Ormond Beach Observer 4-23-26

ORMOND BEACH

Property tax for teacher

teacher’s union, discuss voter referendum for teacher, staff pay.

Alachua

Hand Ave. redesign limits access to Prince of Peace

The new median impacts the church’s thrift store and back entrance, forcing parishioners to make a U-turn further down.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Volusia County’s $5.1 million road project on Hand Avenue in Ormond Beach was designed to increase capacity and safety. It’s also blocking an entrance to one of the city’s largest churches.

Members of Prince of Peace Catholic Church, located at 600 S. Nova Road, approached the Volusia County Council on Tuesday, April 21, asking for a median to be removed from the county’s redesign. The median, which is under construction, blocks the church’s entrance on Hand Avenue to drivers traveling east seeking to make a left-hand turn into Prince of Peace.

“We understand these projects are meant to benefit the broader community,” Prince of Peace Rev. Justin Vakko said. “However ... the newly installed median directly in front of our west entrance has cre-

ated a significant and unintended hardship.”

The entrance on Hand Avenue is the primary access point for the church’s thrift store, Like New Shop. Church member John Malafronte, who is the chairman of Prince of Peace’s facilities committee and member of its finance council, was the project manager for the thrift store when it was built over 10 years ago.

“When we started planning for our new store, we had to solicit input from our neighbors and businesses and hear their concerns,” Malafronte said. “We held open meetings for local residents and then asked the city of Ormond Beach for approval.”

The church wasn’t notified that its eastbound access from Hand Avenue would be impacted until the county placed the barriers for the new median.

After numerous calls to county staff members, Malafronte said he received a call back from County Engineer Tadd Kasbeer, who informed him the change was made for safety — and that those wanting to enter the church’s thrift shop can make a U-turn at the Wellington Station condominiums’ entrance.

“I asked him if there was an

appeal process, and he said no,” Malafronte said.

In addition to removing the median, Malafronte suggested that other remedies could include adding a traffic light or adding a new entrance onto Prince of Peace near the retention pond or east by Wellington Station.

The Prince of Peace parish serves 2,000 registered families, said Betty White, a church member who serves on the parish council. Beyond the thrift store, Hand Avenue provides access to the church’s adoration chapel. With the city’s growth concentrated on the west side of Ormond, most parishioners likely access the church on Hand Avenue, instead of on Nova Road, she said.

“It’s not about being an inconvenience,” White said. “It’s about limiting access to the property.”

The church’s food pantry, also near the Hand Avenue entrance, served over 10,081 families last year. This year to date, the pantry has served 2,903 families, and if the need continues, the church expects to serve over 11,600 families by the end of 2026.

The food pantry is funded by the church’s thrift store, which had over 35,000 sales last year.

Many of the parishioners are seniors, Vakko said, and the new median design forces them to “take longer, more complicated routers or make risky turns.”

“What was once a simple and safe entrance has become a barrier for the very people we serve,” Vakko said. “We are not asking the project be undone but we are respectfully asking the council to revisit this specific design decision.”

Though the Hand Avenue changes are a county project, Ormond Beach City Commissioners briefly discussed the issue at their meeting that same evening. Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland, who is a parishioner at Prince of Peace, asked if her fellow commissioners and mayor would be willing to write a letter to the County Council to support the church’s position.

“Half of the parish uses the back entrance,” Tolland said. “... I would like to keep being proactive as much as we can, until they say no indefinitely. But I’m hopeful.” The road project isn’t only affecting Prince of Peace, Commissioner Travis Sargent said. He’s also received concerns from his church, Tomoka Christian. Email jarleene@observerlocal news.com.

Seabreeze

(11)

Photo by Michele Meyers

Ormond MainStreet hosts 15th annual Celtic Festival, honoring the festival’s late founder, Chuck Spano. PAGE 3A

NEWS BRIEFS

Flagler Beach and Fire Department accept $20,000 donation for AEDs

The City of Flagler Beach and the Flagler Beach Fire Department recently accepted a $20,000 donation to the Flagler Beach Volunteer Fire Association in memory of the late Mark Hietpas.

This contribution will fund the installation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in five key public locations throughout the city/county and provide essential supplies for existing AED units, strengthening lifesaving resources available to residents and visitors.

A special presentation was held at Flagler Beach City Hall

to honor this gift. In attendance were Mayor Patti King, Hietpas’ wife Susan Smith, Flagler Beach Fire Department Lt. Morgan Rainey, retired Fire Chief Robert Creal, Fire Inspector Bruce Adams and numerous community members who have supported the effort to expand public access to emergency medical equipment. Susan Smith spoke on the importance of the initiative and the profound impact that bystander AED use can have on survival rates.

“Every year, AEDs used by bystanders save over 1700 lives — often within just minutes when every second truly matters,” Smith said. “Ensuring these devices are widely available not only honors Mark’s memory, but strengthens the safety of our entire community.”

Her husband died in 2024 after getting caught in a rip current while swimming in the

British Virgin Islands.

“We are deeply grateful to Susan and to everyone who helped make this possible,” Mayor Patti King said.

Palm

Coast man

arrested in child exploitation investigation

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Palm Coast man found to have been downloading child sexual abuse material.

On April 16, detectives interviewed the suspect, identified as Scott Beverst, 64, of Palm Coast, who admitted that he had been viewing child sexual abuse material since 2001 and preferred 11to 14-year-old girls. Beverst also agreed to show detectives child sexual abuse material on his laptop, according to an FCSO press release.

Following the search and

interview, detectives arrested Beverst for 10 counts of possession of child pornography. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $250,000 bond.

New York woman arrested in Flagler credit card fraud investigation

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for a woman after detectives determined she stole a victim’s credit card information and used it to make multiple purchases, deputies reported.

With assistance from the FCSO Real Time Crime Center, detectives identified the suspect as Qianlang Gan, 43, of Staten Island, New York. She was arrested and is currently being held at the John E. Goode Pretrial Detention Facility, following her arrest in Jacksonville. U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforce-

ment placed an immigration detainer on her.

Georgia inmate charged in scam impersonating Flagler deputy

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for Abraham Rivas, 32, who is incarcerated at Dooly State Prison in Georgia, in connection with a phonebased fraud scheme that targeted a Flagler County resident by impersonating a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

On March 12, deputies with FCSO’s Community Policing Division responded to a fraud report in Palm Coast after a victim reported sending two $500 payments to a person claiming to be “Officer Christopher Osorio with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.” The victim believed the money was required for bond and an ankle monitor following the victim’s spouse’s recent arrest.

he forgot his phone at home.

While the victim wanted to pursue charges, he told police he could change his mind in the future because they will continue to be neighbors. No arrests were made.

APRIL 10

NEIGHBOR AGAINST

NEIGHBOR

12:35 p.m. — 100 block of Beach Street, Ormond Beach Aggravated assault. An Ormond Beach man pressed charges against his 74-yearold neighbor after his neighbor almost ran him over with his SUV.

According to a police report, the 60-year-old victim was walking on a sidewalk when he heard a car honking behind him. He turned around and saw his neighbor drive up on the sidewalk, forcing him to move out of the way to avoid being hit.

The two then got into a physical altercation; the neighbor pushed the victim, who then punched him. The victim told police that earlier that morning, his neighbor had been yelling at someone in the parking lot, and the victim yelled at him to stop yelling.

Police then spoke with the neighbor, who said he had been speaking with an Uber driver that morning when the victim started yelling at him. He said that he saw him walking on the sidewalk later that day and pulled over, at which point the physical altercation took place.

When asked by police why

APRIL 16

CELL BLOCK MISCHIEF

9:26 p.m. — 1000 block of Justice Lane, Flagler County Criminal mischief, property damage. An inmate at the county jail found himself in hot water after he set off the sprinkler system across an entire cell block.

The inmate was placed in a cell alone that morning. That afternoon, according to his arrest report, security camera footage from the cellblock caught the inmate pacing in front of the cell door, watching for Sheriff’s Office deputies, for around 15 minutes.

Then, the camera footage caught the inmate walking to the rear of the cell and standing on a fixed chair. Suddenly, the cellblock’s entire sprinkler system went off.

Later, when deputies asked the inmate about it, he said he “only poked” the sprinkler head, thinking it was a camera, the report said. The inmate was re-arrested and charged with criminal mischief.

The inmate was originally arrested for violating a domestic violence injunction.

APRIL 17

GAS STATION

During the investigation, Detective First Class Douglas traveled to Dooly State Prison and interviewed Rivas. Rivas admitted to orchestrating the scheme and described how the fraud operation functioned from inside the Georgia prison system.

During the interview, Rivas stated that other inmates ran similar scams and claimed that correctional staff were aware of the activity. Rivas also claimed that he used proceeds from the fraud to purchase marijuana inside the prison. Detective Douglas obtained an arrest warrant charging Rivas with organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.

“The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office will never call, text, or email demanding money or personal information to clearup a warrant, avoid arrest, or resolve a legal issue,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Do not send money to anyone you do not know, especially via Zelle, Cash App, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other instant payment methods.”

tion by the victim, according to her arrest report. The victim said the argument started when the suspect’s truck cut him in line to the gas station. The victim then circled around to get the truck’s license plate on video, and that’s when the woman jumped out of the car and ran up to the victim’s car, reaching in and slapping the phone out of his hand. The victim caught the act on video and showed it to deputies. Because the woman reached into the victim’s car, the deputies charged her with burglary and battery, a felony. The woman was taken to the county jail.

APRIL 18

SUSPICIOUS MAN 9:26 a.m. — 300 block of North Nova Road, Ormond Beach

Suspicious person. Police responded to a local coffee shop after a barista reported that a man had come in, acting suspiciously and asking questions about the Jewish synagogue across the street.

According to the incident report, the man — wearing a sweater, sunglasses and a baseball cap — came in earlier that morning but didn’t buy anything. Instead, he asked about what time the synagogue opened up and whether it was an “atheist church or a Methodist church.” He left the store after a few minutes but quickly returned.

“This year is our 15th year, and it’s extra special because we are

celebrating the life and legacy of Chuck Spano, the founding father of this event.”

BECKY PARKER, Ormond MainStreet Executive Director

ebrating the life and legacy of Chuck Spano, the founding father of this event,” said Ormond MainStreet Executive Director Becky Parker.

“We’ve also expanded the Highland Games to two days. We’ve added some Highland cows, and we brought back the sheep herding by popular demand.”

Bagpipers, Celtic bands and traditional musicians performed throughout the weekend on the stages at Rockefeller Gardens and The Casements, including stages set along the Halifax River.

Visitors also stopped by the festival’s jam tent.

At Fortunato Park, Highland Games competitions were expanded to both days of the festival this year, with athletes competing in traditional feats of strength. Families also

gathered for pony rides, sheep herding demonstrations, visits with Highland cows and the annual dog parade.

Festivalgoers could also sample traditional Celtic food and drink, while browsing artisan and Celtic-themed merchandise throughout the weekend.

“Watching this all come together is truly exciting and we’re so happy that the community comes out here year after year to support us and celebrate,” Parker said.

Clan Campbel

Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie with William Ashmore from the Daytona/Ormond Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Demra Ashmore from the Capt. James Ormond Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Photos by Suzanne McCarthy

Volunteer Judy Stein, Ormond MainStreet Executive Director Becky Parker and volunteer Caryn Baker

Celtic chalk art at the Ormond Beach Celtic Festival.

Kara Levin puts the finishing touches on her chalk art of Celtic Goddess Brigid.

Damien and his son Austin

Highland Games at the Ormond Beach Celtic Festival.

VCS may relocate alternative school to Holly Hill

Riverview Learning Center was moved to Ormond’s former Osceola Elementary campus in 2024.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Volusia County Schools is exploring relocating Riverview Learning Center, and the district is looking at Holly Hill School as a possibility.

Superintendent Carmen Balgobin said during the School Board meeting on Tuesday, April 14, that the district is going through a “reimaging.” Looking at Riverview, she said, is phase one of the process.

“These are some of the nicest kids that you will find,” Balgobin said. “But they come from a household where all the opportunities were not there for them. These are our children.”

Riverview is an alternative education program for VCS students in K-12 with emotional and behavioral needs. In addition to classroom education, the program may provide students with needed counseling and therapeutic services. On average, about 30 students are enrolled in the

program at one time.

