John Medcalf, 46, had served in the U.S. Army, according to his Facebook page.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Ormond Beach Elementary’s school guardian died by suicide in the parking lot across the school on March 20, according to Ormond Beach Police.
Police were dispatched to the school at around 8:09 p.m. that evening after John Medcalf, 46, sent his wife a text stating his intent to take his own life at the school.
According to the police report, upon arrival at 8:10 p.m., “officers tactically positioned their patrol vehicles across the parking lot and directed their spotlight into the passenger side of the vehicle. The first officer on scene maintained a position of cover behind their patrol vehicle while awaiting the arrival of additional units.”
At approximately 8:17 p.m., as additional officers were arriving, Medcalf fatally shot
MARCH 31 ERRATIC BEHAVIOR
12:42 p.m. — First block of Bear Creek Path, Ormond Beach Baker Act. A 26-year-old Ormond Beach man was placed into protective custody after he obscured his face with a bandana and began walking through a neighborhood with
himself. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:23 p.m.
“Volusia County Schools extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and all those affected by the tragedy that occurred on March 20,” the school district posted on its Facebook page on April 2. “This loss occurred on a school campus after hours, when students were not present. District safety and communication protocols were followed, school and district leadership responded immediately, and School Board members were notified through standard process.”
It should be noted that the school parking lot at 101 Corbin Ave., because of its location in the city’s downtown district, is open to the public after school hours and weekends.
“Out of respect for those affected and in care and compassion for the family, our school community, and all those impacted, the district will not provide additional details,” the statement continued. “This decision is in accordance with Florida law and allows time for heal -
a kitchen knife.
Police report that the man had been in an altercation with one of the neighborhood’s maintenance workers. The man had approached the worker and asked him about his dog that had gotten loose; the worker replied that if the dog had been on a leash, this incident wouldn’t have occurred.
The incident report states the worker allegedly used profane language while speaking to the man, who then threatened to shoot the worker.
ing. We kindly request the community to keep the family and those affected in their thoughts and prayers, allowing them the time they need to grieve and heal.”
VCS implemented the school guardian program in 2018. This was a result of a state mandate that school districts have safe-school officers at every campus, legislation filed after the Parkland school shooting.
In VCS, school guardians fulfill this requirement at the elementary level.
The difference between a law enforcement officers (who serve as School Resource Officers/Deputies at the middle and high school level) and a school guardian is that guardians do not have arrest authority and are employed by the school district, rather than a law enforcement agency.
According to the VCS website, “guardians have undergone extensive background checks, drug testing, a psychological screening, 132 hours of training with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, 12 hours of de-escalation training, and another 40 hours of training on security in schools
Police noted the man does he have access to any guns. The maintenance worker returned the threat, saying he would also shoot him.
After donning a bandana and grabbing a kitchen knife, which the man put in a sock as a makeshift sheath, he started asking neighbors about the whereabouts of the maintenance worker. Police intervened, and he was transported to the hospital under a Baker Act.
and strategies for dealing with students.”
VCS reports the average years of prior experience for its school guardians is 26 for retired law enforcement and 22 for retired military.
Medcalf previously served in the U.S. Army, per his Facebook page.
Due to state statutes providing that information that would identify safe-school officers is exempt from public records, VCS declined to share additional details regarding his employment.
“The District does not confirm, deny, or otherwise comment on whether any individual has served or currently serves as a safe-school officer or school guardian,” VCS stated in an email to the Observer . “Any prior public references do not waive the statutory exemption and will not be verified, reiterated, or characterized in response to a public records request. The District’s response is governed solely by current law and current District practice.
In a statement to the Observer regarding standard procedures for responding to a call about a potential suicide,
APRIL 3
LEFT UNSUPERVISED
10:54 a.m. — 200 block of Grove Street, Ormond Beach
Child neglect. Police arrested a 30-year-old Ormond Beach man after two toddlers — one of whom was naked — were found outside of the home without adult supervision.
Upon arrival, police realized the toddlers were inside the home with an 11-year-old child, who was on the phone with her mother. She and her mother both said the children were supposed to be watched by the mother’s boyfriend, who later told police he had informed his girlfriend that he was going to leave for 30 minutes to go to a friend’s house in Daytona Beach.
The 11-year-old girl told officers she initially believed he had taken the toddlers with him and had been asleep at the time the toddlers exited the home. When she awoke, she saw the front door was open and the kids were outside, and she brought them back inside.
The man was taken to jail.
APRIL 5
HAPPY EASTER
10:12 p.m. — Mile Marker 279, Interstate 95, southbound in Flagler County
Drug possession. A 20-yearold Palm Coast woman and a man were driving southbound on I-95 when a Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled them over for swerving while driving. The woman was not driving the car, but was instead in the passenger seat when Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled over
Ormond Beach Police stated:
“We respond to these types of calls using the same standardized approach we apply to any situation where there may be a potential threat or weapon,” the department said. “The nature of the call helps guide the officers on initial decision-making, but the core response remains consistent. Typically, two units would be dispatched, with the first arriving officers assessing the situation and determining any immediate safety concerns. They then relay that information to other responding units and request additional resource (fire or medical) if needed.”
Since October 2024, OBPD officers have attended five deescalation training courses, including classes conducted for new police officers, which is part of orientation.
Editor’s note : This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. An online chat is also available at 988lifeline. org.
the pickup truck.
As she and the driver got out of the truck, one deputy noticed the woman attempt to hide a small plastic bag in the door, an arrest report said.
The deputy searched the woman’s seat and belongings and found multiple drugs organized in a clear pill organizer. When the deputy told the woman about the drugs they’d found, the suspect only told the officer, “Happy Easter.”
9:50 p.m. — 5400 blood of North Shore Boulevard, Flagler County
Drug possession. An Indiana man was arrested by Sheriff’s Office deputies after he was warned not to drive with a suspended license and did it anyway. Initially, deputies talked to the driver and the suspect at a gas station, and after checking ID’s, found the suspect had a suspended license. The deputies warned the suspect not to drive, an arrest report said. Later that day, a separate deputy caught the suspect driving down a state road. When he came up behind the truck, the driver got out to greet him. The driver was the suspect with a suspended license.
A search of the suspect’s vehicle found two guns, 61 suboxone pills and two digital scales. He was taken to the county jail.
MICHELE
MEYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Second annual Arts VoCo Awards celebrates local artists, art advocates and organizations.
Arts VoCo Awards master of ceremonies Jack Cook strolled onto the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center stage in his robe and slippers, inviting the audience to watch as he donned a tuxedo with the help of his Halifax Repertory Theatre cohorts.
On Thursday, April 2, performers Cook, Jennifer McGill, Sandra Cook, and Brett Ricci opened the awards celebration with a song and dance routine to “Cantata for a First Date,” revealing the theme of the evening — The Art of Transformation — as they assisted Cook with his costume change.
Theresa Lieberman, founder of Riverfront Arts District, held the second annual Arts VoCo Awards Celebration to recognize artists, educators, and nonprofit organizations who contributed to and are passionate about the local arts community. Proceeds from the event support arts and culture throughout Volusia County.
The first time Lieberman attended Art Basel, a premier art fair in Miami, she knew she wanted to do an event of that magnitude in the Daytona Beach area. Last year, she launched the Season of the Arts, a 21-day feast of art events, exhibitions and festivals, including the Arts VoCo Awards Gala scheduled in the middle of it all. For the second consecutive year, the celebration of the arts and culture in Volusia County continues to be a success.
“I said, ‘Why can’t we do this in Daytona?’” she said. “We’re an events town. We took that model of Art Basel and morphed it into a county-wide art season. We’re
trying to ignite the arts in Volusia County, and it’s starting to gain momentum. That’s kind of what the whole goal is. Let’s come together. Let’s show them that we are strong and we are a great art community.”
Cici Brown presented this year’s Cici Brown Legacy Award to Ormond Beach abstract painter and educator Antoinette “Toni” M. Slick.
“This is an amazing woman who is passionate about what she’s done, is doing, and will continue to do,” Brown said.
“I think she is a very good example of what transformational is, because she has done it in spades. To know her is to love her, and we’re blessed to have her in this community. We call her one of our own.”
The Florida Women’s Art Association won the Outstanding Arts & Cultural Organization Award. President Amber O’Neal accepted the trophy.
“I really wasn’t expecting this,” she said. “This is for every female youth and adult artist who wants to progress and show their work.”
FLWAA also gave the inaugural Loretta Youngman Educational Legacy Award to Youngman’s son, Tim Wenger. Every year, the organization will donate $1,000 to an arts educator in the community to use for school supplies.
Ormond Beach artist and Art Spotlight studio co-owner Thays França was last year’s recipient of the Distinguished Artist Award. This year, she
sia County, you can feel something special is happening, right? Our artist community is growing. Artists are showing up. They’re supporting one another, and they’re creating opportunities and building something meaningful together.”
Painter and neurologist Dr. Enzo Trapani, and Executive Director of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens Stephanie MasonTeague were the keynote speakers for the evening.
“Tonight’s theme, the art of transformation, beautifully captures something many of us see in our work every day,” Mason-Teague said. “For some of us, it is also the why we do what we do. Art transforms empty spaces into gathering places. Art transforms silence into expression, and perhaps most
cialist John Dupuis, VCS Visual Arts Specialist Bryce Hammond, and VCS Fine Arts Specialist Craig Uppercue announced the awards. DeLand High School senior Madison Leimer and Ormond Beach Elementary School teacher Emily “Kris” Light won in the performing arts, and Spruce Creek High School senior Liela Marty and Seabreeze High School art teacher Christine Colby took home the visual arts awards.
The Daytona Beach Kiwanis
ing member of the Volusia County Cultural Alliance, and her continued advocacy for making the arts inclusive. Her daughter JS Nahani, read the poem “We Are Here for a Reason” to honor her mother.
Lieberman said she wants to see growth and can imagine the Arts VoCo Awards being like the Oscars of Volusia County.
“It’s not just about painting on canvas,” Lieberman said. “It’s about music, it’s about theater, it’s about dance, it’s
City Commissioners will discuss the issue further at a May 5 workshop.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Should Ormond Beach put a “toilet to tap” ban on the 2026 ballot for voters to decide?
Some city commissioners say yes. Others still want some more information.
Commissioners revisited the discussion at their meeting on Tuesday, April 7, after Commissioner Harold Briley brought it up during his closing comments. They had briefly discussed “toilet to tap” — a term used to describe the initiative to reuse wastewater for potable water — during their last commission meeting in March, but due to the public hearing on the Tomoka Oaks golf course, it was around
midnight when staff was able to make a presentation. Due to the late hour, commissioners declined to make a final decision and directed staff to bring back information on ways to regulate “toilet to tap” and a possible charter amendment.
The City Commission will have a workshop on the issue on Tuesday, May 5. “I think this is a matter of policy,” Briley said. “I know we say all the time that Tallahassee has a huge overreach and they can undo what we do. But if we put this on the ballot ... and then Tallahassee comes in and says, ‘We want to do that,’ then they’re going against the will of the people.”
Commissioner Travis Sargent agreed, but wanted further specific details, like the cost to place a charter amendment on the November ballot. He wasn’t willing to “rush” a vote on a ballot measure, he said, but that he was willing to let the voters make a policy
decision.
“There’s things that I need to know before I make a decision to go any further,” Sargent said. “I don’t have enough to just say now, ‘Yes, we need to throw it on the ballot.’”
The cities of Daytona Beach and Edgewater have recently voted in favor of placing a charter amendment to ban “toilet to tap” in the 2026 ballot. In February, the Volusia County Council struck down the issue in a 4-3 vote, with officials saying it wasn’t a local problem, as the county has no current or future plans to recycle wastewater into drinking water.
The county’s ban would have only applied to its utility service area, which is largely composed of unincorporated land. To enact a countywide ban, each city in Volusia County that has its own utilities would have to place its own charter amendment on the ballot — and the voters
would have to approve it.
The “toilet to tap” issue resurfaced this year after advocacy from local political committee, Let Volusia Vote, which is led by Daytona Beach resident Greg Gimbert. Some critics of the initiative say the committee is using fear to drive a politically motivated effort.
“They are manufacturing fear around the potential future water source, potable reuse, often sensationalized as ‘toilet to tap’ by using clickbait language like poopy water to provoke an emotional reaction,” Daytona Beach resident Catherine Pante said at the April 7 commission meeting.
“At the same time, they are promoting their own alternative, desalination ... which is in reality another form of treated wastewater. The key difference? Desalination will drive water costs significantly higher than potable reuse if we ever need to rely on alter-
native sources.”
Pante said she didn’t oppose either method, but that the push to ban ‘toilet to tap’ was built on misinformation.
Speaking in favor of a charter amendment, Ormond Beach resident Elena Krafft said that all the committee is seeking is to let residents have a vote on the issue.
“When government begins considering a new source of drinking water, whether you agree with it or not, that decision deserves the highest level of transparency, scrutiny and public involvement,” Krafft said. “It’s as simple as that.”
Before making a decision, Commissioner Lori Tolland said she wanted to know more about the science behind “toilet to tap” and water reuse alternatives.
Commissioners also highlighted that Ormond is not in any immediate danger of running out of water. Additionally, the city continues to look
into purchasing land west of I-95 to increase its reclaim water storage capacity.
“I feel like we’re trying to create a policy for a problem that we may not even have,” Tolland said. “I feel like we’re trying to find a solution for a problem we don’t have. I would prefer to workshop it.”
Briley said that other cities across the state are already either implementing wastewater reuse or looking into it, and that he didn’t want it to be an issue a future commission may choose to explore. If it’s on the charter, the people would have to vote to change it.
