Palm Coast Observer 1-26-23

Flagler County School Board members applaud Teacher of the Year Lee Winfree.

Photos by Brent Woronoff

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Waterfront Park construction set to end in August

The Waterfront Park construction project is set to be completed by mid-August this year.

So far, crews have cleared ground for a 60-by-100-foot concrete pad and started the dredging process for the new kayak launch, according to a press release from the city.

Eric Gebo, a city government stormwater and engineering architect, said the contractor is working to protect the park’s natural flora.

“With all the construction happening at this beautiful park … the contractor has been diligent in trying to protect as many of the historic trees and underbrush existing on the site as possible,” Gebo said, according to the press release.

The dredged material will be reused at the future Southern Recreation Center, Gebo said.

While construction is ongoing, the park remains open to residents, who can use the shell path during construction, the press release said.

Sawmill Branch receives final plat approval Fire Department to purchase

Two hundred forty-six homes will be built in the first phase of the Sawmill Branch development west of the roundabout at Matanzas Woods Parkway and U.S. 1.

The Palm Coast City Council unanimously approved the final plat for Phase 2A of the development in a Jan. 17 meeting.

Sawmill Branch is part of the Palm Coast Park Development of Regional Impact and the Palm Coast Park Master Planned Development, which was approved in 2020.

Phase 2A will be built on 187 acres.

The property’s Future Land Use Map designation is DRI Mixed-Use.

Phase 2B of the Sawmill Branch development would add another 250 homes next to Phase 2A, for a total of 493 homes in the development, said Estelle Lens, a planning technician with the city.

A 9,500-square-foot amenity center is also slated for construction at the development.

Only infrastructure can be constructed at the property until the city approves the final plat.

“The final plat gets reviewed by a second-party surveyor, and the city attorney ensures that all the lots and the easements and the tracts comply with state statutes and technical city

standards,” Lens said.

Infrastructure work at the development began in November 2021, Lens said.

The developer has so far built an entrance sign, a drainage retention pond and two roadway intersections, Lens said.

The Palm Coast Park DRI is expected to have over 2,000 homes once it is finished.

PLANNING BOARD APPROVES SELF-STORAGE FACILITY

A new self-storage facility is slated for a 7-acre plot of land on U.S. 1 across from the Sawmill Creek development.

The Palm Coast Planning and Development Board approved a special exception application for the facility in a 7-0 vote on Jan. 18, with alternate members Larry Gross and Sybil Dodson-Lucas filling in for one absent and one empty seat.

The site plan includes six buildings with 637 indoor storage units with temperature control, plus 40 RV and boat storage spaces, accord-

ing to meeting documents.

The applicant — Horizon Real Estate Fund — also plans to build a stormwater retention pond on the east side of the development.

Vice Chair Sandra Shank motioned to approve the application with the provision that the applicant meet special requirements, including keeping the RV and boat storage on a pavement pad outside of the public right of way and constructing a wall or fence at least 8 feet tall along the north and east of the property, to shield surrounding residential properties.

Deputy Chief Development Officer Ray Tyner said city staff were already considering adequate screening between the facility and the nearby residential properties.

“The recommendation is that we want it to pass about 80% [opacity] within two years,” Tyner said. “So the screen is going to be very important to us.”

Email Staff Writer Sierra Williams at Sierra@palmcoastobserver.com.

mobile air trailer

The Palm Coast Fire Department is planning to buy a mobile air trailer with grant money the department received in December.

The U.S. Fire Administration awarded the Fire Department a $45,454 grant, but accepting it would require the city to contribute $4,546 to match the federal funds, bringing the combined grant and match total to $50,000, Lt. Patrick Juliano said in a presentation to the City Council on Jan. 17.

“These are highly competitive grant processes,” Juliano said.

The Palm Coast City Council voted unanimously to accept the grant funding and contribute the required match.

The Fire Department routinely applies for grants, Juliano said.

This award is from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

Juliano said the department will use the grant money to buy a Star 70 Deluxe Mobile Breathing Air Trailer.

The trailer, Juliano said, will let firefighters refill their air tanks at the scene of an incident, instead of having to return to the firehouses to refill tanks.

In the past, firefighters would remove their air supply to conserve air while they completed secondary tasks.

But exposure to the toxic environment surrounding a fire increases a firefighter’s risk of cancer, Juliano said, and the trailer will help support best practices for respiratory protection.

The trailer is expected to cost $49,999.

Image adapted from city meeting documents

The Sawmill Branch development is expected to have 493 homes, constructed in two phases.

Best in class

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

When Flagler Schools Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt opened the envelopes and announced the district’s 2023 Teacher and Employee of the Year, the winners were humbled and honored, they said.

Matanzas High School math teacher Lee Winfree was named the district’s Teacher of the Year, while Custodial Services secretary Renee Berry was named Employee of the

Year.

Winfree and Berry will now be considered with the other district winners for the state Teacher and Employee of the Year awards.

The district honored all of its Teachers of the Year and Employees of the Year from each school and department at its annual gala on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Flagler Auditorium. It also honored Rookie Teachers of the Year, for the first time, recognizing a teacher from each school who has been teaching for three years or less.

The district’s 2022-23 Principal of the Year Marcus Sanfilippo and Assistant Principal of the Year of Donelle Evensen spoke at the gala. Sanfilippo and Evensen are both administrators at Bunnell Elementary School.

Winfree is the second high school math teacher in a row to be named Flagler’s Teacher of the Year. Jim Gambone, a math teacher at Flagler Palm Coach High School, was the county’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

The coincidence was not lost on Winfree.

“If you think about the Matanzas and FPC rivalry, part of me was, ‘I hope I kind of win,’ because the math teacher at FPC won, Mr. Gambone. I would like to be able to do the same, just so we could have that even at the high schools.”

But when Mittelstadt announced his name, Winfree said he was surprised and humbled.

“I’m very honored. I didn’t expect it,” he said. “There are so many great teachers here in Flagler County. They all do amazing things as the pieces (in the Observer) showed. So, I’m very honored, I’m very surprised.”

Berry, the secretary for Flagler Schools’ Custodial Director Kenny Seybold, said winning from among a field

of 17 school and department Employees of the Year was very unexpected.

“I’m behind the scenes all the time,” she said. “I’ve been in this role for almost nine years. And I’ve been through three different directors in custodial. They nominated me this year, and it was just very unexpected.”

Berry said she is part of a very large team with 146 employees in the custodial department, and loves being part of it.

“(The custodians) do anything and everything. They keep the classrooms clean. They do anything for the buildings, for the principals, the administration. They jump through hoops to make sure everybody’s life is much easier,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. It’s very humbling. We do inservices and holiday events and custodial appreciation, and I put together things for them, but you can’t ever give back as much as they give.”

Winfree teaches advanced placement calculus, AP statistics and honors probability and statistics. He also teaches college algebra and college trigonometry to Matanzas dual-enrolled students through Daytona State College.

Winfree earned a second master’s degree in 2018 so he could teach the college classes at the high school for students who don’t have transportation to have the opportunity to be dual-enrolled.

He said teaching all honors and AP classes brings its own challenges.

“You get students who are used to getting all A’s and B’s and are possibly struggling for the first time,” Winfree said. “I feel like I’m always trying to think, how do I make that student understand that struggling in higher level classes is (something) we’ve all been through?”

FLAGLER’S TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

Julie Sheffield, Bunnell Elementary

Robyn McAnany, Belle Terre Elementary

Laura Hibbard, Buddy Taylor Middle

Carrie Schell, Flager Palm Coast High

Ken Rucker, Flagler Technical College

Laura Shanley, Indian Trails Middle

Dana Lique, iFlagler

Lee Winfree, Matanzas High

Stacy Johnson, Old Kings Elementary

Judy White, Rymfire Elementary

Jennifer Halsey, Wadsworth Elementary

ROOKIE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

Roxianne Smith, Bunnell Elementary

Juliet Sattar, Belle Terre Elementary

Tegan Arcieri, Buddy Taylor Middle

Sarah Paddock, Flagler Palm Coast High

Zachary Berwaldt, Indian Trails Middle

Tyler Bethea, Matanzas High

Jessica Stone, Old Kings Elementary

Emily Presswood, Rymfire Elementary

Serena Pezzullo, Wadsworth Elementary

EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

Kari Pierce, Bunnell Elementary

Holly Blair, Belle Terre Elementary

Maria Sanfilippo, Buddy Taylor Middle

Renee Berry, Custodial Services

Celia Lizardo, Food Services

Linda Longo, Flagler Palm Coast High

Susan Johnson, Flagler Technical College

Kim Anderson, Government Services Building

Amy Ippolito, iFlagler

Sabrina Hollyfield, Indian Trails Middle

Paula Teixeira, Matanzas High

Christine Wyatt, Old Kings Elementary

Brett Galt, Plant Services

Julianna Burns, Rymfire Elementary

Elsie Stinton, Technology/IS

Steven Anuszczyk, Transportation

Rodney Schroeder, Wadsworth Elementary

Winfree also tutors after school to honors and nonhonors students. He is in his 22nd year as a teacher. This is his 10th year at Matanzas. He said his students keep him motivated.

