PALM COAST
Palm Coast mayor sues Palm Coast
Flour
power FPC senior Gabby Jones’ business takes the cake PAGE 4B
City Council has fired its search firm and instead will list the position on its own for 90 days before reevaluating what candidates have applied.
The Palm Coast City Council unanimously voted to fire Strategic Government Resources, the search firm hired to find Palm Coast a new city manager, at its May 6 meeting. Palm Coast has so far spent $17,601.50 on the city manager search. SGR was hired in 2024 by the previous City Council, after the previous city manager was fired 13 months ago. Now, the new council has agreed to use traditional, internal job listing methods for the city manager search for the next 90 days.
“We need to be very diligent and make sure that we’re getting the right people and that we’re vetting them properly,”
Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri said.
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris at first asked for one of his other council members to renominate
candidate Richard Hough for the position. Because the motion to select Hough at the April 29 meeting failed in a 3-2 split, only a council member who voted against Hough could nominate him for reconsideration again, per council guidelines.
“I do want to move on immediately,” Norris said. “We should have already had a city manager.”
None of the other council members renominated Hough.
Hough was one of two remaining candidates at the beginning of the April 29 council meeting to decide on a new city manager. The other candidate, Paul Trombino, dropped out of the race after the four-hour long meeting ended with both candidates being asked to submit white papers on their budget experience. Hough reportedly dropped out on Monday, May 5, Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston said.
But Norris said when he spoke to Hough personally, Hough said that was on the advisement of SGR’s Doug Thomas.
“Mr. Doug Thomas did not have the authority to stop the process. Neither did the city manager, neither did anyone sitting on this dais,” Norris said.
A few residents who attended the meeting in support of Norris also urged the council to select Hough so the city could move on. But Pontieri, who had
concerns about Hough’s ability to manage a budget the size of Palm Coast’s, said she was not convinced he would be a good fit for the position.
“I am not going to gamble our city,” Pontieri said. “It is our responsibility to pick the right person and not gamble.”
Councilmen Charles Gambaro, Ty Miller and Dave Sullivan said they thought a pause on the search would be beneficial to the city.
“Right now we’re at the low point in candidates wanting to come here and take this job,” Sullivan said. “I’m a little concerned right now about doing it now given everything else that’s going on.”
Norris wanted the listing to be posted for 45 days before the council reviewed the applicants.
Pontieri said that while the city does need to continue the search, there is no need to rush.
Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston, Pontieri said, has been providing stability to the city.
“Theres no need to push her out anytime soon,” Ponteri said. “Looking does not mean that we’re pressing for somebody new. I understand we need to get somebody in, but we need to be very diligent to make sure that we get the right people.”
Send letters to brent@ observerlocalnews.com.
Violation by Palm Coast mayor sent to state
Despite the results of the investigation, Mayor Mike Norris’ supporters spoke out in his defense.
SIERRA WILLIAMS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Palm Coast City Council has agreed to send an investigation into Mayor Mike Norris’ actions violating the Palm Coast City Charter to the Florida Ethics Commission, but with the witness statements sworn under oath.
The investigation — performed by Adam Brandon of the third-party firm Lawson Huck Gonzales, PLLC — was to see if Norris violated the City Charter. Brandon received witness statements from 13 people, including Norris, as part of his investigation, which he presented to the council at a May 1 special business meeting.
The investigation found, based on the witness statements, that Norris had violated the City Charter: By asking for the resignations of Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston and Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo, Norris was interfering with their jobs, Brandon said at the May 1 meeting — an act that is expressly prohibited in the city charter.
“We are following the proper process that needs to be taken,” Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri said on May 6. “This is the natural next step because there was an admitted charter violation.”
At the May 1 meeting, the council decided to have all the witnesses swear to their statements under oath.
The statements will be sent with the investigation and an approved cover letter, which was approved during the May 6 meeting. The cover letter will include a paragraph that explains how the council passed a vote of no confidence in Norris on April 22 in a 4-0 vote and that Norris made inappropriate comments and used profane language to intimidate staff.
Brandon said the city should also update the City Charter.
“You have a situation where you
have a very clear charter, but you don’t have clear enforcement mechanisms,” Brandon said.
REMOVAL OF NORRIS?
Councilman Charles Gambaro also made another motion at the May 1 meeting to send a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis for Norris’ removal, but that motion failed 4-1, with all but Gambaro voting against it. Pontieri and Councilman Dave Sullivan said they felt the ethics commission should be the next step.
“I still feel as I did at the previous meeting, that the next step is to the ethics board. It does not make sense right now to go directly to the governor,” Sullivan said.
During Brandon’s presentation of his findings, he said that he also found that the mayor had made inappropriate comments to female staff, made demeaning comments to staff, and used profane language that may have intimidated employees.
Gambaro point-blank asked Brandon if he thought Norris violated the city’s charter.
“Yes,” Brandon said.
‘A PUBLIC LYNCHING’
Norris denied the use of the word “demand,” stating that he “certainly did not demand anyone’s resignation,” just requested it.
Brandon responded: “The question in my mind is not whether this was a demand or request, but whether under the charter this constituted interference. I don’t see how you can take one council member asking for two key employees to resign as anything other than interference.”
Multiple times, Norris said he didn’t understand why any of the complaints weren’t brought to him personally if people had an issue with his behavior.
In his 24 years of active duty service, Norris said, he’s never had a single HR complaint. He called this a “public lynching.”
“I have never, ever been treated like this,” Norris said. “I would never treat anyone on the dais this way.”
Pontieri said her concerns were not just about the charter violation
but about Norris’ behavior outlined in the investigation.
“There is definitely a hat you have to put on when you sit in that seat, and when we sit in these seats, and conduct ourselves probably in a different manner than we would with our friends or even in our other jobs,” Pontieri said,
To Norris’ supporters in the audience, Pontieri asked if they would be as supportive of the behavior if it were former Mayor David Alfin behaving this way.
“Would you be condoning it in the same way?” she asked.
Pontieri said she was a supporter of Norris’ too, but she couldn’t “condone this behavior.”
“There’s a correct way to go about doing these things,” she said.
SUPPORTERS OF NORRIS
The investigation has not deterred many of Norris supporters.
“It’s not the duly elected mayor who’s creating this hostile environment,” one resident said, “it is the entrenched powers within the city government, past and present. That’s what we elected him to do, was clean house.”
Several members of the public trivialized the contents of the investigation and placed the blame on Gambaro. In March, he was the first person to bring up the accusations against Norris unilaterally asking for Johnston’s and DeLorenzo’s resignations.
Many residents have stated multiple times since Gambaro replaced Cathy Heighter in October that they believed he should never have been appointed to the seat.
“Your problem is right there,” resident Candace Stevens said, gesturing to Gambaro. “How come everything against you, Mr. Mayor, is coming out of your (Gambaro’s) mouth?”
Resident Donna McGevna said that she supported Norris and believed him to be sincere, but pointed out that the mayor should adapt his military-style behavior to the workplace.
“That may be suitable for after hours, but when it’s in the workplace, it just can’t be,” she said.