“Let the people decide,” Mayor Jason Leslie agreed, who has been a proponent of putting a charter amendment on the ballot from the start. His position hasn’t changed.
“I stood by that then and I still stand by it now,” he said in a text message to the Observer.
‘Wasteful spending’: Does state CFO’s formula tell the full story locally?
CFO’s ‘wasteful spending’ audits fail to account for public’s want, one county councilman said.
JARLEENE ALMENAS
MANAGING EDITOR
In recent weeks, Florida’s chief financial officer has singled out three counties for “excessive, wasteful spending.”
But one Volusia County Councilman said “those assessments have to be tem-
pered with what our local public wants to spend money on.”
“There’s kind of a dichotomy between what the CFO thinks ought to be spent and what the local public thinks ought to be spent, in some cases,” Councilman Jake Johansson said during his closing comments in the April 7 council meeting. So far, CFO Blaise Ingoglia and his Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight, shortened to FAFO, have identified Flagler, Citrus and St. Lucie counties for “wasting” $59 million, $39 million and $46 million of taxpayer funds, respectively.
During Monday’s Flagler County Commission meeting, some officials denounced Ingoglia’s report, calling it a campaign stunt and one that disrupted public trust in its local officials.
For his report, Ingoglia used a formula based on pre-COVID budgets. It calculates waste by taking the 2019 budget and accounting for inflation and population growth. He is considering any excess fees above that figure as wasteful spending.
When it comes to “nonmandatory” spending, Johansson said, the public should have a say in it. He
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listed Volusia Forever as an example — the land conservation program was renewed in 2020 by 75.6% of voters.
Public education, the councilman said, is another “well worth” use of taxpayer funds and a core value of the council.
In a video posted on Monday on Ingoglia’s Facebook page, the chief financial officer criticized local governments for having “large, bloated budgets” while trying to extract more from taxpayers in the form of sales tax and other fees.
“I’ve never heard elected officials — people — be so tone deaf in my life,” Ingoglia said as he stood in front of a podium with the words “FAFO audit.”
One citizen spoke about Ingoglia’s FAFO audits during public comment.
Also at the County Council meeting:
Two Volusia County deputies — Austin Graham and Nathan Vargas — were recognized with a proclamation after saving a DeLand woman from a house fire on Feb. 15.
The council heard a budget presentation about the county’s Growth &
John Nicholson, of Daytona Beach, said the state is conducting these reports as a way to push local governments to lower taxes.
Resource Management Services department.
Frank Bruno, former council chair, was reappointed as a substitute member of the Volusia County Canvassing Board for all 2026 elections.
Councilman Danny Robins asked county staff to look into ways to hold homeowner’s associations accountable for stormwater maintenance.
“They’re targeting with the idea of, ‘They want to say there’s too much money in the budget, therefore lower taxes,’” Nicholson said. “And if they did that for the other three that I looked at, they’re going to do it to us. ... They’re just not looking close enough into why things are in the budget.” Do you think local government spending is wasteful? If so, we want to know what you think could be reduced. Send letters to the editor to Jarleene Almenas at Jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com.
the start of construction on a facility designed to enhance emergency response and support countywide training efforts.
Volusia County officials, Fire Rescue leadership, and community partners gathered on Thursday, April 2, to break ground on the new Fire Station 15 at 1159 Red John Road in Daytona Beach, marking
With over 12,000 square feet, the new station will replace the current Station 15, which operates within the county’s Fire Training Center.
The new facility will pro -
vide dedicated living quarters, including bunk rooms and a day room, along with bays for emergency vehicles and operational space designed for a full-service fire rescue station.
Construction is expected to be completed early next year.
The new station represents an investment in both public safety and the firefighters who serve the community, helping position crews to respond quickly and effectively.
It will also allow the Fire Training Center to expand training programs that support agencies across Volusia County and attract fire service professionals from across the state and nation, further strengthening the county’s
Amid the on-going scrutiny and turmoil, Daytona Beach Chief Building Official Gen Urquhart has resigned.
SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Daytona Beach Chief Building Official Gen Urquhart has resigned amid the city’s ongoing turmoil over the misuse of taxpayer money by city staff.
Daytona Beach is undergoing an internal audit across several departments after city staff allegedly misused cityissued Purchasing Cards. In a resignation letter to City Manager Deric Feacher, Urquhart said he was resigning over the “unnecessary pressure, unreasonable requests, extreme micromanaging and personal attacks.”
Urquhart’s final day will April 29, after having worked for the city for over 12 years.
Daytona Beach auditor Abinet Belachew released his audit on the Daytona Beach Fire Department, which reviewed the department’s P-Card spending between 2021 and 2025, at the April 1 City Commission meeting. During that five-year period, Belachew found questionable purchases in the thousands:
$50,000 in P-Card food and beverage purchases, $500,000 in P-Card car maintenance purchases, $50,000 in technology accessory items like phone cases.
The car maintenance purchases are in direct violation of the P-Card policy, the report states, which prohibits using P-Cards on vehicle maintenance. In other cases, the purchases were flagged as questionable as they were items that could be used for personal use or had no documentation supporting their purchase.
During the April 1 City Commission meeting discussing the DBFD report, City Manager Deric Feacher told the commission he would be looking into all the P-Card purchases made over the last five years.
“We’re going to look at every single document,” Feacher said. “All five years of them, one by one. And if there is someone who has used their P-card for personal reasons they will be dealt with.”
Other questionable purchases were identified, too, the report said: televisions, baby shower decor items, greeting cards, irons, travel laundry items, a mini refrigerator, Ramadan decorations, collapsible beer can cooler, men’s dress shoes, sunscreen, kitchen equipment and other consumer goods.
Additionally, in multiple instances purchases did not have itemized receipts or lacked any receipts at all. In that case, employees were permitted to submit written explanations instead of the missing receipt.
“These transactions were not supported by adequate written justification, documented business purpose, or evidence of prior supervisory approval as typically required for expenditures of public funds,” the report said.
“Supporting documentation generally consisted only of receipts, with little or no explanation of how the items directly supported official duties or City operations.”
One such questionable purchase occurred between July 25-28, 2023, when the DBFD purchased 15 televisions from a Best Buy, which, the report said, warranted further review.
Mayor Derick Henry said everyone was alarmed by the 15 televisions.
“It’s obvious that some of the policies have not been followed, if not a lot of them,” Henry said.
Belachew said there is not sufficient evidence yet to say there is fraud within these purchases. There may be, but, he said, if he finds evidence of fraud he would immediately take it to the prosecutor, not the commission.
role as a hub for fire service training.
Station 15 serves unincorporated Volusia County and the Daytona Beach area, providing fire suppression and
Ormond Beach City Commission Zone 3 candidate withdraws A candidate running to represent Zone 3 on the Ormond Beach City Commission has withdrawn from the race.
William Sanchez, a businessman who filed to run last year against incumbent Kristin Deaton, announced his withdrawal on his campaign’s Facebook page on Friday, April 3. Sanchez said the decision “comes as personal matters require my immediate attention and a necessary reprioritization of my time and responsibilities.”
“While stepping away from the campaign was not an easy choice, it is the right one to ensure that I can fully address these personal obligations
emergency medical services.
The station also houses the County’s Hazardous Materials Response Team, which serves all of Volusia County.
The Red John Road loca -
with the focus they deserve,” Sanchez said in his post.
Sanchez is the president and CEO of Solidus Communications Inc. He’s also the founder and president of Cultural Awareness Fund, a nonprofit that strives for cultural unity through education, community service and outreach. He has served on local boards including the Cultural Council of Volusia County and the Volusia County Business Incubator.
In his Facebook post, Sanchez said his withdrawal wasn’t a goodbye, but a pause to allow him to eventually return to serving the community at his full capacity.
“I remain deeply committed to the vision that inspired this campaign: a stronger, more transparent, and more inclusive Ormond Beach,” Sanchez said. “The conversations we have started — about responsible growth, public safety, infrastructure, and opportunity — must continue, and I encourage every resident to
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JARLEENE
ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Ormond Beach Police are reporting an increase in unsafe and reckless electric bike riding behaviors. Should the city look into a new ordinance to address the issues?
While no fatalities or major incidents involving e-bikes have occurred yet in the city, OBPD data shows there have been 27 bicycle-related crashes between Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026. This figure accounts for crashes involving bicycles, e-bikes, e-motos and mopeds.
“As of now, our agency does not track e-bikes and e-motos as a separate category,” said Sgt. Caleb Braun to the Observer. “These incidents are documented within standard crash and incident reports. However, we are clearly observing an increase in unsafe operation of e-bikes and e-motos.”
One recent incident involved a juvenile operating an e-bike at about 34 mph. The juvenile collided with the side of a truck.
Operating an e-bike at such a rate of speed may become illegal soon in the state of Florida, as a bill seeking to implement a speed limit for e-bikes of 10 mph when on a sidewalk or within 50 feet of a pedestrian recently passed with unanimous votes in the Florida House and Senate. SB 382 would also create a Micromobility Device Safety Task Force, under the Department
of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, to examine and recommend further improvements to state law to prevent traffic incidents involving e-bikes.
The bill awaits the governor’s pen. If signed, it would take effect on July 1. Braun said OBPD is taking a “proactive, preventionfocused approach” by engaging with the community and raising awareness about safe e-bike riding practices.
“Whether it’s a traditional bicycle, e-bike, or e-moto, operating any of these unsafely can lead to serious injuries or worse — fatality,” he said.
“Our goal is to educate both riders and parents on the risks, reinforce that traffic laws still apply, and ultimately prevent more serious incidents from occurring in our community before it gets way too out of hand.”
In February, City Commissioner Kristin Deaton asked city staff to look into possible safety ordinances for e-bikes, a suggestion born out of concerns over e-bikes in busy parks and facilities, such as at Nova Rec, she said to the Observer Deaton had also recently witnessed an e-bike pulling a wagon in town. The wagon flipped and injured a child.
“It showed how quickly things can get out of control,” Deaton said. “We have also heard from residents about close calls with e-bikes and cars, including situations where riders are pulling out into traffic. That puts everyone in a difficult position. For me, it comes down to awareness and making sure people adjust how they ride based on where they are. I want people to feel safe whether they are walking, driving, or riding.”
Under current Florida law, e-bikes can be operated anywhere traditional bicycles can— roadways, bike lanes, shoulders, sidewalks and multi-use trails, if allowed in the park. Riders just need to follow existing bicycle and traffic laws, as well as yield to pedestrians. All under 16 must wear a helmet.
But whether an e-bike is truly an “e-bike” comes down to technical specifications. OBPD states that if a bike exceeds 750 watts, can go faster than 28 mph or lacks pedals, it’s not considered to be an e-bike in the state of Florida.
If the bike exceeds these specifications, it’s likely considered an e-motorcycle; top speeds can reach 45-75 mph. Unlike e-bikes, e-motos do require a license and registration and riders must be at least 16 years old.
Some people are confusing e-bikes and e-motos, as they can look similar, according to OBPD.
“We cannot confirm if parents are purchasing them for their children not knowing if it’s an e-bike or e-moto,” Braun said. “However, it’s likely that parents may not know the difference. It’s very possible for someone to purchase what they believe is an e-bike, when in reality, they’re buying a higherpowered electric motorcycle (e-moto) or mopeds.”
Some common traffic law violations in the city involving e-bikes have included reckless/careless riding (such as riding at high speeds in pedestrian areas and performing stunts like wheelies), disobeying traffic signals and signs, riding on the wrong side of the road, riding too fast on sidewalks and failing to yield
to pedestrians.
“E-bikes are capable of higher speeds and quicker acceleration than standard bikes,” Braun said. “That means riders have less reaction time, crashes can be more severe, and it can be harder to safely navigate sidewalks, intersections, and pedestrian areas.”
Last October, the Palm Coast City Council adopted an ordinance restricting e-bike use on city-owned property by implementing an age restriction.
Those wanting to ride an e-bike on city roads, bike paths and sidewalks have to be at least 11 years old. They must also carry a photo ID and present it to law enforcement if requested. Those who violate the ordinance are subject to a fine up to $100 per violation.
In Volusia County, DeLand may ban e-bikes and scooters
from downtown sidewalks. A first reading of an ordinance passed last month.
Deaton said SB 382’s proposed 10 mph speed limit is a good first step, as it gives guidance to riders and law enforcement officers, but probably “not the only step.”
It would make sense, she added, for the city to keep an eye out on what is working in other communities.
“From an enforcement standpoint, the focus should be on situations where someone is clearly riding in a way that is unsafe, whether that is speed, not yielding, or not paying attention to their surroundings,” she said. “This is not about targeting people who are using e-bikes responsibly. It is about addressing the situations that create risk for others.”
“People need to understand that these bikes can move quickly and that they need to adjust how they ride, especially in areas with pedestrians,” she said. “We can help by making expectations clear.” OBPD wants to address unsafe behavior, Braun said.
“Ultimately, our goal is to improve safety, not to restrict responsible riders,” Braun said. “Based on what we’re seeing, an ordinance could focus on clear definitions to help individuals distinguish e-bikes from higher-powered e-motos; speed limits in pedestrian-heavy areas like sidewalks, parks, and trails; age considerations for higherpowered/classified e-bikes; and stronger enforcement language for reckless and unsafe operations.”
Much of the issue comes down to awareness, Deaton said, suggesting signage in parks and recreation facilities, as well as utilizing the city’s communication platforms, as ways to reach and educate the public.
We
BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER
On Easter, church attendance in our community increased by thousands. Does that matter? Yes.