Riverview was relocated to the former Osceola Elementary campus at 100 Osceola Ave. for the 2024-2025 school year. That move garnered significant community pushback, as area residents were concerned about the proximity of the program to their neighborhood.

Balgobin told School Board members on Tuesday that maintaining the Osceola building is costing the district about $3 million a year.

But so far, Holly Hill leaders don’t seem convinced that moving Riverview to the Holly Hill School — the city’s only elementary school, as it stopped being a K-8 in 2024 — is a good idea.

“I don’t think an elementary school grounds is the appropriate location for the alternative school to be placed,” Holly Hill City Manager Joe Forte said to the School Board.

“I think it’s too close. I think, more than anything, it’s a perception. It’s not a good perception and we’ve been battling perceptions in the City of Holly Hill for a long time.”

Forte said he didn’t have anything negative to say about the program, and apologized for what transpired between district staff and city staff at a meeting on April 9. Forte said

he acted aggressively toward staff and apologized for his “knee-jerk reaction.”

“But my concerns still remain valid,” Forte said, adding that previous district administration and School Board members have made promises to the city that failed.

He worried this would be another one of those situations and asked if staff would look into alternative locations.

Balgobin said she appreciated Forte attending the School Board meeting as district staff told her they were “completely disrespected” in the meeting with Holly Hill.

“As I inquired more, we found out and they shared that they received erroneous information from some folks who shared that these are pretty much delinquent students wearing orange jumpsuits, and these students should not be with elementary students,” Balgobin said.

On Tuesday, Balgobin said city leaders, including the mayor, toured Riverview. Holly Hill School’s principal, she added, has also been receptive to the idea. The plan is to fence off the area and building where the Riverview students will be located so its independent from Holly Hill School.

CHECK OUT OUR EVER-GROWING MUSEUM IN MOTION SCHEDULE ONLINE AT

PRESENTED BY CHRISTIAN TRAVERSON, PLANETARIUM MANAGER & ASSISTANT CURATOR OF SCIENCE AT THE BROWN

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2026 2:00 PM TO 3:30 PM AT THE SHORES COMMUNITY CENTER 3000 BELLEMEAD DRIVE DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, FL 32118

A talk on the history and current science on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, from Project Blue Book to modern investigations and the broader search for life.

THIS PROGRAM IS FREE TO THE COMMUNITY WITH REGISTRATION AT THEBROWNMUSEUM.ORG

“It’s not a good perception and we’ve been battling perceptions in the City of Holly Hill for a long time.”

JOE FORTE, Holly Hill city manager

School Board member Donna Brosemer said she wondered if the district wasn’t getting ahead of itself on relocating Riverview.

“Unless there’s some pressure on us to hurry up and sell the Osceola site, and I don’t know that there is,” Brosemer said, asking for a pause to work with city leaders.

The district is committed to working with Holly Hill city leadership, Balgobin said. She also criticized local blogger and former Holly Hill Police Chief Mark Barker for writing about the Riverview issue in his April 9 blog post, saying he “never verifies the sources.”

“We’re here to make decisions in the best interest of students, but clearly we have some adults in our community that are committed, truly committed, to disrupting the educational process and the success of our students,” Balgobin said. “It’s getting to the point where enough is enough.”

In response, Barker wrote in his April 16 blog that Balgobin doesn’t know who his sources are, nor how he vets information from employees at all levels of the district who reach out to him.

“In this election year, I’ve had enough of those in government and publicly funded organizations that we generously compensate with our hard-earned tax dollars hectoring us with a constant stream of ‘you’re wrong, I’m right,’ ‘miscommunication,’ ‘erroneous information’ while gaslighting constituents with virtuous tall tales as a means of disguising the blunders and secrecy of a bloated bureaucracy intent on covering its wide and increasingly obvious tracks,” Barker wrote.

Email Jarleene Almenas at Jarleene@observerlocalnews. com

NEWS BRIEFS

OBPD celebrate retirement of Sgt. David Lank Ormond Beach Police Sgt. David Lank retired from the Ormond Beach Police Department in late March, following 15 years of service.

OBPD recognized his retirement in a post on Facebook.

“Known to many as ‘Papa Lank,’ he was more than just an exceptional officer,” the

Firefighter files to run for Ormond mayor

George Doran is the deputy chief at the Cross Creek Fire Department in Alachua County.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

MANAGING EDITOR

A fourth candidate has entered the 2026 race for Ormond Beach mayor.

George Doran, a deputy chief at the Cross Creek Fire Department in Alachua County, filed to run for the mayoral seat on April 10. A former member of the U.S. Army National Guard, he moved to Ormond Beach about three years ago, following four years on the Julington Creek Plantation Community Development District Board of Supervisors, an elected position in St. Johns County.

Doran said he decided to run for mayor after he was encouraged to do so by local friends.

“I’m not running against any one candidate,” he said.

“I’m running for office of mayor of Ormond Beach. I’m running for the people — to listen to what the people have to say.”

In addition to being a firefighter, Doran also works parttime at Island Doctors and at the Daytona International Speedway as a firefighter. His connection to Ormond continues with his fiance, who is a teacher at Ormond Beach Elementary. As a National Guardsman, he completed two tours in Afghanistan.

Doran has two previous arrests out of Jacksonville: One in 2012 for battery and another in 2014 for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was not convicted in either case. Doran had been employed by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office at the time.

Doran told the Observer these arrests took place after he got home from Afghanistan, where he sustained sig-

post reads. “He was a mentor, a leader, and someone who made those around him better, both on and off the job. His steady support and guidance left a positive impact

nificant injuries during both tours.

“Those are one of those things I wish I could take back, but I can’t,” Doran said of his arrests. “You have to learn how to move on from these things. War was the hardest thing to move on from.” As a candidate, Doran said he brings compassion, understanding and an open mind to discuss issues. Each of his campaign events, he said, will benefit a local charity.

“No matter what happens in August, or if it runs up that I get to November, I’m going to help the community regardless of the election, and that’s what I’m most excited about,” Doran said.

Flooding, growth, and environmental issues are on Doran’s mind as he begins his campaign. He doesn’t want Ormond Beach, he said, to lose its small-community feel to overdevelopment.

“Everything’s going to grow — it’s just a fact of life,” Doran said. “But we have to do it responsibly. I think right now, we have a foundation that isn’t as strong as we like it to be. You can’t really grow on a weak foundation.”

If elected, Doran says he wants to focus on the basics: public safety, utilities and retaining city workers, including fire and police.

There are three other candidates running for mayor to date: incumbent Jason Leslie, Zone 1 City Commissioner Lori Tolland and local landscaping business owner Damien Curry.

for the next generation of officers. We are so incredibly proud and grateful for his service to our community.” Lank joined OBPD in 2011. He retired on March 25.

Officers

George Doran. Courtesy photo

with the Ormond Beach Police Department celebrate the retirement of Sgt. David Lank. Courtesy photo

Would you pay more taxes to ensure Volusia teachers have better pay?

Volusia United Educators, school district mull referendum that would generate $70M.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

MANAGING EDITOR

If given a choice, would Volusia County voters choose to tax themselves to help fund teacher and support staff salaries?

During a special meeting on Friday, April 17, the Volusia County School Board voted 3-2 to pursue a referendum on the November ballot, a push led by Volusia United Educators. The teachers union states that a referendum, with a maximum term of four years, would generate about $70 million for teacher and support staff salaries.

“You’re the largest employer in this community,” VUE President Elizabeth Albert said to the School Board.

NEWS BRIEFS

Volusia County Schools identifies error in W-2s

About 7% of Volusia County Schools employees had an error in their 2025 W-2 tax forms, as identified by the school district itself during an internal review, according to a news release on Monday, April 20.

The error stemmed from last year’s payroll system migration from the district’s last enterprise resource plan-

“There are thousands of people that work here and have worked here, that want to support our public schools, that believe in the work that teachers and staff and administrators and trades people do every single day, and they want to help.”

Albert said that, based on a recent poll of Volusia County voters, a proposed school millage referendum is positioned to pass with 62% of the vote.

The referendum would not impact pay for the superintendent and her cabinet.

School Board Chair Ruben Colon and Board member Jamie Haynes voted no on moving the referendum forward, for different reasons.

Colon felt the timing for a new tax was wrong because families in his district are facing financial challenges.

“I think we have two years to get it right, to be ready, and should the time, economically, in our country become better — which everybody always has the hopes of — at that

time, we would have a fully executed plan that would be, through collaboration, ready to be brought forth,” Colon said.

Haynes said she needed to hear all of the terms and steps of the referendum before she could give her approval.

“I can love the big picture, but we need the details,” she said. “People listening today need to know the details.”

Though the remaining three School Board members supported the referendum, there was hesitation about the idea of increasing taxes.

School Board member Donna Brosemer said she believed the referendum should go to the voters, but wasn’t in favor of the district endorsing it.

“Maybe the more practical way for us to approach this, and more appropriate way for us to approach this, is to agree to let this go to the voters and for the district to use its voice to encourage the public to get educated about this,” she said.

If the board chooses to move forward with the refer-

ning system; the district has shifted from CrossPointe to Focus, with a full implementation scheduled to be complete by July 1. “Many of the people who received this letter are teachers, support staff, and district staff who show up every single day for our kids,” Superintendent Carmen Balgobin said in the news release. “They don’t come to work expecting to deal with a tax problem we created. That weighs on me personally. I acknowledge the responsibility and assure you that corrective actions are being taken promptly. All affected employees will receive comprehensive support throughout this process.”

The error is limited to W-2 reporting only. The district reports that the transfer of the historical payroll data was accurate, but “a gap in the W-2 generation process caused certain deduction records to be excluded from Box 2 of affected employees’ forms.”

The district stated in the news release that affected employees are being made whole at zero personal cost to amend their W-2s. Corrected forms are being mailed or are available for pick-up at the DeLand Administration Complex through April 24, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Employees were also notified of further remediation plans.

endum, however, Superintendent Carmen Balgobin said it would be a collaborative process. Board members would have to be prepared to facilitate educational sessions in their districts. Education on the referendum wouldn’t fall solely on the district and VUE.

“This is all of us,” she said. “All of you will be engaged — highly, highly engaged.”

VCS currently has a halfcent sales tax, which can only be used for capital projects — like building schools, facility renovations and purchasing technology or vehicles. Voters first approved a half-cent sales tax for schools in 2001; it was extended for another 15 years in 2014. The extension took effect in 2017 and will run through the end of 2031.

The starting teacher salary for the 2025-2026 school year in Volusia was $49,201, according to data shared by district staff. Through bargaining, that has been increased to $50,000. The average teacher pay in the district is $52,613.

Flagler County comes together for 17th Power of the Purse

The 17th annual Power of the Purse fundraiser brought the Flagler County community together to support local nonprofits, raising funds for programs that benefit women, children and families.

Hosted by Women United Flagler, the event highlighted the impact of communitydriven philanthropy while honoring individuals dedicated to service. This year’s Woman of the Year, Linda Mahran, was recognized for her decades of involvement with United Way and her

VCS Chief Financial Officer Deidra Whittenberger said the district does face competitive pressure with its teacher and support staff salaries.

“We are comparatively lower medium household income than other neighboring districts,” she said. “However, additional local revenue through an operational millage referendum could support compensation and programs. It is important to balance the needs of the community’s overall economic capacity and the potential taxpayer impact.”

While its starting teacher salary is competitive with other districts, its average teacher salary is lower. Seminole, Orange and Brevard, for example, have an average teacher salary of $56,650, $59,309, and $55,213, respectively.

However, like cities and counties throughout Florida, VCS is concerned about the governor’s proposed property tax reform. While the current proposal doesn’t eliminate

levies for school districts, Whittenberger said, “We do not know the long-term proposals or future policy changes that could modify this structure.”

Meaning, as counties and cities look to offset the loss of property taxes, they could look to an increased sales tax of their own and an expansion of taxable goods as new revenue sources.

“Property tax reform discussions create uncertainty around future funding,” Whittenberger said. “While the school may appear protected now, longterm impacts are still unclear. The timing of a referendum should consider both current operational needs and the evolving economic and legislative environment.”