Mayor Norris sues his city
SIERRA WILLIAMS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris is suing the city — as well as City Councilman Charles Gambaro and the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections — for allegendly not following the City Charter.
In an unrelated matter, he also said this week that, some time ago, he received a “quid pro quo” offer from a developer that he believes was criminal in nature. He refused to disclose any further details because he doesn’t want to risk the city being exposed to any lawsuits.
SUING THE CITY
Norris and many of his supporters have said repeatedly that Gambaro’s placement on the council was “illegitimate.” Gambaro was appointed in October 2024 to replace former Councilwoman Cathy Heighter.
In a phone interview with the Observer, Norris’ attorney Anthony Sabatini said the issue is “black and white” in the Palm Coast City Charter.
“It’s totally clear,” he said. “They were supposed to call the election and they just didn’t.”
Sabatini filed the case on May 5 in Flagler County’s Circuit Court of the Judicial Circuit. According to a statement Sabatini posted on his X social media account, Norris is seeking a “writ of quo warranto” to remove Gambaro from office, a court declaration that Gambaro’s District 4 seat is vacant, and an order compelling a special election.
Sabatini, who is also a Lake County Commissioner, said the city might be able to make the argument that it was too close to the election, but, he said, the charter does not make an exception for that.
Sabatini said he and Norris only want to uphold the charter.
‘QUID PRO QUO’
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris said during the past two City Council meetings that he was offered a “quid pro quo” by a property owner. Although he said the alleged brib-
ery attempt happened some time ago, he did not bring it up until the May 1 City Council meeting, when the council was discussing the investigation into Norris violating the city’s charter. Norris said he was “offered a ‘quid pro quo’” by one of the witnesses in the investigation. Norris believes that speaking on the issue in a public forum would violate confidentiality requirements outlined Florida Statute 288.075, so he declined to elaborate.
“I will start out with the sheriff and I’ll work my way up to the state level,” Norris said, “FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) or whoever. The Department of State or the ethics commission — whatever I need to do.”
Norris said he did not want to risk opening the city up to litigation or to waste taxpayer money in a lawsuit.
“I am not about wasting the city’s money,” Norris said. “I don’t want our city ever to be sued.”
But the rest of the council expressed concern that such an important issue is now left without a resolution for the foreseeable future.
“Presumably, you received this quid pro quo quite a while ago,” Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri said at the May 6 City Council meeting. “ ... Why throw the grenade last week, then?”
“I just wanted my colleagues to be aware that this happened and some of those sworn statements were by the people that did it,” Norris said. Later, Norris said he brought it up because the council caused him to “put [his] dukes up” in defense of himself and his character.
Pontieri and Councilman Dave Sullivan said Norris should have consulted with an attorney before making his comments. Sullivan said, as council members, they should be cautious of bringing something to the council that won’t then have a resolution.
“You leave the general feeling of, well there’s this quid pro quo, really nasty thing going on and there’s no resolution to it,” Sullivan said. “And we may never know what the result is.”
Iconic Flagler Executive Airport restaurant reopens after 10-month remodel
From floors to walls, Landing Strip Tavern has been refurbished and modernized.
BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Landing Strip Tavern held a ribbon cutting for its grand reopening on Thursday, May 1, introducing the community to the newly refurbished restaurant at the Flagler Executive Airport.
The iconic restaurant had been closed for 10 months while owners Jamie Bourdeau, Joe Wright and Chelsea Herbert oversaw a major remodeling that included a new island bar with metal countertops and rivets to resemble a salvaged warplane, a stage for entertainment, a totally refurbished kitchen, refurbished restrooms, new drywall and exterior walls, new flooring, new seating, an event room and a refurbished patio overlooking the airport
runways with an adjacent children’s play area with helipad swings and a slide.
The original renovation plan was to close for 60 to 90 days, but it soon became apparent that the building needed major repair, Herbert said.
“We’d find one thing that would turn into 10 things. It’s a really old building. It’s an original block building from World War II. It was the original FBO (fixed base operator at the airport),” she said.
“We found lots of things that we didn’t expect, and it got piecemealed over time. There was no point in not just going for it, so we collectively made the decision that it was going to be a full overhaul, not just a facelift.”
The building is leased from Flagler County, which assisted in the project every step of the way, Wright said.
“The county really did work with us,” Wright said. “Bo (Snowden), from the building department, knew what the challenges were and helped
Ormond Beach Arts District launches contest
The deadline to submit an entry to the “Arts Imitates Life”
Photography contest is Saturday, May 10.
JARLEENE ALMENAS
MANAGING EDITOR
As the “Art Imitates Life” sculpture installation in town comes to a close, the Ormond Beach Arts District is inviting the community to take part in one last initiative: a photography contest, where winners in three categories will receive a $100 prize.
The deadline to submit an entry to the “Arts Imitates Life” Photography contest is May 10. The contest has three categories:
Strike a pose
Interact
Be Creative
The winners will be announced during a party at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum. Tickets cost $85 per person and the event will feature actors from the Halifax Repertory Theater as living sculptures, as well as poetry readings and entries from a children’s writing contest where they were prompted to write a story about the “Photo Shoot” sculpture outside of MainStreet Park at 34 W. Granada Blvd.
Entries can be submitted online at bit.ly/artlife-2025. Arts District Vice President
Judith Stein said the sculptures — 13 bronze statues by late American artist Seward Johnson — have been a “huge success” since they were installed in late November.
“Everybody loves them,” Stein said. “Everybody wishes that they would stay forever, and we’ve just gotten overwhelming support and enthusiasm from the public, from the city who’s helped us place many of the sculptures on public property, and from the people who have sponsored them.”
Stein said she’s lived in Ormond for almost 20 years and can’t remember another event or project that has generated such interest as the sculptures. Each carries a QR code where people can leave comments in a survey, and the Arts District has received over 100 responses.
While the current sculptures are due to be returned to the Seward Johnson Atelier in New Jersey later this month, the community still has some time to view them. On May 19, 10 of the sculptures will be moved to The Casements parking lot, and three will be moved to the parking lot at 56 N. Beach St. The sculptures will remain there for about a week, Stein said.
The Arts District is hoping to bring a new installation by Johnson in January 2026. They are currently aiming to bring 17, and are looking for sponsors.
“This is going to be a whole new set of sculptures — all different than the ones that are here now, but equally fabulous,” Stein said.
which had originally opened in August, 2001. There had been other restaurants on the site before High Jackers expanded the building, Wright said. The restaurant has long been a destination for locals as well as travelers to the airport.
“A lot of people have been coming here for years,” Bourdeau said.
While Wright and Herbert joked that “insanity” drove the trio into buying the restaurant and rebranding it the Landing Strip Tavern, while knowing it would need to be refurbished, they said it was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.
“People don’t have to drive to this restaurant,” she said. “They have to drive past it. So, the car counts you have in this area is crazy. It’s an incredible location. And nothing against the beach, but I would rather watch the planes take off and land than I would sit at the ocean, so we thought that was really cool too.”
us through. Roy (Sieger, the airport director) has been real helpful. Heidi (Petito, Flagler County Administrator) has been our teammate, we felt like, all the way through it.”