That means many thousands of people experienced the love of God and felt more hope, more forgiving, more forgiven. Their burdens, in all areas of their lives, will feel lighter. That is a healthier community.
ON FORGIVENESS
March 26, 2026
I often struggle to feel peaceful and happy in a messy house. When my children make messes and leave them for someone else to clean up, it is my duty as a parent to
discipline and to teach. But in the end, why do I still find that I’m in a bad mood?
The missing ingredient is forgiveness. How many other stresses in life would be relieved if I were quicker to forgive?
A PRANK DURING THE EASTER PAGEANT?
March 27, 2026
The Easter pageant, put on by the children at my church tonight, was an adorable depiction of scenes from the last week of Jesus’ life. I was distracted, however, by a large chalkboard in the corner of the room, on which some kid had written, in large looping graffiti, “I eat people.”
It was a prank that, despite (or because of?) the solemnity of the occasion, made me chuckle. It might have even made me chuckle twice — except that I finally realized it was my own son’s handwriting. It’s OK. We had a nice little chat about it on the way home.
DOING MORE
March 28, 2026
My friend injured his arm recently when he tried to lift a heavy object. That got me thinking about lifting. If I want to increase my capacity, I need a strategy, a spotter, and a clear idea of what I can already do. What am I doing to increase my capacity as a parent? As a writer?
HARMONY VS. LITTER
March 29, 2026
The 12 palm trees, planted together in two arcs at the corner of Matanzas Woods Parkway and U.S. 1, make me think about Adam’s direction to have dominion over the earth. Tending to our garden, playing harmony with nature, is part of what it means to be human.
On my walk this morning, I also picked up a piece of litter, and that got me thinking: Whoever threw this out the window likely didn’t have a healthy perspective, at least in that moment. How can we help each
Flagler’s Will Furry is not qualified, past activities concerning
Dear Editor:
As so often happens in elections, a candidate wins who does not have the requisite experience, isn’t vetted properly, or voters get tricked by sleazy campaign tactics. Such is the case with Will Furry running as the Flagler County School Board District 2 incumbent candidate.
The bulk of Furry’s working experience was that of a real estate salesman or a player in the mortgage lending business. Furry had no education related experience and only a high school diploma. Nationally about 80% of school board members have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
But he ran, seemingly not based so much upon experience, but rather was inspired by conservative Christian
Former state attorneys honored in portrait ceremony
The Seventh Judicial Circuit Court honored the legacy of former state attorneys during a portrait ceremony on Friday, March 27.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza unveiled the portraits of John Tanner, who served from 1989-1992 and 1997-2008; Steven Alexander, who served from 1993-1996; Dan Warren, who served from 1962-1968; and Stephen Boyles, who served from 1969-1988.
At the ceremony, Larizza said that he spoke with the circuit court staff about this portrait initiative. Judges have their portraits in the courtrooms, he said. So why not
values referencing his faith as the motivator for his political aspirations, even though this “God-led” rhetoric puts into question the intersection of religious conviction and secular school board policy. Additionally, aside from being somewhat short in qualifications, his past business experience reveals concerning stuff. Furry’s campaign resume includes working as a “real estate appraiser” and “chief appraiser” suggestive of him holding a license, which he doesn’t.
In 2022, Furry’s School Board campaign was embroiled in sleazy misinformation tactics, which tanked a more qualified School Board opponent. Although he contended he wasn’t involved, he refused to condemn it despite it being glaringly unethical. He felt deception was a First Amendment right, seemingly
honor past state attorneys in the same way?
“I can’t think of a job that’s more demanding and more taxing on people,” Larizza said. “But you can’t appreciate it, unless and until you are in those shoes.”
Being a state attorney is about taking care of the community, working with judges and supervising the team of lawyers, Larizza said. It’s also about “finding the right path” to justice, he added.
“Our job as as state attorneys and as prosecutors is to make justice happen, and that ain’t always easy,” he said.
The portraits now hang on the third floor of the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach.
Flagler County Commissioner Andy Dance was recognized
other to play in harmony? What gardens do I need to tend better myself?
KEEP AT IT
March 30, 2026
The University of Connecticut staged an incredible comeback in the NCAA tournament this weekend. The team was struggling mightily from 3-point range, only making 3 of 21, before the senior leader, Alex Karaban, lined up yet another attempt late in the game. It would be easy for him to think, “I’ve missed my first five attempts. Maybe I shouldn’t take any more.” But he made it, setting up the miracle shot in the final second for his teammate, a freshman.
What I learned: Keep doing what you’re good at. Don’t get discouraged. Sometime soon, it will go in.
THE RELUCTANT CAT ‘DAD’
April 6, 2026
In 46 years of life, I have never had a cat as a pet. I’ve been comfortable in my anti-pet, grumpy-pragmatic, carefree existence.
But, my kids really, really — so they say — really, really want one all of a sudden, so
excusing immorality if it achieved his election win. It’s reasonable therefore, to not only question Will Furry’s School Board qualifications, but also consider that certain past activity clearly fails to align with his professed ardent Christian based values and principles, a cornerstone of his candidacy.
ETHAN KANTOR Palm Coast
Editor’s Note: According to an American Enterprise Institute report in 2011, “Nearly three-fourths of board members have at least a bachelor’s degree,” based on a survery sample drawn from 7,100 school disticts nationwide.
The “misinformation tactics” the letter writer is referring concerns a campaign mailer paid for by Conservative Political Action Committee, Flagler Forever,
for his leadership and advocacy on the CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia Tri-County Consortium. The consortium is the official governing body responsible for oversight of CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia, ensuring financial accountability and compliance with federal and state workforce policies.
Dance joined the TriCounty Consortium when it was formed in 2024. Since then, he has worked closely with CareerSource leadership in the advancement of key programs and priorities, including, but not limited to: the creation and expansion of CareerSource Talent Hubs; the facilitation of strategic educational partnerships; and, federal advocacy for key workforce funding.
“The transition from a Flagler-Volusia model to a Tri-County Consortium with Brevard was not a simple expansion – it required aligning priorities, governance, and expectations across three distinct communities,” Dance said. “That kind of collaboration only works when you have strong regional partners and committed local leadership. I’m especially grateful for Flagler County’s representatives on the CareerSource Board – Erica Flores of Vincent’s Clubhouse, Renee Swaggerty of Flagler Technical College/Flagler Schools, and Joe Wright of Quantum Electrical Contractors – who play a critical role in guiding workforce development efforts and ensuring our local priorities are reflected in the work of CareerSource Brevard
here goes nothing. My wife and I went to Walmart and bought all kinds of gadgets and an enormous bag of scoopable, clumping kitty litter.
Today, we went to “Cattery East” at the Flagler Humane Society Inc. and met some cats, as a family. One was quiet, old and weighed 17 pounds. A few were kittens that appeared to be trying to eat their wire cages, just to demonstrate what they would do to my couch.
Some were named after cheeses. Some after painkillers. A sign depicted an illustration of a hand with its fingers chopped off, with the message, “If you’re for declawing cats, raise your hand.”
I was puzzled by how often my wife and children used the word “cute.”
So cute that, someday, life-saving surgery for this unknown pet will probably bankrupt me.
Sigh.
They say the reluctant cat dad eventually becomes the one the cat loves the most. They better be right!
Email brian@ observerlocalnews.com.
that was designed to look like it was sent by supporters of Furry’s opponent in 2022, Courtney VandeBunte. The mailer thanked VandeBunte “for standing against [Gov.] Ron DeSantis and his harmful education agenda.” Furry said he did not know about the mailer and had no control over the PAC.
See the letter below for Furry’s response.
Criticism is not warranted. Focus should be on results.
Editor’s note: School Board member Will Furry has responded to the above letter.
Dear Editor:
Before addressing this criticism, I believe the focus should be on my results.
During my first term, I have served as chairman of the board twice, delivered topdown leadership change, achieved year-over-year academic improvement, cut wasteful spending, and
Flagler Volusia.”
Dance and others on the consortium “provided strategic guidance in a coordinated advocacy effort to protect federal workforce funding,” according to the news release.
“Their partnership has enabled us to maximize our support to stakeholders across the communities we serve and achieve outcomes that would not be possible without their ongoing commitment,” said Lloyd Gregg, VP, PTXLLC Workforce Development,
rebuilt our financial reserves to $11 million — helping prevent a potential state takeover trajectory. That is the record I stand on.
The claim that I am unqualified because I do not hold a four-year degree reflects a narrow view of success. I am proud of my background. I have been a strong supporter of career and technical education because not every student’s path runs through a university. My own success in business reflects the value of alternative pathways, and I will continue to advocate for students pursuing them.
A School Board member is not a teacher — it is a leadership role focused on governance, budgeting and accountability. By those standards, our district is stronger today under my leadership.
The attacks on my professional background and past campaign are misleading. I have been clear that I did not participate in unethi-
Chairman CSBFV Tri-County Consortium, Governor appointed Board Member of FL Workforce Credentials Select Committee. Dance helped facilitate the upcoming expansion of CareerSource’s Talent Hub model in Flagler County, including approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Flagler Technical College at the Carver Center, and remained actively engaged throughout the process.”
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cal tactics, and I stand by my integrity and record. I am also proud to have been previously endorsed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as a defender of parental rights and a voice for common-sense leadership. Finally, I will not apologize for my faith. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and my values guide me to serve with integrity and purpose. Voters deserve facts and results — not personal attacks. I remain committed to serving our students, families and community as your District 2 School Board member.
WILL FURRY Flagler County District 2 School Board member
Send letters up to 400 words to jarleene@observerlocalnews.com.
Dance
Thanks to protesters, there is no king. Trump is still president!
Dear Editor:
A huge thank you to all the Flagler “No Kings” protesters. Americans were very concerned a king was trying to take Trump’s place after his landslide victory. Thanks to your tireless efforts, Trump is still your president!
ADAM LANGE Palm Coast
Know your rights?
Be informed instead
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to your article on the “No Kings” rallies, where protesters are demonstrating against ICE and Operation Epic Fury. Many organizers are professional activists who hand out “Know Your Rights” cards. In my view, they should instead distribute cards that say “Be Informed.”
If we truly had a “king,” these protests likely wouldn’t be allowed. Have they forgotten the actions of the previous administration? Parents lost custody for refusing to affirm their children’s gender transitions. Traditional Catholics attending Latin Mass were flagged in FBI memos as potential threats. Hundreds of January 6 attendees were imprisoned, many for non-violent offenses. COVID mandates forced people to take shots, with ongoing debates about harms and excess deaths. Gas prices soared above $4 per gallon with little protest from these same voices, despite the clear pain it caused working families. The list goes on. Now these same voices protest ICE for removing criminals — murderers,
rapists, drunk drivers, gang members, and other serious offenders. The disconnect is striking.
These protesters have every right to speak under the First Amendment, which we must protect. I simply wish they were better informed about the realities of illegal immigration and enforcement priorities. As a legal immigrant who
arrived with my family over 40 years ago, I am deeply grateful for this country. We all worked hard, contributed, and I proudly served in the military before retiring. Lawful immigration built opportunities for families like mine.
Unfortunately, the unchecked illegal immigration and invasion we’ve witnessed in recent years threat-
ens to undermine everything that made America welcoming and successful. Without stronger enforcement and a return to legal, controlled immigration, we risk following Europe’s path—rising crime, strained services, and eroded social cohesion.
It’s time to wake up and prioritize the rule of law.
LUZ HARSHMAN
Ormond Beach
Dear Editor: Residents were stunned by the 3-2 Ormond Beach City Commission vote to settle a developer’s lawsuit and approve 254 homes on the former Tomoka Oaks golf course.
Unanswered questions: Why did the city spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on outside legal counsel that abruptly reversed and pressured commissioners to settle immediately, before a “likely defeat” in court?
Did these same attorneys receive hundreds of thousands of dollars for losing the challenge to a $271,000 property tax bill on the River Bend golf course?
In the ongoing 20-year Avalon Park negotiation, why did the city recently reject a $2.3 million cash settlement that would have preempted a developer lawsuit filed against us in federal court?
Why no city budget record of fund sources and expenditures for outside legal counsel?
Why didn’t the city contract independent testing for Tomoka golf course soil toxins?
How could City Commissioners “conclude” that the proposed Tomoka development “conforms to all standards and requirements of the Land Development Code”?
No “undue crowding” or “unsafe traffic flow” on narrow residential roads?
No problems with the single “ingress and egress” bottleneck or emergency access?
No environmental risks from golf course carcinogens or toxic runoff into the Tomoka River?
No lot size and home size incompatibility with existing Tomoka Oaks homes?
No adverse effects on property values or quality of life?
Are commissioners rejecting 5 years of public hearing testimony from impacted residents documenting unmet Land Development Code standards?
Does zoning matter when the development application violates Land Code standards?
Should citizens and elected officials retain the power to interpret our Land Codes?
Did the city’s 2006 approval of 125 golf course homes set the limit for land code compliance?
Do past federal district and appellate court rulings protecting golf course homeowners also protect Tomoka Oaks residents?
Has the settlement abdicated commission power to control future development density?
Can a federal judge deny a city’s right to enforce land codes that maintain historic, aesthetic, and environmental standards?
With the door to overdevelopment now open, is every Ormond neighborhood and street now just as vulnerable as Tomoka Oaks?
Was the settlement decision driven by threats, fear, hypothetical outcomes, and money?
Has the Commission violated the Land Development Code and the City Charter?
