Albert said, trailing behind others in the Central Florida area by $5,000 to $6,000.

The district states its average base salary is $52,612.

“Your employees are working harder than ever, yet they are struggling to make ends meet,” Albert said. “Wages are low. Respect feels conditional, and the people that make VCS an A-rated district are reaching their breaking point.”

In addition to speaking before the board, VUE also held a demonstration outside of the VCS District Administration Complex prior to the meeting. In a rare instance of solidarity, they were joined by the Moms for Liberty Volusia Chapter after Albert received a letter from School Board attorney Gilbert Evans. The letter informed VUE that there would be a designated area for its demonstration and asked that VUE members refrain from using megaphones, loudspeakers or “any other noise enhancing devices” due to the building’s proximity to neighborhoods. The letter concluded by thanking VUE for adhering to these “restrictions.”

Moms For Liberty Volusia Chapter Chair Jenifer Kelly said this was a violation of the teacher’s union’s First Amendment rights.

Ops Center to be renamed after Flagler Sheriff Staly

Recognizing 50 years of law enforcement service.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office will be renamed after Sheriff Rick Staly to honor his 50 years of service in law enforcement.

At the request of FCSO Chief of Staff Mark Strobridge, the Flagler County Commission unanimously voted to rename the operations center after Staly at the Oct. 6 meeting.

“This is a taxpayer-funded building,” Kelly said. “Your salaries ... are all taxpayer funded. We have every right to stand out in front of this building.”

Earlier in the meeting, after a VUE member hurled a derogatory phrase to the board as he left the chamber, Chair Jamie Haynes said during the pause in public comments that the board was not trying to take anyone’s First Amendment rights away.

“Your First Amendment right is you filling out a card and us listening to you speak for three minutes,” she said. “No one’s taken this away from you tonight. We never have.”

After listening to the educators at the meeting, School Board member Donna Brosemer said she was angry and embarrassed by what she heard.

“District leadership knows what I thought of 1.5 (percent) from the beginning,” she said, adding that the board had been celebrating Homes Bring Hope — a nonprofit that recently helped six VCS employees become homeowners — while “completely ignoring the fact that there’s no number of plaques and certificates or photo ops or challenge coins that we can give to any teacher that helps them pay their bills.”

“What I heard tonight was horrifying,” Brosemer said. “So I hope that we all take this to heart and do more than just be dignified in ignoring it.”

The Flagler County Commission approved the renaming in a 5-0 vote at the Oct. 20 meeting.

Strobridge told the Observer he could not think of anyone better to rename the facility after.

“From the time that we moved out of 901 E. Moody Blvd. to now, the sheriff was the catalyst,” Strobridge said.

The FCSO Operations Center, located at 61 Sheriff EW Johnston Drive, opened in 2022.

When the idea was initially brought up at the Oct. 6 commission meeting, Commissioner Greg Hansen suggested the renaming should be for Staly’s retirement. Chair Andy Dance said on Oct. 20 that his interpretation of the ordinance is that it is for those “not currently serving,” but said the policy isn’t clear.

“I don’t see any reason not to support my fellow commissioners on this,” Dance said.

The policy does not expressly state that an individual needs to be retired; it states that naming should be a “rare event” in which the recognized individual has made “exceptional contributions” to the county, such as financial gifts, public service as an elected official, public service as a community volunteer or long-term sponsorship agreements.

The resolution recognizes Staly’s work reducing crime in Flagler County by 50% since 2017, the implementation of an inmate addiction treatment program and a mul-

titude of awards, accreditations and agency recognizations.

It also recognizes the awards Staly has personally received: the Medal of Valor, the Purple Heart Medal, the Florida Governor’s Medal of Heroism and the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Several residents supported renaming the ops center after Staly.

“I really think we should honor people that serve like he [Staly] does and lead like he does while they’re still here to enjoy our accolades,” resident Steve Campfield said.

Jessica Durrance, speaking on behalf of the Durrance family in Bunnell, said they opposed the renaming and requested the building instead be named after FCSO Deputy George Walter “Son” Durrance.

Durrance was killed while part of a search for former FCSO Sheriff Perry Hall’s killer in August 1927, with both Durrance and Hall dying within three days of each other, according to the FCSO’s website. The jail was named the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility in Hall’s honor.

Jessica Durrance said that while Staly’s contributions are commendable, Durrance’s name alongside Hall’s would “provide a richer, more meaningful” tribute.

Dance said the county did not suggest the item – it was brought to them through a process, and he suggested the Durrance family look into and propose a suitable place to name after Durrance.

Strobridge told the Observer that the FCSO has a memorial in the Operations Center has dedicated several rooms to its fallen officers. The training room was dedicated to Durrance, he said.

The FCSO takes honoring its officers very seriously, Strobridge said.

“Every one of our folks has got to remember the stories of sacrifice from Perry Hall, from Sun Durrance, from Homer Brooks, from Frankie Celico, Chuck Sease to Paul Luciano,” he said. “Those names are inscribed in all of our hearts.”

VUE protests outside of the Volusia County Schools District Administration Complex on Oct. 14. Photo courtesy of VUE/Facebook

Moms for Liberty Volusia chapter chair

Jenifer Kelly and Volusia United Educators President Elizabeth Albert.

One seawall crumbles, others bare

Storms cause millions in damage in both Flagler County and Ormond Beach. FDOT is replacing the sand.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Sid Patel, owner of the Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort, said it could cost at minimum around $3 million to $4 million to repair or replace the campground’s seawall.

“I think it’s beyond repair,” Patel said. “I think I’ll have to replace the whole thing.”

After continuous erosion from recent storms and king tides, the seawall, which is over 40 years old and around 1,000 feet long, began falling apart during the week of Oct. 14. No one was injured at the time, but the beachside campground sites are closed until the repairs are complete.

Patel said his separate business, Toral Park, located directly across from the Camptown on the west side of S.R. A1A, will remain open. He’ll essentially be operating at two-thirds capacity, he said.

Patel’s seawall was not the only one that was damaged in the recent storms. A seawall under construction by the

Florida Department of Transportation has had most of its sand washed away over the course of the recent storms.

The FDOT is been working on constructing two buried seawalls in Flagler Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea since early 2024. The north wall is located north of Highbridge Road in Volusia County to South Central Avenue in Flagler Beach while the southern seawall project is in Ormondby-the-Sea, from Sunrise Avenue to Marlin Drive.

In a September press release, the FDOT announced that the work on the seawalls was completed, excepting a few areas with turtle nests, some dune walkover construction and landscaping.

The projects were set to finish entirely by early 2026.

FDOT Public Information Officer Matthew Richardson said in a phone interview with the Observer that the seawall is not damaged, despite the sand being washed away.

“The seawall is doing exacly

“The seawall is doing exacly what it needed to do, which is preventing washouts on A1A.”

MATTHEW RICHARDSON, FDOT, on the

what it needed to do, which is preventing washouts on A1A,” he said.

FDOT will continue finishing the work on the buried seawall, Richardson said, and will be replacing the sand that has washed away. Once the new sand is in place, it will receive landscaping that will help ground the dunes and keep them from washing away as easily.

The FDOT does not have a timeline at this stage, he said, but crews were on site last week beginning the work.

In a letter, Flagler County reminded Patel that he is responsible for debris removal, repairs, permit compliance and pollution prevention.

Patel said he is working with a Daytona Beach engineer who is familiar with seawall construction and has reached out to a New England company as well to possibly contract for the construction.

He said he is still working to get an emergency repair permit to begin the work.

Despite the great expense, Patel said he is considering upgrading the seawall to newer technology instead of cement. The cost is nearly double, he said, but would result in a stronger wall.

“I have to fix or replace it,” Patel said. “Whatever the permit becomes.”

171,000-square-foot store on

‘My one concern about this project is the traffic that it will create,’ Pontieri said. ‘We already know this is a severe pain point.’

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A 171,000-square-foot retail store is being planned for the vacant lot west of BJ’s Wholesale Club on State Road 100, in Palm Coast.

The lot is owned by Flagler Pines Properties LLC, which is currently applying to have the 38.8-acre property annexed into Palm Coast. In a presentation to the Palm Coast City Council on Oct. 21, applicant representative Jay Livingston did not say what store is planned for the space but described it as retail as a “big box, discount superstore.”

According to a tentative site plan, the lot will have 852 parking spaces and 45 pickup spaces for the main building. A second, smaller, 55,000-square-foot building adjacent to the main store would have 121 spaces. Outlines of a stormwater pond and a 1.94-acre section with a gas station are also included on the site plan.

“My one concern about this project is the traffic that it will create,” Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri said. “We already know this is a severe pain point.”

When development was previously proposed on the lot at the county level, the developer was planning to create a mixed commercial and residential area similar to the Promenade in Town Center, former Flagler County commissioner and current City Councilman Dave Sullivan said.

In February, the developer

NEWS BRIEFS

Flagler jail receives National Innovation Award

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility has been awarded the 2025 Detention Facility Innovation Award by the National Institute for Jail Operations. Sheriff Rick Staly and Court and Detention Services Chief Dan Engert accepted the award on Oct. 15 during the JAILCON25 Southern Regional Conference in Alabama. This is the second time the Sheriff Perry Hall facility has been given the award. The

PALM COAST

scrapped those plans and presented an annexation application to Palm Coast. At the time, the council approved the annexation’s first reading but asked the developer to return with more details about the proposed development before the annexation’s second reading.

Now the developer is requesting the site be designated Palm Coast’s mixed-use Future Land Use and given a general commercial zoning designation. City Engineer Jose Papa said, combined with the zoning change, this removes the potential residential use for the developer.

While this unnamed retail store potentially adds another commercial business to Palm Coast’s repertoire, the council was leery of how the traffic generated by such a development would impact the already congested S.R. 100.

“If this council does not look out for the safety of 100 and the traffic of 100,” Pontieri said, “we are going to be in even more dire straits than we are now. It’s incumbent upon us to be mindful of what we allow on 100 right now because of the traffic and public safety.”

Ultimately, the council approved the application unanimously, but not without a thorough discussion of the potential impact to S.R. 100. There are serious concerns about how much more S.R. 100 can take. According to a traffic analysis submitted by the applicant, based on the

maximum allowed development on the site for Palm Coast’s mixed-use designation – over 929,000 square feet of general retail, more than five times what is being proposed – the site could generate a maximum of 3,161 peak hour trips.

To mitigate the impact on S.R. 100, the developer is already planning on adding three, 300foot right turn lanes.

“Essentially, put in a second, third lane on the south side to pull as much traffic off,” he said. “That’s the best we can do until FDOT approves the six-laning [of S.R. 100].”

The Florida Department of Transportation was planning on six-laning S.R. 100 in the early 2000s, Livingston said, but that has fallen off FDOT’s radar.