“It was definitely a publicprivate partnership, and we’re
really thankful for them,” Herbert added.
Bourdeau, Wright and Herbert, who all own multiple businesses in Flagler County, teamed up themselves in 2023 to purchase what had been High Jackers restaurant,
“People from surrounding communities all the way from Georgia fly here just for this restaurant,” Wright said. “It’s made several of the flying magazines as one of the toprated places to come get a bite to eat.”
Herbert said the location on Airport Road just off busy State Road 100 makes it a prime site.
With the reopening, there have been some additions to the menu, such as an ahi salad, which was a big hit at the soft openings, Wright said. But old favorites, such as the Tailwind chicken wrap and the hangar pretzel have remained. And Shrimp Night has been expanded to seven nights a week with a pound of peeland-eat shrimp priced at $14. At the ribbon cutting, Bourdeau told guests, “We know this restaurant means a lot to the community here. And we know you’ll love the next chapter.”
Ormond officials say they still support First Step
Comments by the mayor incited worry among the shelter’s leadership that the city would pull funding.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
First Step Shelter representatives came before the Ormond Beach City Commission on Tuesday asking to continue their partnership, worried that the city was on the cusp of pulling its support for the homeless shelter. City officials side-eyed each other on the dais. They’d never discussed pulling funding from the shelter, they said.
“I will say that there is strong evidence that our board appointee has misspoke on my position regarding the First Step Shelter,”
Commissioner Travis Sargent said. “I support the First Step Shelter. I think they do an amazing job. Yes, we may not utilize it like we could, but look at our neighboring municipalities and how they’re utilizing it, and those are less people coming into our communities.”
Ormond Beach’s annual contribution to First Step Shelter is $82,000. The controversy surrounding this funding came after the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported in mid-April that Mayor Jason Leslie, the commission’s appointee to the First Step Shelter Board, said
the City Commission had expressed doubts about the shelter. This was said during a board meeting to approve the three-year contract for the shelter’s executive director, Victoria Fahlberg.
First Step Shelter has recently been surrounded by conflicts of its own since two former employees filed a lawsuit last December against the shelter and the city of Daytona Beach, alleging they were fired over a whistleblower letter containing complaints of management engaging in fraud, fiduciary malfeasance, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, as well as law and safety violations.
Since those allegations came to light, the City Commission has briefly discussed First Step Shelter on two occasions. On April 1, when Leslie came under fire for touring Barracks of Hope and allegedly promising city funding (which he has vehemently denied), and on Feb. 18, when Sargent asked Leslie for his thoughts on First Step.
At the time, the Volusia County Council had recently approved continuing to fund the shelter — though part of their approval included reducing the county’s contribution in future years.
“As our representative on the board, I would like to know what your thoughts are on regarding the city to continue funding this,” Sargent said at the Feb. 18 meeting during his closing comments. “Is the city making good use of this facility, and
also, if we’re not using, how can we better use this facility?”
Leslie responded that they had only had one board meeting at the time, with one meeting needing to be canceled because it wasn’t properly noticed. He said he had ridden along with a police officer to get familiar with the amount of interest from people that want to participate in the First Step Shelter program.
“There’s a lot of concerns about that,” Leslie said at the Feb. 18 meeting. “A lot of concerns about the direction the shelter is going with some of the things you read about in the news, and at this time, I probably would say that I’m not prepared yet to make any suggestions.”
At the meeting on Tuesday, May 6, Ponce Inlet Mayor Bill Milano, who serves as the shelter board’s treasurer, touted the shelter’s success, explaining that over 900 people have been placed in housing since the shelter’s opening five years ago. He was speaking before the commission, he said, because of Leslie’s comments.
“It is my hope that when you begin the budget process as a council that you will consider staying as a partner with us,” Milano said.
Fahlberg also addressed the commission, inviting them to call her if they ever had any questions regarding the shelter. She cited a 2014 study that found a homeless individual costs government $41,192 in today’s dollars for
inpatient hospitalizations, emergency room fees, incarceration and other related services.
“Although most of these costs are not directly impacted by Ormond Beach, your participation with us makes our entire county a better place to live,” she said. Sargent wanted to address the issue after the public comment period, but Leslie said he could do so in his closing comments. He did — criticizing Leslie’s remarks in the News-Journal and asking the city to send the shelter board a letter of support prior to its meeting on Monday. The commission agreed, with Commissioner Kristin Deaton echoing concerns of having been spoken for.
“I don’t think we can be proactive about our transient issue if we are shutting down doors with the funding for First Step Shelter,” she said, adding that commissioners shouldn’t be discussing this in meetings when it is something they will need to vote on in the future.
During his closing comments, Leslie said he wasn’t going to get into the topic too much that evening.
“I think I said what I had to say,” he said. “That was in the newspaper. I am focused on just trying to work on transient issues like everyone else I think that’s sitting on the dais.”
Leslie said he didn’t want to engage in “finger-pointing” and that they all share the same goal: that First Step be a successful program.
The Landing Strip Tavern owners Jamie Bourdeau, Chelsea Herbert and Joe Wright in front of the restaurant’s entrance during the grand re-opening. Photo by Brent Woronoff
NewHome
REAL ESTATE
Hammock Dunes home sells
for $1.6 million
Ahouse at 1 San Marco Court, in Hammock Dunes, was the top real estate transaction for April 19-25 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The house sold on April 25, for $1,600,000. Built in 2014, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool, a fireplace and 3,330 square feet. It sold in 2024 for $1,425,000.
$900,000. Built in 2016, the house is a 3/3.5 and has an elevator and 2,799 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $736,500.
PALM COAST
Colbert Landings 18 Oconee Drive sold on April 25, for $359,000. Built in 2025, the 3/2 house has 1,692 square feet.
A house at 11 Geosam Drive, sold on April 22, for $565,245. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/4.5 and has 2,921 square feet.
sold on April 22, for
Coquina Key home tops list at $1.05 million
Ahouse in the Coquina Key subdivision at 170 Coquina Key Drive was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach and Ormond-bythe-Sea for the week of April 12-18. The 4/3.5 house sold on April 18, for $1,050,000. Built in 2021, the house has a fireplace, a pool, an elevator and 2,840 square feet.
JARLEENE ALMENAS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Condos
The condo at 5500 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 30, sold on April 16, for $145,000. Built in 1973, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,214 square feet. It last sold in 2003 for $85,000.
The condo at 2220 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 305A, sold on April 16, for $370,000. Built in 1981, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,150 square feet. It last sold in 2009 for $180,000.
ORMOND BEACH
Anderson 125 Orchard Lane sold on April 14, for $678,000. Built in 1915, the 2/3.5 house has a pool and 2,046 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for
$305,000.
Crossings
The house at 15 Cypress View Trail sold on April 16, for $415,000. Built in 1989, the house is a 4/2.5 and has 2,396 square feet. It last sold in 1999 for $148,000.
Plantation Bay
The house at 1222 Hampstead Lane sold on April 17, for $425,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,100 square feet. It last sold in 2012 for $195,000.