Have commissioners abandoned oaths to protect and defend Ormond Beach
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Event to spotlight new Vault Room Museum, mural and one of the last Florida Highwaymen.
tion at Holden House Museum, 204 E. Moody Blvd., at 10 a.m. The day’s festivities will continue to 5 p.m.
This year, the event has been condensed into a central location, Flagler County Historical Society President Ed Siarkowicz said.
The new 1926 Vault Room Museum inside the historic Flagler County courthouse building, 200 E. Moody Blvd., will allow History Day visitors to travel back in time 100 years. The vault room was where the county kept records from 1926 to 2007. Now, the room contains 10 original courthouse benches with seating for 50 people. The Vault Room Museum features exhibits on women’s voting rights and early Bunnell history. Video interviews of community members, compiled by the nonprofit, Seeking Insights for Solutions, will be set up on a laptop in the room for visitors to view, Siarkowicz said.
“They’re collecting interviews of community members, of multigenerational families, Black and white,” Siarkowicz said. “[The residents interviewed] talk about their life experiences during segration and all the way to modern day.”
There will be all-day tours
of the Holden House Museum and the Sisco Deen Research Library. Siarkowicz said History Day will spotlight Bunnell’s newest mural, still a work in progress, on the east wall of the former Bunnell Library, which faces the historic courthouse and now houses SMA Healthcare.
“It is the newest mural in what is becoming known as the Bunnell art mural district,” he said.
The 1,100-square-foot mural is being painted by Jacksonville muralist Brook Page. The mural is based on a painting by R.L. Lewis, one of the original Florida Highwaymen — Black artists originating in Fort Pierce in the 1950s who took their paintings on the road on U.S. 1 and A1A, selling them out of the trunks of their cars because galleries at the time wouldn’t accept the work of Black artists.
There are two surviving members of the Original Highwaymen — 26 artists inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2004. And one of the two, Curtis Arnett, will be a featured guest at Bunnell History Day, appearing at Poppy’s True Market, 802 E. Moody Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chelsea Herbert, founder of Poppy’s True Market, is a His-
torical Society board member. Arnett previously appeared at the market’s Highwaymen art show at last year’s History Day. The market has a permanent collection of Highwaymen art, both originals and giclées (digital prints produced by inkjet), Herbert said. Frank Menino, a collector and dealer of Florida Highwaymen art, will also attend the show with some of his collection for sale.
“Frank has an incredible collection, work from A.E Backus, Harold Newton, Al Black — three pretty wellknown Highwaymen that people in our area really like,” Herbert said. “There will also be paintings you can buy from Mr. Curtis Arnett directly.” This is the market’s third time hosting an event with a Highwaymen artist on hand, Herbert said. Lewis, who died this year, attended a show at Poppy’s True Market late last year, revealing the painting that inspired the new Bunnell mural, Herbert said. Page told the Observer last month that she had worked with Lewis on a project in Hastings.
“He created a painting. I recreated it for him really large and added my little twist on it as well, and here we are doing it again,” she said.
Children raced across the playgrounds at Tomoka United Methodist Church the morning of Saturday, April 4, during the church’s annual Easter Party and Egg Hunt.
The free event, which began at 10 a.m., was open to children in preschool through fifth grade and welcomed families from throughout the community. More than 100 children took part in the event.
Before the egg hunt, children participated in a variety of Easter-themed activities inside the church, including a snack, storytime, games and coloring. Families also had the opportunity to visit with the Easter Bunny and take photos.
For the hunt, children were divided into three age groups — preschool, kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth grade — before heading out to collect eggs. Kindergartners were given a brief head start before the first and second graders joined in.
Pastor Katie Harrington said the church was pleased to welcome both church members and families from the surrounding area.
“Many families here are not from the church, so we’re glad to be having people from the community,” Harrington said. “We’re just excited to offer a family friendly event for kids to experience this Easter weekend.”
–SUZANNE McCARTHY
BRIAN MCMILLAN OBSERVER OWNER
Hi. You might recognize me from the Opinion page, where I sometimes write a column called “100 words (give or take) every day (or so).” On that page, I’m the Observer’s publisher. Here, I’m the Observer’s owner, the guy who has to monitor the bank account and make payroll, by selling marketing services.
So, here, I thought I would talk to all the fellow business owners out there.
You know what it’s like: You have a great product or service, and you want to grow, and you think, “If only everyone knew what it’s really like to do business with us — they would see that it’s worth our price.”
“But,” you might be thinking, “how do I tell my story? How do I convince people that I’m good at what I do and they should trust me?”
Here’s my suggestion: Write an advertorial, like this one.
To prove to you that I believe in advertorials, I’m writing one myself right now. I could be doing lots of other things to grow the business, but I believe this is the most effective way to spend my time. You might be thinking, “Easy for you to say. You publish the newspaper, so you can use the space for free.” I’m not going to pretend that it costs me as much to publish this as it might for you to buy this space, but that doesn’t mean it’s free to me, either.
Using this ad space, along with several other Observer ads this week, increased our printing costs as well as our mail delivery costs.
I’ll try to explain why I’m doing it, and why it could be a good fit for your business, too.
In marketing, expectations guide experiences. When we go to a basketball game in person, we know the game is going to take a couple of hours. We are expecting to watch the game unfold, from start to finish, with all the shoe squeaks, the fouls and free throws, the subtle adjustments in strategy. If a player misses a shot, we don’t get up and leave. Think about that in relation to marketing. In a lot of formats, you might get just a few seconds of someone’s attention, such as on a billboard or
EYEBALLS
“News junkies, who check news five or more times a day, are about 25% of the U.S. population, and many of them are collegeeducated, richer, and more tech-oriented. ...
on a Facebook post. The expectation of a social media user is that the reels will come and go so fast that you have no chance at remembering anything you just watched. It’s supposed to be entertaining, maybe a little enlightening, and certainly not make you work for it.
Advertising in the newspaper is different. When people open the pages of the Observer, they are prepared to spend 20-30 minutes reading. Their brains are in “patient” mode. They came for the stories, and they’re even going to stay for the crossword puzzle.
That’s why sponsored content is such a powerful marketing tool.
Here’s how it works: You write an article about your business, and we publish it in advertising space, just like this one. Think of the article as your salesman.
As readers turn the pages, or scroll through our website looking for news, your headline is very likely to be read. That’s what readers are looking for: interesting headlines.
Once you have succeeded with your headline, you have just secured their attention for a few minutes. That kind of attention is not easy to get! Imagine what you might have to pay to set up an event and get even 50 people in the room to listen to you. You might have tried posting on social media only to see it get one like, and that was from your personal account.
Meanwhile, thousands upon thousands of people are turning every page in the Observer every week. You have their attention. Now, you can tell your story.
(By the way, note that it says “Sponsored content” on top of this advertorial, so that no one mistakes it for a news article. Readers maintain their trust in the newspaper that way. But it didn’t stop you from reading, right? It won’t stop your customers, either.)
Of course, not every kind of marketing is great for every kind of business. Luxury watches are usually advertised with large photos of the watches, or large photos of beautiful people wearing the watches, so that you can imagine yourself feeling just as successful and happy as they are. (We can provide that, too, by the way. You don’t get much larger than a full page in this newspaper.)
Unlike luxury watches, some businesses have products that are a bit harder to explain. For example, what sets apart
“In my tenure at Microsoft as executive vice president of advertising, I moved some of the company’s media buy to news sites. The ads there were some of the highest-performing revenue generators for the company.” — Mark Penn, on Fortune.com
one chiropractor from another? Or one estate planning lawyer from another? Or a financial planner, or a hearing aid doctor, or a commercial real estate agent? (All of those industries have been represented, or are currently writing, advertorials in the Observer, by the way.)
To win a customer, professionals in those businesses might need to spend a few minutes talking to a potential customer, to share something personal, to gain their trust, to tell a success story, to share some market research. That is a perfect goal for an advertorial, a story about 500 words or so, that can leave a future customer feeling like they now know you and your business
Does that mean they’ll call you right away?
Maybe. If not, though, they will certainly be more likely to say hello to you when they see you at the next networking event. If they see you standing at a table at a health fair, they will be more comfortable approaching you. Or if they see other advertising, or they see your business name in a Google search, they will be more likely to see you in a favorable light.
The goal of an advertorial, like any kind of advertising, therefore, is to elevate your brand in the eyes of the community. If people think, “I need an estate lawyer,” will they be able to remember your name?
If you write advertorials every week in the Observer, the answer is probably going to be yes, they will remember you.
So who’s going to write it? You can, if you’d like. But if you don’t have time, or you’re not all that into writing, we can also help you with it, for an extra charge. We are here to make marketing easy for you.
Then of course is the question everyone has been asking all along: How much does it cost? Well, the short answer is, in print, it costs the same as any other kind of ad in the Observer In the Ormond BeachDaytona Beach market, which reaches over 6,000 households, the cost of doing six ads that are 1/4 page in size is $300 each. Those could run six weeks in a row, or they could be spread out over six months.
Want to buy space on our website as well? We can post your advertorial to observerlocalnews. com for $400. That gets you exposure for about a week on our homepage, and it lives online forever after that, providing a link back to your site, which helps with all of your future Google searches In other words, once you create the content, it can continue to speak to your future customers.
Want to learn more? Email me more, at brian@ observerlocalnews.com.
THURSDAY, APRIL 9
HALIFAX GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MEETING
When: 1:30 p.m.
Where: Ormond Beach
Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach
Details: This month’s topic is “Cecilia Dougherty Memorial Presentation: DNA and Indirect Evidence,” presented by Irene Sheridan.
ART OF HEALING
WORKSHOP
When: 2-3:30 p.m.
Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach
Details: Appropriate for all artistic skill levels. No art experience necessary. All supplies are provided. Free program but registration is required. Visit www.ormondartmuse um.org/classes-programs.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
AN EVENING WITH BLUES LEGEND TAB BENOIT
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach
Details: See four-time Grammy-nominated artist Tab Benoit. Tickets cost $55-$65. Visit ormondbeach performingartscenter.csstix.com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 11
TURTLE FEST 2026
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Veterans park, 105 S. 2nd St., Flagler Beach
Details: Attend this annual event by the Volusia & Flagler Turtles Patrols featuring activities like face painting, turtle races, live music and entertainment. Free.
LAND CONSERVATION
VOLUSIA FOREVER UPDATE
When: 10-11:30 a.m.
March was a busy month for the Ormond-by-the-Sea Lions Club, with members participating in homeless outreach, blood sugar and vision screenings and White Cane weekend.
According to a press release, the Lions began their month by raising awareness and funds to help the visually impaired during the White Cane weekend initiative on March 6 and 7 at Publix. Fourteen members participated in two-hour shifts for the effort.
Then, Lions Jennifer Helmer and Melinda Uebel participated with 23 other Lions and graduated from the Regional Lions Leadership Institute in Fruitland Park, held March 1922. Club Members Lion Greg Evans and Associate member Jacquie Tripp-Spencer served as instructors.
On March 21, Lion Jean Cerullo assisted at the Christine’s Blankets Birthday Party for the Homeless at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. That same day, Lions Marcia Pizzimenti and Bobbie Cheh joined Lions Club members from Port Orange and South Daytona in performing 34 blood sugar screenings and 20 vision screenings at the Veterans Stand Down at the Center at Deltona.
Where: Ormond Beach Regional Library. 30 S. Beach
St., Ormond Beach
Details: Suzanne Scheiber, founder of Dream Green Volusia, will present a land conservation update for the Ormond Scenic Loop and Volusia County.
YOGA IN THE GARDENS
When: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond
Beach
Details: Join Morgan McManus in the Garden Gazebo for a beginner-friendly class. Bring a yoga mat. Costs $20 for museum members; $25 for non-members. Register at www.ormondartmuseum.org/ classes-programs.
0.0K TO COUCH RUN
When: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Ormond Brewing Company, 301 Division Ave. Ormond Beach
Details: Compete in this 0.0K race to support the Emory L. Bennett VA Nursing Home Christmas Party. Cost of $25 includes full custom pint glass and finishers award. Visit https://www.zeffy.com/ en-US/ticketing/00k-tocouch-run.
SIT DOWN FOR STAND UP
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach
Details: This show is for those 18 and up. Marcus Crespo (headliner), Daisy Tackett and Sierra Layko will be the showcasing comedians. Tickets cost $25-$40. Visit ormondbeachperform ingartscenter.csstix.com.
DSC THEATRE PRESENTS
‘MEAN GIRLS’
When: 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, April 11; and 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 12
Where: News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach
Details: See this production by DSC Theatre. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12 and for Volusia and Flagler County students. Event is free for DSC students, faculty and staff with a college ID.
SUNDAY, APRIL 12
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PANCAKE BREAKFAST
When: 8 a.m. to noon
Where: Social Hall at St. Brendan Catholic Church, 1000 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach
Details: Father Eamonn Gill Council 13018 Knights of Columbus will serve its monthly pancake breakfast. The meal includes all the pancakes you can eat, scrambled eggs, a sausage link, orange juice and coffee. Costs $6 for adults; children under 12 eat free.
JEWISH HERITAGE FESTIVAL
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach
Details: Attend the 2026 Jewish Festival, a free community event that will feature Judaica artists, Jewish organization booths, exhibits including a Holocaust Memorial and more. There will also be camel rides, matzoh baking, Biblical characters and children’s activities. Visit JewishHer itageFestival.com.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
AN EVENING WITH CHIEF TOMOKIE
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Tomoka State Park recreation hall, 2099 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach
Details: Join Ranger Mark Adams as he shares the history behind the Chief Tomokie statue. Program will also highlight the life and work of Fred Dana Marsh, the artist who created the statue. No admission fee. Seating is limited. RSVP at fotbsp.com/ event-6536756.