“The analysis indicates potential roadway deficiencies that may occur due to the potential increase in traffic associated with the proposed amendment,” the staff report reads.

Typically traffic impact and trip generation issues are handled during the site plan review, but Pontieri said she felt that would be too late to address the potential problems. She asked the developer and staff to return to the Nov. 4 meeting with more ideas to help mitigate the impact.

“My concern is how we’re going to account for concurrency now, not when this comes back to site plan,” she said.

first time was in 2022 for its implementation of the Successful Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Treatment program and the Homeward Bound Initiative. In the three years since, both programs have been expanded.

The Flagler County Commission recognized Medical As-

The Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort’s seawall failed after recent storms. Courtesy photo

Caylie Ardon and Lauren Ramirez, with Flagler County’s proclamation honoring Medical Assistant Recognition Week. Courtesy photo

Biketoberfest poker run raises money for Daytona Dog Beach nonprofit

The inaugural Ruff Rock & Roll Poker Run raised money to promote dog-friendly beaches in Volusia.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A local Biketober Fest event combined bikers’ love to ride with a charity fundraiser for dog-friendly beaches.

On Oct. 16, the inaugural Ruff, Rock & Roll Poker Run raised funds for Daytona Dog Beach Inc., a local nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and promot -

ing year-round dog-friendly beaches in Volusia County. Daytona Dog Beach was the driving force behind Ormond

Beach’s now permanent dog beach and the recent approval of a dog beach for Daytona.

Daytona Dog Beach Inc.

President Nanette Petrella said they are still putting together the total amount raised.

“We definitely made more than I anticipated,” she said. “I mean, it’s in the thousands.”

Around 70 bikers participated in the fundraiser, she said, and with the volunteers, there were around 90 people at the after party event. Riders collected poker hands at each stop or could draw all their hands at once if they were short on time. There were raffle prizes, live music and more.

The Poker Run started at the Hard Rock Hotel in Daytona Beach before riders cruised along a pre-planned route to Oceanside Beach Bar & Grill, Ormond Garage, Caribbean Jack’s, The Cabbage Patch in Samsula, Tiki Docks River Bar & Grill and Racing’s North Turn before returning to the Hard Rock for the after party and prizes.

The nonprofit has had a “run” of success in 2025. In April, the Volusia County Council voted 5-0 to make a pilot dog-friendly beach program in Ormond Beach per-

manent. The pilot program began in November 2023 to allow dogs on a 0.6-mile stretch of beach in Ormond between Milsap Road and Rockefeller Drive.

On Oct. 7, the council approved in a 6-0 vote to move forward with amending a county ordinance to allow a second dog-friendly beach location in Daytona. This 1.7mile section of beach will be located from Williams Boulevard to the Seabreeze Boulevard approach.

Both beaches will have leash requirements for dogs on the beach, and there is not an opening date yet for the Daytona location, as the council still needs to change the ordinance.

Daytona Dog Beach Inc. has helped educate and promote interest in the dog beaches, but, Petrella said, many businesses have become more dog-friendly over the last two years the Ormond dog beach has been open. Many in the area of the future Daytona dog beach are already dogfriendly, but even a few businesses that are not have been supportive.

During the October Volusia County Council presentation, Daytona Dog Beach had endorsement letters from the

Ormond Beach and Daytona Regional Chambers of Commerce, from a realtors association and from the Hard Rock Hotel.

“Getting that endorsement, that they see the benefit to what this could mean for the area, for our residents, for our businesses, for our tourists,” Petrella said, “to me, that’s really proof of what we felt all along. This was a positive thing.”

Since the October approval, Petrella said she has had many people reach out to be volunteers for the future Daytona dog beach. Daytona Dog Beach Inc. will pay for the startup costs like dog bag dispensers, dog bags, cleaning utensils for volunteers, signage and more.

The volunteers will be out on the beach daily to clean up and remove dog excrement left on the beach. But if the Ormond location is any indication, there may not be much for volunteers to clean.

“If they see dog mess, they pick it up. The really good news is they very seldom see it,” Petrella said. “What they also do while they’re out there, that was sort of a side thing, is we began collecting trash.”

Between trash left behind by people and what washes up on the shores, Petrella said over 600 pounds of trash was collected in September.

As the nonprofit team works with the county to iron out the details of the new dog-friendly beach location, Petrella said she doesn’t know what’s next yet. But she said she has heard from people who want dog-friendly beaches in south Daytona Beach, from Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna and other locations.

Some may feel Daytona Dog Beach wants everything to be dog-friendly, she said, but that’s not the case – it’s really about what the community wants.

“What I want to happen is for the residents and the businesses in this area to drive what they want,” she said. “We want it to be something that’s positive for the entire community.”

A group of Ruff, Rock and Roll Poker Run participants at the Oceanside Bar and Grill.

Blue Sky Enderley in his Motorcycle Sidecar at the Oceanside Beach Bar and Grill during the Ruff, Rock and Roll Poker Run.

Volunteers Connie Whitehead, Jami Gallegos, Ann Forsell, and Alan Cooley manager of the Oceanside Beach Bar and Grill.

Marshall Shebelski, Diana Shebelski, and Mark Shebelski dine at the Oceanside Beach Bar and Grill.

Mac McCarty draws a card at the Oceanside Beach Bar and Grill during the Ruff, Rock and Roll Poker Run. Photos by Hannah Hodge

One commercial vehicle per residence

The change in Palm Coast would allow some commercial vehicles, but keep the ban on larger vehicles and utility trailers.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Palm Coast City Council has approved the first of two votes to lift some restrictions on work vehicles parked in residential driveways.

The ordinance will allow one work vehicle per residence, with restrictions. The ordinance will still prohibit swale parking, trailer parking and vehicles larger than 10 feet high and 18 feet long.

Councilman Ty Miller said he felt this ordinance was a middle ground between getting rid of all the restrictions and keeping some.

“This is the medium that we came to,” he said. “I’m in favor of it.”

The council voted 3-2 to approve the ordinance changes at its first reading on Oct. 21, with Councilmen Charles Gambaro and Dave Sullivan voting against it. Sullivan said most of the work vehicles allowed in the changes would fit in a garage anyway.

“I don’t see why people can’t put their commercial

vehicle in the garage, and keep their car in the driveway,” Sullivan said. “I just feel that any move forward on this will begin to change the nature of the community. And I’m not ready to do that.”

The ordinance removes advertising restrictions and the restriction of carrying capacity of more than one ton. The new exceptions will allow some attachments onto the roof of the vehicle and tools and attachments will be required to be kept in “a safe, neat, clean and well-kept manner.”

Hazardous or offensive materials or materials with a bad odor can not be stored on the vehicles at the residences, per the ordinance. Duplexes with a shared driveway will count as two separate residences. Gambaro called it a “slippery slope” and said loosening the code may end with seeing more people violating the code and parking in the grass and swales.

Mayor Mike Norris and Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri also voted for the ordinance change. Norris also suggested the city limit the allowed work vehicles to those that are less

than 26,000 pounds. Above 26,000 pounds, he said, “that’s when you start talking about real commercial.”

According to the Department of Energy’s website, vehicles above 26,000 pounds are classified as “heavy duty,” and include buses, garbage trucks and truck tractors.

Pontieri said this ordinance would also help tradesmen who are on call 24/7, allowing them to keep a work vehicle at their homes. She called the ordinance a “reasonable medium to be businessfriendly” in Palm Coast.

“I constantly hear the need to bring in working families, younger families, improve our workforce,” she said. “I think this is a step in that direction, without taking away a lot of the restrictions that continue to make our neighborhoods beautiful.”

To address the concern about a possible increase in swale parking and code violations, Pontieri suggested the council do a six-month check in to see how many violations there are. The ordinance will still need to be approved at one more reading at an upcoming business meeting.

ERAU alum inspires next generation

Ryan Bazil is now an IT specialist in FPL’s nuclear fleet and is heavily involved with mentoring students.

PRESS RELEASE

When Ryan Bazil was growing up, he dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player. Today, Bazil is an IT specialist in FPL’s nuclear fleet, where he uses aerospace technology to solve complex problems while helping shape the future of STEM education and inspiring students to reach new heights.

“My whole life was centered around sports and playing soccer,” Bazil said.

Bazil’s journey into aerospace engineering began in eighth grade during a conversation with his father.

“My dad suggested I think about having a backup plan. He said, ‘You should look at a different career field because you never know. Nothing in life is a given. Injuries can happen.’”

Bazil continued to play and enjoy success in soccer through high school and into college but that pivotal moment with his father led Bazil to explore the first of its kind aviation program at Boynton Beach Community High School, called the Boynton Aerospace Science Academy. The program, designed to spark interest in aviation fundamentals, teaches students the basics of flight and licensing procedures and opens pathways to careers as commercial pilots and aviation professionals.

Bazil went on to earn a degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in aerospace science with a minor in cybersecurity and drones. By the time he finished his studies, he had developed a genuine passion for sharing aviation and aerospace with others.

At FPL, he helps incorporate cutting-edge technology, like drones and robotics, to enhance safety protocols and operational efficiency at FPL’s two nuclear plants.

“We’re starting this new program for innovation through our IT department,

incorporating drones and robotics to help reduce how often our engineers and operators are going into radiation areas,” he explains.

Bazil is also heavily involved with mentoring students through FPL’s Drones in School initiative.

“I want to see more youth involved in technology and STEM,” Bazil says. “There’s so much growth in aerospace and robotics. I want to be a person who opens up a shortcut for students – to get them where they want to be.”

What sets Bazil apart as a mentor is his understanding of failure as a learning opportunity.

“It’s okay to make mistakes,” he tells the middle and high school students he works with. “That’s part of being human.”

Bazil has come full circle, serving as a judge at the FPLsponsored first ever Drones in School state championship at his alma mater, Embry Riddle. Boynton Beach High School — where he started his aerospace journey — was competing.

“The younger generation learns quickly. They are very intuitive and good with the

“There’s so much growth in aerospace and robotics. I want to be a person who opens up a shortcut for students – to get them where they want to be.”

RYAN BRAZIL

controls. This is their real-life video game.” These competitions represent more than just academic achievement to Bazil; they’re launching pads for dreams.

“When kids win nationals, you never know where that could lead,” he explains, “They get to travel and see parts of the world they never thought they’d see at that age.”

Bazil envisions an even brighter future, hoping to see drone competitions become nationally televised events that create even more opportunities for student participants to showcase their talents and pursue aerospace careers. His advice to young people mirrors the wisdom his father shared with him years ago: “Continue to be patient and don’t say no to anything. You have to be open to everything because you never know what route can open up just from saying yes to something.”