The house at 1437 Sunningdale Lane sold on April 18, for $360,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,615 square feet. It last sold in 2005 for $275,000.
Rio Vista Gardens
The house at 760 Santa Ana Ave. sold on April 17, for
is a 3/2 and
and 2,270
in
It
for $139,000. A house at 79 Burbank Drive, sold on April 25, for $418,870. Built in 2025, the 3/2 house has 2,208 square feet. Lehigh Woods 188 Ryan Drive sold on April 25, for $469,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 4/3 and has 4,043 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $325,000.
Pine Grove A house at 24 Pinelynn Drive, sold on April 25, for $350,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a pool and 2,051 square feet. It sold in 2024 for $305,000. A house at 6 Pittman Place, sold on April 24, for $335,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,463 square feet.
Seminole Woods A house at 14 Senseney Path, sold on April 25, for $260,000. Built in 1989, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace 1,820 square feet. It sold in 2024 for $329,900.
Toby Tobin, of gotoby.com, contributed to this report
$80,000. Built in 1950, the house is a 3/1 and has 1,164 square feet. It last sold in 1992 for $32,000.
Riviera Manor 616 Arroyo Parkway sold on April 18, for $290,000. Built in 1971, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,300 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $163,000.
The Trails The townhome at 236 Pine Cone Trail sold on April 16, for $320,900. Built in 1978, the townhome is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,735 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $245,000.
Tomoka Meadows The townhome at 26 Tomoka Meadows Blvd. sold on April 17, for $152,500. Built in 1980, the townhome is a 2/2.5 and has 1,434 square feet. It last sold in 1994 for $42,000.
Twin River Estates The house at 45 Twin River Drive sold on April 15, for $560,000. Built in 1986, the 4/2 house has two fireplaces and 2,686 square feet. It last sold in 1996 for $250,000.
ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA
Spanish Waters
The house at 24 Spanish Waters Drive sold on April 16, for $610,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, and 2,178 square feet. It last sold in 1999 for $53,000.
John Adams, of Adams, Cameron & Co. Realtors, contributed.
PALM COAST
ORMOND BEACH
BUSINESS OBSERVER
Monica Clean owner feels ‘blessed’ to serve others
Garcia is an active member of Cleaning for a Reason, providing free cleaning services for cancer patients.
BRENT WORONOFF
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Monica Garcia, owner of Monica Clean LLC, is about to celebrate four years in business.
“Our fourth birthday is May 21st. Just look at where I’ve come in four years,” she said. “I’m very, very blessed.” Garcia has come a long way indeed. Born in Colombia where she lived with her aunt and uncle. Coming to America with her birth mother when she was 6 or 7. Moving to Miami sometime between 10 or 13. She’s not sure when exactly. She had a traumatic childhood and has memory gaps. She was placed in foster care and bounced around from foster home to foster home.
She attended Miami-Dade College, went to police academy and became a corrections officer in Daytona Beach. She played tackle football for the Orlando Mayhem of the Independent Women’s Football League for several years. At 5-foot, 128 pounds, she played on both sides of the ball, from linebacker to receiver and even noseguard when needed. She eventually got into the cleaning business, working for Jen Rodgers, who owns Just Peachy Clean in South Daytona. After Garcia moved to Flagler County, Rodgers urged her to start her own
cleaning business. “I said, ‘I wouldn’t even know what to do,’” Garcia said.
But Rodgers helped her and about a year after Garcia started her business, they both joined Cleaning Business Fundamentals, a cleaning business coaching service. “It wasn’t, ‘OK, here’s a mop and a bucket.’ It’s literally, your labor calculator, your supplies calculator. How do you price for profit? How do you pay your employees fairly so that they’re not struggling? It was a lot of information. I’m still learning so much,” she said.
She has three full-time employees, and as of late April, she was looking for a fourth. While politicians and residents bemoan that Palm Coast’s property tax base is mostly residential, it doesn’t hinder Garcia’s business model. Her clients are 95% residential.
“We have a couple of commercial accounts,” Garcia said. “But with commercial accounts, you have to work weekends or nights, and I don’t want my employees working weekends and nights. We value our employees’ mental health and worklife balance. I want them to enjoy time with their family, their kids, their friends. So, if a commercial account is able to be serviced Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., we’ll take it. Otherwise, we find someone to refer them to.”
Monica Clean services only Flagler County plus Halifax Plantation and Plantation Bay, and Garcia hires only Flagler County residents,
because, she says, “If you earn your money here, then spend your money here. That keeps our economy strong.”
CLEANING FOR A REASON
Garcia has become an active member of Cleaning For a Reason, a charity which matches cleaning companies nationwide with cancer patients to clean their homes for free. Cleaning For a Reason is operated by Debbie Sardone, who owns a cleaning service in Texas and also runs Cleaning Business Fundamentals.
“No one pays for the cleaning, but the cleaner still has to get paid, so they don’t try to overwhelm your schedule,” Garcia said. “Usually they send me about two cancer patients a month to service, and then if I can take on any more, I can call them and let them know.
“It’s very emotional,” Garcia said. “When you’re on the phone with someone going through cancer, the first thing they say is, ‘I’ve been sick, so I haven’t been able to clean my house, and I’m ashamed.’ What? Don’t be. But I get it, because I don’t want my mother-in-law coming to my house if it’s not clean. But you’re ill. Your immune system is at its lowest, and that’s where you’re more susceptible to catch a cold or a sinus infection or anything. So, please let us come in and sterilize your home so that you can heal better.”
Garcia said her employees love when they’re assigned to a Cleaning For a Reason home. In fact, they fight for it, she said.
“They know, if they feel the least little bit of a cold,
they might be getting a sore throat, don’t go to that house. I will switch their schedule,” Garcia said.
Monica Clean is a member of the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Garcia is a member of the Chamber’s Ambassador’s Committee and has a small office at the Chamber. She is a big advocate of supporting small businesses.
“If you’re going to shop for a gift for someone, shop a small business. Walmart has enough money,” she said. “I get that you have to go there sometimes, but try to boost up the economy with the other entrepreneurs in town.”
Kelsie Lombard, the Chamber’s operations manager, is a
“I love her drive,” Lombard said. “It motivates me. She leaves notes in my office: ‘Good morning, you’re amazing.’ She’s funny but very truthful. The way she treats her employees is amazing.”
Garcia is looking forward to the next four years of her business — or 10 or 20. She doesn’t like looking back.
When someone suggested that she undergo hypnosis to regain her lost memory, she declined.
“I said, ‘You know what, God took those memories from me for a reason. I’m good.’ I love who I am. Let’s not ruin that.”
IHOP in Ormond Beach now open
The new IHOP in Ormond Beach celebrated its grand opening on Monday, May 5. The restaurant, located at 675 W. Granada Blvd., spans 3,600
Flagler Beach community mourns death of SunBros Café’s Travis Sundell
Online fundraising pages set up for Sundell’s family.
OBSERVER STAFF
Travis Sundell, owner of SunBros Café in Flagler Beach, died suddenly on Friday, May 2. “It is with great sadness, we announce the sudden passing of Travis today,” the cafe posted on its Facebook page. “We will be closed while we take some personal time for the family.”