The Capt. James Ormond Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently awarded scholarships to two students.
The students — Latria Lewis-Hartline and Brittany West — are from the Daytona State College Fresh Start program, a free transition program designed to provide support and offer practical tools for success in achieving academic goals. The scholarships were awarded during the chapter’s March meeting.
The seventh annual One Daytona Art Festival brought a lineup of juried fine artists and artisans to town on March 28 and 29.
“This year’s festival truly showcased the power of art to bring people together,” said Kelly Dispennette, NASCAR’s senior managing director of real estate.
There were also student art displays from Daytona State College and Volusia
Flagler Palm Coast has been honing its show for months for this week’s World Championships.
BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Flagler Palm Coast High School Starlets color guard and dance team was ready to head up to Dayton, Ohio, to compete in the Winter Guard International Color Guard World Championships, April 8-12. But first, the Starlets presented a sendoff performance on April 6 for the community.
This is the first time a Flagler County high school color guard team is competing at the World Championships, Starlets coach Lauren Albert said. The Starlets’ routine is titled “Tree of Memories,” inspired by two trees on the FPC campus. Albert told the story of the trees before the performance. The first tree is outside of the 800 gym. Before moving to a portable a few years ago, the Starlets would run “laps” from the gym to the tree and back. After the move, there was again one single tree, which was the only place in the vicinity of the portable that provided shade, Albert said. The trees are a symbol of family, the Starlets’ roots, she said. There are 14 members of the varsity team that is competing Dayton. Nine are seniors. Albert looked up Google maps for the coordinates of their shade tree and gave all of the seniors the coordinates as a keepsake.
“We all know the tree,” senior co-captain Kayleigh Labazzetta said. “And we all have our own memories that are coming together. I feel like I created a lot of friendships through my four years here, a lot of memories. And I really feel like that connects us all.” They have been practicing their show since November, after marching band season, for three hours a day, three times a week, co-captain Emma Sares said. They will be competing at the world championships on the A Class level. They will try to make it through preliminaries to semifinals and finals. They also have tickets to watch the World Class level competitions. While many of the Starlet
seniors have been involved in color guard since middle school, Allie Sims, the only sophomore on the varsity team, is in just her second year doing color guard/dance.
“We have nine seniors out of 14 on the team, so it just felt like a really big honor to be
picked as the only sophomore on our team and to be a part of their last year,” she said.
BRONZE FOR JV STARLETS
The JV Starlets also competed recently, earning a bronze medal on March 28 at the Florida Federation of Color-
guards Circuit Championships in the Coast One Division. The team’s show titled, “Nothing Without Her,” was focused on confidence and the understanding that you can do anything you put your mind to, Albert said.
Volusia Schools’ chief tech officer named a finalist for leadership award
Volusia County Schools Chief Technology Officer Matt Kuhn was recently named a 2026 finalist for the School Leadership Award by EdTech Digest, the school district announced.
“The leaders honored here are defining what comes next,” said Victor Rivero, editor-inchief of EdTech Digest, who oversees the program.
“The future of learning isn’t something we’re waiting for — it’s unfolding right now, shaped by innovators who aren’t reacting to change, but creating it across classrooms, workplaces, and beyond.”
This is the 16th year of EdTech awards, a worldwide program based in the U.S.
“This recognition reflects not only exceptional leadership, but also the strength and dedication of our entire ITS Division here in Volusia County Schools,” the district stated on its Facebook post. “Their work continues to support innovation, empower learning, and ensure our students and staff have the tools they need to succeed.”
Meet Dr. Michelle Brown, a businesswoman turned author with a passion to help others.
MICHELE MEYERS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Dr. Michelle Brown had lost her spark, or so she thought. When she woke up in the morning, she said she felt like something was missing.
“I was talking to my younger sister,” she said. “… We were just sitting there, and I was like, gosh, I feel like I’ve lost my spark. I need something to really ignite me again.”
By then, she had married
Bethune-Cookman University football coach Pat Brown Sr.; their son, Pat “PBJ” Brown Jr., was born in 2018, and their daughter, Layla, the following year. Michelle received her doctorate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Kaiser University that same year. Out of a desire to reignite
“... We’re well-versed in the gaps. Now this year, ‘The S.P.A.R.K. Effect’ is that movement to change the conversations to solutionbased action steps and solution outcomes that are repeatable and sustainable long term.”
DR. MICHELLE BROWN,author and CEO of Brown Transformation Consulting
her personal and professional journey — and help initiate change in individuals and organizations — an ideology was born.
What would be the best means to start a fire for a movement? Brown asked herself.
The answer was simple: a spark. A spark could ignite innovation and engagement.
“I love speaking with humans,” she said. “I love solution-oriented goals and helping other individuals find their spark, find what drives them, and then streamlining those processes from the top down in a way that makes sense, and can be adjusted.”
She was gaining traction working as a consultant in 2020 when she decided to open her own business, Brown Transformation Consulting, and launch her brainchild, The S.P.A.R.K. Effect. On March 6, she published her first book on the topic, “The S.P.A.R.K. Effect — A Framework Redefining Leadership of the Future.”
“Industrial and organizational psychology is my expertise, and now I have an entire thriving business that runs just on that, and it’s literally what the world is, human-focused,” Brown said. “But also, you need that ROI, the return on investment. You still have to run the business. So there are metrics, but you can do both.”
A Southern California native, Brown said as a teenager she felt angry and was prone to getting into fights. Following one of her conflicts, instead of a punishment being dispensed, a question was posed to Brown: “Is this how
you want to be remembered?” It forced her to pause, consider her actions, and shift her thought process. That incident, coupled with her introduction to softball during her freshman year, gave her the incentive to change her trajectory.
“I was able to ground myself and understand that you’re not always right, you’re not always perfect,” she said. “ … When you hit those barriers and challenges, take that step back, take that pause, and reground yourself, go back to basics, understand what your desired end goal is, and then from there, that’s when you redo your strategy, your planning, and then take different steps in action. Softball is huge to the premises and holistic standpoint of not only the book, but how I live my life day to day.”
Brown was awarded a Division I softball scholarship in 2009 to attend B-CU, where she earned Academic AllAmerican honors. As a firstgeneration college student, she also became the first in her family to earn a Division I scholarship. She completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology in just three years, leaving one year of eligibility remaining. Choosing to continue playing the sport she loved, she applied to B-CU’s master’s program, was accepted, and earned her graduate degree within a year.
“My grandfather said, ‘Hey, you only have one more to go. Why not?’ And so I ended up getting my PhD as well,” she said.
Brown’s grandfather, Marine Sgt. Victor Bañuelos immigrated from Mexico
“I love solution-oriented goals and helping other individuals find their spark, find what drives them, and then streamlining those processes from the top down in a way that makes sense, and can be adjusted.”
DR. MICHELLE BROWN, CEO of Brown Transformation Consulting
to Southern California with his parents, Carlos and Lupe Bañuelos. Brown’s grandparents, Victor and Grace Bañuelos, were a strong presence in her life and played an important role in raising her and her five younger siblings. They instilled a set of morals and values that encouraged them to strive to be the best they could be.
Brown’s family also ensured that faith played a significant role in her upbringing.
“Since I was little, I was raised with God, absolutely 1,000%,” she said. “Number one, nothing without God, I could not have orchestrated any of my steps (without Him).”
Being a Black and Mexican woman in today’s world, Brown said it is multifaceted and multidimensional, with so many perspectives, mindsets, and experiences. Growing up, people assumed she was Black and did not know of her Mexican ancestry.
She said what brought her to this point in her life was the blend of her family. They are a true representation of what the world is today, Brown said. Her passion is for individuals and humans to be seen for who they are, what they are, and to look deeper than the surface.
“The reality is there are so many deeper emotions and wounds that people try to
hide on the surface,” she said.
“In the past, that was easy to compartmentalize, but now, as the world evolves and we get more holistic and understanding with each other, it’s easy to see as humans. We want to see the vulnerable parts of each other. We understand that we are not a label.
We’re not a simple category.”
“The S.P.A.R.K. Effect” introduces new leadership guidelines that promote a purposeful, human-centered approach, allowing people to be seen for who they are as a whole, not just their title. Antiquated productivity-without-purposebased internal systems are evaluated, redefined, and restructured with the people they serve in mind instead of implementing the latest technology, trend, or methodology. Brown states that Artificial Intelligence is used to augment the workforce, not replace it.
Brown considered the acronym with these pillars in mind — Strategy, Plan, Action, Results, and KPI Knowledge. Her book provides in-depth explanations and personal examples for each pillar along with reflection prompts, worksheets, and assessments.
As a leader, strategist, and expert in industrial and organizational psychology, Brown has found that this holistic
approach implemented by Brown Transformation and “The S.P.A.R.K. Effect” is a movement.
“The book is solely focused on solution-based actions, steps, and resources, because it’s about what the solution is,” she said. “We’ve had the conversation for years about race. We’ve had the conversations about inequity in pay. We’ve had the conversations. Now we are all well-versed in what the issues are. We’re well-versed in the gaps. Now this year, ‘The S.P.A.R.K. Effect’ is that movement to change the conversations to solution-based action steps and solution outcomes that are repeatable and sustainable long term.”
AdventHealth Training Center opens at Jackie Robinson Ballpark
AdventHealth celebrated the ribbon cutting of the new AdventHealth Training Center at the historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach on Thursday, April 2.
Community leaders, Major League Baseball representatives and the Daytona Tortugas joined AdventHealth to applaud the opening of the new facility, a two-story, 30,000-squarefoot building with enhanced athletic training areas, weight rooms and locker rooms. According to a press release, the facility “is part of a broader effort to modernize Jackie Robinson Ballpark while preserving its historic significance and ensuring it remains a long-term asset for the city.”
“This facility represents a deeper investment in the Daytona Tortugas, in this ballpark, and in the neighbors who call this area home,” said Lorenzo Brown, CEO of AdventHealth’s Atlantic Coastal Region. “It’s about giving athletes what they need to stay healthy and compete at their highest level. But
the impact doesn’t stop with the players; it strengthens the whole community.”
AdventHealth became the Tortugas’ official health care provider in 2024. As part of that partnership, AdventHealth Medical Group physicians serve as team doctors.
The facility is built on the same field where Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in professional baseball in 1946 when he played his first integrated game with the Montreal Royals.
“We stand on sacred ground,” said Paula R. Reed, Zone 6 Daytona Beach City Commis-
sioner. “In 1946, Daytona Beach opened its gates so Jackie Robinson could take the field and change the world. This investment is about protecting that history and making sure this ballpark remains a place where future generations can create their own.”
MLB leaders said the improvements bring the facility in line with modern player development standards, the press release states.
“Talent alone doesn’t get a player to the Major Leagues. Environment matters,” said Freddie Seymour, senior director of minor league operations and affairs for Major League Baseball. “The AdventHealth Training Center gives players the space to grow, refine their skills and take the next step toward their future.”
The Cincinnati Reds are the Major League affiliate of the Daytona Tortugas.
“This is where many of our players begin their journey, and now they have a place that gives them everything they need to work toward the Major Leagues,” said Nick Krall, president of baseball operations for the Cincinnati Reds.
Tortugas leadership said the expanded amenities will enhance both player experience and fan engagement.
“This is a big moment for our team and for this ballpark,” said Jim Jaworski, president and general manager of the Daytona Tortugas. “From the players to the coaches, seeing their reaction when they walked into the AdventHealth Training Center for the first time said everything. This gives them a place that supports what they need every day — to stay healthy and keep moving forward in their careers.”
A neighborhood meeting to discuss a proposed townhome development at 1190 W. Granada
Blvd. in Ormond Beach will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, at the Ormond Beach Regional Library. Engineer Realty, LLC, the developer of the project is seeking a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning to construct 12 townhome units on the 2.81-acre property along Yoon Way. This follows an informational meeting held in late January and will also be conducted by the Cobb Cole law firm, who is representing the developer. The presentation will remain the same, according to the neighborhood meeting notice, though minor project updates may be discussed. The property is currently zoned Special Environmental. The developer is seeking a rezoning to R-4 Single Family Cluster and Town House District.
By Jamie Cuzzocreo, Commercial Advisor | Watson Commercial Realty, Inc.
As a commercial real estate advisor who closely follows market dynamics across the Jacksonville metro, it’s impossible not to be impressed by Saint Augustine’s continued dominance in attracting renters. The numbers tell the story: Saint Augustine posted the second-fastest absorption rate in the region—trailing only Southside, which boasts nearly five times the inventory.
Over the past year alone, the submarket absorbed about 1,100 units, pushing vacancy down by an astonishing 800 basis points. What’s remarkable is that this progress came even as 320 new units hit the market, a clear signal of the strength and depth of renter demand here.
Vacancy is still elevated at 17% as of the second quarter of 2026, but it’s important to recognize the positive trajectory. Compared to recent peaks, this is meaningful improvement. Near-term supply looks manageable, with roughly 940 units under construction—an inventory increase of close to 9%. All deliveries are expected in the coming months. With construction activity slowing down and demand holding steady, we anticipate vacancy to hover near 17% through 2026. This moderation in the development pipeline marks a shift toward a more balanced supply and demand picture, which is healthy for the long-term stability of the market.