“Knowing that they’re excited to learn, and then hearing back from the students that have graduated, what they’re doing, how I’ve helped them. That has helped me constantly think about how I teach, how I want to reach those students and help them be successful after high school,” he said.

Winfree, Berry named Flagler Schools’ Teacher, Employee of the Year.

“I’m very honored. I didn’t expect it. There are so many great teachers here in Flagler County. They all do amazing things.”

LEE WINFREE, Flagler County Teacher of the Year

Food Services Employee of the Year Celia Lizardo

Belle Terre Elementary School Employee of the Year Holly Blair

Flagler Schools Teacher of the Year Lee Winfree, from Matanzas High School

Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt, left, applauds the district's Teachers of the Year from each school.

Photos by Brent Woronoff

2023 Employee of the Year Renee Berry

Pair discuss medical school, vaping policies and Teen Town Hall

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Between college selection, dual enrollment and a myriad of extracurricular activities, Matanzas senior Bella Tietje and Flagler Palm Coast senior Roymara Louissaint had to carve out time from their busy schedules to be Flagler Student School Board members. But it’s been worth it, they said, to be the voices for their fellow students. Before a recent School Board meeting, Tietje and Louissant spoke with the Observer about their college plans, leading the Teen Town Halls and what the major issues are for Flagler County high school students.

Roymara, congratulations on your acceptance to Stanford.

Roymara: I’m super excited about that. I applied to this program called QuestBridge. And they basically have like 48 college partners, and select students can apply and when you get matched, if you get matched for college, you’re required to go there, except for MIT. But I’m super excited to go to Stanford.

Bella, have you narrowed your choices?

Bella: I’ve applied to 13 different schools. So I have many options. So far, I’ve gotten into Notre Dame FSU, a couple of schools like that. I’m still waiting to hear back from University of Rochester, and (Florida). (They) are actually my top choices right now. Bright Futures definitely helps out with UF, and University of Rochester has really good merit scholarships.

So, you are both planning on going to medical school?

Roymara: That’s the plan so far. I always wanted to go to medical school, but now that I’m seeing that there’s other options I could do with (biomedical) engineering, just like become a researcher, things like that; I’m kind of exploring that area as well.

Bella: I definitely want to go to medical school. I have been wanting

to go in the medical field since I was very young. At first I wanted to be a brain surgeon, but then I was like, maybe not. Now I’m leaning more towards trauma surgeon or orthopedic surgeon. I’m good with blood and gore. And you know, if you’re a trauma surgeon, there’s something new every single day to see. So, that really excites me. And it just seems like I do really good in high pressure environments.

Now that you’ve had seats on the board for a few months, has the experience been what you expected?

Roymara: It’s been a pretty rewarding experience, being able to speak for the students at your school. I try to keep in mind the opinions of other students at my school that may have different opinions than mine, and I try to voice those.

Bella: I agree with Roymara. It is very rewarding to be here, especially being in the room where everything happens, where decisions are made. That’s very exciting. And exactly like she said, it’s good to be able to voice the opinions of the students at your school, even if you don’t necessarily have the same opinions.

You have been running the virtual Teen Town Halls. What are some of the topics?

Roymara: We’ve done several. One

of them was on the natural high, which is basically finding other outlets besides drugs and alcohol to turn to.

Bella: Another was Know the Law, so it’s really getting students involved in knowing their rights and what is allowed and not allowed, but having a better understanding of the consequences of your actions, and just knowing to do the right thing.

(Since this interview, they held another Teen Town Hall on Jan. 19, on the teen vaping epidemic).

What are the major issues for Flagler County students?

Bella: It’s hard to say because we all experience a lot of different issues. Like I’m currently having issues with Daytona State. I’m having problems trying to find classes right now.

Roymara: At my school, I guess it would be inclusion. People just feel like they’re included in spaces, they’re not necessarily represented. I know, for example, certain organizations at my school are very cliquish sometimes. And so, it’ll tend to lean toward higher achievers. But that’s not a true representation of our whole student body.

How do you think your classmates

would answer that question?

Roymara: I’ve heard a lot about the way school administration was handling the vaping usage at my school. One girl who is in a class with me had to be taken out of class because someone in the bathroom was vaping, but she wasn’t participating in that. So, she had to lose valuable class time just because someone else was doing it. They could find a way to handle that.

Bella: I’ve heard similar things at Matanzas too.

What issue would you like to see the School Board take up this year?

Roymara: Another thing that kind of goes off the other questions but answers this question as well is mental health. I know that we currently have the mental health days every Wednesday. But I know a lot of students don’t find it very beneficial. So if there’s maybe a more interactive component to it, or something that’s just surveying students to see what they want in terms of their mental health education.

Bella: Building on what Roymara said, I remember during the mental health Wednesdays, where we’d have to take our valuable class time to take those seminars, it was very frustrating for a lot of students who were wanting to do better in classes, and they were missing the actual class time. So, I think if they did something else that was still learning about mental health but not taking up class time.

Social media has been blamed for a lot things. What do you think is good, what do you think is bad about it?

Bella: I think being able to share things and having a lot of people see it and be able to interact with it is a really good part of social media, because there’s so many events, so many things I wouldn’t have ever seen if it wasn’t for social media. But I also think that it can be nega-

tive because it leaves a lot of room for people to hate on things or comment negatively.

Roymara: I agree with Bella on her negative, because it can cause people to kind of feel left out or think negatively about themselves. In terms of the positive, networking and keeping in touch with people from different programs that I’ve done

If you guys were principal of your school, what changes would you make?

Roymara: In terms of extracurriculars or incorporating programs, having more opportunities, like adding a flagship at my school that would be able to do research for high school students. In the (International Baccalaureate) program, we have the EE (extended essay) which is like our own mini research project. I feel like having something like that available to all students would really show them skills for colleges, providing them with access to higher level libraries and things like that. For example, a program called JSTOR is what we use for our EE. And I know you can have a free subscription. If we have the higher level subscription, it’d be easier for us to access more sources to cite in our research.

Bella: When I was in elementary school, they had the older high school kids do a little mentorship with the elementary students. I think I would do something similar with the upperclassmen with the newer (students) coming in, so they can make more friends and get really involved. I wish I could have talked to a senior to ask what’s up, what I should be involved with. We’re also doing little sporting events that are fun, like they had the teacher vs. students basketball game at Matanzas recently. So, I think if they had more friendly sporting events where everybody can get involved, not strictly being involved with sports to do sports.

Photo by Brent Woronoff Student School Board members Bella Tietje of Matanzas, left, and Roymara Louissaint of FPC.

Volusia County to discuss cost of beach driving tolls

County Councilman

Should Flagler County increase its sales tax?

had discussed the issue, Kent said, the new council had yet to do so.

District 2 Councilman Matt Reinhart seconded Kent’s motion for a future discussion, but said his own views were closer to Robins.’

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

JARLEENE ALMENAS SENIOR EDITOR

Is

time for Volusia County to

how much visitors pay to access its beaches? Should residents be able to drive on the beach for free, or at least at a reduced cost? At least two members on the County Council think so.

The County Council will discuss the cost of beach access at its meeting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21.

District 4 Council man Troy Kent made a motion during his closing comments at the council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17, to propose the beach access discussion.

Kent — who, while campaigning for his seat during the recent elections, vowed to “fight tooth and nail” for residents to be able to drive on the beach for free — said at the meeting that he wanted all non-residents to have to pay to park on the beach and at the county’s beachfront parks.

“The access for our beaches and many locations is broken,” Kent said. “I do not believe the county has done a good job in running our beach. I am hopeful that we can turn that around with this council and this advocate, because there’s never been a District 4 representative more pumped up, more concerned, and more excited to get our residents on our beach, enjoying it the way they should.”

And while County Council Chair Jeff Brower, who brought similar topics to the council in both 2021 and 2022, was quickly supportive of having a discussion, some council members were hesitant.

Councilman Danny Robins said there are obstacles in the way, such as economic uncertainty and the recent hurricane damage.

“The big elephant in the room is, how are we going to pay for it?” Robins said. “I don’t want to hear that we have a $1.2 billion budget — that’s not a sufficient answer ... We’re in an economic decline.”

He cited high interest rates, inflation, high insurance costs, businesses shutting down, a lack of employees, the lack of full economic recovery from the pandemic, the county’s SunRail obligation and the cost to repair the beach.