Sundell and his wife Leigh Anne moved to Flagler Beach with their sons, Abrien and Anisen, from Central Illinois and opened SunBros in 2021. The news of Sundell’s death hit the Flagler Beach community hard. Two online fund-
raising pages have been set up for the family. Tracy Callahan-Hennessey has organized a GoFundMe page: https://
www.gofundme.com/f/support-sunbros-cafe-familyin-loving-memory-of-travis.
“Travis Sundell, beloved husband, father, friend, and owner of SunBros Café, passed away suddenly from an
aortic aneurysm. His passing has left a void that words cannot fill,” the page reads.
A GiveSendGo page: https://www.givesendgo. com/GFYP8, started by Faye Calfee, reads, “With the acceptance of the family we have started this fund to help them during this time of uncertainty, aid them in the medical and burial fees and to help them carry on Travis’s legacy of SunBros Café, which we all love.”
A Meal Train at https:// www.mealtrain.com/trains/ gvmwzm, has also been set up for the family.
Swillerbees Craft Donuts & Coffee in Flagler Beach was one of several businesses and individuals to express condolences on social media.
“It’s with such heavy hearts we share the heartbreaking
news that our community has lost a great man,” a Swillerbees Facebook post read: “He had a lasting impact on all that knew him. From The Waffle Cone, Swillerbees and Wehde family, we are praying for his beautiful wife, Leigh Anne, his boys and his team at SunBros.” Romero’s Tuscany By the Sea posted: “To the family and staff at SunBros Café, our deepest condolences are sent your way. We are here for anything you need. Travis was such a kind, funny friend, he will be missed tremendously.” A post by Giovanni’s Pizza & Pasta reads: “Though Travis from Sunbros Café is no longer with us, his legacy lives on in our hearts.”
Send news to brent@ observerlocalnews.com.
Anisen, Abrien, Travis and Leigh Anne Sundell with their adopted dog. Courtesy photo
Monica Clean client and has become a close friend of Garcia’s.
Monica Clean owner Monica Garcia with her old football helmet. She played tackle ball for Orlando Mayhem. Photo by Brent Woronoff
MY VIEW LAUREN JOHNSTON, PALM COAST ACTING CITY MANAGER
Our job is to establish a culture of integrity, respect and collaboration
The Council and staff has the opportunity, and the obligation, to guide this city forward. Not by dwelling on blame, but by embracing solutions.
Editor’s note: Lauren Johnston is the acting city manager of Palm Coast. She read the following at the conclusion of the May 1 City Council workshop: Thank you, Mayor and members of the Council. I want to take a moment tonight to speak not just as your City Manager, but as a fellow member of this community. The tone we set — at this dais, in our organization, and
LETTERS
City, county officials on Humane Society board would be a conflict of interest
Dear Editor: Regarding your April 29 article about the Flagler Humane Society (FHS), Flagler County and Palm Coast government officials seem misinformed about the shelter and about issues of nepotism and conflicts of interest.
For the last few months, I have been volunteering about once a week as a dog walker at FHS. In that time, I have found the staff and other volunteers to be helpful and to want the best for the animals there. These people choose stressful jobs with animals — which in many cases have experienced trauma and abandonment — because they want to make a difference in their community.
As for “nepotism”, county and city officials appear to be concerned that two husband-and-wife duos serve on the FHS Board of Direc-
tors. Yet, I think of nepotism as bestowing some benefit or privilege on the person who is being favored — and it is hard to understand what benefit or privilege these husband-and-wife duos would receive since their positions are unpaid. I have served as an unpaid board member on different nonprofits, and these are usually thankless jobs that no one else wants to do. The fact that two sets of couples want to volunteer together to serve their community and help unfortunate animals is something to be applauded, not excoriated. As for “conflicts of interest,” no one wants to have board members or employees at any organization benefitting by self-dealing, accepting gifts from vendors, working for competing organizations, etc. — and FHS should have policies in place to prevent both conflicts of interest and nepotism. But county and city officials’ suggestion that members of their bodies serve on the FHS
across our city — matters. The hostility and divisiveness we’re seeing, both inside and outside of this chamber, are damaging to the very fabric of our community. At the end of the day, we are all human. We all make mistakes. We are sinners. None of us is perfect. We are all learning, growing, and, yes, sometimes falling short.
Board of Directors seems to create its own set of conflicts of interest.
Even if these board members do not vote on direct contractual matters with the county and city, would they also recuse themselves from any votes regarding contractors, vendors, or other organizations that do business with the county and city?
If Flagler County and Palm Coast are concerned about the funding they provide to FHS, they should focus on better contractual oversight to allay their concerns — as opposed to trying to insert themselves into the FHS Board of Directors.
And, if they are truly worried about allegations regarding FHS’ conditions and staff, they should arrange a visit to the shelter to see for themselves the hard work FHS’ employees and volunteers do there on a daily basis.
LEWIS J. BEILMAN III Palm Coast
But that doesn’t mean we stop working toward better outcomes.
Our job as public servants — and as neighbors — is to establish a culture that reflects integrity, mutual respect, and collaboration. That starts with each of us.
We must acknowledge that many of the challenges we face today didn’t begin yesterday. They are inherited — some rooted in decisions made long before any of you took office or we assumed
Fuel storage facility a potential catastrophe
Dear Editor:
In a recent letter regarding the proposed establishment of a fuel storage facility with an attached rail link to be placed in our community the author asked, “When was the last time you read or saw on TV anything about a major incident?”
In February of 2023 a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Toxic fumes from a number of cars were released causing mass evacuations of nearby citizens and unknown long-term damage to their health, soil and water supplies. Sound familiar?
In February, 1988, a newspaper reported: “On Robin Hood Lane on Tuesday, residents of this Long Island community anxiously traded news about an 800,000-gallon gasoline leak oozing underground toward their homes. Northville Industries said Monday that a plume of leaded gasoline, spread over 30 acres and nearly seven feet deep in places, had leaked for as long as a decade from a pin-sized hole in an eight-inch pipe at its storage terminal here. The spill is 100 feet underground. The fumes, primarily benzene, a carcinogen, could seep into basements. In extreme cases, vapors could build up and explode.”
My home was far enough from the spill that it wasn’t affected. The homes of some of my friends were not so lucky. Sound familiar?
As to the planning and design of the facility being sound it is well to remem-
our current roles. But the responsibility to address them lies with us now.
The Council and staff has the opportunity, and the obligation, to guide this city forward. Not by dwelling on blame, but by embracing solutions. Not by tearing down, but by building up.
Let us move forward as one city, one community, committed to unity, and to the wellbeing of all residents. Thank you.
ber that airplanes are also planned and designed well but occasionally fall from the sky.
When an event happens to someone else it’s termed an “incident.” When it happens to you it is termed a “catastrophe.” | admit to being lazy and have done no further research in this matter. However, I’m quite sure there are many other such reports. This is a potential catastrophe that can easily be avoided.
When an incident occurs behind your left shoulder interested parties will tell you to look to the right. I hope our officials are not so easily distracted.