Saint Augustine’s growth over the past five years has been nothing short of aggressive. Multifamily inventory has expanded by about 80%, a pace that dwarfs most other submarkets relative to their size. Even though Saint Augustine accounts for just 8% of the Jacksonville area’s total inventory, it represents nearly a third of all units currently under construction. Over the past year, it absorbed close to 20% of metro-wide renter demand. Now, with units under construction at a five-year low, the most intense phase of development has likely passed.
Rent levels are another key factor for investors and landlords. Saint Augustine commands the highest rent in the broader market, averaging $1,750 per month compared to Jacksonville’s average of $1,510. However, rent growth has cooled considerably since its late 2021 peak of nearly 10%. We’ve seen negative year-over-year growth—currently at -2.3%—for nearly three years, but performance has ticked up modestly over the past year. The outlook is for subdued rent growth, with a return to positive territory not expected until late 2026.
Fundamentally, Saint Augustine’s multifamily market is adapting after a period of rapid expansion. Strong absorption, a slowdown in construction, and persistent renter interest are supporting leasing activity. Yes, vacancy is still high and rent growth remains weak, but these are transitional characteristics as the market finds its footing. The mix of high rent levels, intense demand relative to inventory, and moderating supply sets the stage for Saint Augustine to be a standout as conditions stabilize and long-term demand drivers continue.
From an investment perspective, sales volume has remained modest, never surpassing $200 million annually in the past decade. In the trailing 12 months ending Q2 2026, total sales volume was just $4.3 million, with cap rates ranging from 5.10% to 7.10% Yet, there’s a new tailwind gaining strength: declining insurance costs
Insurance has historically been a tough hurdle for Florida multifamily properties, impacting everything from leverage to cash flow. Recently, increased competition among carriers and new market entrants are easing these constraints, providing improved pricing and greater underwriting flexibility—even for assets previously deemed hard to insure. For typical Florida portfolios, yearover-year insurance cost reductions of 30% to 40% are now increasingly achievable.
As a commercial real estate advisor, I see Saint Augustine poised for a period of relative stability and opportunity. The fundamentals are sound: robust renter demand, a manageable (and slowing) supply pipeline, and a more favorable cost environment for investors. As the most intense development phase recedes and rent growth trends stabilize, the stage is set for savvy investors and landlords to take advantage of Saint Augustine’s enduring appeal.
Strategize Your Next Smart Move.
Thinking of buying, selling, or repositioning a multifamily asset?
Contact me, Jamie Cuzzocreo at Watson Commercial Realty, Inc. for
guidance backed by real market data. Get the same information today’s top investors are using to make smarter moves.
Ahouse at 530 Cinnamon Beach Lane in Ocean Hammock was the top real estate transaction for March 21-27 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The house sold on March 24 for $3,150,000. Built in 2013, the house is a 7/6 and has 2 half bathrooms, a pool, a hot tub, an outdoor kitchen, an elevator and 5,158 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $2,900,000. The house was listed by Shelley DeVito, of Hammock Real Estate Group.
ALEXIS MILLER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Condos
A condo at 1000 Canopy Walk Lane, Unit 1034, sold on March 27, for $257,000. Built in 2005, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,377 square feet. It sold in 2012 for $115,000.
A condo at 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Unit 515, sold on March 27, for $670,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/3 and has 1,676 square feet. It sold in 2006 for $1,105,000.
A condo at 60 Surfview Drive, Unit 814, sold on March 26, for $490,000. Built in 2004, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,455 square feet. It sold in 2007 for $370,000.
A condo at 3580 South Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 903, sold on March 24, for $440,000. Built in 1982, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,290 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $450,000.
A condo at 7 Avenue De La Mer, Unit 605, sold on March 24, for $1,035,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/2.5 and has 1,944 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $675,000.
FLAGLER BEACH
Atlanta Beach
A house at 2643 Lakeshore Drive sold on March 26, for $680,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 1,720 square feet.
Model Land Co A house at 323 N. 10th St. sold on March 27, for $707,000. Built in 1995, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, a dock and 1,462 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $400,000.
Rio Mar A house at 1528 N. Daytona Ave. sold on March 21, for $614,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 4/4 and has a fireplace and 2,584 square feet.
PALM COAST
Built in 2019, the house is a 4/3.5 and has a pool, a hot tub and 2,743 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $525,000.
Toby Tobin, of gotoby.com, contributed to this report.
Ahouse at 504 S. Halifax Drive was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea for the week of March 14-20. The house sold on March 17, for $720,000. Built in 1950, the house is a 4/3 and has a fireplace, a pool and 2,580 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $372,500.
The house was listed by Mike Bretzel, of Keller Williams Realty.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Condos
The condo at 3370 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 307, sold on March 19, for $220,000. Built in 1983, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,275 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $230,000.
ORMOND BEACH
Archers Mill
The house at 301 Bracer Way sold on March 17, for $389,990. Built in 2026, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,034 square feet.
Banyan Estates
The house at 45 Banyan Drive sold on March 16, for $564,350. Built in 1963, the house is a 4/2 and has a fireplace and 2,023 square feet. It last sold in 2016 for $227,000.
Breakaway Trails
The house at 3 Crooked Bridge Way sold on March 16, for $540,000. Built in 1991, the house is a 5/3 with two half baths, and has a fireplace and 3,171 square feet. It last sold in 2016 for $360,000.
Gardens at Addison Oaks
The townhome at 39 Bella Vita Way sold on March 16, for $245,000. Built in 2007, the townhome is a 2/2.5 and has 1,678 square feet.
Halifax Plantation
The house at 3413 Rexford Circle sold on March 16, for $675,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 4/2.5 and has a pool and 2,924 square feet. It last sold in 2015 for $355,000.
The house at 1121 Killarney Drive sold on March 19, for $585,0000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 2,131 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $629,900.
Northbrook
The house at 1103 Parkside Drive sold on March 19, for $355,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 4/2 and has a pool and 1,645 square feet. It last sold in 1978 for $55,900.
Oak Forest
The house at 1515 N. Beach St. sold on March 19, for $449,450. Built in 1979, the house is a 6/3 and has a fireplace and 2,649 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $264,900.
Ridgehaven
The house at 588 Brookhaven Trail sold on March 18, for $400,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,337 square feet.
The house at 438 Brookhaven Trail sold on March 20, for $450,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 2,181 square feet.
ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA
Barrier Isle
The house at 133 Barrier Isle Drive sold on March 19, for $685,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool and 2,428 square feet. It last sold in 2013 for $314,000.
Holland
The house at 20 Concord Drive sold on March 20, for $299,000. Built in 1975, the house is a 2/1 and has a fireplace and 1,092 square feet. It last sold in 1984 for $57,200.
Not in subdivision
The house at 2688 John Anderson Drive sold on March 16, for $650,000. Built in 1977, the house is a 3/3 and has a fireplace and 2,844 square feet. It last sold in 1980 for $162,000.
The house at 193 Pierside Drive sold on March 20, for $425,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, a pool and 1,917 square feet. It last sold in 2012 for $142,000.
Ormond Beach Manors
The house at 210 Essex Drive sold on March 16, for $371,000. Built in 1955, the house is a 3/1 and has a fireplace and 1,636 square feet. It last sold in January 2026 for $260,000.
Pelican Dunes
The house at 125 Pelican Dunes Drive sold on March 17, for $469,000. Built in 2001, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,850 square feet. It last sold in 2001 for $168,900.
Sunny Shores
The house at 44 Tropical Drive sold on March 16, for $295,000. Built in 1957, the house is a 3/1 and has a fireplace and 1,104 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $230,000.
A house in Latitude Margaritaville at 171 Catamaran Cove was the top real estate transaction in the 32124 zip code for the week of March 14-20. Sold on March 19, for $920,000, the house was built in 2024. It is a 3/3 and has a pool, a spa and 2,468 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $747,800. The house was listed by Kelley Sarantis, of Bob Hodges and Sons Realty.
Grande Champion The house at 1044 Morfontaine St. sold on March 19, for $414,990. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,336 square feet.
The townhome at 104 Carmichael Way sold on March 19, for $229,900. Built in 2016, the townhome is a 2/2.5 and has 1,288 square feet. It last sold in 2016 for $163,000.
Latitude
Margaritaville
The townhome at 233 Coral Reef Way sold on March 17, for $455,000. Built in 2018, the townhome is a 2/2 and has 1,768 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $304,100.
The house at 302 Last Mango Drive sold on March 19, for $355,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,205 square feet. It last sold in 2025 for $354,500.
John Adams, of Adams, Cameron & Co. Realtors, contributed to this report.
For Nathan Castor, 23, running the annual Daytona Beach Easter Beach Run is a family affair.
Castor and his family have been participating in the Easter Beach Run since the late 1970s, when his grandparents, Tom and Jeannie McGuire, purchased a condo in Daytona Beach. The 23-year-old has run the race every year for almost 20 years, since his first 50-yard dash at just 4 years old.
He returns every year, he said, because of the memories.
“We’ve been doing it for so long that it’s just something you look forward to at a certain point,” Castor said.
Hundreds of participants of all ages lined up at the starting line on April 4, with the city’s Easter Bunny cheering from the sidelines. The race had several divisions: the 2-mile race, the 4-mile race, and the kids’ 50-yard, 100-yard and .25-mile dashes.
The 2-mile race had 301 finishers, with 15-year-old
Emmett Buffington taking the overall best male gun time of 11:43.55 and Ava Biege, 10, the best female time of 13.55.23.
In the 4-mile run, Seth Augustynowski, 23, took first place with a time of 22:57.68 while Shannon Jones, 40, took third place and the best overall female time of 25:22.74.
Parks and Recreation Director Keith Willis said the city keeps the race between 800 and 1,000 participants, and this year had to turn people away. Willis has been working the Easter Beach run for 40 years with Daytona Beach, and his own children grew up running the kids’ dashes. Now, he said they’re running in the big races. Many people in Daytona Beach look forward to the race, he said, and come back even from out of state to run the race year after year.
ue the tradition and Jeannie McGuire said the family never wants to sell their condo and can’t wait to return every year for the race.
“It brings everybody together and everybody looks forward to it,” he said.
Tom and Jeannie McGuire, married for 60 years, have been coming to Daytona Beach as snowbirds since 1976. They started running the Easter Beach Run around 1977 with their children, and have returned almost every year since, collecting the race shirts.
Tom McGuire said it’s great to see their grandkids contin-
“We feel so blessed to be part of Daytona Beach, Florida, all these years as snowbirds,” she said. “We will never leave here.”
Despite the large crowds the event draws, Castor said the participants are always supportive of each other.
“Everybody’s cheering everybody on,” he said. “Even when you’re trying to pass someone, they’re trying to bring you up to finish with them. It’s just an awesome experience.”
The Pirates host St. Augustine in their final regular-season match on April 9.
BRENT WORONOFF
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Matanzas boys tennis team is one victory away from completing a perfect season. With a win on their home courts against St. Augustine on Thursday, April 9, the Pirates will finish the regular season with a 15-0 record. But their sights are set higher.
“Last year, we got third in districts, and we needed second to move on (to regional), and we barely missed it,” senior Owen Brady said. “But this year, we’re much stronger, so we are pretty hopeful going into it.”
The Pirates host the District 4-3A tournament at the Southern Recreation Center in Palm Coast on April 14-15. They have already defeated district opponents Clay (by a 7-0 score), Bartram Trail
(6-1), Beachside (6-1) and Ponte Vedra (5-2) in dual matches. They handed Ponte Vedra its only loss of the season.
The difference this year is the addition of sophomore Daniel Patsula at No. 1 singles and doubles and Flagler Palm Coast transfer Adam Stochel Polubiec at No. 2 singles and doubles. Patsula is undefeated.
“Daniel has been a game changer,” said Brady, who is Patsula’s doubles partner. “We know we can rely on him to get us a win, and he’s been a great doubles partner. We’ve won every match.”
Senior Stan Valenteychik had been the Pirates’ No. 1 singles player since he was a freshman. This year he is undefeated at No. 3 singles. Brady, who was the Pirates’ No. 2 singles player last year, is now at No. 4 singles.
“They’ve accepted their roles graciously this year, because they know that in order to win as a team, we had to put the best players at the right spots,” coach Jens Oliva
said. “So they understand their roles on the team to try to do the best they can for districts and hopefully regions and beyond.”
The Pirates have won 91 of a total of 113 singles and doubles matches this season for an 80.5 winning percentage as a team.
Matanzas has had a winning team record in each of the past four years. The Pirates were 13-1 in 2023 when seniors Valenteychik, Brady, Daniel Faraj and Tyler Lemmon were freshmen. But the team is much deeper this season.
Valenteychik was a USTA tournament player until he was 12 or 13. He said he feels less pressure playing at No. 3 singles than at No. 1.
“I feel like compared to other No. 3’s I’ve played against, I’m on a much higher level,” he said. “I haven’t really had any matches that were too hard, so far.”
The Pirates know the competition will get harder in the postseason, starting with the district tournament, which will include undefeated Nease
and one-loss Ponte Vedra.
“Ponte Vedra and Nease have much better [Universal Tennis Ratings] than our team,” Oliva said. “But this is the first year that we’re actually able to compete against them. This is the first time the boys defeated Ponte Vedra in the regular season since I’ve been coaching here.”
Patsula, who has the best UTR in the district, has been playing tennis since he was 3, he said. He is an experienced USTA tournament player.
“Daniel reminds me of our
player that went to state (in 2021), Ilya Korolev,” Oliva said. “If he wins districts as an individual, he’ll be going to state.”
Valenteychik, Brady and the other Pirates’ four-year players have had a lot of success in their careers, but they have yet to advance to regional.
“We’re really excited to hopefully go far,” Brady said.