“Why so positive, man?” Kent replied. “Such positive news you share.”

Kent said that Robins had reiterated his point that the council won’t know if reexamining beach access costs is feasible without a discussion.

He added that he may change his mind once he sees more information, but the council members have to have that discussion first.

Robins argued that by eliminating beach toll fees for residents, the county would be looking at cutting millions of dollars of revenue, and that recuperating that money would likely result in higher taxes.

“What I’m trying to do is look in advance before we dedicate more staff time to things that we can already process right here, right now,” Robins said. “I’m not trying to be a negative Nancy, or a stick in the mud. I want to see us get there — everything you said is correct, so don’t take this the wrong way, but we’ve been down this road before and we’re running into the same problems.”

While a previous council

Reinhart’s district — which includes Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Ponce Inlet and Wilbur-by-the-Sea — was hit hard by the hurricanes, he said.

“Lets get our beach back before we worry about [a] free beach,” Reinhart said.

He added that the majority of the people he’s spoken with don’t want free access to the beach because of the financial impact.

Brower disagreed with the phrases “free beach” and “free beach access,” saying that residents are already paying through their taxes to access the beach.

“Who we do give free access is everybody that stays in a motel,” he said.

Kent’s motion passed 4-2, with Robins and At-Large Councilman Jake Johansson voting against.

The Flagler County Commission wants to lower the tax burden on local homeowners, and options range from levying additional sales tax to reducing the county government’s legacy expenses.

In a meeting Jan. 17, County Administrator Heidi Petito presented a list of possibilities for the board to consider ahead of the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

The options are ways to reduce the General Fund millage rate, Petito said. The commission can choose one, some or none of the options over the next few months.

State law restricts how much the county can levy in taxes, but in most cases, the county’s current tax levies are at or below the permitted amounts.

For example, Flagler County can levy up to 2% in discretionary sales tax. It currently 0.5%. Fifty-one of Florida’s 67 counties levy 1% to 1.5%, according to Petito’s presentation.

Increasing the sales tax would take some of the tax burden off residents, since sales taxes are also paid by visitors.

“I think we really ought to look hard at the half-cent sales tax, because I think it’s a fairer tax overall,” Commissioner David Sullivan said.

DAVID SULLIVAN,

surtax. The revenue is also divided among the municipalities.

The county can also levy up to a 1% Emergency Fire Rescue Services and Facilities surtax, but doing so would require voter approval through a referendum. The revenue would be shared with Palm Coast and Flagler Beach.

“It makes sense that we need something,” Sullivan said. “But what’s the fairest way to do [it]?”

The Flagler County Health Department also gave an update to the commission, asking for funding to repair facilities and expand services.

The county can levy up to 0.5 mills to support the Health Department, Petito said. Doing so would raise the millage rate, but would also provide dedicated funding for the upkeep of the Health Department’s facilities, she said.

TROY KENT

Flagler County levies 0.5% in additional small county surtax — for operational expenses — and 0.5% in local government infrastructure

Currently, the county provides the Health Department with 0.04 mills of revenue, totaling $500,000. If the county raises the amount to 0.1 mills, the department could receive more than twice as much property tax revenue.

Troy Kent said he wanted to explore letting residents drive on the beach for free. Visitors, he said, should still pay.

“The access for our beaches and many locations is broken. I do not believe the county has done a good job in running our beach.”

County Commission hopes to reduce the property tax rate.

“I think we really ought to look hard at the half-cent sales tax, because

I think it’s a fairer tax overall.”

Commissioner

COPS CORNER

JAN. 5

TOW-TALLY UNFAIR 7:41 p.m., first block of Red Barn Drive, Palm Coast Towed vehicle. Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies found a car partially obstructing a roadway. Since the car was unregistered and no one was on scene, deputies could not contact the owner, and had the vehicle towed. Standard procedure.

Two days later, the car’s owner called asking to speak to a supervisor. According to the report, the owner was “unhappy” that his unregistered vehicle was towed. The supervisor pointed out that since the owner wasn’t with the car, deputies couldn’t tell him to move it, and it was blocking the roadway. The owner even admitted it was in the roadway, the report said.

The owner then asked the supervisor to call the towing company to reduce the fees. He was told that that was not possible because the Sheriff’s Office is not involved in towing fees. The owner apparently did not like that response: He swore at the supervisor and abruptly hung up.

JAN. 9 MIDNIGHT MADNESS

7:22 a.m., near Reinhardt Lane, Palm Coast Criminal mischief. A woman awoke to find a terrible surprise in the morning: Someone had put a cement brick through the passenger side of her C300 Mercedes Benz’s windshield.

The luxury car also had damage to its hood and A-pil-

lar.

A Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputy looked at home security system footage of the front yard.

The video showed that just after midnight, a man wearing a black mask, black hoodie, blue jeans and boots walked up to the house carrying a cement brick. The man threw the brick at the Mercedes before getting back in his car and leaving.

There were no leads on who the suspect might be.

JAN. 14 WHERE THERE’S SMOKE ... 5:42 p.m. — 200 block of Ocean Shore Boulevard, Ormond Beach Trespassing. Police arrested a 66-year-old Daytona Beach Shores man who was seen by a neighbor entering a vacant oceanfront home.

The neighbor watched as the man walked up to the home from the beach, according to a police report. The neighbor then saw smoke coming from the property.

When police arrived at the home, they found the man on the second floor. A fireplace had been lit. The fire depart ment put out the fire.

initially said he

wanted to speak to an attorney, he later changed his mind and told police that his trespassing “was an honest mistake.”

The reporting officer noted in the report that the property has multiple “no trespassing” signs on each side of the home.

He was taken to jail.

JAN. 18 POOR DECISIONS 3:01 p.m. — First block of South Beach Street, Ormond Beach

Unarmed burglary. Police responded to a local park after a man was seen entering a forklift and trying to get it running.

Witnesses saw the man entering and leaving the forklift several times, as well as removing a traffic safety vest from the seat and putting it in his own car, a police report states.

When confronted by a police officer, the man tried to put the safety vest back.

The officer asked him why he took it in the first place.

The man, a 66-year-old from West Virginia, said he had made a “poor decision.” The reporting officer asked him for the key to the forklift, which he knew the man had; the man said he was going to turn it in to a second police officer on the scene.

As he was being transported to jail, the man threatened to kill the officer’s family.

In contentious meeting, commissioners direct manager on communication

Flagler Beach City Manager William Whitson’s wife told commissioners that they were ‘tormenting’ her husband.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Flagler Beach city commissioners at meeting on Jan. 19 grilled City Manager William Whitson about how he communicates with the commission and chooses tasks to focus on.

Whitson’s wife, Becky, took the podium in defense of her husband at the meeting, saying that the commission was “tormenting” her husband for not knowing their priorities.

“He is responding to being burned because he didn’t know what your priorities were,” Becky Whitson said. “You are killing my husband.”

City Attorney Drew Smith also came to Whitson’s defense several times.

The city settled on a tentative path forward to resolve communication and priority issues that had drawn complaints from commissioners.

Several commissioners said Whitson needs to rely more on his department heads and prioritize which tasks need a lot of his time.

Last fall, Whitson had provided the commissioners with a priority list that they were asked to fill out in order to give him direction.

Three of the five commissioners had filled it out, numbering individual items on a scale based on how important they were to the commissioners, whose responses were then averaged together.

Commissioners Jane Mealy and Eric Cooley had not filled out the list.

Mealy said a lot of things on the list are already planned out, and that anything storm-related should take priority over other items on the list — like Fourth of July fireworks, she said.

Cooley said he shared Mealy’s thoughts and added that everything on the list was a priority.

He said he felt that the list was just another strategic planning session.

“There’s 50 to 60 items on the list,” he said. “What’s important is all 50, 60 of these, and I don’t really like the idea of narrowing that down.”

The list was too itemized, several members of the commission said; many items on the list could be grouped under one umbrella.

Cooley said he did not appreciate Becky Whitson’s accusation.

The commission was not just coming after people, but trying to ensure that budgeted priorities are completed, even if some things have to be reprioritized as a result of the storms, he said.

“In my mind, I think this gentleman is smart enough and he’s high paid enough that he can and should be able to do that,” Cooley said.

Ultimately, the board gave Whitson direction to use his staff on individual projects and to use better tools, like a project tracker Mayor Suzie Johnston found, to keep up with the many moving parts of projects more accurately.

FLAGLER BEACH TO LAUNCH APP

In a discussion about how the city communicates with residents, the commission instructed Whitson to improve on and use what the city already has, rather than focus on adding new bells and whistles.

The city’s new app will be launching on Jan. 23 for beta testing, Whitson said, and will be an all-purpose source for residents to find information like city operating hours and meeting times, as well as to access information like project statuses.