MARK VOGEL Palm Coast
Palm Coast City Council did not listen to residents’ wishes in filling vacant seat
Dear Editor: Recently Palm Coast City Council members voted to fill the District 3 seat left vacant by Ray Stevens’ health. These members lost my respect and trust. Once trust is broken, it is nearly impossible to earn it back.
Palm Coast residents voted them in office by their platforms and desire to represent us. We thought the council would listen and for a couple of months it was true, but I can see the honeymoon is over.
Palm Coast’s organizational chart lists its citizens at the top above the mayor, council and city staff. Yet council members paid no heed and
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voted for who they wanted even though residents spoke for Candace Stevens and even against David Sullivan. I do not recall one person speak for Mr. Sullivan or Mr. Ferguson who wasn’t even mentioned by council. We voted out the old mayor, and council members even when they ran for county commissioner jobs. In two years we can do the same unless the council can earn back our trust, but it will be a long two years for all of us.
DENISE HENRY Palm Coast
Send letters to brent@ observerlocalnews.com. Include first and last name, as well as city of residence. Editor may alter the letter for clarity and/or length.
Ormond Police hold Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics
The 1-mile fun run was held Saturday at Limitless Park in the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
JARLEENE
The Ormond Beach Police Department hosted its second Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida on Saturday, May 3. Held at Limitless Park in the Ormond Beach Sports Complex, the 1-mile fun run was attended by Special Olympic athletes, community members, the Ormond Beach Fire Department and law enforcement officers from local agencies including OBPD, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Daytona Beach Police, Orange City Police, Holly Hill Police, Daytona Beach Shores, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Corrections. A Representative from the FBI and the State Attorney’s Office also took part in the race.
Ken Roop, director of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida, said the statewide initiative, which has a few more runs
left, will culminate with a final leg on Friday, May 16, at the Disney Wild Word of Sports.
“In two years, we have grown from 60,000 athletes to 78,000 in the state of Florida,” Roop said. “Our athletes don’t pay for anything. Everything is provided — lodging, transportation, uniforms, everything is pro-
Palm Coast hosts Arbor Day event
OBSERVER STAFF
Palm Coast hosted its 20th annual Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, May 3. The event, held at Central Park in Town Center, included a tree giveaway provided by Flowing Well Tree Farm, as well as a walk-through butterfly tent.
Residents received a free 3-gallon tree in exchange for a non-perishable food item
donation for the local food bank.
“For 20 years, Palm Coast’s Arbor Day has been about celebrating our environment, giving back and bringing the community together,” said City of Palm Coast Urban Forester Carol Mini in a press release prior to the event. “This year, we’re making it bigger and better than ever, and we can’t wait to celebrate with everyone!”
vided by Special Olympics. We couldn’t do it without the help of law enforcement.”
Since the first Law Enforcement Torch Run was held in Wichita, Kansas, in 1981, the event has raised $1.2 billion worldwide, Roop said.
Ormond Beach Police Chief thanked people for participating.
“We appreciate you,” he
Ormond Beach hosts 51st annual Art in the Park
Many of the artists have been attending the event as vendors for multiple years.
CONNOR MCCARTHY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The 51st annual Art in the Park festival was held May 3 and 4 at Rockefeller Gardens in Ormond Beach. Many of the artists have been attending the event as vendors for multiple years.
“I’ve been selling my original pen and ink drawings at this festival for at least 10 years,” artist Carolyn Flynn said. “I try
to do this one every year. It’s always a great turnout and I really like the organization. It’s a great show.”
The show provides an opportunity for artists to display and sell their artwork, and for art enthusiasts to meet the artists and purchase their works. Everything from sculptures to painting, to 3D printing was present at the festival.
Breanna Wright, artist for Salty 3D Prints, was among those showcasing their works.
“We’ve really enjoyed being here today,” she said. “The kids love the fossil dig. It’s been our first time bringing the giant velociraptor and showing her off. People got
see her from the beginning stages all the way to the end, so this has been the perfect place to do the final unveiling,
we’ve loved the reception from the community and the other vendors have been incredible.”
Jamie Miceli paints an ocean wave. Photo by Connor McCarthy
Annette Reyes and Ricardo Reyes receive a tree on Arbor Day. Photos by Hannah Hodge
Palm Coast Urban Forester Carol Mini smiles for the camera.
Carolyn Flynn and her colorful pen and ink drawings.
said. “We appreciate your support for law enforcement.” He recognized event sponsors and donors, including the Adams Cameron Foundation, Toni Wright and Richard McNerney.
Carson Frasier, of Seabreeze High School, finishes first.
Ormond Beach Police Public Safety Officer Pauline Dulang sings the national anthem during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida.
Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey, Mayor Jason Leslie, Sgt. Jay Brennan, Officer Danielle Henderson, Capt. Chris Roos, City Commissioner Travis Sargent and Sgt. Michael Garner. Photos by Jarleene Almenas
CLASS OF 2025 Goal-getter
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Football. Weightlifting. Wrestling. Track and Field. Swimming.
No one had played five varsity sports in one year at Seabreeze High School until 17-year-old Luke Cloer came along. If you ask the graduating senior, that’s exactly why he did it, even if that meant a difficult fall semester where he would be doing about 36 hours worth of school work and practice in 48 hours.
A lot of people told him at the start of his senior year that he was doing too much — too many sports, too many clubs and too many advanced classes. But Cloer said he knew he could do it.
Come May 30, he will celebrate his efforts by crossing the graduation stage at the Ocean Center with his fellow Sandcrabs.
“The fact that I’m about to walk on a stage and prove to everyone that I was able to do it, that, like I said, I want to make the impossible happen — that’s going to hit me a lot,” Cloer said.
Plus, graduation will mark a new chapter in his life: Come next fall, Cloer will be attending Stetson University, where he will be playing Division 1 football for the Hatters. He doesn’t know yet what he will major in; maybe engineering, maybe political science, he’s changed his answer a few times this year. He’ll definitely minor in sports management, he said.
“We just have to figure out the major, which some people argue is the more important part,” Cloer said as he laughed.
As a student, he loves to be on the go, and he loves his teammates. Cloer has a lot of good memories of his four years at Seabreeze, but a standout is coming to school dressed as Santa Claus during his sophomore year.
Cloer, who along with other football players, has participated in an initiative to read books to local elementary school kids. One year, he did so while wearing a Santa Claus costume, which he
was allowed to keep over the weekend and wear to school the following Monday.
“Everyone loved it,” he recalled. “People were asking for pictures. People were in a happy mood. That’s definitely a core memory in my heart.” Cloer is also part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and has served as a Student Council Ambassador. From joining the National Spanish Society to his school’s ultimate frisbee team, Cloer was a member of over seven clubs at Seabreeze. He also tried to start two clubs himself: a debate team and a boxing club, but neither panned out. Every time he has been asked to give a tour to a new student at Seabreeze, his advice has been to join at least one club, and one sport.
“Honestly, it made the high school experience so much better,” he said. “Obviously I went to the other spectrum of that.”
Football, however, is what helped shape him into the person he is today. Cloer said it not only led to a physical transformation, but that football boosted his confidence, particularly when he was made a captain in his junior year.