On May 12, the School Board will hold a vote to place the referendum on the ballot. If it passes, the proposal would then go before the Volusia County Council for approval. Email jarleene@observer localnews.com.

continued efforts to improve early childhood education. Funds raised through the event support a wide range of programs across Flagler

County, including housing assistance, food programs and educational initiatives, ensuring continued support for those in need.

James McFadden, MD Orthopedic Surgery Daytona Beach

Dale Traficante, MD, FACS Urology Daytona Beach

Patricia Esquivel, MD OB/GYN Daytona Beach

Zachary Tyser, MD OB/GYN Daytona Beach

Sarah Marino, DO OB/GYN Daytona Beach

Sonya Clark, DO Orthopedic Surgery New Smyrna Beach

Earle Pescatore, DO Urogynecology Palm Coast | St Augustine

Sanjana Thota-Kammili, MD Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Palm Coast

Ashraf Elsakr, MD Cardiology Port Orange

Eileen Alvarez, Haylie Allegra, Crissy Colby and Dr. Amberly Parkhurst, at Power of the Purse, in Flagler County. Courtesy photo

• Brand new affordable senior villas

• Now leasing, Opening May 2026

• 2BR and 2BR with Den Villas starting at $1284

• Attached garages and expanded patios available in select units

• Minutes to the Town Center, Publix, and I95

• Pet Friendly

BUSINESS

Swillerbees expands in Flagler Beach

Family-owned coffee and doughnut shop focuses on community connection.

RICH CARROLL

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER

A local favorite is entering a new chapter, as Swillerbees celebrated its grand opening and ribbon cutting Saturday, April 18, at its new location in Flagler Beach.

The family-owned coffee and donut shop, co-owned by Mike, Holly and Dakota Wehde, has served the com-

BIZ BUZZ

Take 5 Oil Change opens new location on LPGA, in Daytona

Take 5 Oil Change in Daytona Beach is now open, at 1962 LPGA Blvd. The new shop has three service bays; customers remain in their cars while technicians complete an oil change in about 10 minutes. Every service includes free tire pressure checks, fluid top-offs, and complimentary bottled water.

To celebrate the grand opening, Take 5 Oil Change is offering customers $25 toward any oil change for a limited time.

Ormond-by-theSea man leads 3rd largest school of education

Dr. Denver J. Fowler is the dean of the School of Education and professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Alliant University in San Diego, California.

It’s a position he holds from his city of residence, Ormondby-the-Sea, where he relocated his family to a year ago.

“Over the years, regardless of where we lived in the United States, we would always visit our family who live in the Ormond Beach and Palm

munity for more than 21 years.

The business recently relocated to a larger space across the street, designed to expand its role beyond food service into a gathering place for the community.

“We do love doughnuts and ice cream, but what we really love is people,” said co-owner Holly Wehde during the ceremony. “We love this community. … Our motto here is to make people feel loved, valued and known.”

Co-owner Mike Wehde thanked the community for their support.

“We couldn’t feel more proud to be a part of this com-

Coast areas,” Fowler said in an email to the Observer. “That is, we have been coming to this area since the early 2000s. We always loved the area and once I had the opportunity to work remotely, we decided to move here. I must say that we love it here and we are excited about the opportunity to finish raising our boys here.” Fowler has served in various positions within higher education at universities across the U.S., including Ohio State University, University of Mississippi, University of West Florida and more. Prior to that, he worked in the PreK-12 education setting, during which he was named State Assistant Principal of the Year in Ohio and nominated for the nationwide recognition.

Cultural Awareness Fund appoints new board member

Ormond Beach nonprofit Cultural Awareness Fund, Inc. recently appointed Lancelot S. Lenard to its Board of Directors. Lenard is the founder of Sir Lancelot’s Table, a philanthropic initiative that supports youth scholarships, leads fundraising initiatives for scouting organizations and advances international humanitarian outreach, including programs benefiting orphans in Uganda.

Born in Sweden and raised in Hungary, Lenard is a member of the Hungarian Club of Daytona Beach.

munity for 21 years,” he said.

The new space has been designed to serve as what the owners call a “community hive.”

“Over the last few months, we’ve been renovating this space because we really wanted to create a community hub where people could come in and sit and stay and just fellowship,” said co-owner Dakota Wehde.

The location is expected to host everything from a place for moms to hang out to Bible studies and entrepreneurial events, reinforcing its focus on community connection.

Avelo Airlines celebrates over 150,000 passengers DBIA

Avelo Airlines recently celebrated flying more than 150,000 customers on over 1,100 flights at Daytona Beach International Airport.

Avelo began flying in and out of DABB in June 2023. Avelo serves Southern Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven (HVN) and Philadelphia’s Wilmington Airport (ILG) from Daytona Beach.

Volusia, Flagler bookstores to host Bookstore Crawl

Seven bookstores across Volusia and Flagler counties are hosting a community-wide Bookstore Crawl in honor of Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 25. According to an email to the Observer, participants will scan a QR code to track their visits. The more stores visited, the more chances to win a prize. The participating stores are: The Bookmark’it, Bunnell; Novel Tea Book Shop, Ormond Beach; Fern and Fable, Ormond Beach; Book Rack, Port Orange; Turtle & Bea Book Boutique, Edgewater; Happy Hearth Books, DeLand; and Black Rose Bookshop, Orange City. The Book Crawl started on Monday, April 20, and will run through Sunday, April 26.

The Wehde family with Flagler Beach Mayor Patti King during the grand opening of Swillerbees in Flagler Beach. Photo by Rich Carroll

Holding the reins

Whispering Meadows partners

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Since February, five students from the Conklin Davis Center for the Visually Impaired have spent their Tuesday mornings at Whispering Meadows Ranch. It’s an opportunity that’s a first for all parties involved. Whispering Meadows Ranch, a nonprofit that provides equine-assisted programs to those with special needs and disabilities, has had visually impaired riders in the past, but it has never hosted a program like this one.

Thanks to a $10,000 grant from The Rogers and Waterhouse Foundation, five CDCVI students are taking part in a pilot designed to help them work with horses to further their development of core skills, such as independence, responsibility, self-awareness and confidence.

Kristine Aguirre, director of Whispering Meadows Ranch, has been able to witness that

firsthand.

“Their confidence level has gone through the roof,” she said. “... They would have a hand on their helper when they first came, and talking a lot with the girls especially — very shy, very timid, never been around horses before.”

Now, the students come in knowing which horse they want to work with, selecting them by name.

The idea for the program was born from a conversation between Nancy Epps, chair of the CDCVI board, and Dr. Shirley Waterhouse, founder and president of The Rogers and Waterhouse Foundation.

The two have been friends for almost 50 years and frequently have dinner together.

About a year ago, they were doing just that when Waterhouse shared she had received a certification in equineassisted learning. Her foundation was created in honor of her late husband, Dr. Rodney Rogers, and supports charities that advance animal advocacy or equine-assisted programs.

“I was energetically telling Nancy about equine-assisted learning and she said to me, ‘Could the visually impaired ever work with horses?’” Waterhouse recalled. “I wasn’t

sure exactly how it could be done, but my instincts were saying yes, yes!”

Waterhouse then contacted Aguirre, who jumped on the pilot program idea. The women brainstormed what it would look like together, and then Aguirre submitted a grant proposal to the foundation.

The foundation’s board unanimously approved the proposal.

“We favor projects that partner animals and people,” Waterhouse said. “We believe that when humans and animals work together, the wellbeing of each is enhanced. We do hope we can expand the Whispering Meadows Ranch and Conklin Davis Center program.”

CDCVI polled its students to gauge interest — and they were very interested, said Ronee David, president and CEO of CDCVI. With Whispering Ranch moving from Flagler County to Ormond Beach, it seemed like good timing.

The students’ progression in the program, David said, has been “wonderful.” So has the opportunity to expose students to something new.

“Because they’re blind, they have limited exposure to different types of interesting activities, and this is something that they would never have in their everyday life without our program,” David said.

And while CDCVI provides students with a variety of programs to help develop skills to become independent, this is one that allows them to do something fun and creative, said Karla Bucholz, program director at CDCVI.

“It’s showing them that there’s more out there than working, getting a job — some socializing,” Bucholz said.

“It’s opening up new ideas for them. New horizons.”

The students have learned how to put a halter on the horses, to groom them and

are beginning to walk with them. Aguirre said one goal is to have them walk independently with their horse.

Recently, the students learned how to clean a horse’s hoof. To help guide them, Aguirre and Whispering Meadows Ranch volunteers worked on doing the task with their eyes closed.

“Doing that, it is a challenge,” Aguirre said. “They’ve been really great about sharing their feedback and what has been difficult and what they would like to do.”

Being close to the horses is their favorite part. One student, Camryn Johnson, sings to her horse during every program session.

It was that moment, as Johnson sang “I’m So In Love With You” to her horse Lollipop, that sticks in Waterhouse’s head as a favorite. It fills her with joy and love every time she recalls it.

“Observing and participating in some of the sessions have been some of the most heart-warming experiences I’ve had in my lifetime,” she said. “Seeing the joy the horses bring to the students is wonderful. Observing the heart-felt connection the students have with the horses and the friendships they are forming with the horses is so powerful. Seeing how dedicated and compassionate the staff of Whispering Meadows Ranch is inspires me.”

Chris Jannssen leads Cheyenne using a rope-assisted course during the equineassisted learning program at Whispering Meadows Ranch on Tuesday, April 14.

Meliza Lorenzo guides Jax alongside two helpers during the equine-assisted learning program at Whispering Meadows Ranch on Tuesday, April 14. Photos by Jarleene Almenas

with Conklin Davis Center for new program for the blind.

Kristine Aguirre, director of Whispering Meadows Ranch, leads Tucker at Whispering Meadows Ranch on Tuesday, April 14.

Kristine Aguirre, director of Whispering Meadows Ranch, leads Tucker at Whispering Meadows Ranch on Tuesday, April 14.

Kevin Brathwaite cleans Little Girl’s back hoof during the program.

MY VIEW THERESA PONTIERI, VICE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PALM COAST

State mandates don’t work. Keep housing decisions local.

‘We must return decision-making power where it belongs: to local governance.’

THERESA PONTIERI GUEST WRITER

of “affordable housing,” state lawmakers and bureaucrats have pushed top-down mandates, zoning overrides, and regulatory schemes that supersede our city and county governments. The result? Distorted markets, slower growth, and the very shortages they claim to fix. It doesn’t have to be this way. The solution isn’t more state interference — it’s less. Let capitalism and the free market do what they do best: respond to what Palm Coast residents actually need and can afford. Builders, developers, and local buyers know our market better than any distant bureaucrat. When government steps back, supply rises, prices stabilize, and families win. History proves it. Heavy-handed state

“solutions” — rent controls, forced density rules, or onesize-fits-all affordability quotas — only drive up costs, discourage new construction, and punish the very working families they’re meant to help.

That’s why we must return decision-making power where it belongs: to local governance. Palm Coast and Flagler County officials live here. They hear from residents every day. They understand our unique coastal challenges, our growth patterns, and our desire for balanced, responsible development. Local control means faster permitting for projects that make sense here, smarter zoning that protects neighborhoods, and policies shaped by the people who will actually live with

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

District should sell property, build pool

Dear Editor:

With the recent unsolicited proposal to purchase the school-owned property on Palm Coast Parkway, it’s important that we approach this opportunity with the utmost fiscal responsibility and long-term vision. As our community continues to grow at a rapid pace, so does the need for thoughtful, forward-looking planning; especially when it comes to educational and recreational facilities. Any decision involving public assets must focus on maximizing value for taxpayers while meeting the evolving needs of residents.

One practical solution worth consideration is for the school district to evaluate its property inventory and identify parcels not suitable for future school construction. Rather than allowing these properties to sit idle, the district could sell these obsolete assets and reinvest the proceeds into a dedicated pool for the school district’s use. It could also be opened to the community when appropriate, but schools would have a facility designed to meet their instructional and athletic needs.

Selling these properties also returns them to the Flagler County tax base, helping to diversify and strengthen the county’s tax structure. At the same time, we must

acknowledge the important role the YMCA has long played in serving families across our area. However, with the Frieda Zamba pool nearing the end of its functional lifespan, maintaining the status quo is no longer sufficient.