The app will also let residents submit complaints and questions and will feature push notifications for important information, Whitson said.

Whitson said city staff members hope to launch the app in full in February, depending on how the beta testing goes.

The commission will use data from the app to determine the next step forward in improving the city’s communication strategy.

Metadata from the app — like how

many people even download it, to start — will help give city staff some direction, Commissioner James Sherman said.

“I think we need to exhaust everything that we budgeted for this year,” Sherman said.

The city will also restart the monthly radio interviews it had been holding during the recent hur-

ricanes.

It will start circulating a hardcopy newsletter on a trial basis — with copies available at public places like the library and City Hall — and will create a “City of Flagler Beach” Facebook page instead of just relying on the Flagler Beach Police Department’s Facebook page.

The new page feature original staff

content and also share posts from the FBPD page.

Whitson said that if the new tactics work, the commission can add more resources for communication efforts in the next budget process.

“If we start with all this now, it gives us months to see what’s going on,” Mealy said.

FLAGLER, VOLUSIA TO RECEIVE MILLIONS FOR BEACH RESTORATION

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Jan. 18 announced the distribution of $100 million that lawmakers approved in December for beach-restoration projects after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole caused widespread erosion. The total will be distributed among 16 counties, and Volusia County is getting the biggest share, at $37.6 million. A total of $17 million, the third-largest share, will go to Flagler County. Rep. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, represented east coast counties in advocating for the allocation.

Among other large amounts, Lee County will receive $23 million, St. Johns County will receive $4.6 million, Indian River County will receive $4 million and Brevard County will receive $3.2 million.

“We’ve worked really hard to help all of those communities with respect to Hurricane Ian,” DeSantis said. “But then what we had, November, just right after the election, I was down here looking at the damage from Hurricane Nicole. Not a Category 4 or 5 storm, but coming on the heels of Hurricane

Ian, (it) did a lot of damage, particularly on our coastlines.” Ian made landfall Sept. 28 in Southwest Florida as a Category 4 storm and crossed the state. Nicole made landfall Nov. 10 near Vero Beach as a Category 1 storm.

Lawmakers approved the beachrestoration money during a special legislative session in December.

House Speaker Paul Renner, RPalm Coast, said they will consider further assistance during this year’s regular session, which will start March 7.

A previous dune restoration project in Flagler County

File photo by Paige Wilson

FCSO bars homeowner, residents from home due to criminal history

The Sheriff’s Office served an injunction as part of a civil nuisance abatement case against the residents.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

For the first time in Flagler County, the Sheriff’s Office has used a civil law to permanently order residents from their home.

The five residents of the home, located in the 2300 block of Blueberry Street in Daytona North, each have a history with law enforcement — various felony and misdemeanor charges, including drug charges, according to a press release from the FCSO.

Since the current owner took possession of the home in March 2018, the FCSO has made 132 service calls to the residence, the press release said.

The injunction order gave the residents seven days to vacate the premises after a judge signed the injunction

on Jan. 9. They complied, and Sheriff Rick Staly and deputies erected a sign on the property saying the residents are prohibited from returning.

“The conduct of these poison peddlers directly and negatively impacted the other residents of Blueberry Street, Daytona North and Flagler County as a whole,” Staly said, according to the news release.

“Nearby residents have been the victims of criminal activity, harassment and threats from residents and visitors at the property for long enough.”

Florida law states that because the home is homesteaded, the FCSO cannot legally seize it for forfeiture, Staly said.

So the FCSO worked with the agency’s legal team to file a civil nuisance abatement case.

“When it became obvious their behavior would not change despite numerous arrests, I directed our general counsel to try a new tactic, which had never been used before in Flagler County, by using a civil nuisance abatement court action,” Staly said.

Nuisance abatement is a

CRIME REPORT

Four charged in narcotics investigation

call from a man saying that his child had gone to Holland Park to fight other juveniles.

civil tactic allowing a citizen, attorney or sheriff to put a homeowner and residents on notice that they are violating local law.

In court documents for the case, the FCSO cited the continuing criminal activity on the property and frequent service calls for law enforcement as “activities ... which would tend to annoy (and actually have annoyed) the community.”

The party filing the abatement order is required to send the homeowner two notices and allow plenty of time to comply before a permanent injunction is served.

The Sheriff’s Office served the first notice in April 2022 and the second in May, the press release said, but the residents “continued their illegal activities with no signs of stopping.”

“This was a long legal process, but we built the case and prevailed,” Staly said.

The homeowner and one of the residents are at the county jail for violation of pretrial release and violation of probation charges, respectively.

Siblings allegedly attacked teenager, committed hit-and-run

The fleeing suspects’ vehicle struck a bystander who tried to stop the attack.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Two Palm Coast siblings have been arrested for allegedly beating up a teenage boy and then committing a hit-andrun as they fled the scene in Flagler Beach.

The siblings, 18-year-old Gabriella Alo and 21-yearold Nicholas Alo, are charged with felony child abuse without great bodily harm, tampering with a witness and causing a child to commit an act of delinquency. Gabriella Alo, who was driving, is also charged with aggravated battery and leaving a crash scene with injuries, while Nicholas Alo is also charged with violating his parole.

Gabriella Alo was arrested on Jan. 13. Nicholas Alo was arrested on Jan. 19. A third suspect has not been identified.

The incident happened at around 11:50 p.m. Jan. 11 at Wickline Park, when the two siblings and the one uniden-

tified person picked up a teenage boy and the beating victim and drove to Wickline Park, according to their arrest reports.

There, the five got out of the car, and the siblings and the unidentified person began beating the 15-year-old victim. The other teenager was told to record the beating.

In a statement made to police, the other teenage boy, a 14-year-old, said the two siblings brought everyone to Wickline Park to “jump” the victim. The siblings told the teenage boy to join them in beating the victim, but he refused, the report said.

The three attackers and the 14-year-old boy left the victim there, and a teenage girl who witnessed the beating sat with him.

After some time, the attackers drove back to the park, and the two siblings began beating the victim again.

A mother and her adult daughter saw the fight between teenagers in the park, and the daughter at first mistook the attackers’ car for her brother’s car. She ran across the street to break up the fight, thinking the boy on the ground was her brother, according to arrest reports.

The attackers got back in the car and reversed, knocking the woman over and running over her legs and ankles.

The woman was taken to the hospital with road rash and a broken ankle, according to the report.

Flagler Beach Police Department officers took witness statements from both women, while other officers found the beating victim and the teenage girl. The 15-yearold beating victim was able to identify the two siblings involved, and the FBPD was able to identify the car’s license plate from security camera footage.

After Flagler Beach police officers tracked down the 14-year-old boy, he told officers that the Alo siblings drove the four of them to a hotel in Jacksonville after hitting the woman. Gabriella Alo made everyone remove their sim cards and turn off their phones, he said. He said he had to call his father to pick him up because the siblings would not take him home and threatened to beat him up if he “snitched.”

Gabriella and Nicholas Alo are being held at the county jail.

An undercover investigation led to the arrest of five people after deputies served a search warrant at a house on Rivera Lane on Jan. 19.

During the search by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s SWAT and Special Investigations Unit, detectives seized drug paraphernalia and around 40 grams of synthetic cathinones, commonly known as molly, according to a press release from FCSO.

The arrests came just a day after the FCSO served an injunction ordering a suspected drug dealer to permanently vacate his house in North Daytona, Sheriff Rick Staly said.

“My message to poison peddlers in Flagler County is get out now, or we will find you and send you to the Green Roof Inn – or out of your house forever. I commend our team for another great job closing down a drug house,” Staly said.

Four of the five people were charged, the press release said; the fifth person was released.

Charges included drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Three of the four arrested were released on bond shortly after their arrests, while one — who faces a felony drug trafficking charge and a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charge — is still in jail. The investigation is ongoing.

Juvenile accused of stealing gun to scare kids

A juvenile who took two handguns from his older brother said he did so to scare some other kids.

The incident took place on Jan. 17. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office had received a

BRIEFS

Bunnell city commissioners elected

Three Bunnell city commissioners have been elected or reelected without opposition as the qualifying period ended with no opponents filing.

John Rogers was reelected to his seat, and will serve a fifth term, ending in 2026.

Incumbent commissioner Tonya Gordon, running in a special election to fill a seat left open when former commissioner Bob Barnes resigned for health reasons, was elected to that seat and will serve the two remaining years of the three-year term, ending in 2025.

Pete Young, a newcomer to the commissioner, was

The man later called back saying two firearms were missing from the home.

Deputies went to the residence and to Holland Park, a press release from FCSO said.

The child returned to his home shortly after deputies arrived, the release said, but without the guns.

The juvenile told deputies he took the guns and some cash from his older brother to scare other kids he and his friends knew would be at the park, the press release said.