FPL’s investment in STEM education through programs like Drones in School and employees like Bazil reflects the company’s commitment to fueling the innovations needed to meet Florida’s growing energy demands –building not just energy infrastructure, but the foundation for tomorrow’s technological breakthroughs.

Leaves are falling, and so are new beginnings at Paradise Pointe. Just as the seasons change, fall can be the perfect time to embrace a new season of life. At Paradise Pointe, assisted living isn’t about giving up independence – it’s about gaining opportunities. When your loved one moves in, they can set aside the everyday chores of cooking, cleaning, and home maintenance and instead, enjoy new friendships, engaging activities, and a lifestyle filled with meaning.

Experience this firsthand at our Autumn Harvest Afternoon! Enjoy festive fun and discover how Paradise Pointe could be the perfect place to live a healthier, happier, and more connected life.

ATTENDEES WILL ENJOY:

Fresh Apple Cider and Treats Pumpkin Decorating

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University alum Ryan Bazil returned to campus as a judge for the inaugural Drones in School state championship. Courtesy photos

FPL partners with Drones in School to provide cutting-edge STEM opportunities for students throughout Florida.

An example of a commercial vehicle that will be allowed with the new ordinance changes. Images courtesy of Palm Coast meeting documents

The ordinance changes do not allow utility trailers.

Is it a hard knock life for the arts in Volusia County?

The sun will come out tomorrow, as PAC hosts ‘Annie’ and an exhibition by Art Spotlight.

cultural events.

Yet, despite these struggles, hope remains alive at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. With the opening of the play “Annie,” presented by Jack and Sandy Cook, owners of the Halifax Repertory Theatre professional theater based in Ormond Beach, the promise of a brighter future is on full display.

The Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center (PAC) lobby was buzzing with anticipation of this wonderful play with a cast of spunky children, and, of course, there were a few adults’ characters who mesmerized you. However, let us not focus on Miss Negativity and realign with character

difficulties that artists and cultural organizations encounter in sustaining their work.

Daddy Warbucks. Despite his tough exterior, he has a deep capacity for compassion and eventually prioritizes family over wealth, making him one of the central characters in the story.

The play then takes it up another notch by casting a different local Volusia County dignitary during each performance to play the part of Judge Louis Brandeis. He appears to preside over the adoption proceedings for Annie and Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks. On the opening night it was our own Mayor Jason Leslie. Friday, Craig Uppercue, known for his leadership in Volusia County’s cultural initiatives, walked on as the judge; and at Sunday’s matinee it was Philip Gorrasi, principal of St. Brendan the Navigator

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

‘A Big Beautiful Bill of Rights Day’ in Flagler County

Dear Editor:

There was a very impressive turnout at our area’s “No Kings Rally” on Oct. 18. Three locations were scheduled, and all appeared to be even larger than the similar one in June. There is no doubt that both represented the largest of such protest gatherings in the history of Flagler County, and based upon national turnout estimates, it may be the largest one-day protest in our country’s history.

Our very engaged and very peaceful local attendees sported some creative costumes, carried signs, some rude and crude, but also creative with purposeful and meaningful grievances. There were lots of drive-by supporters who waved and honked. All things considered, it was a “Big Beautiful Bill of Rights” day.

Protests have historically been a powerful catalyst for significant societal and political change.

They produced the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1920, granting women the right to vote with similar protests in other

countries leading to women gaining that right as well. Sustained nonviolent protests and civil disobedience campaigns were instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin) and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (which prohibited discriminatory voting practices). The end of the Vietnam war was also aided by recurring protests and activism. These are just a few examples of their past successes. This year’s protests were intended to drive home a core tenet of democracy: that the people run the country, not the president, who is a servant, not a sovereign ruler. The theme was in part to ensure that democracy remains healthy and is never threatened. So many now believe they are witnessing alarming autocratic actions and policies and that an urgent call to action is imperative.

Whether or not the recent and presumably ongoing large protests will have an impact on current U.S. administration policy and presidential behavior is not known. But our community

did its part to assist in that effort for hopeful change and are now among the estimated 12 million protestors that have hit the streets in just the last five months. Surely that sends a message worthy of attention.

BOB GORDON Palm Coast

No Kings protesters are out of touch

Dear Editor:

So, we had a big gathering at the foot of the Granada Bridge. In 45 seconds, drivers traveled two to three blocks west and on three street corners saw gasoline prices at $2.85, a five-year low, and almost immediately realized the protests were clearly outof-touch with both residents and visitors who traveled to get here.

RON NOWVISKIE Ormond Beach

Volusia should not honor Charlie Kirk

Dear Editor: Volusia County Council members need to reconsider

Catholic School! I’m really looking forward to discovering who will take on the role in this weekend’s shows.

Did you know that the PAC has a wonderful art gallery?

Art Spotlight took center stage with over 30 magnificent pieces of local artwork. Giving art lovers vibrant colors and stories created with paint, clay, oils, and imagination. The exhibit is called, “Artist In The Spotlight,” This exhibit was curated by Thays França and Teri Althouse, owners of this wonderful local gallery. This exhibit will run through Nov. 12.

The Ormond Performing Arts Center is truly underestimated by the City of Ormond Beach. It has all the potential for being Ormond Beach’s premier destination for artistic expression and

honoring a man who does not deserve honoring. I understand why someone wanting to please the convicted criminal in the White House would want to name part of the Loop after a man who said we should be ready to experience a few deaths to support the Second Amendment and also offered racist and hate messages to his supporters. I cannot understand why our County Council members are considering naming part of the Loop after a man who represents many things that shame America. I suggest that council members consult Volusia citizens before doing something that would shame us.

CHARLES RUSSELL Ormond Beach

David Fraser has experience and skills to be Palm Coast’s next city manager

Dear Editor:

In the recent past, the Observer has indulged myself and others to comment on issues negatively impacting Palm Coast. That has included poor leadership in the city manager position and in economic development. Today, Palm Coast has an opportunity to drastically

Despite these obstacles, we should remember that hope remains. The sun will come out tomorrow, thanks to self-reliance, perseverance, and the importance of maintaining optimism even when adversity strikes. These qualities are essential for artists and supporters alike.

Attend local events, visit galleries, and participate in activities to help the arts thrive in Volusia County. Let’s all become mini, “Daddy Warbucks!”

Tickets for final performance of Annie this weekend can be purchased at: ormondbeachperformingartscenter.csstix.com.

Gallery is free and open Tuesday to Friday from 10-5 p.m, with entrance through the box office.

correct course by choosing the correct city manager candidate.

That candidate is David Fraser. He is what cities strive to obtain in their city manager leadership: management, economic development and visionary sides of the job, as well as excellent contract negotiation skills and excellent relations with thousands of team staff. David Fraser brings extensive experience in dealing with community issues and issues that are at the heart of Palm Coast. Cheyenne, Wyoming, is home to a very integrated parks and rec program just like here in Palm Coast. This includes an extensive 37-mile trail system, two public golf courses (and we all know our issues around that topic), pool, Ice and Events Center, children’s village, youth activity center, Kiwanis Community House, cemeteries, forestry and a host of other areas he has managed and enhanced.

Another area of concern is economic development and expanding our tax base to alleviate the tax burden on homeowners. Similar to Palm Coast with U.S. 1/Interstate 95 and the railroad, David has dealt with economic development along I-80/I-25 as well as dealing with the Union Pacific and Burling-

ton Northern and Santa Fe railways. His position, though in a slightly smaller city than Palm Coast, included dealing with complex components to a viable city. These include an Air Force base (missiles), being the state capital, a public transit system (which we do not have), a regional distribution hub for Walmart and the NCAR-Wyoming Super Computing Center. David brings a well-rounded approach to city government as you will see if you just look at the innovations and awards he’s garnered in Cheyenne: Mid-America Economic Development Council Award, American Planning Association Award: Smart Growth Principles, EPA climate pollution reduction grants, etc. Finally, his education is second to none. David Fraser hasn’t fallen into this career path. It is the one he chose and excels at.

DON WILSON Palm Coast

Jessica Walsh Celebrates 15-Year ‘Crystal’ Anniversary at Northbridge Precious Metal Exchange

Palm Coast, FL – October 20, 2025 –Northbridge Precious Metal Exchange is proud to announce and celebrate the 15-year work anniversary of Jessica Walsh, a valued member of Northbridge Precious Metal Exchange, a family-owned and operated company since 1963.

Jessica began her journey with us as an Assistant in October 2010, when the price of gold was $1,310.55 per troy ounce, and silver was approximately $21.70 per ounce.

It has been a great pleasure working with such a talented and benevolent woman who has helped expand the company into what it is today. Many of our clients can attest to Jessica’s dedication to her work and her many positive qualities.

Other than my grandfather—who set the company’s standards over 60 years ago— Jessica has proven to be the most loyal, dedicated, and hardest-working individual we’ve ever had. She truly embodies the values he instilled: honesty, integrity, knowledgeable service, and client privacy, whether they are buying or selling precious metals.

After 15 years at Northbridge Precious Metals Exchange, Jessica’s unwavering dedication to providing outstanding service has set the standard for excellence. She consistently goes above and beyond expectations—this milestone is nothing short of impressive.

When it comes to loyalty, Jessica has been approached by several firms in the industry hoping to lure her away. Her answer to each and every one of them has been a firm and unequivocal, “No, I’m happy where I am.”

Jessica is a woman of uncompromising integrity and honesty. A communityminded individual, she regularly puts the needs of others before her own—including the welfare of my own family members. Many of her contributions have involved no compensation and have come at personal cost and sacrifice.

Jessica is especially known for being an active parent to her daughter and son. She has also been instrumental in getting our company involved in sponsoring and promoting a wide variety of community

events, often in collaboration with other Chamber of Commerce members she networks with on our behalf.

Additionally, due to our firm’s longevity, many of our long-time clients are elderly and considered like family. Jessica frequently transports them to medical appointments, picks up medications and groceries, or helps with other daily needs. She graciously attended to my elderly mother’s needs—accompanying her to chemotherapy treatments and oncologist appointments, and helping her understand her care plan.

These are just a few examples of Jessica’s generosity and compassion. She tackles even the most difficult tasks with a sense of humor, boundless energy, and a commitment that makes her beloved by everyone she assists.

Jessica commands the respect of the entire Northbridge Precious Metals staff. As Chief of Operations, she is responsible for managing all vital business affairs. Her integrity, trustworthiness, and honesty are reflected in the serious nature of her responsibilities. Jessica independently oversees all company financials and logistics—without the need for oversight. Other than myself, she is the only individual trusted to manage and handle every logistical detail for the high-value precious metals that move through our business daily.

When she began in 2010, Jessica had no background in the complex world of precious metals. Today, she is the most essential and irreplaceable person we’ve ever worked with. She is a force to be reckoned with in the market itself. A selfstarter, she mastered every aspect of the business autodidactically.