Looking ahead, our growing population will require more than a simple replacement. We need modern, adaptable facilities that can support school programs, community recreation, and future growth. The ideal path forward would be a collaborative effort to develop both a dedicated school facility and a new, state-of-the-art YMCA. However, this vision must be achieved without

the results.

This is the Reagan form of government — the philosophy that built America’s postwar prosperity. Ronald Reagan reminded us that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” He believed in getting Washington — and by extension, any distant capital — out of the way so that free people, free markets, and local leaders could solve problems closest to them. Reagan trusted communities, not centralized power. Tallahassee should do the same.

Palm Coast doesn’t need the state dictating how many units to build and what they must cost, while at the same time, passing legislations that handcuff our ability to

placing additional burdens on taxpayers.

The funding is out there; it’s a matter of identifying it, prioritizing it, and having the resolve to fight for it.

RON LONG Candidate for Flagler County School Board District 4

I agree — judge did coddle the ‘nurse’

Dear Editor:

I read with profound interest the letter to the editor from Darla Widnall. I agree with her assessment of the judge. I was appalled by the way the situation presented itself. This woman acting as a nurse violated so many rules. From what I read, I am guessing the hospital has to assume some responsibility

meet the needs of our city, like capping impact fees we can collect from builders and developers.

Leaders in Tallahassee may as well tell us they don’t trust us to understand our own need for a work force: young teachers, first responders, nurses, and other frontline workers. We do understand — intimately — for the benefit of our own community. We need Tallahassee to step aside and let free enterprise and local common-sense work. Our City Council, our county commission, and our voters are perfectly capable of charting our own housing future.

Theresa Pontieri is vice mayor of the City of Palm Coast and a candidate for Flagler County Commission, District Two.

for this fiasco.

I am a retired registered nurse with an active valid license in Florida and with my Ohio license on standby. I have been legally licensed for 63 years. In Ohio, we sat for two days taking written exams.

Because she bypassed the licensing exam, there was no way to evaluate her knowledge base. I firmly believe she did jeopardize the lives of the 4,486 she attended. Also, the hospital opened itself up to possible serious lawsuits by allowing an unlicensed person posing as a registered nurse dispensing medication, and making decisions about these patients. In Florida, if a nurse makes an error in action or judgement, it is her/his license that is being jeopardized, not the hospital. In this case, I believe there

was additional areas of liability. These statements are my opinion based on years of service in a plethora of nursing positions from bedside to administration, and it hurts me to hear of such gross negligence on the part of this “nurse.”

SANDRA McGONIGAL Ormond Beach

Honoring Life's Journey with Grace Cremation & Traditional Funeral Services

Why Pay More for the Same

Services?

When comparing funeral homes, it’s important to ask about the processing or document fees and the credit card fees that may be added to your final cost. Many families are surprised to learn that some funeral providers charge $149, $195, or even $495 for the exact same type of processing and documentation that Lotus Funeral Services provides for only $25.

And while many competitors also add a 3% credit card processing fee on every payment, Lotus Funeral Services charges no credit card fees – ever.

Before making a decision, we encourage you to ask any funeral home you’re considering:

1. What are your processing or document fees?

2.Do you add credit card processing fees to transactions?

3.Are there any additional service or administrative charges I should expect?

You’ll quickly see the Lotus difference. No hidden fees. No surprises. Just genuine care at a fair price.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Tree stewards

The Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center hosted a celebration and tree giveaway on Saturday, April 18, in honor of Earth Day. About 400 trees were distributed to locals at the event, which featured a variety of booths with educational exhibits about the environment of Ormond Beach. Vendors offered native Florida plants for sale, and members of the Ormond Beach Garden Club gave away free plants to children. The celebration was sponsored by Regrow Volusia, Regrow the

Volusia ECHO and the City of Ormond Beach. In addition to the educational displays, attendees enjoyed interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities and opportunities to learn more about local conservation efforts.

Ormond Beach Police Athletic League raises $18K in annual Donut Dash

A

OBSERVER STAFF

It was a sweet Saturday for Ormond Beach, as the Ormond Beach Police Athletic League’s annual Donut Dash 5K raised a total of $18,000 for its youth programs.

A total of 297 people finished the race, which is held annually at the Trails Shopping Center in Ormond Beach. The race winds through The Trails and Tomoka Oaks neighborhoods, and participants could grab Krispy Kreme doughnuts at stations.

The top 10 overall finishers were:

„ Hunter Shuler, 18, Daytona Beach — 17:12

„ Joey Davis, 18, Ormond Beach — 17:44

„ Barrett Jones, 15, Ormond Beach — 18:35

„ Paul Shuler, 60, Daytona

of

and

medals.

Beach — 18:37

„ Kylar Deaton, 16, Ormond Beach — 18:52

„ Madison Kerr-Wong, 20, DeLand — 18:57

„ Audie Dayton, 16, Ormond Beach — 20:45

„ Lucy Fulton, 16, Ormond Beach — 20:53

„ Kevin Blazic, 62, Chesterfield, New Jersey — 20:55

„ Brad Pinker, 40, Ormond Beach — 21:04

members

Ormond

Leonard Davis,

Daytona Beach,

Sunny Davis, of Ormond Beach, show off their

Beach Police Athletic League Board

Al Legg, Darrell Brock and Manny Manolas hand out donuts during the Ormond Beach Police Athletic League Donut Dash 5K on Saturday, April 18. Photos courtesy of Pauline Dulang/Ormond Beach Police

Ormond Beach Garden Club members Mary E. May, Zetta Gillespie and Sharon Mihalyak

Paula with Lyonia Enviromental Center

Volusia County Mosquito Control workers Savannah Stura and Elisha Alice educate others about mosquito problems in Volusia County.

Lisa Di. Nicolo, Karen Walter and Peter Sigmann with the Pawpaw Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. Photos by Sydney Tevin

Cam Roney, of Daytona Beach

Willie Williams, of Daytona Beach

Baylor Ouellette and Isaac Nugent, both of Ormond Beach, approach the finish.

R. Essex, of Ormond Beach

Jennifer Cannon and Kourtney Goodrich, both of Ormond Beach, approach the finish line.

Joey Davis, Barrett Jones and Kylar Deaton, all of Ormond Beach

Hunter Shuler, of Daytona

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, APRIL 23

PANEL: WHAT IS HOME RULE AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU?

When: 4-6 pm

Where: Anderson-Price Memorial Building 42 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Details: Join the League of Women Voters of Volusia County to help unpack how local decision-making powers, enshrined in the passage of Volusia County’s Home Rule Charter referendum in 1970, shape our communities, how regulations passed at the State level can override Home Rule, and what that means for us. Speakers include Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine; Ormond Beach City Commissioner Lori Tolland; Charter Review Committee member Pat Northey; and former Volusia County Attorney Lonnie Groot.

JOY OF STARGAZING

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Daytona Beach

Regional Library, 105 Jackie Robinson Parkway, Daytona Beach

Details: Adults can explore the night sky with Dr. Jason Aufdenberg, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Weather permitting, a telescope will be positioned outside for viewing the night sky. Registration not required.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25

SPEAKER SERIES: ‘TRULY OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA’

When: 10-11 a.m.

Where: Anderson-Price Memorial Building, 42 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach

TUESDAY, APRIL 28

ART IT THROUGH WORKSHOP

When: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28 and Thursday, April 30

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

Details: Monica Vidal will guide participants through arts-based activities designed to help them create their own tools to navigate life with grief. No artistic experience necessary. All supplies are provided. Costs $90 for museum members; $110 for non-members.

OMAM ART BOOK CLUB

When: 4-5 p.m.

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

‘QUIET LIGHT: THE ART OF SARA PEDIGO’ OPENING RECEPTION

When: 6-7 p.m.

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

Details: Attend the opening reception for this solo exhibition. There will be an artist talk, light refreshments and a cash bar. Free admission.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24

FINDING FRACTALS IN THE GARDEN: A CONTEMPLATIVE GARDEN

WALK

When: 10:30-11:30 a.m.

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

Beach

Details: Join spiritual director and author Deb Gregory for a contemplative walk through the garden. Costs $10 for members; $15 for non-members. Register at www.ormondartmuseum.org/ classes-programs.

BEGINNER WATERCOLOR

When: 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Fridays, April 24, May 1 and 8

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

Beach

Details: Presented by the Ormond Beach Historical Society, this is a program by Zach Zacharias, senior curator with The Brown/Museum of Arts and Sciences, on the hinter lands of Florida and places only familiar to locals. Free to Historical Society members; $10 for non-members. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

HEALTHIER WEALTHIER WISER, INC. SEMINAR

When: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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

Details: This is a free seminar featuring keynote speaker Christine Robinson. The topic will be “Early Detection Saves Lives: The importance of health screening.” Free lunch, resources, door prizes and more. RSVP to Investin health2022@gmail.com.

ARTWAVE YOUTH WORKSHOP

When: 2-3:30 p.m.

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

Beach

Details: Students ages 11 to 14 are invited to join instructor Barbara Saunders to learn the basics of sewing. All supplies included. Seats are limited. Early sign-up encouraged. Costs $15 for museum members; $20 for non-members. Visitormondartmuseum. org to register.

SUNDAY, APRIL 26

BACC VINTAGE CAR

DISPLAY

When: 12-4 p.m.

Details: This is a threesession workshop led by Sylvia Gortz. Students will learn essential techniques such as washes, blending and simple shading while painting a pear still life and a colorful landscape. Costs $180 for museum members; $200 for non-members. Register at www.ormondartmuseum.org/ classes-programs.

‘I HRT BROADWAY: A MUSICAL REVUE’

When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday April 24, 25, May 1 and May 2; and 2 p.m. Sunday April 26 and May 3

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

Details: See the Halifax Repertory Theatre’s Broadway revue. Tickets cost $35. Visit ormondbeachperformin gartscenter.csstix.com/.

Where: Saints & Sinners Pub at Destination Daytona, 1635 U.S. 1, Ormond Beach Details: See this free show. All classic cars and bikes welcome. There will be awards given and a 50/50 raffle benefiting Camp Boggy Creek Kids, entertainment by Octane Bill, food and drink specials available, plus a Good Humor ice cream truck.

A TRIBUTE TO AMERICAN MUSIC When: 3:30-5 p.m.

Where: Central Baptist Church, 152 Fairview Ave.,

Daytona Beach

Details: Join the Daytona Beach Choral Society for a journey through the soundtrack of America — Elvis, Johnny Cash, a Broadway Ragtime medley, soulful spirituals, and more. $10 donation suggested. Visit daytona

Details: The Art Book Club is a new program, hosted by the OMAM Guild, in celebration of OMAM’s 80th anniversary. This month’s book is “Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell, a 2020 historical fiction novel focusing on the 1596 death of William Shakespeare’s 11-year-old son from the plague. Free for museum members and veterans. Included in museum admission for all others.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30

SWING INTO SPRING — MINI CONCERT SERIES When: 6:30-8 p.m.

Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach Details: See Savannah Savino perform live. Bring a chair or blanket. Free event presented by the City of Ormond Beach.

DSC MUSIC TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTION PRESENTS MPT ROCKS! When: 5:3-7 p.m.

Where: News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach

Details: Attend this free event, featuring Daytona State Music Technology Production students.

FRIDAY, MAY 1

DSC THEATRE PRESENTS IMPROV SHOWCASE When: 7-9 p.m.

Where: News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach

Details: Attend this free improv showcase, presented by the Daytona State College Theatre department.

SATURDAY, MAY 2

52ND ANNUAL ART IN THE PARK When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 2; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 2

Where: Rockefeller Gardens. 26 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Attend this weekend featuring 100 artists and crafters, food trucks, live entertainment, kids’ craft zone and more. Presented by the City of Ormond Beach and the Ormond Memorial Art Museum. Free admission and parking.

Send events to jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com.

FOCUS ON FAITH

Interfaith and Community Resource Network to host conference

What are houses of worship, nonprofit organizations and government agencies doing to promote mental health and emotional wellbeing in our community? How can they work together to address needs that aren’t being met? These and other questions will guide the conversation during the Spring Sharing Conference presented by the Interfaith and Community Resource Network. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on

Saturday, April 25, in the community center of Our Lady of Lourdes Church located at 201 University Blvd. in Daytona Beach. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. for networking. The conference is free, including light refreshments and is open to the public. The IC Resource Network’s seasonal conferences are geared toward helping service providers and people of faith in and around Volusia County learn from one another and identify opportunities for collaboration.