The juvenile has been charged with grand theft, two counts of grand theft of a firearm, and sending written threats to kill.

Sheriff Rick Staly thanked the father for speaking up and urged parents to talk to their kids.

“Parents, be the sheriff in your home and talk to your children on how to handle disagreements,” Staly said. “Taking a gun to an argument is not it. If you don’t, we will be the sheriff to your children, and the outcome will likely be an arrest.”

The juvenile suspect told deputies that he was “involved in an ongoing dispute with other juveniles in the area,” the press release said. He returned home after reaching Holland Park and seeing the deputies there.

Deputies searched the juvenile’s phone and found several threats about shooting and killing others.

The two handguns were later found near the homes of several of the juvenile’s friends, according to the press release. One was found in the woods behind a house where two of the friends live.

The other handgun was found in a home where another friend was hiding out. That person is charged with possession of a firearm by

elected without opposition to the third open seat. His term will end in 2026.

The three commissioners will be sworn into office at an April 10 City Commission meeting, according to a city news release.

If the seats had been contested, the city would have held elections on March 7.

The next Bunnell election will be held in 2025.

Work begins on Lehigh Trail

Workers are starting construction on the Lehigh Trailhead project off Belle Terre Parkway, and partial trail closures began on Jan. 25.

Work on the restroom facility is causing trail closures from Royal Palms Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway to Royal Palms Parkway and Town Center Boulevard,

a minor, tampering with evidence and grand theft of a firearm.

Neither of the two juveniles who were arrested were enrolled in the Flagler County school system.

Man sentenced to 15 years for overdose death

A 44-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Jan. 24 in connection with the 2018 overdose death of Palm Coast resident Michael Burnett Jr., 31.

Suspect Joseph Carroll was initially charged with first-degree murder for selling the drugs tied to the fatal overdose.

He pleaded to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

Circuit Judge Terence Perkins sentenced him to 15 years in prison, the maximum possible term for the charge, with credit for 561 days already served. Carroll was also ordered to pay $7,225 in restitution to Burnett’s family.

FCSO to train for missing persons cases

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is one of five Florida Sheriff’s Offices chosen in 2022 to receive missing person response training, scent discriminate K-9 training, and scent preservation kit resources through the Florida Legislature’s “Bringing the Lost Home Program,” according to an FCSO news release.

The program provides the FCSO with 500 scent preservation kits to give to families with loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or autism.

Families will pre-collect a person’s scent so that they can give first responders an uncontaminated scent item for tracking should their family member go missing. To get a scent preservation kit, email CommunityEngagement@ FlaglerSheriff.com.

according to a city of Palm Coast news release.

Trail users will be routed down the sidewalk on Royal Palms Parkway and can reconnect with the trail at Town Center Boulevard.

The closure will extend through Feb. 8, when the trail entrance is expected to reopen.

The dirt parking lot at the Lehigh Trailhead, and the sidewalk that runs along the parking area, is also closed, according to the news release.

Visitors must park across Belle Terre Parkway in the grass lot and use the designated crosswalk at Belle Terre Parkway and Royal Palms Parkway.

Construction is expected to be completed by November 2023, according to the news release.

School Board approves its legislative priorities

List includes workforce funding, mental health and safety, and support for Flagler programs.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Flagler County School Board has approved its list of priorities for the upcoming Florida Legislative Session.

Flagler’s legislative priorities include 11 items that fall under five general categories: mental health and safety, workforce, personnel recruitment and retention, funding and delegation support.

The board approved the priority list at its business meeting on Jan. 17.

Under workforce, the board is advocating funding to provide market value wages for high-skilled Career Technical Education adjunct teachers. Also on the list is operational funding to support secondary career and technical programs.

A recruitment and retention priority is changing the term of temporary certification for teacher candidates with a college degree from three years to five years. Also under reten-

tion is funding the Teacher Salary Increase Allocation and increasing eligibility to all certified instructional personnel, including experienced teachers.

Funding priorities include increasing the base student allocation by 5% to offset increased operational costs and providing increased transparency of the impacts of Family Empowerment Scholarships.

Under delegation support, the board’s priorities include securing a permanent location for the local Adults with Disabilities Program, pushing funds to expand career education in middle schools and making Flagler’s Voluntary Prekindergarten program a pilot program in any proposed pre-K legislation.

Under mental health and safety, the board’s priorities are increasing the allocation for additional mental health services for students, including those affected by recent natural disasters, and increasing the safe schools allocation to fund school safety initiatives and school safety officers.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Flagler’s options for K-12 social studies instructional materials can be viewed in

Flagler’s legislative priorities include 11 items that fall under five general categories: mental health and safety, workforce, personnel recruitment and retention, funding and delegation support.

Sydnee Wong wins VFW competition

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

When Matanzas High School senior Sydnee Wong saw the topic for the Veterans Of Foreign Wars’ 2022-23 Voice of Democracy competition, she knew she had to enter.

person through Feb. 7 at the district’s offices at the Government Services Building or online at bit.ly/3DfiaaC.

JOB DESCRIPTION UPDATES

At the board’s information workshop on Jan. 17, Chief Human Resources Officer Bob Ouellette presented updated job descriptions for entry level support positions.

The new job descriptions includes another option if candidates cannot produce a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. They can successfully complete a basic skill assessment test instead to demonstrate the ability to read and write.

REQUEST TO ADD MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER

The district requested board approval to add Epic Behavioral Healthcare to its mental health plan provider list. Epic provides clinical services, substance use prevention and suicide prevention.

A large component of the company’s services can be delivered virtually, John Fanelli, the district’s coordinator of student supports and behavior, told the board at its Jan. 17 workshop.

Wong submitted her audio essay on the topic, “Why is the Veteran Important?” and won the local competition sponsored by VFW Post 8696 of Palm Coast. She then won the District 19 competition against seven Volusia County post winners and advanced to the state competition, which was held Jan. 21 in Orlando.

She won a $300 scholarship for winning district. The competition had five judges, including two teachers, District 19 Commander Chris Gates said.

“I’m a (teacher’s assistant) for JROTC, and I was inspired because my ROTC instructor is a veteran. Also, my dad is a veteran and served in the Air Force. Without him, I would not have the same appreciation for our country’s soldiers. I am proud to have a parent that served.”

SYDNEE WONG

“It was a very patriotic essay. It touched people’s hearts,” Gates said.

Wong had entered the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen essay competition when she was in elementary school, but this was the first time she decided to enter the high school Voice of Democracy competition.

“I’m a (teacher’s assistant) for JROTC, and I was inspired because my ROTC instructor is a veteran. Also, my dad is a veteran and served in the Air Force. Without him, I would not have the same appreciation for our country’s soldiers. I am proud to have a parent that served.”

Wong began her essay by analyzing what America would look like without vet-

erans. Then she discussed how veterans make a positive impact on America.

While she did not place at the state competition, which included 22 district winners, the experience was rewarding, she said.

“I was honored to have the opportunity to go there and participate,” she said. “I really enjoyed meeting so many like-minded students from all over Florida.”

Wong is a dual-enrolled biology major and plans to pursue a career in the medical field. But she enjoys writing and public speaking competitions and has won awards for her poetry.

“I have to thank God for all of my accomplishments,” she said.

File image from livestream

John Fanelli recommended adding Epic Behavioral Healthcare to district’s mental health plan.

The Matanzas High School senior said she was inspired by the topic, ‘Why is the veteran important?’

Courtesy photo

VFW District 19 Auxiliary President Debra Gates and District 19 Commander Chris Gates pose with Sydnee Wong at the Voice of Democracy’s state competition.

SMA HEALTHCARE PROMOTES TWO

SMA Healthcare has announced two new promotions: Jennifer Stephenson has been named senior vice president of Volusia County services, and Jessica Nelson has been named vice president of quality assurance.

“Jennifer and Jessica have been integral in the success of SMA Healthcare, and I look forward to seeing how they excel in their new roles,” CEO Ivan Cosimi said in a press release.

“We are so fortunate to have such strong leadership here at SMA Healthcare.”

Stephenson has been with SMA Healthcare for 12 years, most recently serving as the Senior Director of Outpatient Services.

She holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology and

is a licensed mental health counselor.

Nelson has been with SMA Healthcare for just over 10 years, most recently serving as the senior director of quality assurance.

She has a master’s degree in social work and is also a licensed clinical social worker.

EXPERT TO SPEAK ON SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS

Attorney Erum Kistemaker was invited by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations to present a webinar about special assessments on Jan. 19.

The condo, HOA, real estate and business attorney has had an active role in new and changing legislation regarding Florida condo law and looked forward to presenting among peers, according to a news release.