Jessica treats all staff with dignity and believes that skill deficiencies should never be a reason for termination—she believes skills can be honed through the right work environment. She has an exceptional talent for recognizing strengths and assigning the right person for the right task.

In the early days, Jessica required a flexible schedule to balance her commitments, and we gladly supported her. She has always worked tirelessly—often staying long hours—to provide for her children. We’re proud to share that her daughter, Morghan, just began her freshman year of college. Yay Morghan!

Jessica also brought our company fully into the 21st century by requiring all staff to become licensed, professionally trained, and certified in the latest technology. This includes use of XRF scanning equipment and the Sigma Metalytics Precious Metal Pro Verifier with bridge attachment, which can detect precious metals down to 1 gram—even through a 400 oz gold or 100 oz silver bar.

A Huge Happy Crystal Anniversary, Jessica! 15 years in partnership represents clarity and elegance— qualities Jessica exemplifies.

Risk management in the precious metals industry involves addressing a wide range of market, operational, regulatory, and environmental risks through a combination of financial strategies, strict compliance protocols, and operational best practices.

Top accolades for numismatic and precious metal consultants come from major industry organizations and independent bodies, recognizing ethical conduct, expertise, and consumer protection:

• Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) – A national trade association representing rare coin, currency, and precious metal dealers, promoting ethical standards.

• American Numismatic Association (ANA) – A nonprofit that promotes the study and collection of money and related items through education and outreach.

• Florida United Numismatists (FUN) – Organizers of trade shows for collectors across Florida since 1955.

• Certified Coin Exchange (CCE) –A network for major coin dealers to engage in online trading.

• Recognition from third-party grading services like NGC and PCGS, which also confirms expert status.

Jessica Walsh

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Oh luau!

Taste of Ormond brings Hawaiian flair to Rockefeller Gardens

Ormond Mainstreet hosted the 12th annual Taste of Ormond on Sunday, Oct. 19.

Attendees enjoyed live musical performances throughout the evening along with dishes from different local vendors. The event featured a special performance by Polynesian Fire dancers.

Restaurant vendors included 31 Supper Club, Grind Gastropub, Huey Magoo’s, Wine Not, Ledo Pizza, and Stonewood, which all offered samples of their food.

–SYDNEY TEVIN

Pilgrims Rest, Historical Society partner for annual cemetery tours

The Ormond Beach Historical Society recently hosted two tours featuring historical reenactors at Pilgrims Rest Cemetery.

The tours, held on Oct. 3 and 4, shared stories of those buried at the historic cemetery, which dates back to 1908. The events concluded with a Civil War-era cannon firing.

Both OBHS and Pilgrims Rest Cemetery shared on Facebook that the tours were a success, stating that guests had a lot of questions and were interested in local history.

“Pilgrims Rest — and the many families laid to rest there — are deeply woven into the history of our community,” OBHS stated, “It’s always an honor to partner with the cemetery and share these important stories with you.”

Meet OMAM’s featured art night family for October

Ormond Beach resident Rachel Scheerer and her daughter Lily were selected as Ormond Memorial Art Museum’s featured family from the museum’s Oct. 3 Free

How was this month’s Free Family Art Night event?

“It was cool and fun,” she said.

OMAM’s Family Art Night takes place from 5:30-7 p.m. on most first Fridays of the month. All art supplies are provided. The next event will be held on Nov. 7.

Family Art Night event.

Rachel and Lily are familiar with OMAM, according to a statement from the museum. They have attended previous Free Family Art Nights and Lily has participated in several summer camps.

“I’ve done the art camp here and I think my favorite was the wildlife one and I want to do it again,” Lily said.

Garden Club of Halifax Country donates bench to Tomoka State Park

The Garden Club of Halifax Country celebrated the dedication of a new bench at Tomoka State

Lily Scheerer shows off her artwork from OMAM’s Free Family Art Night on Oct.

Tomoka State Park Ranger David Jones, City Commissioner Lori Tolland, Garden Club of Halifax Country members and Gordon Whitley, president of the Friends of Tomoka Basin State Parks, celebrate a ribbon-cutting for the new bench. Courtesy photos

The Grind Gastropub Chef Wicho Rodriguez adds sauce to sample plates.

Stonewood staff serves salmon samples.

A Huey Magoo’s server displays a plate of chicken tenders and sauce.

Fugu chef Sam Wong smiles while presenting his food.

Heather DeSanctis performs a cover of “Rumor Has It” by Adele.

A Polynesian fire dancer poses at the end of his performance, holding a fire stick between his leg and the other in his hand.

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, OCT. 23

ATLANTIC FEDERATED REPUBLICAN WOMEN

MEETING

When: Noon

Where: The Palmetto Club, 1000 S. Beach St., Daytona Beach

Details: Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. The club will feature local financial advisor David Holland and his new book, “Smart Over Heart.” The $28 fee per person includes lunch. To register, visit www.atlanti crepublicanwomen.com.

MANIFEST DESTINY: AMERICAN ART OF THE 19TH CENTURY

When: 2-3 p.m.

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

Details: Ruth Grim will lead this lecture on the different movements and artists that came out of the 19th Century period as America grew to rival the artistic traditions in Europe. Free program. Registration requested. Visit www.ormondartmuseum.org/ classes-programs.

FOURTH ANNUAL FIRST UNITED’S ‘GOT TALENT’ SHOW

When: 5-7:30 p.m.

Where: First United Methodist Church, 336 S. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Help support Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse, a program that provides Christmas gifts to children worldwide. Dinner starts at 5 p.m. and show starts at 6 p.m.

PALM COAST CONCERT SERIES

When: 6-8 p.m.

Where: The Stage at Town Center, 1500 Central Ave., Palm Coast

Details: See the Chillula band perform and attend the Biz + Brews event. There will be live music, food trucks, vendors, yard games, and beer and wine. Bring a chair.

FRIDAY, OCT. 24

RUMMAGE SALE

When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25

Where: Care Cupboard Food Pantry, 205 N. Pine St., Bunnell

Details: Care Cupboard Food

Pantry is hosting a rummage sale with many new items. Proceeds benefit the pantry.

TRICK OR TREATING AND PETS

When: 5-8 p.m.

Where: Southern Recreation Center, 1290 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: Join Redefined Food Co. for trick-or-treating, a pet and children’s costume contest and games of pickleball and tennis. Register for the costume contest by 6:30 p.m. for kids; 7 p.m. for pets. Entry is a donation of canned or bagged pet food or pet treat. Donations will go to Community Cats of Palm Coast and the Flagler Humane Society.

A SPOOKY GOOD TIME

When: 5:30-8 p.m.

Where: Tanger Outlets, 1100 Cornerstone Blvd. Daytona Beach

Details: This family event will include a costume contest, craft stations, DJ, face painting and photo booth. It will be held next to the splash pad. Kids will also enjoy trickor-treating at participating Tanger Outlet stores.

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM CHARITY TOURNAMENT

When: 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Where: Oceanside Country Club, 25 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Help raise funds for the Pace Center for Girls at this event, presented by the Rotary Club of Downtown Ormond Beach. Player tickets cost $100. Visit https://www. zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ rotary-hold-em-night.

COMMUNITY APPRECIATION NIGHT

When: 6-9 p.m.

Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Enjoy a trunk-ortreat presented by Realty Pros Assured. There will be a kids costume contest, face painting, popcorn, hot dogs, cotton candy, and a free showing of “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,” (Rated PG-13). Call 386-8713185. Free event.

FALL FEST

When: 6-8 p.m.

Where: First Baptist Bunnell, 2301 Commerce Parkway, Bunnell

Details: This free event will have candy, food, games, face painting, bounce houses, pumpkins, hayrides and more.

HALIFAX REPERTORY

THEATRE PRESENTS

‘ANNIE’

When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17, 18, 24 and 25; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18 and 26

Where: Ormond Beach

Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach

Details: See Halifax Repertory Theatre’s fall production. Tickets cost $35. Visit https:// ormondbeachperformin gartscenter.csstix.com.

SATURDAY, OCT. 25

FALL CRAFTS OF THE COAST

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 101 Pine Lakes Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: Items for sale will include original artwork, jewelry, seasonal crafts, baked goods, face painting and floral arrangements. Food will be available for purchase. A supervised play area will be available for children.

WITCHES & WARLOCKS

When: 7:30-10:30 a.m.

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

Details: Join Flagler Beach Creates for its fourth annual Witches & Warlock of Flagler Beach Halloween bike ride. Registration costs $35. Visit https://flaglerbeachcreates. org/witches-bike-ride.

NOT-SO-SPOOKY SPIDERS

When: 10-11 a.m.

Where: Environmental Discovery Center, 601 Division Ave., Ormond Beach

Details: Children ages 5-11 will learn about spiders, participate in a hands-on activities and create a craft project. Costumes encouraged. Call 386-615-7081 to sign up. Free.

FOUNDER’S DAY

When: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Holland Park, 18 Florida Park Drive, Palm Coast

Details: Celebrate Palm Coast history and its founders. Take a free tour through the Palm Coast Historical Society museum. There will be food trucks, vendors, games and outdoor activities. Free.

ARTWAVE

When: 2-3:30 p.m.

Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach Details: Artists ages 11-14 will explore the mediums and practices of famous artists. Class costs $16 for members; $19 for non-members. Reg-

FOCUS ON FAITH

Ormond Beach Presbyterian fills meal bags

On Sunday, Oct. 19, the parishioners of Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church got together and kicked off their Helping Hands Week.

Working with Rise Against Hunger, a global movement to end hunger worldwide, the church community filled 10,000 meal bags. Each bag creates six servings and the ones filled by the church will

Brought to you by:

be sent to Haiti and the Philippines, the church said on its Facebook page.

“This was so much fun and great way to get to know one another better while helping others in need,” the post stated.

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church presents ‘The La Florida Martyrs’

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church of Palm Coast invites all to gather for a presentation of “The La Florida Martyrs” at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m.

This multicultural presentation features Dr. Mary Soha, vice postulator for the Cause of Canonization. She will speak about the faith of those who gave their lives for Christ in Florida. “Between 1549 and 1716,

Stephenson, Wilcox and Associates

native peoples, missionaries, and lay faithful — men, women, and children — offered the supreme witness of love and fidelity to God,” the church stated on Facebook. “Their story reminds us that holiness has taken root in our own soil”.

The presentation is free and refreshments will be served.

Epic Church of Palm Coast takes part in ‘3G Sunday’ On Sunday, Oct.19, Epic Church of Palm Coast canceled their Sunday services and sent their parishioners out to serve in the community. They had over 380 people attend the event and 22 service projects throughout the community were performed. The initiative “3G Sunday” stands for “Gather, Give, Go.”

ister at www.ormondartmuseum.org/classes-programs.