Network leaders encourage houses of worship, nonprofit organizations and government agencies to send partic-

Brought to you by:

Stephenson, Wilcox and Associates

ipants. The conference will include speakers who work in mental health and wellness and related fields, information tables staffed by nonprofit organizations and ample opportunities for networking. For more information, call Sue Odena at 407-760-2304 or emailnews@icresourcenetwork.org.

YOUR SCHOOLS

Flagler Schools

honored as District of the Year, Small District Division

Flagler Schools is being honored as one of the nation’s leaders in the instruction of college-level coursework and the successful outcomes for students.

The International Education Group at Cambridge, a partner with Matanzas High School and its Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program, has named Flagler Schools its U.S. District of the Year, Small District Division.

The AICE program, a staple at Matanzas since the 2018-19 school year, caters to academically proficient students as an international pre-university curriculum and examination system.

“This award reflects the dedication of our educators and the ambition of our students,” said LaShakia Moore, superintendent of Flagler Schools. “Programs like Cambridge help our students think deeply, explore new ideas and graduate ready for the opportunities ahead.”

The Cambridge AICE program at Matanzas is a globally available three-year curriculum offering specialized courses designed to prepare students for honors degree programs

“Being recognized at the national level speaks to the culture our students and teachers have built together at Matanzas High School,” Matanzas Principal Mike Rinaldi said. “Our Cambridge AICE program challenges students to think critically and push beyond expectations. We’re proud to see their hard work translate

into real opportunities for their future.”

Representatives from the International Education Group at Cambridge will present Flagler Schools with this award at the May Matanzas High School faculty and staff meeting.

The annual awards recognize school systems that demonstrate strong student performance while rapidly expanding access to Cambridge’s globally recognized academic program.

Matanzas students lead Rymfire ESOL students with reading activities

Members of the Matanzas High School AMIGOS Hispanic Cultural Club and Matanzas ESOL students (English for Speakers of Other Languages) partnered with Rymfire Elementary School to develop a literature initiative with the ESOL elementary students in grades K-5.

On April 15, the high school students visited Rymfire, reading stories in English and Spanish to the elementary students

about gaining “superpowers” of honesty, patience, acceptance, love and gratefulness. After the students completed an activity related to the book, they received a superhero cape.

The project is led by Matanzas Spanish teacher Christina Gilliam, who developed the idea to give high school students mentoring opportunities that build emotional intelligence while enhancing reading skills in English and Spanish to develop bilingual skills.

Gilliam partnered with Dawn Emling, Matanzas ESOL reading teacher, and Jessica Gonzalez, elementary ESOL reading teacher.

“We are proud of the students at Matanzas who participated in this reading initiative,” Gilliam said.

Pine Trail pioneers slime principal in PTA fundraiser

Earlier this month, Pine Trail Elementary pioneers took part in a slime-filled fundraiser.

The “Slime The Principal” event on April 3 raised funds

for the Pine Trail PTA as participating students look the opportunity to pour green slime on Principal Charlie Bynum. Students get a choice of three different cup sizes to slime the principal throughout the day.

School Board member Jessie Thompson visited Pine Trail during the event and commended Bynum for being a good sport.

“He should get a medal for that,” Thompson said during the April 14 School Board meeting.

Matanzas Spanish teacher and project leader Christina Gilliam with Rymfire superhero Valentina. Courtesy photos

The Matanzas High AICE Diploma recipients at the school’s Oct. 23, 2025 ceremony. Forty-nine students earned their diplomas based on the June 2025 exam series through Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Pine Trail Elementary Principal Charlie Bynum is slimed by students. Courtesy photos

Pine Trail Elementary Principal Charlie Bynum (center) with School Board member Jessie Thompson (back, left) and the Pine Trail PTA.

REAL ESTATE

Tidewater Drive home sells for $1.3 million

AColonial-style estate at 22 Tidewater Drive was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea for the week of March 28 to April 3. The house sold on March 30, for $1.3 million. Built in 1988, the house is a 5/4.5 and has four fireplaces, a pool, a spa, an outdoor kitchen and 5,139 square feet. It last sold in 1995 for $370,000. It was listed by Michael Burgess, of Realty Pros Assured.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

MANAGING EDITOR

ORMOND BEACH

Archers Mill

The house at 330 Bracer Way sold on March 30, for $453,990. Built in 2026, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,361 square feet.

Bradford Park

The townhome at 1116 Bradford Park Drive sold on March 31, for $275,000. Built in 2025, the townhome is a 3/2.5 and has 1,566 square feet.

Fiesta Heights The house at 111 Fiesta Drive sold on April 2, for $250,000. Built in 1961, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,188 square feet. It last sold in 2007 for $235,000.

Hunter’s Ridge

The house at 27 Foxhunter Flat sold on March 30, for

home has plenty of storage, wood grain tile and laminate floors with a huge air conditioned porch area and private TV room for your grandkids! Kitchen area has a Propane gas stove/ oven, stainless steel refrigerator, and newer windows. Bathroom has granite counters and bathtub/ shower and a half bath too. There are 2 exterior buildings to store all your goodies! This cozy home has COLD A/C, AND WARM HEAT...A One car garage and HUGE inside laundry with sink along with a work shop area. YOU WON’T FIND A BETTER DEAL AT THIS PRICE...Great

$386,000. Built in 1994, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,191 square feet. It last sold in 1997 for $168,000.

Oak Forest

The house at 7 Heather Lane sold on March 31, for $443,000. Built in 1981, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, a pool and 1,933 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $429,900.

Ocean Terrace

The house at 687 John Anderson Drive sold on April 1, for $799,000. Built in 1963, the house is a 4/2.5 and has 2,205 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $700,000.

Ocean Village

The house at 3 Oriole Circle, Unit B, sold on April 3, for $210,000. Built in 1947, the house is a 2/1 and has 887 square feet. It last sold in 1992 for $58,000.

Park Place

The townhome at 1 Park Place sold on March 29, for $240,730. Built in 1984, the townhome is a 2/2.5 and has 1,307 square feet. It last sold in 2025 for $245,000.

Pineland

The house at 290 Sandoval Drive sold on April 3, for $350,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,846 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $267,500.

Plantation Bay

The house at 712 Dolphin Head Lane sold on March 30, for $640,000. Built in 1994, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, a spa and 1,980 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $480,000.

Ridgehaven

The house at 572 Brookhaven Trail sold on March 31, for $398,990. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,337 square feet.

The Trails The house at 20 River Ridge Trail sold on March 30, for $447,500. Built in 1976, the house is a 4/2.5 and has a fireplace, a pool and 3,236 square feet. It last sold in 2004 for $290,000.

Tomoka Estates The house at 980 Shockney Drive sold on April 1, for $460,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 3/2 and has a dock, a boat house and 1,464 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $306,500.

Tomoka View The house at 225 Pawnee Drive sold on March 31, for $528,965. Built in 1968, the house is a 4/3 and has a pool and 2,200 square feet. It last sold in 1970 for $37,500.

WEST DAYTONA BEACH

Grande Champion The house at 312 Grande Sunningdale Loop sold on April 2, for $320,000. Built in 2012, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,714 square feet. It last sold in 2012 for $168,800.

The townhome at 209 Wentworth Grande Drive sold on April 3, for $235,000. Built in 2016, the townhome is a 3/2.5 and has 1,288 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $190,000.

Latitude Margaritaville The house at 148 Gypsy Palace Lane sold on March 30, for $404,100. Built in 2024, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,464 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $396,400.

Twin River Estates The house at 5 Riverdale Ave. sold on April 1, for $399,000. Built in 1973, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,712 square feet. It last sold in 2025 for $222,000.

Village of Pine Run The house at 115 Addison Drive sold on April 2, for $570,000. Built in 1979, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 2,711 square feet. It last sold in 1982 for $98,000.

ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA

Coquina Key The house at 3804 Islamorada Drive sold on April 2, for $389,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,631 square feet. It last sold in 2001 for $170,000.

The house at 491 Coral Reef Way sold on March 31, for $600,000. Built in 2018, the house is a 2/2.5 and has 2,116 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $388,900.

Lennar at Preserve at LPGA The house at 1224 Belle Isle Lane sold on April 3, for $341,446. Built in 2026, the house is a 4/2.5 and has 1,874 square feet.

LPGA The house at 29 Promenade at Lionpaw sold on March 30, for $495,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 4/2.5

TOUR AWARD-WINNING HOMES AT YOUR OWN PACE

Take it all in, your way. Revisit our Parade of Homes entries and explore beautifully designed models at your own pace.

| 85 Coronado Road, Flagler Beach, FL

ORMOND BEACH

OBSERVER STAFF

The 2026 Flagler County Fair and Youth Show was held on April 13-17 at the Flagler County Fairgrounds. The annual event serves as both a showcase and a learning experience for local youth in the FFA and 4-H agriculture programs.

The students raise, show and sell their livestock. Over the first four days they showed off their chickens, rabbits, swine, wethers, steers and heifers. Each night featured showmanship competitions leading up to the auction on Friday, April 17.

“We are here to promote agriculture in Florida to FFA and 4-H youth,” Flagler County Fair and Youth Show Board President Penny Buckles said.

Truett Herbert. Photos by Shauna McIntosh

Poppy Jane Herbert. Courtesy photo

Kinsley Booth and Flagler County Fair and Youth Show board members Mike and Jacob Boyd

Poppy Jane Herbert with Laci Westbrook

Flagler County Fair and Youth Show Board President Penny Buckles

Cole Johnston Bralyn Turner

Kadlee Rush

Madison Dominguez

SPORTS

Back-to-back CHAMPS

beats Matanzas, Belleview to win District 5-5A baseball championship

MICHELE MEYERS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“This is the best 11-and-14 team in the state of Florida,” Seabreeze head baseball coach Jeff Lemon said after winning the District 5-5A championship for the second year in a row.

After entering the district tournament with a 9-14 record, the Sandcrabs defeated Matanzas 8-5 on Wednesday, April 15, in the district semifinals at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex and then knocked off Belleview 7-2 in the championship game two days later.

“We won the district last year, and this is the first time that Seabreeze has gone backto-back in over 12 years,” Lemon said.

Staff at the Ormond Garage welcomed the champs and their families at the restaurant after their win Friday.

“They normally close at 11, and their kitchen closes a little bit earlier, but they, as a staff, agreed to stay open to welcome us — the whole team and parents,” Lemon said. “It was super cool.”

Jacob Imhoff hit a threerun double with two outs in the first inning against Belleview to give the Sandrabs all the runs they would need with

Tommy Hayes on the mound. Seabreeze scored four more runs in the fourth on an RBIdouble by Nathaniel Anderson, a two-run double by Austin Upchurch and a wild pitch.

Hayes struck out 11 and did not allow an earned run in six innings.

“That was a big table setter for us,” Lemon said of Imhoff’s hit, “because he was able to get that double with two outs that put us up three. We were able to manufacture those three runs, which gave Tommy all the confidence and all the support that he needed for the remainder of the game.”

Hayes faced 28 batters and allowed four hits and one walk.

“Tommy earned the start,” Lemon said. “He’s a senior who has been on varsity for all four years. He literally threw his team on his back and said, ‘Let’s go win this game’. It’s really encouraging to see what we’re doing now, but to also know that we’re in a good place in the future.”

Anderson, the starting catcher, leads the team with a .404 batting average. The sophomore’s 18 RBIs are second on the team behind Upchurch’s 22.

“Nathaniel has become a constant in our lineup and a competitive at-bat, and just a staple of who we are and where we are in the season,” Lemon said.

Brothers Jacob and Cole McKinnon each scored in the four-run fourth.

“First time that they’re

having the opportunity to play baseball on the same team together, which is really special to see,” Lemon said. “This is Jacob’s third year on varsity, and Cole McKinnon just got a call-up from JV. Nice for the postseason.”

Jacob McKinnon came in late as a defensive replacement in center field against Belleview after scoring twice as a courtesy runner. He pitched four innings against Matanzas in relief of starter Joshua Sheffield. Sophomore Parker Chieppa closed both games.

Jacob McKinnon said the Sandcrabs are a family, and they need to trust and believe in each other, as his teammates did for him in the Matanzas game.