“I am so honored and excited to be invited by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to present about special assessments,” Kistemaker said. “This is something so crucial to so many, and it’s important to have a team of experts who can help translate some of the finer points and newer details as we go in to 2023.

The free and virtual event was hosted by the Education Section of the Division of Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes.

This special event was part of a webinar series called the “The Florida Condo Education Initiative.”

The Education Initiative is a partnership between the Division of Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes; Office of the Florida Condominium Ombudsman; and the Condominium and Planned Development Committee of the

Hearing Loss & Cognitive Decline

BY: DR. INDIRA ALVAREZ

Many factors can contribute to hearing loss as you get older. It can be difficult to distinguish age-related hearing loss from hearing loss that can occur for other reasons, such as long-term exposure to noise. Noise-induced hearing loss is caused by longterm exposure to sounds that are either too loud or last too long. This kind of noise exposure can damage the sensory hair cells in your ear that allow you to hear. Once these hair cells are damaged, they do not grow back and your ability to hear is diminished. Conditions that are more common in older people, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, can contribute to hearing loss. Medications that are toxic to the sensory cells in your ears (for example, some chemotherapy drugs) can also cause hearing loss.

Rarely, age-related hearing loss can be caused by abnormalities of the outer ear or middle ear. Such abnormalities may include reduced function of the tympanic membrane (the eardrum) or reduced function of the three tiny bones in the middle ear

that carry sound waves from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear. Most older people who experience hearing loss have a combination of both age related hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss.

Can I prevent age-related hearing loss?

At this time, scientists don’t know how to prevent age-related hearing loss. However, you can protect yourself from noise-induced hearing loss by protecting your ears from sounds that are too loud and last too long. It’s important to be aware of potential sources of damaging noises, such as loud music, firearms, snowmobiles, lawn mowers, and leaf blowers. Avoiding loud

DAYTONA STATE EARNS CYBER DEFENSE AWARD

The National Security Agency has redesignated Daytona State College as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense through 2028.

DSC offers an advanced technical certificate in cybersecurity and cyberforensics and a bachelor of science in information technology.

“Cybersecurity is a highly technical and constantly evolving field,” said Dante Leon, DSC associate vice president. “This redesignation is a testament to the commitment of our faculty and staff to prepare students with the skills they need to be successful in jobs in industry, government and beyond.”

The Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense at DSC was created in 2013 through a grant.

Since its inception, the center — housed in DSC’s Advanced Technology College — has focused on providing training in cybersecurity and cyberforensics. In 2016, the center was designated as a National Center for Academic Excellence for Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency/ Central Security Service.

“Our mission at Daytona State is to anticipate the education and workforce needs of the citizens and businesses of Volusia and Flagler counties,” said Dr. Amy Locklear, DSC executive vice president and provost. “Our cybersecurity and cyberforensics programs are a key element of our long-term strategy to meet our region’s ever-evolving needs.”

CHIROPRACTOR JOINS LOCAL OFFICE

Dr. Aspen Coggins, a chiropractor, has joined Coastal Integrative Healthcare’s Palm Coast office.

noises, reducing the amount of time you’re exposed to loud noise, and protecting your ears with ear plugs or ear muffs are easy things you can do to protect your hearing and limit the amount of hearing you might lose as you get older.

What to do in case you have trouble hearing?

Hearing problems can be serious. The most important thing you can do if you think you have a hearing problem is to seek advice from an audiologist. At Palm Coast Hearing Center, our doctors have the expertise to evaluate you and recommend appropriate treatment and follow-up. We can counsel you and your family to help you preserve your hearing health. It is important to understand that not all places that offer “hearing tests” are the same. Many of those places that offer “free hearing tests” and advertise only hearing aids do not offer comprehensive hearing health care.

Coggins has been practicing in Florida since 2020, according to a news release.

She moved to Florida from Georgia in 2017 to pursue her chiropractic career, and earned her doctorate of chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida and holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science with a concentration in human and sports performance.

She has experience working with athletes, pediatric and wellness patients as well as accident and injury patients, according to the news release.

JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS OPENS IN ISLAND WALK

A new Jersey Mike’s Subs location opened at 250 Palm Coast Parkway, in the Island Walk shopping plaza, the morning of Jan. 18.

Franchise owners Mark DeBiase and Drew Maider held a grand opening and fundraiser through Sunday, Jan. 22, to support Vincent’s Clubhouse, according to a news release.

Customers who received a special fundraising coupon through a grassroots effort before the opening could make a minimum $2 in-store contribution to Vincent’s Clubhouse in exchange for a regular sub.

The restaurant is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. This location can be reached at 386-585-4582.

Guests can place orders instore or through the website or the Jersey Mike’s app, according to the news release.

Jersey Mike’s locations have raised more than $90 million for local charities since 2010, according to the news release, and in 2022 raised $20 million for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.

COLDWELL BANKER NAMES

TOP AGENTS

Coldwell Banker Premier Properties has named its top agents for December 2022. They are:

It is important that you seek a Doctor of Audiology for your care- an Audiologist is college-degreed and licensed professional trained to evaluate your complete hearing health, understanding the many significant comorbidities associated with hearing loss and how they affect your diagnosis and treatment. Comorbidities like dementia, cognitive impairment, depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, fall risk and more.

The connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline

A 2016 study analyzing health insurance claims of 154,783 seniors concluded that hearing impairment increases the risk of dementia and that to some extent this happens regardless of medical treatment. Though the authors said hearing aids might delay or prevent dementia, they didn’t have details on whether patients were prescribed hearing aids or were

„

Top sales agent: Dottie

„

Top listing agent: Jack Corbett

„ Top producer, and Million Dollar Club: Vlaja Telfer

“We are proud to have each of these agents as part of our team,” said Tom Heiser, broker/ manager at Coldwell Banker Premier Properties.

Coldwell Banker Premier Properties is located at 211 St. Joe Plaza Drive in Palm Coast.

WASTE PRO EMPLOYEE

MARKS 10 YEARS

Amanda Shabazz, a driver with Waste Pro, is celebrating 10 years on the job this year.

Shabazz joined Waste Pro in 2013 in Southeast Florida before moving to Jacksonville and then finally Palm Coast in the last year. Shabazz said she’s come to love driving a garbage truck, according to a press release from Waste Pro.

“I wanted something different, but I never wanted to do over-the-road trucking. It’s dangerous, and I’d never get to see my family,” she said. “So, when I heard Waste Pro was hiring, it made sense. I could be with my family, get great benefits and still make a decent dollar.”

Shabazz has worked as a machine operator and chauffeur in the past, so working with large machinery and vehicles is nothing new to her, the press release said. She has experience with driving an automated side loader, a rear loader and a Curotto Can truck — which, Shabazz said, is her favorite truck to drive.

Shabazz said that during her routes, she loves to help out the older people who live alone, offering to push their cans back up to the houses and generally taking the time to get to know them. Shabazz said she has been welcomed by her customers – something she had never experienced at a job before.

“I look at it as if they were my mom or dad,” she said. “It’s become personal. It feels good to be appreciated.”

using them regularly.

However, a 2017 article in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience cited two studies that found people wearing hearing aids improved their performance on cognitive tests. The article said hearing aids, when prescribed at the beginning of age-related hearing loss, can postpone cognitive side effects.

Most types of hearing loss occur gradually over time making it hard for you or a loved one to notice there has been a change in hearing. Just like vision and dental care it is always a good idea to have your hearing health evaluated once per year.

AT OUR FACILITY, OUR PROVIDERS USE REAL EAR MEASURES, OR REM TO PROPERLY FIT YOUR HEARING AIDS

Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar.

Dills

Why do we lose our hearing as we get older?

Bunnell, Palm Coast food truck is bringing the Munchies

Munchies on the Run, a new food truck, is all about fun, fresh food, owner Nydia Velez said.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Nydia Velez said she has always had a connection with and passion for

“I’ve always loved food,” she said. “Ever since I was a little girl.”

She used to watch the Food Network all the time, she said, and has fond memories of watching her mother and grandmother cook. Her mother died when Velez was 12, she said, and Velez taught herself how to cook after that.

She’s long dreamed of opening a food truck, she said.

But it wasn’t until she had her youngest son, Jaizion, four years ago in 2018 that Velez and her husband Carlos decided to go for it.

So her family food truck, Munchies on the Run, was born.

Munchies is currently based at Harris Grocery Store in Bunnell, open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week.

Velez travels across Flagler, Putnam and Volusia Counties for events.

The food truck officially opened for business in November 2022, Velez said.

The couple had hoped to open it sooner, she said, but the staffing and supply issues that followed the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the process.

Munchies has hit a few bumps along the road, but over the last few months, it has had a positive response from the community on social media.

“It’s been great,” she said. “I’ve had people follow wherever I’m at.”