TRAIL OF TREATS

When: 3-5 p.m.

Where: The Trails Shopping Center, 216-348 N. Nova Road, Ormond Beach

Details: Go trick-or-treating at participating locations, carnival games and face painting. Stop by Five Star Pizza for a free slice and Dairy Queen for a free ice cream cone.

FLAGLER BEACH

CENTENNIAL TRUNK-ORTREAT

When: 5-9 p.m.

Where: Wickline Park, S. 7th

St., Flagler Beach

Details: Keep the centennial celebrations going with a trunk-or-treat. Free.

FLAGLER FLICKS IN THE PARK

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Wickline Park, S. 7th

St., Flagler Beach

Details: See “The Wizard of Oz.” Free event.

THIRD ANNUAL ‘BOO-LING FOR WISHES’

When: 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Where: Palm Coast Lanes, 11 Old Kings Road N., Palm Coast

Details: Raise funds for Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida. There will be a costume contest. Contact Josephine L’Heureux for sponsorship information at 386-506-8008 or via email at JoLheureux@ RealtyExecutives.com.

SUNDAY, OCT. 26

13TH PASTOR APPRECIATION CELEBRATION

When: 10 a.m.

Where: Palm Coast United Methodist Church, 6500 Belle Terre Blvd., Palm Coast

Details: Dr. and Mrs. Kevin James will be celebrated. Rev. Dr. Andrew McRae will be the guest speaker. A WALK WITH SHIRLEY CHISHOLM When: 2-4 p.m.

Where: Pine Lakes Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: Discover the Shirley Chisholm Trail and learn about her legacy. Sponsored by the Democratic Women’s

Club of Flagler County. Meet across from the Pine Lakes Golf Course. For more information, call 904-417-8803.

TRUNK-OR-TREAT

When: 3-6 p.m.

Where: Galaxy All Stars, 2323 N. State St., Unit 70, Bunnell

Details: Galaxy All Stars Cheerleading is hosting its second annual trunk-or-treat. There will be games, prizes, bounce houses and more.. Free entry. Donations are appreciated. Email galaxy cheer2024@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29 FLAGLER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY FUNDRAISER TEA

When: 2-3:30 p.m.

Where: Flagler County Historical Society, 204 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell

Details: Enjoy ghost stories, sweets and drinks with the Flagler County Historical Society. Costs $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Visit https://www.zeffy.com/ en-US/ticketing/the-haunted-tragedies-halloween-tea.

Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church members fills meal bags for Rise Against Hunger. Courtesy photo

Ormond Beach Mayor, Ormond Beach Police Officers, Lt. Tom Larsen, and WWII Veteran John Jeckovich speaks with Debbie Kruck-Forrester, of Ormond Strong. Photo courtesy of Pauline Dulang

Ormond Beach WWII vet turns 100 years old

City officials and first responders joined John Jeckovich for his birthday celebration on Saturday, Oct. 18.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

MANAGING EDITOR

Marching has long been one of World War II veteran John Jeckovich’s favorite pastimes.

As a soldier, he loved to march. As a 100-year-old veteran, he loves to watch it happen. And on Saturday, Oct. 18, he watched as people marched in a small parade in honor of his centennial birthday at his assisted living facility in Ormond Beach.

“He loves to watch every kind of military parade that’s out there on YouTube,” said his daughter-in-law Jen Jeckovich. “He loves watching that, so to have a parade for him on his birthday, it was just super special.”

John was born on Oct. 17, 1925. Originally of Niagara Falls, New York, John was drafted into the Army at 19 years old in 1942 and served until 1946. An Army infantry sergeant part of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 291st Regiment, of the 75th Infantry Division, John fought at the Battle of the Bulge during WWII.

“He was beat up, shot in the shoulder and behind, hip blown up, trench foot and suffered from frostbite,” a press release states. “With shrapnel still lodged in his body, he was bandaged up and sent back to the frontlines with his unit.”

For his time in the Army, John was awarded a Purple Heart, two Bronze Star medals. a WWII Victory Medal and others.

About 20 years ago, he wrote a book about his experience. It’s not for sale — it was a personal project of his, Jen said. But for the past two years, he and his family have been reading excerpts from his book. These are shared daily on his YouTube channel, “The BulgeBuster.”

“It’s a great way for him to engage with us and making a routine for him,” Jen said. “I think more families should do stuff like this where it becomes a fun thing to do and it helps him with his memory and all sorts of things. He feels like it’s important, and it is — it is important what is message is

“I’m just flabbergasted at all the nice turnout. It was wonderful to honor such a hero and he really, truly is a national treasure.”

JEN JECKOVICH, daughter-inlaw

Motown & Mo’ sells out for 27th show

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

When it comes to putting on a show, City Lites Inc. has almost three decades of experience.

Its annual Motown & Mo’ production is now in its 27th year, having been founded in 1998 by the late Carlos Ann Butler, a retired teacher, who aimed to give students an opportunity to engage with music and perform onstage. Palm Coast resident Irving Robinson attended that first show and he knew then it was something he wanted to be a part of.

It worked out because Butler was looking for male performers. He’s been on board ever since.

“A lot of males in town are kind of stage shy,” Robinson said with a laugh. “We’ve always had a problem, but the ladies? We have ladies by the bucketful.”

Robinson was this year’s director for the show, titled “Rocking Around the Clock.”

from The Temptations, Adele, Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight and the Pips and more.

City Lites Foundation was able to award six scholarships this year. The recipients were recognized before the show started and were included in the playbill.

The nonprofit will begin planning next year’s show in February 2026. Rehearsals with the volunteer performers begin about 10 weeks before the show.

John Jeckovich was drafted into the Army at 19 years old in 1942 and served until 1946.

about, teaching people what it was like during WWII and then also setting an example to the younger generation on how to live a good, clean life.”

It helps his family learn new things about his time in the Army as well. For example, they found out John was among the soldiers who broke the chains and locks to the gates of many concentration camps as well as those containing prisoners of war.

“He never talked about it until two years ago,” Jen said of his time during WWII. “Really, very humble.”

After serving in the military, John worked for a paper mill in Niagara Falls, New York, for 35 years. He and his wife, Delphine Stulack Jeckovich, were married for 69 years until her death in 2021. The press release states, “John always helped out his friends and family members’ home improvement projects where he specialized in woodworking.” He moved to the area in the late 1970s.

In addition to about 40 family members, his birthday celebration on Saturday was attended by Ormond Beach city officials, the Ormond Beach Fire Department, Ormond Beach Police Department, the US Army Recruiting Office of Ormond Beach, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office and Ormond Strong. Mayor Jason Leslie presented him with a city challenge coin and a 100th birthday certificate.

“I’m just flabbergasted at all the nice turnout,” Jen said. “It was wonderful to honor such a hero and he really, truly is a national treasure.”

She said John was a little bit overwhelmed, as a halfhour prior to his celebration, he had been at the hospital due to pneumonia. But he felt well enough to get back to his assisted living facility, Aden Senior Living, in time for his birthday.

“He’s just a very stoic and wonderful person and I’m just proud of being part of the family and able to help put on a nice celebration for him, because he really loved that parade,” Jen said. To view John’s YouTube videos, visit https://www. youtube.com/@TheBulgeBuster.

The cast totaled about 53 people, including those working behind the scenes. Motown & Mo’ is a fundraiser for City Lites, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to collegebound students majoring in the arts, or those who show an interest in arts and culture.

This year’s show was held on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center.

James Sims, president of the City Lites Inc., said they received rave reviews.

“People said, ‘That’s the best show ever,’” Sims said. When it comes to his favorite performance of the night, he admitted he may be a bit biased. His wife performed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in the second act. But there was something for everybody, he said — songs

“You kind of miss it, being together, you know,” Sim said. “Because when we come together, we have fun. We laugh, talk, talk about each other. It’s just a family thing.”

Margaret Ibenez, the show’s assistant director, has been part of the Motown & Mo’ since 2017. It’s a lot of fun, she said, and it’s for a good cause.

“I think you get a great value for your money,” Ibenez said. “Because a lot of other shows are way more expensive and this one is helping giving children scholarships for their future.”

What motivates Robinson? It’s seeing the progression of where Motown & Mo’ started and where it is today.

“We progressed from really a small community organization that had social contacts as a driving force, to really becoming a little bit more

business minded and professional about what we do,”

Robinson said. “Everybody who’s involved, especially those who are on stage, have an alter ego.”

The performers have either been involved in the arts in their past or simply have a “hidden character,” Robinson said, that gets a chance to come out once a year — during Motown & Mo’.

Robinson was familiar with Motown long before he ever moved to Palm Coast. Long before he worked as an obstetrician-gynecologist, even.

When he was in high school, he was part of a singing group that eventually became duet Tiny & Tim. They got a record deal in the late 1950s with OKeh Records, and in 1959 were featured on the Dick Clark show.

“We thought we were going to be professional singers, but life has a way of redirecting you sometimes,” he said.

Motown is the music of his era, Robinson said.

“It was the era of innocence, progressing to first loves and puppy love,” he said. “It was the music that really helped us grow up, so we think it’s important to keep providing that memory, because there are a lot of people in the community who remember that time in their lives too.”

These days, you can do just about anything

— order dinner, refinance your house, even plan your

A growing number of websites promise to help you create wills and trusts in minutes, often for less than a night out at your favorite restaurant. The convenience is tempting, and in some cases, perfectly fine. But when it comes to your legacy, “click here to confirm” may not always be the best legal advice.

The Upside Online estate-planning platforms are fast, affordable, and surprisingly user-friendly. They can be great for people with simple goals — like leaving everything to one person or naming a guardian for minor children. The questionnaires walk you through the basics and can even teach you some estate-planning fundamentals. Think of them as the “training wheels” of planning your legacy.

The Downside Unfortunately, Florida law doesn’t make things quite as simple as an online checklist. A will or power of attorney that’s valid in another state might not meet Florida’s strict witnessing and notarization rules. One missed signature or misplaced notary stamp can mean the difference between a smooth transition and a courtroom drama. Another risk is false confidence. These platforms print out official-looking documents that make you feel secure — until your family finds out, too late, that something’s missing. Fixing those mistakes later can cost far more than doing it right the first time.

Finding the Middle Ground At Selis Law Firm, we see the value in technology — especially to reach families who are just starting to think about estate planning. That’s why we’re exploring the idea of offering our own DIY platform. It would provide Floridians with simple, compliant starter documents and clear explanations — and when life gets more complicated (as it usually does), a seamless path to professional guidance. What do you think? Give us a call and let us know whether you would use a DIY platform that has the backing of a local attorney and law firm. Because when it comes to protecting your family, an online form is a fine place to start — but sometimes, it takes a real conversation to finish the job right.