“I mean, at the end of the day this is tennis and anything can happen, but we definitely have good odds to go much further than we ever have.”
St. Augustine at Matanzas
What: The Pirates’ final boys and girls tennis match of the regular season
Records: Matanzas boys 14-0, Matanzas girls 10-5. St. Augustine boys 6-6. St. Augustine girls 12-2
When/where: 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 9, at Matanzas tennis courts
Up next: District
Marion Clayton’s homer sparks sixrun inning to help Brody Youngman win his first start in Bulldogs’ 6-1 win over Deltona.
BRENT WORONOFF
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Bulldogs needed a spark. Instead, they got a blaze. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Flagler Palm Coast’s Marion Clayton drilled a two-run homer over the left-center field fence. FPC went on to score four more runs in the inning to defeat Deltona 6-1 on Thursday, April 2. With the home win, the Bulldogs earned fifth place in the Five Star Conference baseball tournament. It was Clayton’s second home run in two games and his fifth of the season. But it was the left-hander’s first
dinger to the opposite field this season. And it came just in time.
“It got us going,” said Clayton, who will play baseball at Jacksonville University next season. “We scored six that inning, so it really sparked the rally.”
FPC sophomore Brody Youngman pitched a threehit gem in his first start of the season. Yet, after six innings, he was in danger of getting tagged with a loss as the Wolves (12-11) scored an unearned run in the top of the sixth to take a 1-0 lead. Youngman was on the verge of getting out of the inning unscathed, but with two outs, Deltona’s Eric Cunningham
hit a grounder to third baseman Carson Flis. It appeared that Flis’ throw to first was in time to get the out, but the umpire ruled Cunningham safe for an infield hit. During the next at-bat, Cunningham went all the way to third on Youngman’s errant pickoff throw and then scored on a wild pitch. The inning ended with a fly out to left field.
“It kind of woke us up,” Clayton said of the Wolves getting on the scoreboard. “We were going through the motions for a lot of the game, but then we realized, ‘All right, well, we got to figure it out this inning to win.’ That sparked a fire under under me, and I was ready to go.”
Youngman and Deltona’s Brayden Flores had been locked in a scoreless pitching duel through five innings. Flores left the game after the fifth having thrown 70 pitches. The sophomore lefty allowed three hits and no walks.
In the bottom of the sixth, FPC catcher Clayton Lamb greeted reliever Kyle Goodpaster with a grounder and reached first on a throwing error by the pitcher.
“It’s the freebie war,” FPC coach Kyle Marsh said. “You got to take advantage of the freebie wars. And they gave us a freebie on the throw to first, and you got to capitalize. And I think we did a good job capitalizing after that.”
The next batter, Marion Clayton, capitalized by scorching a high and outside fastball for a two-run shot. He said he knew it was gone as soon as he hit it.
“We were going through the motions for a lot of the game, but then we realized, ‘All right, well, we got to figure it out this inning to win.’ That sparked a fire under under me, and I was ready to go.”
MARION CLAYTON
“I needed to put a good swing on it, and it carried over the wall,” he said. “I gave a little trot there right off the bat.”
That got the bats going. Flis singled, Jordan Gonzalez walked. Tyler Bohnenkamper loaded the bases with a bunt single. Paul Bowen made it 3-1 with a line-drive single to right. Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch. And Nick Pandich completed the six-run inning with a two-run double to center field.
“Marion is a good spark plug for our team,” Marsh said. “He comes ready to play, works hard.”
Nole Hemmerle pitched a scoreless seventh to secure the Bulldogs’ eighth win in their last 10 games. Youngman lowered his earned run average to 1.79 in 15.2 innings pitched.
““Every time he’s come in the game this year, he’s done a really good job for us,” Marsh said of the sophomore. “For his first start of the year, I think he looked really good. He gave us a chance to win. It was good to see him just fill up the (strike) zone and let us play defense.”
Youngman allowed three hits, one walk and no earned runs in six innings. He had two strikeouts and threw 76 pitches.
“It was just good to get out there,” he said. “I was just trying to hit my spots, moving it around with different pitches.”
“Brody was on fire all night,” Marion Clayton said. “(The Wolves) didn’t have many hits that they put together. Brody shoved today. It was great to see.”
The Bulldogs were seeded second in the Five Star tournament but lost their first-round game to No. 7 University, 5-3. FPC bounced back with a 9-1 win over New Smyrna Beach in the consolation bracket to gain a spot in the fifth-place game. Spruce Creek won the conference title with a 10-0 win over University in the title game.
FPC (15-8) lost their final regular-season home game on Monday, April 6, 7-5 to St. Augustine. They finish the season on April 9 at Lake Minneola, a team they have met twice this season, splitting the two games. The district tournament begins April 14.
“One of our pitchers, Jordan Gonzalez, said it best,” Clayton said. “If we lose the Five Star, but we win the district, then nobody cares that we didn’t win (the Five Star). We got to keep the win streak going ... into the playoffs.”
The Bulldogs honored its only senior, Sanai Figueiredo.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
on Monday, April 6, and then defeated Seabreeze 13-3 in five innings.
went 2 for 3 for the Bulldogs (), who lashed 11 hits in the
went 2 for 4 with a
and a
and three runs
three
had three hits and
As high school track and field heads toward its postseason, local athletes have been making history by taking down school records by the wayside. Several athletes at Matanzas, Flagler Palm Coast and Seabreeze shattered their school’s all-time marks last week.
Matanzas sophomore Peyton Cerasi became the first Pirate to break the 5-minute barrier in both the girls mile and the 1,600-meter run. Cerasi placed second in both events at the Bolles Mile Showcase on April 2 in Jacksonville. She ran a 4:59.99 in the mile, shattering a 15-year-old school record by more than 24 seconds.
She broke her own school record in the 1,600 with a time of 4:58.27 to rank fourth in the state in Class 3A this season. Her previous best 1,600-meter time was 5:04.00.
Cerasi was not the only Matanzas runner to break school records at Bolles.
Senior Blaine Vogel broke the boys’ mile record, set 15 years ago, with a time of 4:33.39.
Teammate Brant Tarsitano was not far behind at 4:34.01 and freshman Dylan Ciardi ran a 4:37.38. All three were faster than the previous record of 4:40.41 set by
Cameron Allen in 2011. Flagler Palm Coast competitors have been breaking school marks all season, but this past weekend was a watershed moment for several Bulldog athletes. The quartet of Logan Jacobelli, Will Roberts, Mikey Najpaver and Jordan Haymon broke school marks in two relay events April 3-4 at the Pepsi Florida Relays in Gainesville. They broke the 4x400 mark, which coach David Halliday called “one of the greatest records in FPC boys track and field,” in a Facebook post. Their time of 3:12.95 toppled the old record of 3:13.15 set by 2009 state champions Reggie Woods, Tim O’Dell, Ashton Mills and CJ Lockhart. Jacobelli, Roberts, Najpaver and Haymon placed fourth
in both the 4x400 and the 4x200 at the Florida Relays. They now rank second in the state in Class 4A in the 4x400. Their 4x200 time of 1:26.24 broke the mark of 1:28.15 set in 2011 by Chris Stubbs, Yeovanti Williams, Gilbert Absolu and Tyler Cue. Also at the Florida Relays, Arianna Slaughter placed eighth in the girls 1,600 with a new FPC school record of 5:06.50, breaking Jada Williams’ mark by 3.42 seconds. Slaughter also joined Anna Grigoruk, Jayden Wright and Everly Mucciolo in taking down the old 4x800 record by two-and-a-half seconds. They placed ninth at the Relays.
FPC’s Karina Marcelus broke her own records in the triple jump, placing third at the Relays with a 12.21 meters (40 feet, 0.75 inches), and the 100 hurdles, placing sixth in 14.11 seconds.
Seabreeze’s Aiden O’Brien broke the Sandcrabs’ record in the boys 200 meters with a time of 21.77 seconds to place fifth at the EmbryRiddle Running Elements high school meet on Saturday, April 4. O’Brien eclipsed Charles Nelson’s mark of 21.88 seconds set in 2012. Nelson starred in football and track at Seabreeze and the
University of Oregon.
O’Brien also placed fourth in the 100 with a personalrecord time of 10.87 seconds.
Seabreeze’s Drayton Brackett broke his own school record to win the 110 hurdles at Embry-Riddle with a time of 15.42 seconds. Teammate Dominic Dowell finished right behind Brackett in 15.68 for second place. The places were reversed in the 400 hurdles with Dowell winning in 58.83 seconds and Brackett second in 58.86. Seabreeze’s Alex Schargen also placed among the top five in both hurdles events, fifth in the 110 and fourth in the 400.
Seabreeze’s Barrett Jones placed second in the steeplchase at Embry-Riddle with a new school record time of 7:08.64. Jones broke Tyler Lewis’ mark.
Among other outstanding performances over the weekend, FPC’s La’Darius Simmons placed third in javelin at the Florida Relays with a throw of 60.32 meters (197 feet, 11 inches), Haymon was fifth in the 400 at the Relays, finishing in 47.52 seconds.
Mainland freshman Makayla Doe placed second in girls triple jump (36 feet, 5 inches), fourth in long jump (16 feet, 7.25 inches) and sixth
BRENT WORONOFF
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
If at some point you’ve listened to Mike Lischio’s sports broadcasts on WNZF Radio over the past 17 years, you are probably aware that he has a “day job.” And you also would know that “the alma mater” is his high school alma mater, the St. Augustine Yellow Jackets.
Lischio has been broadcasting Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high school football games for WNZF since 2010. Recently he was promoted to sports director at the station, Flagler Broadcasting President & CEO David Ayres announced.
“Mike is well deserving of this promotion with [his] years of dedication covering Flagler County sports,” Ayres said.
Lischio plans to keep his day job at the St. Johns County Property Appraiser’s Office, even though his role at the radio station is expanding, but he’s used to that. And he loves it.
For his first 12 years with WNZF, Lischio was an unpaid intern broadcasting football games first with Dr. Dave West and then with Rich Carroll, who is now the Observer’s multimedia producer. Four years ago, Lischio became a paid employee at the station as the sports anchor on Flagler’s Morning News.
During those first 12 years, Lischio thought he was the lucky one.
“They gave me a (Jacksonville) Jaguars credential, and just being able to go to every game free of charge ... and learn about interviewing people was worth it,” he said. “It was the opportunity for me to live out a dream.” It was happenstance that Lischio got on the air in the first place. In 2009, his coworker at Prosperity Bank at the time, John Ferry, did play-by-play of Menendez’s football games for WFOY in St. Augustine. One day, Ferry was asked to fill in on the sister station broadcasting a St. Augustine High School game, and he asked Lischio if he wanted to join him in the booth.
“I always wanted to broadcast a game,” Lischio said. “I said sure. It happened to be against FPC.”
He wound up talking to Dr. Dave, who was broadcasting the game for WNZF. By the next season, he became Dr. Dave’s partner. Lischio now is also the playby-play voice for several Flagler College sports. He wants to expand WNZF’s high school sports coverage.
“I’d like to have more of a presence, building on what Rich kind of laid the blueprint for. I’ll have big shoes to fill.”
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In partnership with the Palm Coast and Ormond Beach Observers, we offer our client families handsome, elegant options to memorialize your loved one with a keepsake Tribute in print and online. Once you select the style that meets your family’s needs, we will handle the details, giving your loved one a deserving life Tribute and one that your family can cherish.
Alfred “Fred” Pellmann December 6, 1929 - March 30, 2026
Alfred Konrad “Fred”
Pellmann, born December 6, 1929, quietly passed March 30, 2026. His wife Jane and children, Timothy and Karin, were with him.
Fred was born in Long Island, New York and spent his early years growing up in Kiel, Germany on the Baltic Sea coast with his parents Theodore and Gertrude and his older sister Mary during World War II. Fred’s stories of growing up in Germany while the war went on around him – from air raids in the middle of the night to food rations and helping neighbors whose homes had been bombed – his stories were a picture into a life that most of us could not imagine and no child should ever endure. When he was barely 11 years old, he and his sister along with nearly all the other schoolchildren were taken away from their homes because of the bombings occurring in the city, which was also a submarine base. As the end of the war neared, just when Fred was completing his schooling, nearly all of his classmates were drafted into the German army. Because of his American citizenship, he was not. He believed none of his classmates survived.
After the war, Fred completed his trade training in radio and electronics, and eventually relocated to New York to be closer to Mary and her new husband, William Shoreland. Fred joined the United States Army and served during the Korean War. He was stationed on the East/ West German border as part of an Army Intelligence unit.
After Fred was discharged, he moved to Tarrytown, New York where he was a radio and television repairman and an automotive repairman. He recalls having worked on a television set for Eleanor Roosevelt, and as well for Jackie Gleason, and fixing cars for the Rockefeller family.
In 1963, he was invited to go bowling by some friends, and lo and behold, there was a new friend with them who hadn’t met before. Much to the friends’ surprise, they made a match: Jane Barrie married Fred on April 18, 1964. Fred and Jane started their
life in Yonkers, New York while building a house just upstate in Mahopac, where they would raise their family. Fred worked as an engineer and was involved in the development of the first digital thermometer and blood pressure cuff. He also worked on vacuum tubes for radios.
A part he worked on actually went up the International Space Station – and this is perhaps where Fred’s love of astronomy was born.
Fred and Jane enjoyed a wonderful retirement in Palm Coast, Florida. While Jane volunteered at the local hospital, Fred started volunteering at Whitney Labs maintaining technical equipment. He also became active in the Marineland Right Whale Project where he spent many years on the beach watching and reporting activity.