“My job’s going in there, throw strikes, just trust my guys behind me,” he said. “For three innings, I put up three zeros for them. Last inning, I definitely was a little bit sluggish, but throughout those four innings, my boys had me. I trusted them, and they got me out of a lot of jams, so I was really appreciative of them.”

Seabreeze scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to take control of the game.

Lemon said he is looking forward to what first-year Matanzas head coach Sean McManus will do for the Pirates’ program.

“Matanzas is a quality young ball club, and they’ve got a great first-year head coach in Sean McManus,” Lemon said. “Really excited for Sean and

his voyage that he’s getting ready to go on with his team.”

Lemon said just sticking to the offensive approach that has gotten them to where they are in the season is key moving forward in the playoffs. The eighth-seeded Sandcrabs

travel to No. 1 Winter Springs on Thursday, April 24, in the Region 2-5A quarterfinals.

“To see the amount of work that they put in come to fruition and to enjoy and reap the benefits of it is what it’s all about,” he said.

FPC, Seabreeze set for playoffs

The regional baseball brackets were announced on Monday, April 20, and Flagler Palm Coast and Seabreeze are both in the playoffs.

Seabreeze was guaranteed a playoff spot with its 7-2 victory over Belleview in the District 5-5A championship game on April 17. But the Sandcrabs (11-14) will have an uphill battle. They received the eighth seed in Region 2-5A and will travel to No. 1 seed Winter Springs (20-5) on Friday, April 24. First pitch is 7 p.m. The winner will meet No. 4 Cypress Creek or

No. 5 Deltona in a bestof-three regional semifinal on May 1-2. FPC (16-10) lost in the district semifinals but still made the playoffs for the third time in four years. The Bulldogs, who are seeded seventh in Region 1-7A, will visit No. 2 Spruce Creek (24-3) at 7 p.m. on April 24. The Hawks and Bulldogs met on March 3 with Creek holding off FPC 6-4. The winner of the regional quarterfinal will play the winner of the Hagerty-Winter Park game in a best-of-three series on May 1-2.

Seabreeze

Matanzas’ Paul Trettner (21) is safe at home as Seabreeze pitcher Joshua Sheffield (right) attempts the tag. Photos by Michele Meyers

Jacob McKinnon enters in the top of the second against Matanzas.

Seabreeze shortstop Dallas Newkirk bats against Matanzas.

Matanzas third baseman Roberto Reyes (8) jumps for the throw as Merrick Campbell steals third.

‘Smooth as butter’

Matanzas tennis player

Daniel Patsula won No. 1 singles at district to advance to the state championships.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Matanzas High School sophomore Daniel Patsula won the boys No. 1 singles title with two straight-set victories at the District 4-3A tennis tournament on April 14-15 at the Southern Recreation Center in Palm Coast. Patsula advances to the Class 3A state championships as an individual.

An opposing coach said Patsula has a chance to go far at state.

“Daniel is the real deal,”

Ponte Vedra coach Fredo Weiland said. “He’s a super ball striker. He has pure strokes that are smooth as melted butter.”

The 3A state tourney will be April 29-May 1 at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs. Now that Patsula has booked a spot for himself, he also has a chance to help his team get there too.

The Pirates placed second as a team to qualify for regionals along with Ponte Vedra, which won the district title with 14 points. Matanzas was the runner-up with 12 points, edging out Nease, which had 11 points.

“It was very tight all the way, which we anticipated,” Matanzas coach Jens Oliva said.

Matanzas defeated Fleming Island 4-0 in the regional

Matanzas sophomore Daniel Patsula won No. 1 singles at the District 4-3A tournament and is headed to the state champion-

quarterfinals on April 21 to advance to the semifinals on April 23 at Ponte Vedra at 4:30

Seabreeze duo advances to state

The Sandcrabs won the District 6-3A district championship, winning six out of seven finals matches.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Seabreeze’s JJ Martin and Hunter Shuler came close to qualifying for the Class 3A state boys tennis championships last year. This year they did it.

Martin won the District 6-3A championship at No. 1 singles and then teamed with Shuler to win the title at No. 1 doubles on Thursday, April 16, at Red Bug Lake Park in Casselberry.

They also helped the Sandcrabs win the district team championship, gaining 20 out of a possible 21 points. They advanced to all seven district finals and won six of them.

Seabreeze lost 4-0 to Gainesville High in the Region

3-3A semifinals on Tuesday, April 21, at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s tennis courts. Gainesville will play in the regional final on April 23 for a spot in the state team tournament.

Martin and Shuler will compete at the Class 3A state championships April 29-May 1 at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs in the individual bracket with all of the other district champs at No. 1 singles and doubles. They felt short last year, losing in both finals at district.

“They’re very happy to get over this hump and play with the very elite players in the state,” coach Tom Kelly said. Martin played the district tournament with a jammed thumb, Kelly said. He rebounded from a set down in the singles final to win 2-6, 7-5 and 10-6 in the tiebreak.

“He lost the first set but figured things out and came back to win,” Kelly said.

Martin and Hunter breezed to a 6-2, 6-2 victory in the No. 1 doubles final.

Kelly said he challenged the pair last season to improve their doubles game.

“I told both of them they can be a lot better in doubles, and I think they didn’t expect me to tell them that. These are two great athletes, and they have improved. JJ is attacking the net, which he should be doing. And Hunter is attacking the net and got a lot better. They deserve to play in the state championships.”

Seabreze’s other district titles were won by Shuler at No. 2 singles, Tej Patel at No. 3 singles, Ben Upchurch at No. 5 singles and Patel and Jordan Anthony at No. 2 doubles. They all won in straight sets. Anthony advanced to the No. 4 singles final, falling in the third-set tiebreak, 10-8.

In the girls district tournament, Seabreeze’s Leena Harmon advanced to the No. 1 singles final, falling in the third-set tiebreak 10-8. Harmon and Maci Lekan also advanced to finals in No. 1 singles, losing 6-1, 6-1.

p.m. If the Pirates win, they advance to state as a team.

Matanzas went undefeated in the regular season with one of its wins against Ponte Vedra, 5-2. Beachside finished fourth at district with 6 points. Bartram Trail and St. Augustine tied for fifth with 2 points apiece.

The Pirates won two other district titles. Stanislav Valenteychik won the No. 3 singles title, and Valenteychik and Adam Stochel Polubiec won the No. 2 doubles title.

But only the district champs at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles play in the state individual tournaments. The Pirates’ No. 1 doubles team of Patsula and Owen Brady lost in the district semifinals.

At singles, Patsula defeated Ponte Vedra’s Davis Miller, 6-2, 6-1, in the district semifinals, and Nease’s William Chaves, 6-2, 6-3, in the final.

Patsula said the matches were much harder than the scores indicate.

“It took a lot of effort,” he said. “I only had two matches, and both of them were pretty difficult. The score may not look like it, but trust me, it was. I had to work for every point. I was sweating, I was even a bit lightheaded at some point because I was trying so hard.”

He had played Miller before, and he knew about Chaves, a top-40 junior player in Florida who won the district championship last year.

“I had a lot of friends tell me how to play him, so I used that my advantage,” Patsula said.

Weiland said Patsula will be a dark horse at state.

“He hasn’t been playing a ton of tournaments, but he was highly rated as a junior player,” Weiland said. “The kid has a bright future ahead of him.”

On the tennis court, Patsula tries to take advantage of his height and power.

“I’m pretty tall, so I like to hit the ball pretty big,” he said.

I have a big serve, big ground strokes. I like coming to the net, being aggressive. Not so much on defense, though — it’s not my thing.” While he has won bigger tournaments in his young career, winning district was meaningful, he said.

“I wasn’t too sure [what to expect],” said Patsula, a firstyear high school player. “It feels good knowing that I’m the best player here.” Valenteychik defeated Ponte Vedra’s Michael Schramm in the No. 3 singles final, 3-6, 6-3 and 10-8 in the tie break. Valenteychik and Stochel Polubiec defeated Dillon Landau and Hudson Wells of Ponte Vedra in the No. 2 doubles final, 6-3, 6-3. In the girls district tournament, Nease won every finals match to take the title with a perfect 20 points. Ponte Vedra was second with 11 points. Both teams advanced to regionals. Matanzas finished sixth with two points.

FPC beach volleyball taking off

The Bulldogs won five in a row including a win over Matanzas and a district tournament victory.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Matanzas beach volleyball team celebrated their two seniors — Myranda Valdes and Carly Owens — before its match with Flagler Palm Coast on April 15 at Wadsworth Park.

When the match was over, FPC celebrated its second 5-0 victory over the Pirates this season. The Bulldogs continued celebrating with a 5-0 victory in their final regularseason home match against Warner Christian on April 16 and another 5-0 win in a District 2-3A quarterfinal on April 20 against Ocala West Port.

FPC had a 7-6 record heading into its district semifinal match against No. 1 seed Ocala Forest on Wednesday, April 22. It is by far the best record in the three-year history of the Bulldogs’ beach volleyball program. They won five in a row going into the match against Forest.

FPC’s No. 4 pair — junior Peyton Smith and sophomore Taylor Ralston — improved to 11-2 on the season with a win against West Port. Smith is in her first season playing beach volleyball.

Senior Haley Sobin has become FPC volleyball coach

Lindsey Stewart’s first college commitment. Sobin has committed to St. Thomas University of Miami to play indoor volleyball next season, but she also hopes to play beach volleyball with the Bobcats.

Sobin, who transferred from Matanzas before the school year, is in her first year playing beach.

“I kind of like it more than indoor, because it’s more independent,” she said. “i want to play beach in college, so I’m working hard to make it happen.”

Sobin and freshman Brie Sproul play at the No. 1 position for the Bulldogs.

“Playing against the 1 seeds is very difficult,” Sobin said. “This is Brie’s first year as well. But our team’s doing absolutely amazing and we’re getting better every game we play.”

The Pirates’ Valdes and Owens are the Matanzas team’s only experienced beach volleyball players. Valdes is in her third year with the team. Owens is in her fourth year. Owens has played for a different beach volleyball coach every year.

Sharell Arneaud, who was named the Pirates’ indoor and beach volleyball coach after this past indoor season, has had no prior experience with the beach game.

“I’m out her learning,” Arneaud said. “I’ve had to learn a lot, but the girls have genuinely improved.”

Matanzas fell to 0-10 with a loss on April 16. It’s been

“Playing against the 1 seeds is very difficult. ... But our team’s doing absolutely amazing and we’re getting better every game we play.”

HALEY SOBIN, FPC senior

a struggle, the Pirates’ two seniors said. The started the season with 14 players, but are down to nine, which isn’t enough to field a full squad of five two-player teams. They play all of their matches on the road. They practice on the single sand court at Holland Park, where the net is not regulation, the two seniors said. Their only two matches in the county were against FPC at Wadsworth, which was the natural place to hold Senior Day.

“This has been a struggle with so many teammates hurt,” Valdes said.

Valdes and Owens are partners at the No. 1 spot, and they are best friends, which helps a lot, Owens said.

Like Sobin, they both prefer the game on the sand court to the indoor game.

“The mindset is, just go, you can dive anywhere,” Valdes said.

ships. Photo by Brent Woronof

Seabreeze players and coach Tom Kelly pose with the district trophy. From left: Tej Patel, Hunter Shuler, JJ Martin, Jordan Anthony and Kelly. Not pictured: Ben Upchurch. Courtesy photo

Matanzas celebrated Senior Day before its match with FPC, honoring seniors Myranda Valdes (left) and Carly Owens.

Flagler Palm Coast, Matanzas track athletes collect district medals

The Bulldogs won eight district titles but were strategic in their approach.

Flagler Palm Coast’s track and field team won eight district titles on Saturday, April 18, at Sanford Seminole. The Bulldogs probably would have won more, but some of the athletes who had already qualified for regional and just needed to finish their events at district, took it easy. The top two athletes in each

event automatically qualify for regional. Eight at-large runners complete the field based on their times at district or at one of the other approved meets. Among the boys, seven individuals and one relay qualified automatically with top-two finishes: Logan Jacobelli (first in the 100 meters), Will Roberts (first in the 400), Mikey Najpaver (second in the 400), Najir Eddins (first in the 110 hurdles), Douglas Seth (second in the 3,200), Rhett Opalewski (second in the 800) and the 4x400 relay team (first place). Jordan Haymon finished in double digits in the 100,

SIDELINES

Wiseman wins

PBA50 Villages Open

Professional Bowlers

Association Hall of Famer

Danny Wiseman, an Ormond Beach resident, won the PBA50 Villages Open on

Thursday, April 16. It was his first title in 14 years.