“That was the turning point of, ‘I can lead people and I can set examples for people,’” Cloer said. “That shifted my entire attitude. When I have
a test, I’m not taking that test to show I can do it. I’m taking that test to show everyone can do it. When I try to break records here at Seabreeze, I’m not saying, ‘Oh, I Luke Cloer can break records.’ It’s anyone at Seabreeze here can break records if they really push themselves to it.”
Seabreeze Principal Tucker Harris said that if his own son can one day grow up to be like Cloer, he’ll be very happy as a father.
“It’s just been an honor to watch him do his thing,” Harris said. “He’s super cool. He has a very bright future.”
High school can be hard for kids, Harris added. What’s unique about Cloer is that he’s uniquely himself. Harris has worked toward a culture at Seabreeze that lets students be themselves.
“It’s nice to have an environment where you can be you,” Harris said.
And the best advice Cloer said he’s ever received is to be himself. Once he embraced that, he became happier as a person, he said.
But Cloer said he’s not an outlier at Seabreeze.
“There are so many students here who are just as exceptional as me — who are just as unique as me in their own right, and they just need to find that confidence like I did to be who they want to be, and once they do that, they’ll go from an amazing person to an even better person,” Cloer said. “That’s when they’ll start really having fun with their life and that’s when they’ll start really embodying being a Sandcrab. That’s my biggest wish — is that people can find a passion like I have with being social, sports, clubs, all that. Just find one, two, how many passions they have. Find it, latch on and go with it all the way.”
“be himself.”
by Jarleene Almenas
Flour power
BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Senior Gabby Jones is a star in Flagler Palm Coast’s entrepreneurship program. She has been baking since she was 8 years old, and in the past year her hobby has become a business — Cake’d By Gabby.
Her cake pops are one of the most popular items at the entrepreneurship room’s “Dog Treats” snack stand. They are only available every other week, Tuesday through Friday, teacher Alex Giorgianni said.
“We don’t do them every week. I just I didn’t want to make her have to commit to that, because I know life is busy sometimes, and there’s other big events that she does,” Giorgianni said.
Jones estimates that she’s sold about 3,000 cake pops in the past year at $3 a pop, including 610 through the snack stand alone. She also brings her foldaway table to events and also bakes custom cakes and mini cakes.
After each event, her reputation grows as people enjoy her whimsical decorations and variety of cake flavors including chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, lemon, red velvet, cookies and cream, cookie dough and the very popular funfetti, which has confetti sprinkles inside and out.
“I’ve always been baking,” she said. “I baked my sister’s fifth birthday cake, her seventh birthday cake. Baking is my outlet. I like just coming home and frosting a cake or decorating.”
She’s inspired others in the program to start their own businesses, Giorgianni said.
“She was really the first student that I had that took it to the next level and took it really seriously,” he said. “People have seen the success she’s had as something that they can model themselves after. One kid has a YouTube channel for fishing. (Another) does his own handyman type business.”
Jones said she decided to go into business after baking a cake for her best friend Christina Borgmann’s 17th birthday last year.
“I was selling cake pops on the low at school,” she said, “And the dean told me that I had to stop selling, and then I sold again, and I got pulled into the dean’s office again, and they were, like, we’re going to suspend you if you do it again. So, (Giorgianni) said if you make it a legitimate business, I’ll buy the cake pops from you, and we’ll sell them in a snack stand, so that’s what we ended up doing. My grandma did all the paperwork. She filled out a LLC (application), got me insurance. She really did the brunt of the actual business stuff. I’m very grateful to her. I just bake and bring in the money.”
Last month she made money for a good cause. The FPC entrepreneurship program did a fundraiser for Live Like Cameron, a local nonprofit that provides financial assistance to families with children battling cancer. The program raised $1,600 for the organization. Jones donated 50 cake pops.
“So that’s $150 we were able to donate because of her,” Giorgianni said. “And that’s pretty cool.”
Jones also has two jobs, working at two different pizza restaurants, and she recently
bought her first car. She also is in the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Explorer program. Jones was a wrestler until partially tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in her elbow last year. She said she misses the adrenaline rush she got from wrestling. That and her experience with the Explorers are two reasons why after graduation she plans to apply to the Law Enforcement Academy at Daytona State College. She eventually wants to become a School Resource Deputy and return to FPC.
“My goal is in 10 years or less to be back here reaching out to the kids and helping them,” she said. She doesn’t see herself making a career out of Cake’d by Gabby, but baking will continue to be her outlet.
“She doesn’t like to relax. She’s just a very busy person,” Giorgianni said. “If she’s not busy, she gets bored really, really fast. She likes to be productive.”
To see more cakes, a menu and how to order, go to CAKED By Gabby on Facebook, https://linktr.ee/ cakedbygabby, _caked,bygabby on Instagram or email cakedbygabby4@gmail.com
Luke Cloer sets Seabreeze record with five sports in one year.
Luke Cloer said the best advice he ever got was to
Photo
Luke Cloer (75) brings the energy before a fall game against Deltona at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC senior Gabby Jones’ business takes the cake
FPC entrepreneurship teacher Alex Giorgianni with Gabby Jones in front of the entrepreneurship room. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Gabby Jones bakes and decorates custom cakes.
Pops for pop. Gabby Jones decorated cake pops for Father’s Day. Courtesy photos
SPORTS
Next stop: state meet
Mainland’s Kajuan Curry qualifies in three events; Amyah Watlington wins 100 hurdles at regional.
BRENT WORONOFF
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The 800-meter run is Kajuan Curry’s third-favorite track event. The Mainland High senior prefers run-
ning the 200 and the 400. His opinion hasn’t changed even after discovering this year that the 800 is his best event.
“I didn’t start running the 800 open until later last season,” Curry said. “But it’s become the one I’m best at.”
Curry placed second in the 800 with a time 1:58.96 at the Region 2-3A track and field championships on Friday, May 2, at Embry-Riddle. He automatically qualified for the state championships. He also ran the anchor leg on the Bucs’ 4x800 and 4x400 relay teams, both of which also placed second to advance.
“I’m hard on KJ, but he ran his butt off today,” Bucs coach Terry Anthony said. “It was a very grueling day.”
Mainland’s Amyah Watlington was the Bucs’ only regional champ. The senior won the girls 100 hurdles with a time of 14.13 seconds, breaking her own school record of 14.31 that she ran at districts.
“She’s had a great year,” Anthony said.
And it’s not over yet. Watlington has the seventh-best time in Class 3A heading into the state championships on Friday, May 9, at UNF.
The boys 4x800 relay team also
broke a school record. In fact, the foursome of Khalil Wilmore, Liam Ciferri, Dray Wood and Curry blew it out of the water with a time 8:05.04. Wilmore was a member of the team that had set the previous school record of 8:14.56 two years ago at the 2023 regionals.
The current foursome’s previous best was 8:21.05.
“I can’t believe our time,” Curry said. “We were at 6 minutes when I got the baton. That was the fastest I’ve ever seen it on our third leg. I knew I had to run fast.”