Jackie Ross (center) performs “Upside Down” by Diana Ross alongside her backup dancers Lucy Gillis and Dee Rivers. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Courtesy photo

REAL ESTATE

Grand Haven home sells for over $1M

Ahouse at 15 S. Waterview Drive in Grand Haven was the top real estate transaction for Oct. 4-10 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The house sold on Oct. 10, for $1,055,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 5/6 and has a pool, a hot tub and 3,883 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $1,112,000.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Condos

A condo at 8 Surrey Court, Unit 8, sold on Oct. 10, for $202,000. Built in 1981, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,098 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $203,000.

PALM COAST

Grand Haven

A house at 52 Scarlet Oak Circle sold on Oct. 10, for $1,230,000. Built in 2016, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool, a hot tub, a summer kitchen and 2,998 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $573,900.

Grand Landings

A house at 123 Nighthawk Lane sold on Oct. 10, for $347,500. Built in 2023, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,879 square feet.

Indian Trails

A house at 2 Banton Place sold on Oct. 10, for $350,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool and 1,997 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $345,000.

A house at 12 Buffalo Berry

Place sold on Oct. 7, for $415,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,294 square feet.

A house at 6 Lakeside Place East sold on Oct. 7, for $665,000. Built in 1999, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool, a hot tub and 2,937 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $727,500.

Palm Coast Plantation A house at 223 S. Riverwalk Drive sold on Oct. 10, for $1,025,000. Built in 2019, the house is a 5/4 and has 3,960 square feet.

Palm Harbor A house at 20 Cedardale Court sold on Oct. 10, for 705,000. Built in 2001, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a pool, a hot tub, a boat dock and 2,214 square feet.

A house at 62 Foster Lane sold on Oct. 10, for $292,000. Built in 1988, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,987 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $200,000.

A house at 40 Cortes Court sold on Oct. 9, for $640,000.

Built in 1985, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,857 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $259,900.

A house at 35 Firecrest Lane sold on Oct. 8, for $300,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,728 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $100,000.

A house at 5 Fifer Lane sold on Oct. 8, for $397,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,159 square feet.

Quail Hollow

A house at 7 Kaufman Place sold on Oct. 10, for $265,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,774 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $168,000.

A house at 7 Zoeller Court sold on Oct. 10, for $260,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,148 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $233,000.

Sawmill Branch

A house at 180 Greenwood Drive sold on Oct. 10, for $356,990. Built in 2024, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,799 square feet.

A house at 52 Springwood Drive S. sold on Oct. 9, for $349,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,113 square feet.

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

House on the Halifax River tops the sales list

Ahouse at 1786 John Anderson Drive was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea for the week of Sept. 27 to Oct. 3. The house sold on Oct. 1 for $2,590,000. Built in 2007, the house is a 4/4.5 and has a fireplace, a pool, a spa, a boat dock, a boat lift, a boat house and 5,158 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $2 million.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Condos

The condo at 1239 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 3C3, sold on Sept. 30, for $365,000. The condo is a 3/2.5 and has 1,853 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $389,000.

ORMOND BEACH

Breakaway Trails

The house at 34 Black Creek Way sold on Sept. 29, for $465,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 2,032 square feet. It last sold in 2004 for $233,300.

Brookwood

The house at 11 Brookwood Drive sold on Sept. 30, for $375,000. Built in 1972, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 2,416 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $210,000.

Halifax Plantation

The house at 3005 Monaghan Drive sold on Sept. 30, for $425,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,288 square feet. It last sold in

2012 for $180,000.

The house at 3238 Bailey Ann Drive sold on Sept. 30, for $332,000. Built in 2019, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,695 square feet.

Not in subdivision

The house at 920 John Anderson Drive sold on Sept. 30, for $1.6 million. Built in 1973, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a fireplace, a pool, a boat dock, a boat lift, a boat house and 3,068 square feet. It last sold in 1975 for $180,000.

The house at 96 Grove St. sold on Oct. 3, for $945,000. Built in 2019, the house is a 4/3.5 and has a fireplace, a pool and has 2,800 square feet.

Ormond Terrace

The house at 290 Greenwood Circle sold on Sept. 30, for $389,000. Built in 1977, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,518 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $399,900.

Plantation Bay

The house at 660 Aldenham Lane sold on Sept. 30, for $635,000. Built in 2018, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a pool and 2,668 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $419,100.

The Trails The house at 18 Iroquois Trail sold on Oct. 1, for $636,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 4/4 and has a fireplace and 3,748 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $235,000.

The house at 8 Shawnee Trail sold on Oct. 3, for $825,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 6/6.5 and has two fireplaces and 4,218 square feet. It last sold in 2017 for $511,000.

Triton Beach

The house at 470 N. Halifax Drive sold on Sept. 29, for $380,250. Built in 1962, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 1,649 square feet. It last sold in 2015 for $175,000.

Woodmere

The house at 833 Lucerne Circle sold on Sept. 29, for $315,000. Built in 1977, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,628 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $224,500.

The house at 767 Lindenwood Circle W. sold on Sept. 30, for $247,000. Built in 1974, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,709 square feet. It last sold in 1981 for $74,900.

ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA

Oakview Heights

The house at 2409 John Anderson Drive sold on Oct. 1, for $619,000. Built in 1963, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,954 square feet. It last sold in 20019 for $375,000.

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

PALM COAST

ORMOND BEACH

WEST DAYTONA BEACH

Pool home in Latitude Margaritaville is top sale

Ahouse in Latitude Margaritaville at 900 Catamaran Cove was the top real estate transaction in Daytona Beach’s 32124 zip code for the week of Sept. 27 to Oct. 3. The house sold on Sept. 29, for $900,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 2/2.5 and has a pool and 2,339 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $674,700.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

MANAGING EDITOR

Grande Champion

The house at 1000 Ellerston St. sold on Oct. 3, for $324,990. Built in 2025, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,672 square feet.

Legends Preserve

The house at 2125 Divot Drive sold on Sept. 30, for $560,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 5/4 and has 3,051 square feet.

Lennar at Preserve at LPGA

The house at 1199 Belle Isle Lane sold on Sept. 29, for

BIZ BUZZ

Victory Tattoo in Ormond-by-theSea to host grand reopening

After a closure spanning a year and a half due to hurricane damage, Victory Tattoo in

$360,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 5/2.5 and has 2,326 square feet.

The house at 1203 Belle Isle Lane sold on Oct. 3, for $309,990. Built in 2025, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,429 square feet.

Mosaic

The house at 461 Mosaic Blvd. sold on Sept. 30, for $641,244. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,301 square feet.

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

Ormond-by-the-Sea is celebrating its grand reopening on Saturday, Oct. 25. From 12 p.m. to 2 a.m., Victory Tattoo will be hosting a free event featuring seven bands, free food and alcohol, and tattoo and piercing specials. The tattoo shop is located at 1496 Ocean Shore Blvd. There will also be a costume contest, a raffle and local vendors.

BUSINESS

Speech language pathologists plant ‘Social Seeds’

Social Seeds is a therapeutic play group at Nova Rec for kids with early language development needs.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

For years, Speech Language Pathologist Sara Ambrosio dreamed of a hosting a therapeutic play group, with caregiver support element.

Through her work at Beachside Elementary and in her private practice, Connected Communication, Ambrosio met many families that struggled with feelings of isolation and lack of support as their children experienced a need for further early language development. She thought a play group, one that focused on helping young kids make connections while providing a space for their parents and caregivers to lean on each other, would help fill the community need.

“I’ve just had this —I call it my brain baby — for years about creating this kind of space for people in our community that need access to it, and I couldn’t figure out how to get it off the ground by myself,” Ambrosio said.

Then Ambrosio met Kara Heckerman, fellow a speech language pathologist. Heckerman is the founder of Aligned Horizons, which provides speech therapy services. Together, they formed Social Seeds. The group first met on Sept. 15 at the Nova Community Center. The play group meets on certain Wednesdays at 4:45 p.m. inside the room

for Club T-Rec. Each session costs $25 and once a month, Social Seeds offers a free parent-caregiver support group. The next play group session is Nov. 5.

Heckerman said that play groups like Social Seeds helps support early language development through creating a setting that is flexible to a child’s needs while introducing elements of structured play in a group environment. Caregivers can also learn strategies to further language development at home.

“The child’s also learning, ‘Oh it is safe to be around kids my age and in a setting like this, and this is how you’re supposed to act and participate when you do these sort of things,’” Heckerman said. “So it’s helpful in that the parent receives some kind of education and feedback, but then also the child is experiencing what that’s like.”

Most of the children participating in social seeds are about 2-4 years old. Some are older but developmentally, are closer to the age range Social Seeds aims to serve. Some have diagnoses like autism, and others have a developmental delay, and some don’t.

“We’re just so proud that we were able to figure out a way to help bring people in our community together that may have otherwise not had the chance,” Ambrosio said.

Melody Foley and her 3-year-old daughter Kinley have participated in a few of Social Seeds’ sessions. The first time her daughter, who is speech delayed, took part, she had little interest in interacting in the group. But that has started to change.

“She sat for almost a whole

story the other day, which was a huge achievement for us,” Foley said. She found out about Social Seeds after seeing a post on social media. Foley knows Ambrosio, and she reached out to learn more about Social Seeds. The interaction with other parents has also helped her feel less alone.

“All these kids are learning at their own pace,” Foley said.

“It’s nice to have that, ‘Oh, we’re not sitting on an island by ourselves.’”

The addition of the caregiver support group is what stood out for Heckerman.

That seemed like the biggest need in her eyes — a place where parents could speak to others going through similar experiences.

“I’ve been learning a lot, listening to their stories, and I feel like the last meetup we had was just so eye opening for me,” she said. “To me, the advice would be, ‘You’re not alone,’ because I think it can feel super isolating. You’re navigating this whole new world you didn’t think that you might have to deal with and it’s devastating for a lot of families, especially if you’ve

never had any experience with that.”

Social Seeds hopes to bring in other professionals to help with the caregiver meetups. For example, for December’s support group, Social Seeds is hosting Mandala Yoga who will conduct a class for the parents.

During that first caregiver meetup, everybody was emotional, Ambrosio said. Through her work with families, she often would leave sad from their sessions knowing they felt alone and that they needed a network and a community. Heckerman, she said, was the missing piece to creating that space.

“I just looked around the room and told everybody that I felt like after 20 years of being a speech language pathologist, my dreams were finally, literally, coming true right before my eyes,” Ambrosio said. “... Watching it unfold has just renewed my passion for what I’ve known I’ve wanted to do since I was 10 years old.”

To register for the next Social Seeds session, visit https:// forms.gle/PWEy68N2zUK1bSVH7.