Soon after, he took his love of astronomy to a new level.
In 2005, he founded the Palm Coast Astronomy Club. He did presentations for the community at the local library, and during solar and lunar events, he and his fellow club members would take their collections of telescopes to public parks so that the community could enjoy the phenomenon and a lesson on what they were seeing – he called these events Star Parties. He was often featured in the local newspaper doing these events. He got the most gratification teaching astronomy at one of the local middle schools with his club partner, Lee Bentzley. He would set up displays at the local library each year to honor significant events in history including the Apollo 11 moon landing and Space Shuttle program. He often said that the Palm Coast Astronomy Club gave him a feeling of enrichment and purpose because he could help others to explore the great beyond.
At the ripe young age of 90, Fred started to slow down and decided to take step back at the Astronomy Club, handing the reins over to Skip Westphal – although we’re not totally convinced he ever really let go completely, such is the folly of a proud founder.
Fred loved his family more than anything in this world –
especially Jane. He cherished her and the life they built together. He always told her he loved her and how happy he was with the life they created. Over 96 years, Fred’s life was rich and diverse, full of challenges and triumphs and ultimately spent doing good by other people. He possessed a brilliant mind, a strong moral compass and he never met a stranger. He was funny and kind, curious and outgoing, and spent a lifetime defying the odds, right up until the end. He never missed an opportunity to share a story of his life – the world has indeed lost one of its great storytellers.
Fred is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years, Jane and his children Timothy (Margarita) and Karin (Bryan) Unger, as well as their spouses’ children Melissa, Jean-Luc and Cayal, and one great-granddaughter Scarlett. Fred was predeceased by his and Jane’s first son Richard John, his parents, his sister Mary and brother-inlaw Bill. He is also survived by a loving family that includes John and Sue Barrie, Margaret and Charles Applegate, Raymond and Melissa Shoreland, Steven and Shelley Shoreland and their children and families. Fred was the senior statesman of this loving family and will be missed terribly, not just by them, but by his friends near and far, and the Palm Coast Astronomy Club members as well.
Fly high Fred – we’ll see you in the stars…
A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, May 2nd at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Palm Coast. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in his name.
RUZECKI, RESPONDENT CASE NO.: 2026 10286 FMCI DIVISION: 35 NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: KYPARISSIA RUZECKI 2 Llannon Road, Pontyberem, Llannlli, Postal Code SA155LY, Wales, UK
YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for dissolution of marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Petitioner or Petitioner's attorney:
FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF ACTION; CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICEPROPERTY IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO.: 2025 13634 CICI FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff, vs. ESTATE OF FRANCIS J. HORGAN JR.; et al., Defendants. TO: HERMINIA C. RICHARDSON; 735 STATE AVE HOLLY HILL, FL 32117 GREGORY CARMAN JR.; 813 JAY ST APT 1R UTICA, NY 13501 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose to the following property in Volusia County, Florida: LOT 97, PINE CREST ADDITION TO HOLLY HILL, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 6, PAGE 56, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. Also known as 735 STATE AVE, HOLLY HILL, FL 32117. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Sokolof Remtulla, LLP, the plaintiff’s attorney, whose address is 1800 NW Corporate Blvd., Suite 302, Boca Raton, FL 33431, on or before May 18, 2026, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on the plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition. DATED on April 1, 2026. LAURA E. ROTH CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT (SEAL) By: /s/ Jennifer Vazquez DEPUTY CLERK SOKOLOF REMTULLA, LLP 1800 NW Corporate Blvd., Suite 302 Boca Raton, FL 33431
Telephone: 561-507-5252
Facsimile: 561-342-4842
E-mail: pleadings@sokrem.com Counsel for Plaintiff April 9, 16, 2026 26-00229I
FIRST INSERTION
FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
To: Jermaine A. Kelly, Sr Case No.: CD202602227/D 1702238
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. Apr. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 26-00230I
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 Trusted Comfort Care located at 555 W. Granada Blvd A4 in the City of Ormond Beach, Volusia, FL 32174 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.
Dated this 2nd day of April, 2026
Ronique Bolden April 9, 2026 26-00232I
FIRST INSERTION
your current address. {You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address{es) on record at the clerk's office. WARNING: Rule
NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026 10811 PRDL Division 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF WILLIE FRANK HAMM, SR. Deceased. The administration of the estate of Willie Frank Hamm, Sr., deceased, whose date of death was July 12, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 North Alabama Avenue, DeLand, Florida 32724. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, 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 9, 2026. Personal Representative: Deborah Hamm 251 Jefferson Street Ormond Beach, Florida 32174
Attorney for Personal Representative: Thomas J. Upchurch, Esquire Florida Bar No. 0015821 Upchurch Law 1616 Concierge Blvd. Suite 101 Daytona Beach, Florida 32117
Telephone: (386) 492-3871
Primary Email: service@upchurchlaw.com
Secondary Email: clutes@upchurchlaw.com April 9, 16, 2026 26-00231I
NOTICE TO CREDITORS (Summary Administration) IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026 10233 PRDL IN RE: ESTATE OF LOIS ANN BEACHUM Deceased. TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE: You are hereby notified that an Order of Summary Administration has been entered in the estate of LOIS ANN BEACHUM, deceased, File Number 2026 10233 PRDL, by the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 N Alabama Ave, DeLand, FL 32724; that the decedent’s date of death was May 5, 2025; that the total value of the estate is $0.00 and that the names and addresses of those to whom it has been assigned by such order are:
Name Address
SHARI A. LEDOUX 419 Third Avenue Indialantic, FL 32903 ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE NOTIFIED THAT: All creditors of the estate of the decedent and persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent other than those for whom provision for full payment was made in the Order of Summary Administration must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES
SECTION 733.702. ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, 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 9, 2026.
Person Giving Notice: /s/ Shari A. LeDoux
SHARI A. LEDOUX, Petitioner 419 Third Avenue Indialantic, FL 32903
Attorney for Person Giving Notice: ANDRE “ANDI” T. SIEMER
Florida Bar Number: 1037800
KAITLIN J. STOLZ
Florida Bar Number: 1015652
AMY B. VAN FOSSEN, P.A. 211 E. New Haven Avenue Melbourne, Florida 32901 Telephone: (321) 345-5945
Fax: (321) 345-5417
E-Mail: andi@amybvanfossen.com
Secondary E-Mail: service@amybvanfossen.com April 9, 16, 2026 26-00233I
NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 12212 CICI US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS DELAWARE TRUSTEE FOR GS MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES TRUST 2024-NQM1, Plaintiff, vs. SIYU JIN; HAN BAI; FX2 TWG HI FINANCE CO I, LLC; MOSAIC PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC.; UNKNOWN TENANT NO. 1; UNKNOWN TENANT NO. 2; and ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST A NAMED DEFENDANT TO THIS ACTION, OR HAVING OR CLAIMING TO HAVE ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED, Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to an Order or Summary Final Judgment of foreclosure dated March 18, 2026, and entered in Case No. 2025 12212 CICI of the Circuit Court in and for Volusia County, Florida, wherein US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS DELAWARE TRUSTEE FOR GS MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES TRUST 2024-NQM1 is Plaintiff and SIYU JIN; HAN BAI; FX2 TWG HI FINANCE CO I, LLC; MOSAIC PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC.; UNKNOWN TENANT NO. 1; UNKNOWN TENANT NO. 2; and ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST
FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2023 32262 CICI NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff, v. KIMBERLY H. PRINCE A/K/A KIMBERLY R. PRINCE; RANDALL V. PRINCE; VETERANS COALITION A/K/A VETERANS COALITION, INC.; STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; THE CLERK OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA; 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; UNKNOWN TENANT #1; UNKNOWN TENANT #2, Defendant. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment dated February 6, 2026 entered in Civil Case No. 2023 32262 CICI in the Circuit Court of the 7th Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, Florida, wherein NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff and KIMBERLY H. PRINCE A/K/A KIMBERLY R. PRINCE; RANDALL V. PRINCE; VETERANS COALITION A/K/A VETERANS COALITION, INC.; STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; THE CLERK OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, are defendants, Laura E. Roth, Clerk of Court, will sell the property at www.volusia.realforeclose.com beginning at 11:00 AM on May 13, 2026 the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to-wit:. LOT 23, BLOCK 3, FOREST RIDGE SUBDIVISION, AS PER MAP IN MAP BOOK 19, PAGE 166, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA.
Property Address: 140 Baywood Dr., Holly Hill, FL 32117 ANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM BEFORE THE CLERK REPORTS THE SURPLUS AS UNCLAIMED. THE COURT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ENLARGE THE TIME OF THE SALE. NOTICE OF THE CHANGED TIME OF SALE SHALL BE PUBLISHED AS PROVIDED HEREIN.
Kelley Kronenberg 8201 Peters Road, Suite 4000 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324
Phone: (954) 370-9970
Fax: (954) 252-4571
/s/ Jordan Wainstein
Jordan Wainstein
FBN: 1039538 Service E-mail: ftlrealprop@kelleykronenberg.com File No: NS23026-JMV April 9, 16, 2026 26-00235I
A NAMED DEFENDANT TO THIS ACTION, OR HAVING OR CLAIMING TO HAVE ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED, are Defendants, LAURA E. ROTH, Clerk of the Circuit Court, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash www.volusia.realforeclose.com, 11:00 a.m., on May 20, 2026 , the following described property as set forth in said Order or Final Judgment, to-wit: LOT 6, MOSAIC PHASE 1B-2, A SUBDIVISION ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 62, PAGES 150 THROUGH 153, INCLUSIVE, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. ANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM BEFORE THE CLERK REPORTS THE SURPLUS AS UNCLAIMED. THE COURT, IN ITS DESCRETION, MAY ENLARGE THE TIME OF THE SALE. NOTICE OF THE CHANGED TIME OF SALE SHALL BE PUBLISHED AS PROVIDED HEREIN. Pursuant to Florida Statute 45.031(2), this notice shall be published twice, once a week for two consecutive weeks, with the last publication being at least 5 days prior to the sale. REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILI-
FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION Case No: 2026 10817 PRDL Division: 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF HERBERT ANDREW WEEMS, Deceased. The administration of the Estate of HERBERT ANDREW WEEMS, deceased, whose date of death was February 19, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 N Alabama Ave, DeLand, FL 32724. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of this notice was first published is April 9, 2026.
Personal Representative: /s/ Thomas Michael DuBrule Thomas Michael DuBrule 176 Ormwood Drive Ormond Beach, FL 32176
Attorney for Personal Representative: /s/ Elan R. Kaney Elan R. Kaney, Esq. Florida Bar No. 0538302 Elan R. Kaney, PLLC 523 N. Halifax Ave. Daytona Beach, FL 32118 (386) 281-5777
Email: Elan.Kaney@KaneyLaw.com April 9, 16, 2026 26-00236I
easement for drainage over the Northerly 15 feet of the above described property. Together with that certain grant of easement per Official Records Book 2893, Page 232, of the Public Records of Volusia County, Florida. a/k/a 1990 BURMA RD., NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLORIDA 32168 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 April 27, 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 27 day of March, 2026. LAURA E. ROTH As Clerk of the Court (SEAL) By /s/ Jennifer Vazquez As Deputy Clerk
Submitted by: Kahane & Associates, P.A. 1619 NW 136th Avenue, Suite D-220 Sunrise, Florida 33323 Telephone: (954) 382-3486
Telefacsimile: (954) 382-5380
Designated service email: notice@kahaneandassociates.com File No: 25-01366 NML April 9, 16, 2026 26-00238I
NOTICE OF ACTION IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 12354 CICI NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff, vs. THE UNKNOWN SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, CREDITORS, AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THE ESTATE OF NATHAN J. MCDOWELL, DECEASED; JACQUELYN I. MCDOWELL A/K/A JACQUELYN MCDOWELL; RIVERWOOD PLANTATION HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.; JACK NATHAN MCDOWELL; DAVID LAWRENCE MCDOWELL; 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: THE UNKNOWN SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, CREDITORS, AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THE ESTATE OF NATHAN J. MCDOWELL, DECEASED RESIDENCES UNKNOWN YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following described property in Volusia County, Florida: LOT 2, RIVER WOOD PHASE V-B, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 42, PAGE 122, 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 18, 2026, and file the original with the Clerk of this Court either before service on
Plaintiff’s attorneys or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.
REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Court Administration, 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6096, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. THESE ARE NOT COURT INFORMATION NUMBERS SOLICITUD DE ADAPTACIONES PARA PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDADES Si usted es una persona con discapacidad que necesita una adaptacin para poder participar en este procedimiento, usted tiene el derecho a que se le proporcione cierta asistencia, sin incurrir en gastos. Comunquese con la Oficina de Administracin Judicial (Court Administration), 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6096, con no menos de 7 das de antelacin de su cita de comparecencia ante el juez, o de inmediato al recibir esta notificacin si la cita de comparecencia est dentro de un plazo menos de 7 das; si usted tiene una discapacidad del habla o del odo, llame al 711. ESTOS NUMEROS TELEFONICOS NO SON PARA OBTENER INFORMACION JUDICIAL DATED on April 1, 2026. LAURA E ROTH CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT (SEAL) By: /s/
Laura E. Roth, Clerk of the Circuit Court, shall sell the property situated in Volusia County, Florida, described as: LOTS 8314 AND 8315, BLOCK 248, FLORIDA SHORES UNIT NO. 9, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF
bidder, for cash, online at www.volusia. realforeclose.com, on May 21, 2026 beginning at 11:00 AM. 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