“I have had some chances, but I don’t bowl a lot,”

Wiseman told PBA.com after winning the senior tournament at the Villages.

Wiseman, who is also a member of the U.S. Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, averaged 256 in his three stepladder finals matches defeating Randy Weiss, Tom Hess and overall tournament leader John Janawicz.

FPC softball 5th at Five Star

The FPC softball team won the consolation championship (fifth place) in the Five Star Conference tournament with a 20-5 win over Seabreeze and a 5-4 victory over DeLand. The Bulldogs closed out their regular season with a 15-0 win against Atlantic on April 20.

“We’re young, we’re still learning,” said coach Brooklynn Jimeson, whose team is 8-13 heading into the

200 and 400, but he will be competing in region in all three events based on his high regional rankings from other approved meets. Haymon’s 400 time at the Bob Hayes Invite is the second fastest in Class 4A this season. Jacobelli will be joining Haymon in all three events.

Others who are guaranteed to qualify for the Region 1-4A meet are La’Darius Simmons and Jack Wronowski in javelin, Earnest Fingers in pole vault, Jacob Harnisch and Ethan Ruiz in discus, Mekhi Jones and Sameul Lendor in shot put, Zac Murphy in long jump, Seth in the 1,600 and the 4x800 relay team of Aiden

district tournament. “DeLand was a really big game for us. We had just played DeLand recently and got run-ruled in three innings. I had no doubt we could take that game. We can play with anybody when we’re on our A game.”

FPC’s Campos commits to DSC

Flagler Palm Coast flag football senior Nereyda Campos has committed to play for Daytona State College next season.

East Coast Florida

Soccer Senior AllStar Games

Shark Coast FC hosted the 12th annual East Coast Florida High Soccer Senior All-Star Games on Wednesday, April 15, in New Smyrna Beach. The girls game ended in a 1-1 draw with Lucky Boren from Seabreeze scoring a goal. In the boys game, the white jerseys defeated the dark jerseys 5-0. Seabreeze’s

Petersen, Seth, Owen Stackpole and Opalewski.

With some runners running just to finish, the Bulldogs might have sacrificed winning the boys district title. They finished second behind Seminole 145-129. But it was more important to get as many athletes qualified, rested and healthy for region as possible, coach Dave Halliday said.

“Losing the district title is disappointing, but we got all those qualified who needed to be qualified. We have a chance to be in the top three (among boys teams) at state. Prioritizing what’s important to your program, I think, is pretty mature on the boys’ part.”

On the girls side, Arianna Slaughter (800 and 1,600) and Karina Marcelus (100 hurdles and triple jump) each won two events. Joining them at regional based on previous results are Grace Taylor in javelin, Danteria Rankin in shot put and the 4x800 relay of Anna Grigoruk, Slaughter, Jayden Wright and Everly Mucciolo.

Other athletes are on the bubble and have a chance to make the field. The Region 1-4A meet will be back at Seminole on May 2.

FIVE PIRATES

AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY

Five Matanzas High School

Luke Harrell scored two goals.

Mainland holds off Lake Howell in flag football district semifinal

Mainland flag football player

Shamya Scott said she didn’t want her senior season to end. So she kept it alive.

The senior rusher had five sacks, including three key stops in the fourth quarter, to help Mainland hold off Lake Howell 14-12 in a District 4-3A semifinal on Tuesday, April 21,

athletes finished among the top two at the District 4-3A meet on April 18 at Ponte Vedra High School to automatically qualify for the regional on May 2 at Pensacola Pine Forest High School. Peyton Cerasi won the 3,200-meter title and finished second in the 1,600 meters. Jayden McCoy won boys triple jump. Also finishing second were: Kamryn Miller in girls discus, Dylan Ciardi in boys 3,200 and Jez McCoy in boys 400 hurdles. Seabreeze and Mainland will compete in the District 6-3A meet on Friday, April 24, at Deltona High.

at Matanzas High School.

The Bucs will meet No. 1 seed Oviedo in the district championship game on Thursday, April 23, at Matanzas.

Mainland quarterback Natalie Williams threw two touchdown passes to Terri Williams and added two extra-point passes. But the quarterback also threw two fourth-quarter interceptions to give the Silverhawks a chance to pull ahead. The Bucs’ defense held Lake Howell on downs both times. Scott and Elena Mendoza each had a sack after the first interception.

After Lake Howell’s Marley Hamilton intercepted a pass with a 1:04 left to give the Silver Hawks one more chance, Scott came up big with two more sacks, and Lake Howell turned the ball over on downs.

“I’m so proud of Shamya’s growth,” Mainland coach Ethan Simpon said.

“All year we’ve had our ups and downs, but [we] continue to fight,” Simpson said.

Ormond beach resident Danny Wiseman won the PBA50 Villages Open. Courtesy photo

Mainland’s Natalie Williams gets set to throw a pass. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Patio

53” Diameter Glass Top $50. Call or Text (386) 445-4150

Eye-Level Mechanical Beam Scale Used in Excellent Condition. $200 386-986-7361

Patio Set: Table and 6 Chairs, Good Condition $140 obo (PC) Call 917-355-9749

CLASSIFIEDS TRIBUTES

Betty Canard

Betty Jo Canard, 91, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2026. Born March 13, 1935 in Mountain View, Arkansas, she was the daughter of Josephine and Lincoln Hopper and sister of Billy Hopper.

She married Curtis Gene Canard in 1949 and was a devoted mother to five children: Ron Canard (Kalamazoo, MI), Bob Canard (Gainesville, FL), Shirley (deceased, Portage, MI), Nancy Burt (Ormond Beach, FL), and Colette Atkins (Bronx, NY and Ormond Beach, FL). She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and several other family members.

Betty spent 50 years in Michigan and worked for many years in Kalamazoo’s paper mills. She was a long-

Gary P. Smith

New Girls Mongoose Trail Bike 26” 10 Speed, Ballistic DH-3.5 Model Asking $200 obo 386-437-7058

Two Table Lamps. $15 each. Black Console Table with Drawer Very Good Condition $25. 386-864-3168

Three Solid Maple Boards 10W x 10L. Decorative Shelving. $20 each or all for $50. call 904-514-9477

Brunswick Pool Table 9ft. including all items, (386) 283-7384

3 LG Bins Christmas Decor, Some Hallmark Mechanical Things $35 Each or Make Offer Call Landline 386-206-9006 Leave Message

White Chest Freezer 36”Hx22”Dx33”L, $50. 9 36”H

Industrial Orange Traffic Cones $50 386-586-3185

60” Glass Public Table with 6 Chairs $190 386-283-2663

Solid Wood TV Stand $50. 2 BeanBag Chairs. Practically New $25 Each. Portable Fireplace Brand New $100 386-283-2663

Automotive

2009 Honda Element Fire Mist Orange. 73,000 mi, Excellent Condition Inside&Out. New Tires & More. $10,000 obo 386446-3615

Cash Buyer for ALL Classic and Antique Cars Call or Text 407366-0000 Cleaning services

Ana’s Personal housekeeping. One Time, Weekly, Or Monthly Service (PC) anaspersonalhousekeeping@gmail.com 386-868-9662

Tired of cleaning? I’ve got you covered! Quality home cleaning—affordable & dependable. StillSpace Cleaning Services Call/text: +1 (631) 306-4528 Palm Coast & Flagler County Employment

Licensed and Insured Loving In-Home Care Giver available! 17 Years Experience w/Alzheimers & Dementia Call for more Info 386-264-8286 or 386-437-3767

For Rent Room For Rent in

time member of Yorkville Community Church and Gull Lake’s Ladies of the Lake organization. She later lived in Summerfield, Florida where she was a member of Village View Community Church. In 2016, she moved to Ormond Beach, Florida, where she became a member of Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church and loved attending monthly Waterfront Group events. She spent many happy hours swimming in her daughter’s pool, visiting thrift shops and tag sales, seeking out BOGOs at Publix, and watching several romantic Netflix series. She was known for her warmth, hospitality, and devotion to family and friends. Her faith was unwavering. She loved cooking, gardening, fishing at Gull Lake, traveling, music, and time with loved ones.

November 16, 1943 - April 14, 2026

Gary Peter Smith, age 82, of Port Orange, Florida, passed away on April 14, 2026. Born on November 16, 1943, in Paterson, New Jersey, he was the son of Peter Francis Smith and Eugenia “Jean” (Renna) Smith. Gary moved to Florida with his family from Fayetteville, New York, when he was just 11 years old. He spent most of his life in Holly Hill, but spent the last 20 years in Port Orange. From a young age, Gary had a passion for cars and racing, idolizing legendary figure Ray Fox. He became a mechanic for many drivers and also raced his own cars at Barberville Speedway and Deland Raceway. His love for motorsports extended to motorcycles as well, and he rode them from his early 20s, continuing to ride well into his 80s. Gary was a self-made, hard-working man who founded Gary Smith Automotive, where he worked tirelessly from 1973 to 2007. Upon his retirement, he

turned his attention to helping at his son’s cabinet shop and dedicating his free time to Living Legends of Auto Racing, where he made a lasting impact. As Museum Director and serving for over 10 years as President and Board Member, Gary was instrumental in coordinating the Turkey Run Vintage Race Car Show, a bi-annual event dedicated to showcasing and preserving the history of auto racing. His commitment to the museum and its mission was unwavering, and he could always be counted on to lend a helping hand at any event. Gary’s love for animals, especially his rescue German Shepherds, was evident throughout his life. He was deeply devoted to his family and friends, leaving behind an incredible legacy of friendship, hard work, and kindness. Gary is survived by his sons, Pete Smith (Debi) and Mark Smith (Amanda); his sister, Gail Brown (Fred);

A memorial service will be held at Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church on Friday, May 8 at 4:00 and a summer 2026 celebration of life will be held at Yorkville Community Church in Richland, Michigan.

his grandchildren, Adam Smith (Raquel) and Haley Smith Wiese (David); his life partner, Peggy Smith; and his childhood friend, Pat Hench. He was predeceased by his youngest son, Gary Howard. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD, Gary’s preferred charity. Donations can be made at Give.stjo.org. Gary will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the history he helped preserve.

Carolyn “Punky” Radtke

March 22, 1951- April 18, 2026

Carolyn “Punky” (Brands) Radtke, 75, of Palm Coast, passed away peacefully on April 18, 2026, at her care home at Inverness Cottage. Born in Lima, Ohio, she was the beloved daughter of the late Eleanor Kathryn (Yore) Brands and Clement Jacob Brands. Carolyn lived in Wapakoneta, Ohio; DeLand, Florida; Crescent City, Florida; and Palm Coast, Florida. She loved traveling, and always had a trip planned— something to look forward to and a reason to gather with the people she loved.

Carolyn was the devoted wife of her late husband, Michael David Radtke, with whom she shared a life rooted in love, family, and unwavering support.

She dedicated many years of her life to education, serving as the proud Elementary Principal of Middleton Burney Elementary School in Crescent City. Carolyn didn’t just lead a school, she shaped lives. She had a deep love for children and a gift for encouraging both students and adults to see their potential. She advocated fiercely, led with a genuine heart, and created a space where people felt seen, valued, and inspired.

Known to many as “Punky,” she was truly the life of the party. She believed in living life to the fullest—bringing people together, planning meaningful moments, and making memories that would last. She loved baking and cooking, filling her home with warmth, laughter, and the

simple joy of being together.

Raised Catholic, her faith was a steady presence in her life and reflected in the compassion she showed to others.

In her later years, Carolyn faced a long and difficult 7 year journey with dementia—a disease that slowly took pieces of her memory and independence. Through it all, her spirit, her warmth, and the love she gave so freely remained evident in the moments that mattered most. While the journey was painful for those who loved her, it also revealed the depth of her strength and the incredible bond she shared with her family. She is now at peace—free from the limitations of that illness.

More than anything, Carolyn adored her family—especially her grandchildren. She retired knowing she would be able to help care for them, a role she cherished deeply. Her love for them was constant, joyful, and unwavering.

