PALM COAST
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 48
Looking back, looking ahead
Sports photos of the year PAGE 1B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026
TAKE A PEEK The year in photos PAGES 3A-12A
BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER
A few years ago, the back door to my house had a mold problem. Every time I walked in, I could smell it, and it was surprising how dramatically it dampened my mood. It was hard to forget that mold could be spreading. I imagine that’s how the collective city felt about the Palm Coast wastewater system in 2024, after Hurricane Milton overwhelmed the treatment plants and forced the city to issue warnings about flushing toilets. It’s hard to feel hometown pride when something as basic as plumbing is not working as you expect. That’s why I think one of the biggest wins for the City of Palm Coast in 2025 might have been the progress made on infrastructure. After years of delays, pressure from the Department of Environmental Protection compelled the city to expand its wastewater treatment capacity, and that meant borrowing money and raising rates. Nobody wants to pay more. But we also want to feel confident that our plumbing will work. In case you were wondering, we got our door replaced, and had a moldy 2x4 replaced in our wall, and now all is well in my house, too. Among the other big news of 2025 was the tumultuous spring at Palm Coast City Hall, as Mayor Mike Norris was accused of violating the City Charter when he sought to have the acting city manager and chief of staff replaced. Public censures followed, and Norris, who had been elected only about six months earlier, became increasingly isolated on the council. When the City Council tried to hire a permanent city manager, candidates dropped out, no doubt influenced by the political strife, and the council was forced to start over. Just a few months later, the turnaround was almost miraculous: The City Council unanimously hired a city manager, Mike McGlothlin. And Norris, who had declined to participate in many ceremonial roles in the summer, gave a speech at the Fantasy Lights anniversary. Optimism, it seems, has been restored. I hope you’ll join me in turning the pages in this week’s newspaper to see highlights of the year, captured by our journalists and photographers. We have seen great accomplishments by students and teachers. We have seen our Flagler County government hard at work to build new facilities and roads, including the Nexus Center on Commerce Parkway. Maybe the best part about 2025 was the part that didn’t happen: No impacts from hurricanes. Let’s hope our good luck continues in 2026! Thanks for reading.
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Lily has fun with her parents at Spring Fest, put on by the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce, in March. Photo by Brian McMillan