Speech Language Pathologists Kara Heckerman and Sara Ambrosio. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

SPORTS

Mainland solid for four quarters in 33-6 win over Palm Bay Heritage.

MICHELE MEYERS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

For the first time this season, Mainland football coach Jerrime “Squat -

ty” Bell said his team played a four-quarter game. The Buccaneers were up 16-0 going into the half against the Heritage Panthers and finished with a 33-6 win on Mainland’s Senior Night at the Daytona Stadium.

Mainland improved to 5-2 with two games to play.

“We played offense and defense,” Bell said. “Special teams played well all four quarters. Offense stalled out a little bit second quarter but the game kind of got a little funky after the early start and a couple turnovers. Third quarter, we came back out on fire. Fourth quarter, we finished the game.”

Linebacker Dennis “Tank” King III had 10 tackles in the game, nine solo and one for a loss. He also intercepted a pass and recovered a Heritage fumble in the end zone on the opening kickoff.

Bell said King was a presence on the field.

“Tank King had a great game,” Bell said. “Man, if you want to have a Senior Night, that’s how you have a Senior

COMPLETE GAME

back-ups some playing time.

Sophomore quarterback Keith Simmons replaced Johnson toward the end of the game. and finished with 8 yards rushing and 18 yards passing.

Night. He did everything— recovered fumbles, got interceptions. He was just all over the field, just a presence. So defensively, he showed up.”

King has 29 college offers and has made a hard commit to the University of South Florida.

Offensively, Bell said lineman Chevin Davis had an exceptional game.

“Davis is our anchor — our leader,” Bell said. “I also thought our receivers played a really good game and Seabass (quarterback Sebastian Johnson) is our field general — always trying to make plays out there.”

In the first half, running back Joshua Dudley scored on a 20-yard bulldozing run into the end zone. Johnson threw a touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Jaden “Melo” Parks, who had a 108 yards receiving in the game.

Wide receiver Chris Butler caught a 33-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and Johnson finished with a quarterback keeper in the fourth quarter for the final touchdown of the game.

Bell said the game provided an opportunity to give a lot of

“Keith is extremely talented and really young too,” Bell said. “He’s got a very bright future.”

Mainland travels to Belleview on Friday, Oct. 24. A win will clinch the district championship for the Bucs. But they are practically assured a trip to the playoffs anyway.

Bell laughed as he said it is going to be a nice bus ride to Belleview ... in the middle of nowhere.

“We’ve got to do it,” he said.

“We’ve got a chance to keep the district playoff streak alive to win another district championship. That’s always the biggest thing. Goal is to be champions three times in the season — district champion, region champion, state champion. So we’ve got a chance to lock one down this week.”

The Bucs end the season on Oct. 31 in a game against cross-town rival Seabreeze.

“Coach Klein has got (Seabreeze) playing really good football,” Bell said. “We cannot overlook that game, but we’ve got to handle Belleview first and then the city rivalry. The Belleview game is extremely important and we cannot take it for granted.”

“We’ve got a chance to keep the district playoff streak alive to win another district championship. That’s always the biggest thing. Goal is to be champions three times in the season — district champion, region champion, state champion. So we’ve got a chance to lock one down this week.”

Mainland’s Marcus Day attempts a one-handed catch in the end zone with Heritage’s Elijah Parkes (5) and Steve Estime (18) in coverage.

Mainland wide receiver Jaden “Melo” Parks escapes a tackle by Marcus Hancock (11) and runs in for a touchdown. Photos by Michele Meyers

Mainland defensive lineman Tommy Bostick (52) takes down Heritage’s John White (8).

Mainland band seniors pose with principal Melissa Fraine (left) and band director Gregory Dukes (right), family and friends.

Mainland wide receiver Kaiden Flores (right) flies to a first down.

Mainland Senior Night is held to honor seniors from the AFJROTC (above), football team, band and their auxilliaries and the cheer squad.

Mainland senior cheerleaders.

JERRIME BELL, Mainland coach on this week’s Belleview game

SIDE LINES

Ortiz, Motley win classes at BMX event in Tampa Victor

Seabreeze falls behind early in loss to Viera

Turnovers and missed assignments contributed to Seabreeze falling behind early. The Sandcrabs never could dig out of the hole in a 41-14 loss at Viera on Oct. 17.

Two Seabreeze fumbles helped Viera (5-3) take a 31-7 lead at halftime.

“We came out flat,” Seabreeze coach Mike Klein said. “We’ve done that the last few weeks. They’re a well-coached football team. They do a good job of making you have to play disciplined assignment football. We battled and had a better second half, but there was no coming back at that point.”

Jeremias George rushed for 60 yards on nine carries and scored the Sandcrabs’ first touchdown on a 10-yard run. In the fourth quarter, Owen O’Rourke caught a screen pass from Jayce Gainer and took it 42 yards for a touchdown.

“We had good blocking on the edge. Once (O’Rourke) split the first line of defense he was gone. It was nice to see Owen making an impact on offense. He’s new to us (this season). He’s a starter on defense, but when we spread things out on offense, he starts on certain packages.”

The Sandcrabs (4-4) rushed for 161

“Everybody feels like we can do better. There are only two weeks left in the season. The message was how far we’ve come and that we owe to ourselves, to our seniors and to the program to finish the season strong.”

MIKE

KLEIN, Seabreeze coach

yards, averaging over 5 yards a carry. They also passed for a season-high 79 yards, completing 7 of 14 passes, which were also season-highs. Falling behind early, Seabreeze needed to pass more than usual to try to come back, but Klein said it’s also an indication of growth.

“It’s good to see our offense expanding,” he said. “It’s nice to see us use different weapons more efficiently. It’s nice to see some guys picking up some things and starting to excel.”

But while the offense was able to move the ball effectively at times against Viera, Klein said, penalties and turnovers derailed some drives.

“We were shooting ourselves in the foot,” he said. “Penalties have

been our Achilles heel throughout the season. They are drive killers.”

Seabreeze visits Pine Ridge (2-7) on Friday, Oct. 24. A win will guarantee the Sandcrabs at least a .500 record this year after finishing last season 2-7 in Klein’s first year. Seabreeze ends the season on Oct. 31 with its annual rivalry game against Mainland at Daytona Stadium.

“We had a good first practice of the week,” Klein said on Monday, Oct. 20. “Everybody feels like we can do better. There are only two weeks left in the season. The message was how far we’ve come and that we owe to ourselves, to our seniors and to the program to finish the season strong.”

Sandcrabs win 32 medals at Five Star swimming

Seabreeze boys and girls each placed third at the Five Star Conference swimming championships on Oct. 18 at the Port Orange YMCA. The Sandcrabs earned a totla of 32 first-, second- and third-place medals. Laurel Carson won the girls 200-yard freestyle and 500yard freestyle and was on the winning 200 freestyle relay with Noelle Dragstedt, Marin Beck and Addie Smurdon. Beck also won the 50 and 100 freestyle events. Reef McMeeking won the boys 200 individual medley and the 100 breastroke. Kai McMeeking won the 100 freestyle.

Seabreeze second-place finishers included Dragstedt in the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly and Smurdon in the 500 free behind Carson among the girls; and two boys relays teams — Carter Eby, Reef McMeeking, Kai McMeeking and Tyler Smith in the 200 medley and Kai and Reef McMeeking, Arthur Simpson and Smith in the 200 freestyle relay.

Seabreeze boys, girls 3rd at Five Star golf

Seabreeze placed third at the Five Star Conference boys golf championship on Monday, Oct. 20, at Daytona Golf Club. The Sandcrabs also placed third at the Five Star girls championships on Oct. 20 at Venetian Bay. Spruce Creek won both titles.

Two Seabreeze golfers placed among the top five at the boys tournament. Nathan Yarian tied for fifth with a 78 and Austin Upchurch tied for eighth with an 80.

The Sandcrabs’ Jillian Heller placed ninth in the girls tournament with a 91.

BMX racers Drew Motley. Courtesy photo BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Seabreeze’s Owen O’Rourke (5) takes the field before a game against New

Smyrna Beach on Sept. 26. O’Rourke scored on a 42-yard screen pass against

Viera on Oct. 17. File photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze, Mainland boys and FPC, Matanzas girls advance to state bowling

Defending state champion Sandcrabs came out of the consolation bracket to win the district title.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Seabreeze will get the chance to defend its boys state bowling championship.

The Sandcrabs are returning to the state championships after winning the District 3 boys championship on Monday, Oct. 20, at Palm Coast Lanes. Seabreeze had to come out of the consolation bracket and defeat Mainland twice in Baker matches to win the title. The Sandcrabs won the championship match 3-1, with the final Baker game decided by one pin, 212-211.

The Bucs will be joining the Sandcrabs at state as the district runner-up.

Flagler Palm Coast won the girls championship, with Matanzas taking the runnerup spot to advance to the state championships for the first time.

Matanzas senior Olivia Rabbat won the individual title with 652 total pins for a 217.3 average. There were only three 200 games among the 47 girls who bowled and Rabbat had two of them — a 203 and a 276.

Rabbat will be making her second trip to states — she was district runner-up last year. But this year she will be joined by all of her teammates.

“That makes it really special,” she said. “I was all alone last year, and I had to just push through by myself.”

FPC won three straight Baker matches to win the team

title, beating Tallahassee Lincoln 3-0, Matanzas 3-2 and Matanzas again in the championship match, 3-1. The Pirates beat Orange Park Ridgeview 3-2 in the first round and beat Ridgeview 3-0 again in the consolation final.

When the Bulldogs and Pirates weren’t competing against each other they were rooting for each other.

“That’s typical,” FPC coach Vicky Eaton said. “We make sure to support them and they come out to support us.”

Three FPC bowlers finished among the top 10 in the morning rounds with Victoria DaSilva Carvalheira fifth with a 165.3 average, Destiny Bonvouloir sixth with a 162.0 average and Kailyn Ball ninth with a 159.67. Seabreeze’s Katelyn Miller was 10th with a 153.67. The Seabreeze and Mainland boys claimed five of the top six individual spots. Logan Compton was first with a 239.67 average with team -

mate Braydon Russell second with a 236.67, Mainland’s Leiten Lundell — who bowled for Seabreeze last year — third with a 231.67, Menendez’s John McGauhey fourth with a 229.33, Seabreeze’s Dalton Boyce fifth with a 228.0 and Mainland’s Jack Patulski sixth with a 225.33.

“I had a really good start,” Compton said. “I wasn’t throwing the most consistent shots, but I got some lucky breaks. For me, it was taking more time on my shots.”

Boyce rolled a strike in the 10th frame of Game 4 in the final Baker match to clinch the Sandcrabs’ second straight district title. Seabreeze had to play 23 Baker games in the afternoon session to come out on top.