Velez said she

The truck carries a variety of French fry plates topped with a multitude of toppings, empanadas — ranging from a standard beef and cheese to a pizza empanada, alongside other fillings — and breakfast sandwiches like the “Belly Buster.”

The truck also caters, but hasn’t yet had much opportunity to do so, Velez said.

The key focus of Munchies, she said, is good, fun food.

The couple’s most popular items are their fries and empanadas, Velez said.

Eventually, Velez said, she wants to incorporate more Latin American flavors into the menu.

For now, the couple are trying to make their food fun and interesting with unique recipes, like their pizza empanadas.

Their crazy fries, for example, come with cheese, chicken, bacon, hot dog, mayo, ketchup and sour cream, she said, but are customizable, too.

“I wanted fun foods,” Velez said.

Carlos Velez, Nydia’s husband,

works at Munchies with her.

He said they try not to have a lot of extra food sitting for a long time.

“We want stuff fresh,” he said. “That’s why we try not to overdo it. If we sell out, we sell out.”

Carlos Velez has a history in business ownership. The couple has lived in Palm Coast for 15 years, he said, and in that time, he only spent two years working for someone else.

While he currently owns a landscaping company, Velez said, he did try his hand at a restaurant in Bunnell a few years back.

He said the food truck is a better idea for him because of the versatility.

“At least with a food truck, you can travel,” he said. “If you have flavor, [people] are going to follow.”

Velez said he is proud of his wife for the work she’s done — she’s not normally the one to take chances, he said, and he encouraged her to take the lead on Munchies.

“This time, she was very positive,” he said. “I let her do what she was going to do.”

Nydia Velez said the biggest upside of running the food truck is the flexibility.

She worked as a medical assistant until 2018, she said, but quit when her youngest was born to focus on the family.

Working the food truck allows them both more time with their family, even when they cover events.

Munchies is really a family affair, Velez said. From helping decide the name — which their 12-year-old Elijah picked out, she said — to helping clean at home while their parents run the truck, the couple’s kids want to be involved in any way they can, Velez said.

“They’re always wanting leftovers,” Carlos Velez said.

For now, Nydia Velez said, the couple is focused on getting their name out there, being consistent and reaching out to events and people who might not know who they are yet. Carlos Velez said the key to a good business is getting out and showing your face.

“For me it’s not how you start,” he said. “It’s how you finish.”

posts the food truck’s hours and locations on Munchies on the Run’s Facebook page.

The logo for Munchies is a French fry that Nydia Velez said she accidentally designed to look like herself.

Nydia Velez, owner of Munchies on the Run

Photo by Sierra Williams

Dear Editor:

The saltwater canals in Palm Coast play no more of a role in stormwater management than the Atlantic Ocean.

Dredging the Atlantic Ocean would have no more or less of an effect on the functionality of the Palm Coast stormwater management system than dredging the salt water canals.

Why do Mr. Danko and others want city taxpayers to pay for the dredging of saltwater canals so that people who live on those canals can use the canals for boating?

Why not just set up a taxing district for those fronting the canals to pay for the maintenance of their recreational boating areas? What if we use the stormwater management funds to dredge the ocean to supply sand for dune restoration?

What is the difference between that and using stormwater manage-

ment funds to deepen a canal for large boats?

I would like to hear the city engineer explain how dredging these canals in their current state would make the city’s stormwater management system function better.

ALEX SPILLER Palm Coast

Spend money on swales — not saltwater canals

Dear Editor:

Recently, our City Council approved the contract to initiate the $187,000 taxpayer-funded study for dredging the saltwater canals.

That study is to appease one particular section who insist dredging the saltwater canals is necessary.

To support their supposed need, I have seen the same erroneous and misleading talking points circulating. One is that dredging is required because the saltwater canals are a part of the stormwater management system.

That is actually true, but it is also

misleading. It implies the saltwater canals could not handle stormwater overflow from roads and properties if not dredged, and that is not true, and the city has explained this on multiple occasions.

What I have discovered dredging really coming down to is boating (the canals being navigable) — and even some boaters have said on NextDoor that there is no issue there — and surrounding property owners feeling entitled with an inaccurate notion that higher value properties are exclusive to the C-Section. They are not, and all properties are important regardless of value, as we all pay the same tax millage rate.

To give you a sense of the potential cost of dredging the saltwater canals, Royal Palm Beach Village approved a project a few months ago to dredge roughly 2 miles of saltwater canals at a cost of $3 million; we have 23 miles, which would be a potential cost for our city of $34.5 million.

What this matter is a great example of is wasteful spending and priorities.

Stormwater management is extremely important. One key component of stormwater management are the over 1,200 miles of swales that do require maintenance.

We currently have two crews that can handle an average of 12.5 miles each per year. We need more swale crews, and spending on them is far more important than spending needlessly on dredging saltwater canals for recreation of a few.

Bottom line is that budget season will be here in no time. Reach out to the mayor and council members expressing the need to make adding swale crews a priority — and if they aren’t being asked for by staff, then they should be asking, “Why not?”

And when it comes to dredging, that can be a special assessment on property owners surrounding the canals, as is done in other communities throughout Florida.

BRAD WEST Palm Coast

Send letters to editor@palmcoastobserver.com. Include first and last name, as well as city of residence.

Luke’s dream: A tiny fistful of dollars

station.

“First, we need to find six quarters,” I said, fishing around in that little cubby hole between the front seats, otherwise known as the minivan’s junk drawer.

“Here you go, Luke,” I said, placing the quarters in his tiny hand. “I need you to hold on tight to these.” He promptly dropped two of them.

The next time, a few days later, my errand got me into a bit more trouble. This time, I was with Luke only, and we had to go to the bank.

Reaching for my hand as we crossed the parking lot, Luke asked, “Can I get some money here?”

“No, I don’t think so,” I said.

“Just one?” he asked.

nation might be, he continued, pleading, “I just want a singular $20 bill.”

“No, you don’t need one.”

He was quiet for a minute, and then he said, “Is some of it for Mom?”

“In reality, all of it is for Mom,” I said.

PALM COAST

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

Publisher John Walsh, jwalsh@palmcoastobserver.com

Managing Editor Jonathan Simmons, jonathan@palmcoastobserver.com Senior Editor Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@ormondbeachobserver.com

Associate Editor Brent Woronoff, brent@palmcoastobserver.com

Staff Writer Sierra Williams, sierra@palmcoastobserver.com Design Editor Hailey McMillan, hailey@palmcoastobserver.com

Media Director Holly Oliveri, holly@ormondbeachobserver.com

Senior Media Specialist Susan Moore, susan@palmcoastobserver.com

Advertising Coordinator Jessica Boone, jessica@palmcoastobserver.com Office Coordinator Bonnie Hamilton, bonnie@palmcoastobserver.com

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BRIAN MCMILLAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Running errands with my 8-yearold daughter, Kennedy, and 4-yearold son, Luke, often requires some campaigning.

“Let’s go put air in the tires before we go to the park, guys!” I said one day last week, exuding pure Dad energy.

This time it worked (meaning Kennedy said something like, “I guess,” as she looked out the window), and we pulled up to a gas

GRAND HAVEN HOLDS ANNUAL TENNIS PARTY

When it was time to put them into the coin slot, I could see the delight in Luke’s eyes, and the jealousy in Kennedy’s. I realized it was the first time — and for all I know, the last — that either of them would ever put quarters into a machine. So I let them take turns.

“Next, unscrew this little black cap and hold on tight to it,” I told Luke. “On second thought, hand it to me, and I’ll hold on tight to it.” We raced around the van to beat the clock, and listened for the beeps to indicate the air pressure was now perfect. Out of breath, we buckled back up and drove away.

I kind of forgot about his request, withdrew some $20 bills, and we walked back to the van.

“Where’s mine?” he asked.

“Sorry, but you don’t get one,” I said.

I didn’t realize how earnest his question had been until he burst into angry tears as I buckled him into his car seat.

“Hold on, Luke,” I said. “Why do you want money? All your needs are met.”

“What?” he asked, genuinely puzzled by the connection I was trying to make between “needs” and “money.”

Not really caring what my expla-

“Can you give it to me, so I can give it to Mom?” he asked.

“No, thanks.”

“When you’re not looking, I’m going to take one.”

“No, you’re not.”

A few hours later, he was FaceTiming with Grandma, and I figured he had forgotten all about it — until I overheard him say, “How much dollars do you have in your purse?”

Apparently out of all the lessons I had tried to teach Luke during his short lifespan, what he had heard instead is that money is what matters most. Next time I go to the bank, I think I’ll let Luke stay home to play Monopoly instead.