New Smyrna Beach won the event with a time of 8:02.62.
“We really pushed it to run with (NSB’s) pace,” Anthony said. “We ran a great race.”
Wilmore, Wood and Curry also ran on the state-qualifying 4x400 relay with a personal record of 3:21.82 with Fabian Jeune running the second leg.
The Bucs also have two at-large qualifiers to state in Ethan Figueroa, who placed third in high jump at 1.92 meters (6 feet, 3.5 inches) and Antonio Wilson, who placed fourth in discus at 44.92 meters (147 feet, 4 inches).
Seabreeze’s Logan Smith is an at-large qualifier in the javelin. The junior placed third with a PR throw of 50.01 meters (164 feet, 1 inch).
Other Mainland and Seabreeze athletes who placed among the top four at region were Mainland’s Eddie Lake (third in the 100), Houston Cadette (third in the 110 hurdles) and the girls 4x100 relay team (fourth);
and Seabreeze’s Hunter Shuler (fourth in both the 1,600 and 3,200 with PR times in both), Tabitha Hick (fourth in the 400 hurdles) and Emma Uneda (third with a PR in the triple jump).
FPC’s Colby Cronk poised to defend his state shot put title
Cronk and Karina Marcelus won regional titles with Marcelus qualifying in three individual events.
Flagler Palm Coast’s Colby Cronk had a late start to track and field this season after recovering from November surgery to repair a torn labrum. But he seems to be all the way back.
Cronk’s shot put and discus throws at the Region 1-4A meet surpassed his throws from a year ago heading into the state meet. He went on to win the state title in shot put and place second in discus.
Cronk won the regional shot put title on May 3 at Sanford Seminole with a throw of 19.03 meters (62 feet, 5.24 inches), which puts him on top of the state rankings for all classifications. He placed second in discus with a throw of 51.15 meters (167 feet, 10 inches), which ranks fourth in Class 4A.
At state last year, Cronk set school records in the shot put at 19.22 meters and in discus at 56.06 meters, which is farther than any Class 4A competitor has thrown the discus this season.
Cronk and Karina Marcelus were the only Bulldogs to win regional titles, but several others will have a good chance to medal at the Class 4A state meet on Saturday, May 10, at the University of North Florida.
Marcelus won the girls triple jump with a leap of 11.27 meters (36 feet, 11.75 inches). She also placed second in 100 hurdles (14.72 seconds) and third in long jump (5.37 meters) to qualify in all three of her individual events. Marcelus heads to the state meet ranked sixth in triple jump and seventh in 100 hurdles.
VAULTER PLACES SECOND AFTER POLE SNAPS
Tanner Cauley-Bennett placed second in pole vault with a 3.90-meter vault (12-feet, 9.5 inches) after his pole snapped in half on an earlier attempt.
“In his four years, that’s never happened to him before,” FPC coach
Dave Halliday said. “It sounds like a shotgun going off. Some kids get spooked by it. He was upside down when it happened and landed in the pit. He got his composure back — he always brings multiple poles — and he got a second place, which is all he needed to do.
Cauley-Bennett’s best vault this season of 4.27 meters is tied for third in the Class 4A rankings.
“He’s one height away from winning the whole thing,” Halliday said.
Corinthians “R.J.” Watson placed second in triple jump at 13.62 meters (44 feet, 8.25 inches).
Maya Tyson placed second in girls shot put with a personal record 11.88 meters (38 feet, 11.75 inches) to break her own school record. She has now qualified for state in shot put four years in a row. Tyson is also an atlarge qualifier in discus. Her throw of 34.69 meters placed sixth. She is ranked fifth in Class 4A in shot put and 11th in discus.
Cronk will be joined in the boys discus competition by at-large qualifiers Michael London and Gethin Pritchard. London and Jack Wronowski both earned at-large
qualifications in javelin. London, who placed fourth in discus and sixth in javelin, set personal records in both events. His discus throw of 47.61 meters ranks eighth in Class 4A.
FPC’s 4x400 boys relay also earned at-large qualification. On the girls side, Arianna Slaughter (800 meters) and the 4x800 relay team are at-large qualifiers. Slaughter placed fourth in the 800 with a PR time of 2:19.63.
is looking to defend his title on May 10. File photo by Michele Meyers
first-place
Matanzas’ Cerasi wins two titles
from
The freshman won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races and is ranked in the top 10 in both heading into the Class 3A state meet.
BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Matanzas High freshman Peyton Cerasi won both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races at the Region 1-3A track and field meet on Friday, May 2, at Pine Forest High School in Pensacola.
“Two wins at regional as a freshman is a pretty impressive way to start her track career,” Matanzas coach Katie Hoover said. “I’m really proud of Peyton.” Cerasi is ranked 10th in the 1,600 and seventh in the 3,200 heading into the Class 3A state championships on Friday, May 9, at the University of North Florida. She set a personal record in the 1,600 with a time of 5 minutes, 6.15 seconds to win by less than half a second over Ponte Vedra senior Daisy Ross.
“That was really incredible,” Hoover said. “She was ranked fourth (in the region) coming in and she came out with a win and a PR. It wasn’t surprising, but it was a huge accomplishment.”
Cerasi won the 3,200 with a time of 11:07.13. Ross was second at 11:09.98.
“They ran the 3,200 near the end, so she had quite a long time to recover,” Hoover said. “She led for a decent chunk of the race and still had a good finishing kick. She was definitely pushed by Daisy Ross, who’s an extremely talented runner.” Cerasi is the only Matanzas athlete to qualify for the state meet.
REGION 2-1A
Three Father Lopez girls track and field athletes placed first or second at the Region 2-1A meet on May 3 at Satellite High School to automatically qualify for the Class 1A state championships on May 10 at UNF. Mackenzie Brewton won shot put with a throw of 12.03 meters (39 feet, 5.75 inches), while Adelae Fulton was second in discus (34.95 meters) and Caroline Theriault was second in high jump (1.52 meters).
Brewton also is an at-large qualifier in discus, while Theriault is also an at-large qualifer in 100 hurdles. Mia Bruno-Lodwig (shot put), Caroline Curtis (400), and Lauren Lancing (100 hurdles and 400 hurdles) are also at-large qualifiers. Sanigh Arneaud of First Baptist Christian placed sixth in long jump at 4.87 meters, falling short of qualifying. On the boys side, Father Lopez’s Ryan Herdel is an at-large qualifier in the 200.
FPC’s Colby Cronk gets ready to throw the shot put at the 2024 Class 4A state meet. Cronk won the shot put championship with the 10th-best throw in state history and
Matanzas freshman Peyton Cerasi took home two
medals
the Region 1-3A track meet. Courtesy photo
Seabreeze sophomore Jeremias George (right) competes in the 110-meter hurdles.
Mainland senior Kajuan Curry runs the anchor leg of the 4x800 meter relay at the Region 2-3A track and field meet at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on May 2. The Buccaneers finished second in the event, giving them automatic qualification to the state meet. Photos by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze senior Emma Uneda finishes third in the triple jump.
Mainland sophomore Ethan Figueroa clears the high jump bar in 1.92 meters for third place.
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