Carolyn is survived by her loving daughter, Molly Kathryn MacDonald (Wes MacDonald) of Palm Coast; her son, Matthew Michael Radtke (Laura Radtke) of Dallas, Georgia; her sister, Norma Jean Wanek; her brother, Martin Brands; and her two beloved grandchildren, Mackenzie Belle MacDonald (14y) and Riley Michael MacDonald (12y), along with many extended family members and dear friends whose lives were forever touched by her kindness and spirit.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eleanor

Kathryn (Yore) Brands and Clement Jacob Brands, her sister Nancy Jane Wright, and her late husband, Michael David Radtke. Visitation will be held Friday, May 1, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Lotus Funeral Services, 460 Palm Coast Pkwy SW, Suite 3, Palm Coast. Flowers may be ordered through the funeral home website at lotusfuneralservices.com

A Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 156 Florida Park Drive, Palm Coast. Carolyn’s legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched. To know her was to feel encouraged, welcomed, and loved. In her honor, take the trip, gather your people, and live life fully—just like Punky always did.

0b37528-b730-4578-8935-dc90866a9569%22%7d Meeting ID: 288 593 777 667 6 Passcode: Bb7KT2zC

A copy of the agenda may be obtained at the offices of the District Manager, c/o Wrathell, Hunt and Associates, LLC at 2300 Glades Road, Suite 410W, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, Ph: (877) 276-0889 (“District Manager’s Office”) during normal business hours or by visiting the District’s website, https://deeringparkstewardship.com/. The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law for community development districts. The meeting may be continued to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at such meeting.

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

A person who decides to appeal any decision made at the meetings with respect to any matter considered at the meeting is advised that person will need a record of the proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based. District Manager April 23, 2026

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026-011056 Division Probate IN RE: ESTATE OF ANDREW S. RAFAJKO Deceased. The administration of the estate of ANDREW S. RAFAJKO, deceased, whose date of death was March 1, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for VOLUSIA County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Deland, Florida 32724. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

NOTICE OF ACTION IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 14617 CIDL PINGORA LOAN SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. JOHN B. MILTON, JR.; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JOHN B. MILTON, JR.; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY; OCEAN WALK AT NEW SMYRNA BEACH BUILDING NO. 20 CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC.; OCEAN WALK AT NEW SMYRNA BEACH MASTER ASSOCIATION, INC.; PETERSON LAW GROUP PLLC; UNKNOWN PERSON(S) IN POSSESSION OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, Defendant(s)

To the following Defendant(s): JOHN B. MILTON, JR. (LAST KNOWN ADDRESS) 5300 SOUTH ATLANTIC AVENUE, UNIT 20-401 NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLORIDA 32169 UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JOHN B. MILTON, JR. (LAST KNOWN ADDRESS) 5300 SOUTH ATLANTIC AVENUE, UNIT 20-401 NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLORIDA 32169 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Foreclosure of Mortgage on the following described property: UNIT 401 OF OCEAN WALK AT NEW SMYRNA BEACH - BUILDING NO. 20, A CONDOMINIUM ACCORDING TO THE DECLARATION OF CONDOMINIUM THEREOF, RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS BOOK 7428, PAGE(S) 4152, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, TOGETHER WITH ITS UNDIVIDED SHARE IN THE COMMON ELEMENTS.

a/k/a 5300 SOUTH ATLANTIC AVE-

NUE, UNIT 20-401, NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLORIDA 32169 has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it, on Kahane & Associates, P.A., Attorney for Plaintiff, whose address is 1619 NW 136th Avenue, Suite D-220, Sunrise, FLORIDA 33323 on or before MAY 11 2026, a date which is within thirty (30) days after the first publication of this Notice in the BUSINESS OBSERVER and file the original with the Clerk of this Court either before service on Plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint. This notice is provided pursuant to Administrative Order No.2.065.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to provisions of certain assistance. Please contact the Court Administrator at Suite 300, Courthouse Annex, 125 E. Orange Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114; call (386)257-6096 within two (2) working days of your receipt of this notice or pleading; if you are hearing impaired, call 1-800-955-8771 (TDD); THIS IS NOT A COURT INFORMATION LINE; if you are voice impaired, call 1-800995-8770 (V) (Via Florida Relay Services). WITNESS my hand and the seal of this Court this 10th day of April, 2026. LAURA E. ROTH As Clerk of the Court (SEAL) By /s/ Shawnee S. Smith As Deputy Clerk

Submitted by: Kahane & Associates,

26-00278I FIRST INSERTION THE OAK HILL TOWN CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF MEETING

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is April 23, 2026.

Personal Representative: /s/ Rebecca Caiafa Rebecca Caiafa 805 Audubon Way Evans, Georgia 30809

2026 26-00268I

Attorney for Personal Representative: /s/ Benjamin F. Diamond BENJAMIN F. DIAMOND

Attorney Florida Bar Number: 899291 THE DIAMOND LAW FIRM, P.A. 150 2nd Avenue North, Suite 570 St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Telephone: (727) 823-1400

Fax: (727) 999-5111

E-Mail: ben@diamondlawflorida.com

Secondary E-Mail: elizabeth@diamondlawflorida.com April 23, 30, 2026 26-00274I

FIRST INSERTION Notice Under Fictitious Name Law According to Florida Statute Number 865.09 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the Fictitious Name of Smart Coating Systems located at 309 Hampton Hills Ct in the City of Debary, Volusia, FL 32713 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. Dated this 17th day of April, 2026 Smart Coating Systems April 23, 2026 26-00269I

The Board of Supervisors (“Board”) of The Oak Hill Town Center Community Development District (“District”), located in Volusia County, will hold a Regular Meeting on May 12, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., at Storch Law Firm, 420 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114.

The purpose of the meeting is for the Board to consider any business which may properly come before it. The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provision of Florida law. The meeting may be continued to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at the meeting. A copy of the agenda for the meeting may be obtained by contacting the offices of the District Manager, Wrathell, Hunt & Associates, LLC, 2300 Glades Road, Suite 410W, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 571-0010, during normal business hours.

There may be occasions when one or more Supervisors or staff will participate by telephone. Pursuant to provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations at the meeting because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Office at (561) 571-0010 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1, or 1-800955-8771 (TTY) / 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Office.

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

District Manager April 23, 2026

26-00279I

NOTICE OF ACTIONCONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2026 10519 CIDL DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR MORGAN STANLEY ABS CAPITAL I INC. TRUST 2007-NC1 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-NC1, Plaintiff, vs. THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF RHONDA M. KENNEY, DECEASED AND THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF RICHARD A. KENNEY, JR., 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 RHONDA M. KENNEY, DECEASED, THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF RICHARD A. KENNEY, JR., DECEASED, whose

FIRST INSERTION

NOTICE OF SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA Case Number: 2025-14091-CIDL REIGO SECURITIZATION SPONSOR 2021-1, LLC, and/or assigns, Plaintiff, v. WT INVESTMENT PROPERTY GROUP FL LLC, OSMERY TAVERAS, WANER D. TAVERAS, COUNTY OF VOLUSIA, FLORIDA, JOHN DOE and JANE DOE, as UNKNOWN TENANTS; and any unknown heirs, devisees, grantees, creditors, and other unknown persons, unknown entities, unknown parties or unknown spouses claiming by, through or under any of the above-named Defendants, Defendants. (a) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Final Summary Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above-entitled cause in the Circuit Court of Volusia County, Florida, that Laura E. Roth, Esq., the Clerk of this Court will sell the property at public sale, to the highest bidder, in the Volusia County Courthouse, online at www.Volusia.RealForeclose.com at 11:00 A.M. on May 14, 2026 situated in Volusia County, Florida, with the property address 1820 10th Avenue, Deland, Florida 32724 (the “Property”), situate and being in Volusia County, Florida as more fully described below: (b) Lots 28, 29 and Lot 30, in Block #20, Section B, Daytona Park Estates, According to the Plat thereof, as recorded in Plat Book 23, at Page 74, of the Public Records of Volusia County, Florida. Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim before the clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed. Respectfully, /s/ Josh W. Osborn Josh W. Osborn, Esq. ROSENBERG & CUMMINGS PLLC Counsel for Plaintiff 802 NE 20th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304 (954) 769-1344 Josh@RosenbergCummings.com

DIVISION File No. 2026 10267 PRDL Division 10

RE: ESTATE OF CARMEN R. CORTES a/k/a CARMEN ROSARIO CORTES, Deceased. The administration of the estate of CARMEN R. CORTES a/k/a CARMEN ROSARIO CORTES, deceased, whose date of death was October 13, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Post Office Box 6043, DeLand, FL 32721604. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is April 16, 2026.

Personal Representative: SONIA RIVIEZZO 81 E. Hill Place Drive Heritage Village Southbury, Connecticut 06488

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 April 16, 23, 2026 26-00250I

NOTICE OF ACTION IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 13307 CIDL

WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND

SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF FARAWAY SG TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. MARSHALL PROPERTY HOLDING LLC; NATHAN TURNER; UNKNOWN TENANT NO. 1; UNKNOWN TENANT NO. 2; and ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST A NAMED DEFENDANT TO THIS ACTION, OR HAVING OR CLAIMING TO HAVE ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED, Defendant(s). TO: NATHAN TURNER Last Known Address 2509 TREEHAVEN DR DELTONA, FL 32738 Current Residence is Unknown TO: MARSHALL PROPERTY HOLDING LLC Last Known Address 1309 Coffeen Ave, Suite 1200 Sheridan WY 82801 Current Residence is Unknown YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following described property in Volusia County, Florida: LOT 19, BLOCK 1042, DELTONA LAKES UNIT FORTY, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 27, PAGES 224 THROUGH 240, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., Plaintiff’s attorneys, whose address is P.O. BOX 19519, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33318, (954) 564-0071, answers@dallegal.com, on or before May 22, 2026, and file the original with the Clerk of this Court either before service on Plaintiff’s attorneys or immediately there-

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT To: Matthew R. Pedata Case: CD202513301/D 3303641

A Notice of Suspension to suspend and an Administrative Complaint to revoke your license(s) and eligibility for licensure has been filed against you. You have the right to request a hearing pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, by mailing a request for same to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing, Post Office Box 5708, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-5708. If a request for hearing is not received by 21 days from the date of the last publication, the right to hearing in this matter will be waived and the Department will dispose of this cause in accordance with law. April 16, 23, 30; May 7, 2026 26-00253I

after; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODA-

TIONS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILI-

TIES

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Court Administration, 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6096, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. THESE ARE NOT COURT INFORMATION NUMBERS SOLICITUD DE ADAPTACIONES

PARA PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDADES

Si usted es una persona con discapacidad que necesita una adaptacin para poder participar en este procedimiento, usted tiene el derecho a que se le proporcione cierta asistencia, sin incurrir en gastos. Comunquese con la Oficina de Administracin Judicial (Court Administration), 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6096, con no menos de 7 das de antelacin de su cita de comparecencia ante el juez, o de inmediato al recibir esta notificacin si la cita de comparecencia est dentro de un plazo menos de 7 das; si usted tiene una discapacidad del habla o del odo, llame al 711. ESTOS NUMEROS TELEFONICOS NO SON PARA OBTENER INFORMACION JUDICIAL

DATED on April 7, 2026. LAURA E ROTH CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT (SEAL) By: /s/ Jennifer Vazquez As Deputy Clerk Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A. Plaintiff’s attorneys P.O. BOX 19519 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33318 (954) 564-0071 answers@dallegal.com, 8010-206335 / ME2 April 16, 23, 2026 26-00256I

A.

and

Complaint

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 10956 CIDL

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCAF ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. MICHAEL P. KELTON, et al. Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated March 12, 2026, and entered in 2025 10956 CIDL of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, Florida, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCAF ACQUISITION TRUST is the Plaintiff and MICHAEL P. KELTON; RACHAEL R. KLOKE F/K/A RACHAEL R. CORRIGAN; GARY MELVIN; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY - INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE are the Defendant(s). Laura E. Roth as the Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at www.volusia.realforeclose.com,

the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served within three months after the date of the first publication of this notice must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM, THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH IN S. 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE. All other creditors of the decedent and persons having claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must