“It was a long day,” Seabreeze’s Xavier Subia said.

“We had to beat everybody (twice). Last year we won everything; we didn’t have to go into the loser’s bracket. This year we only have five players, so everyone has to play.”

The Sandcrabs had the top team score in the morning but lost their first Baker match to Pedro Menendez 3-2 to drop to the consolation bracket, where they beat Tallahassee Rickards 3-2 after losing the first two games, and then beat Menendez 3-1 to face Mainland for the championship.

“We were worried about not making the finals after losing the first one to Pedro,” Seabreeze coach Paul Shuler said.

The Bucs won two straight 3-0 matches in the doubleelimination event to face their crosstown rivals in the

finals and could afford to lose a match.

Seabreeze beat Mainland 3-2 to set up the final match, winning the third game by one pin, 183-182, and winning the fifth game, 215190.

The Sandcrabs bowled over 200 in all four games of the final match. The Bucs put up consecutive 211 scores in games 3 and 4, but that wasn’t enough as Seabreeze closed with a 247 and a 212. With four bowlers returning from last year’s state championship team, Compton said experience was the difference.

“It goes down to experience and keeping your cool,” he said.

The state championships are scheduled for Oct. 28-30 at Boardwalk Bowl Entertainment Center in Orlando.

Matanzas’ Dylan Ciardi, Rena Carlton win Freshman-Sophomore titles

In boys race, Matanzas’ Tanner Lagocki was third, Mainland’s Maddox Howe fourth and Seabreeze’s Audie Dayton sixth.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Rena Carlton has gotten faster in just about every cross country meet she’s run this season. Dylan Ciardi is trying to get back to the times he was posting before injuring his toe.

Both Matanzas freshmen won the Volusia-Flagler Freshman-Sophomore championships on Oct. 15 on the Matanzas campus.

Ciardi ran a 17:42.81 in his first meet since he injured his toe in club soccer practice over three weeks ago. He had just started running again only days before the VolusiaFlagler meet.

“We’ve been monitoring it and just trying to be very careful, because obviously we want him to run well now but also run well in the future. As a freshman, he has a long time ahead of him in running,” Matanzas coach Katie Hoover said.

At his first high school meet on Aug. 22 at the Cecil Field Summer Classic in Jack -

“My goal was originally to run a sub-16 before I injured my toe. Now it’s around sub16:20 or sub 16:10,” he said. If he hadn’t suffered the injury, Ciardi wouldn’t have run in the freshman-sophomore meet. One bright side is he won his first cross country title. Even in middle school, he said, he always came in second.

sonville, Ciardi ran a 16:36, which is still among the top freshmen times in the state. He ran 16:40 and 16:41 in his next two meets before suffering what he believes was a bone bruise.

He said he was pain-free at the Freshman-Sophomore meet, but he has a lot of catching up to do.

“Hopefully I can get around the 16:20s by state,” he said.

Matanzas also had the third-place finisher in the boys race with freshman Tanner Lagocki running an 18:30.58, just 2.3 seconds behind runner-up Luke Carlson of Spruce Creek.

Mainland sophomore Maddox Howe placed fourth with a personal-record 18:57.31. Seabreeze sophomore Audie Dayton was sixth in 19:03.39. And sophomore Barrett Jones of Seabreeze won the 10-place medal with a time of 19:35.86. Father Lopez’s Eldin Rankin finished 11th in 19:36.3.

CARLTON IMPROVING

Carlton ran a PR 22:10.7 to win the girls race. It was the sixth time in eight races this season that she set a new PR. She has lowered her time by about two and a half minutes since early in the season.

“I was surprised to win this race,” said Carlton, who finished 9.2 seconds ahead of Lilah Fusco of New Smyrna Beach.

Her coach, however wasn’t surprised.

“She’s been improving every single day, and she’s a great competitor,” Hoover said. “She had someone in front of her on her home course, and there was no way she was coming in second. She was going for the win.”

Carlton was second after the first mile. She took the lead at about a mile and a half and then heard footsteps as Fusco passed her.

“I was kind of losing my steam,” Carlton said. “And then I just heard everybody

around me cheering for me. I was like, ‘You know what, I’m going to win this.’ And I just pushed all the way through, and I used all that I had left. The third mile came around and I passed her, and I held first. I’m very proud of myself.”

Just two weeks ago, Carlton’s PR was 23:11. Now she’s hoping to run a sub-22-minute race before districts.

“I’ve been getting a PR each race, little by little, and I think I’m just going to keep getting better and better,” she said. Father Lopez sophomore Lisa Fulton placed fourth in 23:04.84. Seabreeze’s Emma Robinson (24:59.06) was 12th. Father Lopez’s Izy Kosko (25:14.07) was 13th. Spruce Creek won the boys team trophy, while New Smyrna Beach won the girls trophy.

Matanzas freshman Dyland Ciardi won the Volusia-Flagler Freshman-Sophomore Boys Championship with a time of 17:42.81.

Matanzas freshman Rena Carlton won Volusia-Flagler Girls Championship. Photos by Brent Woronoff

District 3 girls bowling champs, Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs: Destiny Bonvouloir, Casey Martin, coach Vicky Eaton, Victoria DaSilva Carvalheira, coach Kevin Hand, Izzy Oliva, Mya Kelly, Jenet Serrano, Kailyn Ball (front). Photos by Brent Woronoff

District 3 girls bowling individual champ Olivia Rabbat of Matanzas.

Seabreeze bowling coach Paul Shuler takes a selfie with the boys team, which will try to defend its state championship on Oct. 28-30 at Boardwalk Bowl Entertainment Center.

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AMENDED NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2025 12513 PRDL Division 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF CONSTANCE H. ESPIRITU Deceased. The administration of the estate of Constance H. Espiritu, deceased, whose date of death was July 4, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Post Office Box 6043, DeLand, FL 32724. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claim or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is October 23, 2025. Personal Representative: Janine J. Rinaldi 1620 Areca Palm Dr Port Orange, Florida 32128

Attorney for Personal Representative: GEORGE S. PAPPAS

Attorney Florida Bar Number: 224642

PAPPAS & RUSSELL PA 213 Silver Beach Avenue Daytona Beach, FL 32118

Telephone: (386) 254-2941

Fax: (386) 238-0350

E-Mail: gpappas@pappasrussell.com

Secondary E-Mail: jr@pappasrussell.com October 23, 30, 2025 25-00514I

CORPORATION, Plaintiff, vs. ESTATE OF MARLENE ZORAIDA LOWERY; et al., Defendants. TO: ESTATE OF MARLENE ZORAIDA LOWERY, 1594 DELPHI WAY NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL 32168 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose to the following property in Volusia County, Florida: LOT 94, OAK LEAF PRESERVE PHASE 2, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 63, PAGES 135 THROUGH 138, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. Also known as 1594 DELPHI WAY, NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL 32168 (the “Property”). has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Sokolof Remtulla, LLP, the plaintiff’s attorney, whose address is 6801 Lake Worth Road, Suite 100E, Greenacres, FL 33467, on or before NOV 10 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on the plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

DATED on OCT 10 2025 LAURA E. ROTH, ESQ CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT By: /s/ Shawnee S. Smith

DEPUTY CLERK

SOKOLOF REMTULLA, LLP

6801 Lake Worth Road, Suite 100E

Greenacres, FL 33467

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Counsel for Plaintiff October 23, 30, 2025 25-00512I

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 13050 CIDL ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS INC., Plaintiff, vs. THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF DARREN BEINERT, DECEASED, et. al. Defendant(s), TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF DARREN BEINERT, DECEASED, whose residence is unknown if he/she/they be living; and if he/she/they be dead, the unknown defendants who may be spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees, and all parties claiming an interest by, through, under or against the Defendants, who are not known to be dead or alive, and all parties having or claiming to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the mortgage being foreclosed herein. TO: CINDA FAYE CARTLIDGE, 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: PARCEL #1: LOT 45, BLOCK F, QUAIL ROOST RANCHES, ACCORDING TO THE UNRECORDED PLAT THEREOF, BEING MORE FULLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCE AT THE N.E. CORNER OF THE S 1/2 OF U. S. GOVERNMENT LOT 14,

SECTION 1, TOWNSHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE 32 EAST, VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. THENCE RUN S 89° 22’ 17” W ALONG THE NORTH LINES OF THE S 1/2 OF U. S. GOVERNMENT LOTS 14,13,12, AND 11, AFOREMENTIONED SECTION 1, FOR A DISTANCE OF 1353.61 FEET TO THE N. W. CORNER AND THE POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE TRACT ABOUT TO BE DESCRIBED; THENCE RUN S 1° 39’32” W FOR A DISTANCE OF 660.15 FEET: THENCE RUN N 89° 28’ 48” E FOR A DISTANCE OF 165.00 FEET; THENCE RUN N 1° 39’ 32” E FOR A DISTANCE OF 660.47 FEET; THENCE RUN S 89° 22’ 17” W FOR A DISTANCE OF 165.00 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. PARCEL #2: LOT 46, BLOCK F, QUAIL ROOST RANCHES, ACCORDING TO THE UNRECORDED PLAT THEREOF, BEING MORE FULLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCE AT THE N. E. CORNER OF THE S 1/2 OF U. S. GOVERNMENT LOT 14, SECTION 1, TOWNSHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE 32 EAST VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. THENCE RUN S 89° 22’ 17” W ALONG THE NORTH LINES OF THE S 1/2 OF U. S. GOVERNMENT LOTS 14,13,12 AND 11, AFOREMENTIONED SECTION 1, FOR A DISTANCE OF 1188.61 FEET TO THE N. W. CORNER AND THE POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE TRACT ABOUT TO BE DESCRIBED: THENCE RUN S 1° 39’ 32” W FOR A DISTANCE OF 660.47 FEET; THENCE RUN N 89° 28’ 48” E FOR A DISTANCE OF 165.00 FEET; THENCE RUN N 1° 39’ 32” E FOR A DISTANCE OF 660.79 FEET; THENCE RUN S 89° 22’ 17” W FOR A DISTANCE OF 165.00 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. PARCEL #3: LOT 47, BLOCK F, QUAIL ROOST RANCHES, ACCORDING TO THE UNRECORDED PLAT THEREOF, BEING MORE FULLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCE AT

THE N. E. CORNER OF THE S 1/2 OF U. S. GOVERNMENT LOT 14, SECTION 1, TOWNSHIP 18, SOUTH, RANGE 32 EAST, VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA; THENCE RUN S 89° 22’ 17” W ALONG THE NORTH LINES OF THE S 1/2 OF U.S. GOVERNMENT LOTS 14,13,12 AND 11, AFOREMENTIONED SECTION 1, FOR A DISTANCE OF 1023.61