VETERAN OF THE WEEK

Michael Coons

Branch of military: U.S. Army

Dates of service: 1980-1985

Rank/occupation: Specialist 4/ Military Policeman

Hometown: Manchester, New Hampshire

SHERIFF RICK STALY PRESENTS THREE GREAT KID AWARDS

Three exceptional Flagler Schools students have been recognized with Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Great Kid Awards.

The awardees are: Luca Frohlich,

of

Sheriff

As our historic Flagler Beach pier comes to its long life’s end, Flagler Beach’s Gallery Of Local Artists paid tribute on Sunday, Jan. 15, with a reception for the permanent installation of a large canvas aerial image of our iconic pier.

The image, created by photographer Lori Vetter Bowers, will hang in the gallery.

GOLA owner Marge Barnhill greet-

Awards due to the 2022 hurricanes and the holiday season, and the awards presented on Jan. 12 were for October 2022.

The awards are presented monthly to one elementary, middle, and high school student.

“I congratulate each of these amazing students who represent their schools and our students in Flagler County,” Staly said. “This is a way to recognize our kids that make the right decisions that you rarely hear about.”

AARP TO OFFER FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE

The AARP Tax-Aide Foundation will be providing free tax preparation assistance in Flagler County beginning

ed guests with a champagne and luxury cupcake reception to celebrate.

Music was provided by guitarist and singer Paul Dickinson.

Guests were invited to write and share their fondest memories of the pier in the memory book in front of the installation.

–ROBYN COWLAN

on Feb. 1.

Volunteers will be available to assist people from Feb. 1 to April 18 at the following sites, according to a news release from the AARP Foundation: 

Flagler County Government Services Building, Bunnell (Tuesdays, Wednesdays) 

Flagler County Public Library, Palm Coast (Thursdays) 

Palm Coast Aquatics Center/Frieda Zamba Pool (Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays) 

Flagler Beach United Methodist Church (Tuesdays )

Go to taxprepfree.net for details or to schedule an appointment. People who can’t schedule an appointment online can call 386-313-4048 and leave a message. A scheduler will return the call within a few days.

Michael Coons was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, Ft. Riley, Kansas, right out of boot camp, and later transferred to the 42nd Military Police Group in Baumholder, Germany. He was a customs official and trained as a military police investigator at Rose Barracks, Vilsek, Germany. Coons was an Army M-16 rifle sharpshooter and an expert with both .38 caliber and .45 caliber pistols. After honorably completing his military service, he returned to New Hampshire and was a maintenance technician for the state’s community college system. In 2005 he moved to New Mexico and was a correctional officer until he, his wife Sherry and two sons relocated to Palm Coast. Coons is employed by Flagler County as a member of its General Services team. He has an interest and curiosity about the paranormal and enjoys attending conventions on the subject.

For information about benefits available to veterans, and other support organizations, call 386-313-4014.

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for canal dredging

Grand Haven held its annual tennis party on Jan. 8.

Courtesy photo

Rymfire Elementary School; Vlada Souksov, Indian Trails Middle School; and Isabel “Isa” Doshier, Matanzas High School.

Rick Staly met with each of the students on Thursday, Jan. 12, and presented them with their awards. There has been a delay in the presentation of the Great Kid

Photo by Robyn Cowlan

GOLA Gallery owner Marge Barnhill and photographer Lori Vetter Bowers show off the new 6-foot pier image installation.

Grand Haven residents celebrated Grand Haven’s annual tennis party Jan. 8 at the Grand Haven Village Center.

The event was organized by Donna Wormser and featured Magdalena Piekarz of Elite Dance and Travel of Palm Coast, according to a news release.

Luca Frohlich, Rymfire Elementary School

Photo courtesy of the FCSO

GOLA HONORS FLAGLER BEACH’S WOOD PIER

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Play ball

Umpire

School is safe at home in Ormond.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

When Junior Valentine enrolled in the Wendelstedt Umpire School in 2011, he had never umpired a pitch.

A couple of months later, he was umpiring in the minor leagues. This baseball season, Valentine will be a full-time major league umpire.

“I had a dream of being a major league umpire since I was a kid,” Valentine said. “Now I’m at the highest level in the world. It’s crazy for me to think about.”

Ten major league umpires announced their retirements after last season. Five of their replacements are Wendelstedt graduates. In addition to Valentine, the others are Erich Bacchus, Nick Mahrley, Alex Tosi and Malachi Moore.

Valentine played baseball at Maryville (Tennessee) College, but he said he knew he wasn’t good enough to play in the big leagues. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t be part

of the action on a big-league field. Valentine has been the chief instructor at the Wendelstedt Umpire School at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex for the past four years. Last summer, he was an umpire in Triple-A baseball. He has umpired in 235 major league games as a call-up umpire.

Bacchus, who is also on the school’s staff, said being named a full-time major league umpire is “life changing. That’s probably the best way to describe it.”

He has been a minor league ump since 2012 and has 234 games of major league experience in addition to serving in the instant replay booth in New York. Bacchus has been on the school’s staff since 2016.

“Typically, I’m running a field, or assisting new instructors in how to run a field,” he said.

Bacchus said the school teaches as if the student umps never umpired or even played baseball before. They teach the rules of the game in a classroom setting, and then they go out on the fields, learning rotations and responsibilities. On Saturday, Jan. 21, they were simulating games where students were taking on the roles of players and umpires.

Jonathon Rector of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is in his second year as a student at the school. He celebrated his 22nd birthday on Jan. 19 at the school. When he was umpiring locally, he was told he was a natural

and should pursue it professionally.

“So here I am,” he said. “They have everything I wanted. You definitely get major league training from the first pitch.”

Last summer, Rector umpired in the Northwoods League, a summer collegiate league.

John Landis, a first-year student, has been umpiring in northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania for twoand-half years in 18-and-under baseball showcases and recreation league baseball and softball.

“I’ve learned a lot of good stuff here, like proper positioning, proper mechanics and footwork,” he said.

The school runs from Jan. 2 to Feb. 2. Hunter Wendelstedt, a secondgeneration major league umpire, took over the school from his father, Harry, who died in 2012. Hunter Wendelstedt has been a major league ump since 1998.

This year, the school has three female students, and a student from Nigeria, the first African to attend the school, Wendelstedt said. Giving women a chance to umpire in the majors had always been important to his dad, Wendelstedt said. Currently, there are two women umpires in the minor leagues, but none yet in the majors.

“Obviously we want to be at the forefront of getting a female umpire in the majors,” Valentine said.

“That’s something Major League Baseball wants to do.”

The art of umpiring is evolving with rule changes that include a pitching timer being introduced to the majors this season, and the automated balls and strikes system — also known as robo umps — being used in the minor leagues.

“Obviously, as umpires we just make the calls, and

Erich Bacchus has been umpiring for 11 seasons and has been on the umpire school’s staff since 2016. He begins his first season this spring as a full-time major league umpire.

Umpire students Jacob Cackett and Zach Bloom wait their turn to umpire in a simulated game.

Junior Valentine, left, will begin his first year as a full-time major league umpire. Greg Gibson, right, is one of 10 major league umpires who announced their retirements last year.

"I had a dream of being a major league umpire since I was a kid. Now I'm at the highest level in the world. It's crazy for me to think about."

— JUNIOR VALENTINE

Wendelstedt

Photos by Brent Woronoff

LOCAL EVENTS

Coast Parkway, Belle Terre Parkway and Matanzas Parkway — to pick up litter. Rubber gloves, trash bags and water will be provided to all volunteers. Interested in volunteering? Email Solidwastedivision@palmcoastgov.com.

GUNS AND HOSES CHILI CHALLENGE

When: 12-3 p.m.

Tickets cost $110, and include a two-day pass to the Rolex 24. Visit nascarfoundation. org/taste24 to purchase your tickets.

SUNDAY, JAN. 29 SPECTRUM WINDS CONCERT

THURSDAY, JAN. 26

ALL ABOUT RIGHT WHALES

When: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Ocean Art Gallery, 197 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: Ocean Art Gallery is hosting a free educational talk about the right whale, featur ing Terran McGinnis, historian and manager of community development at Marineland Dolphin Adventure. She will share her knowledge about this important yet critically endangered whale. Call 386317-9400 to reserve your seat.

SATURDAY, JAN. 28

KEEP PALM COAST CLEAN

EVENT When: 8 a.m. to noon

Where: Veterans Park, 1601 N. Central Ave., Flagler Beach Details: The Flagler Woman’s Club is inviting the community to join its chili challenge between firefighters. A blind taste test by judges will determine the winner. Event costs $10, and includes samples and an opportunity to cast your vote for your favorite chili. There will be a DJ, bake sale and raffles. For more information, call Mary Louk at

When: 2 p.m. Where: Ormond Me morial Art Museums and Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: Composed of six world-class musi cians from the U.S. Air Force Band of the West, this ensemble’s versa tility allows it to perform chamber music from Mozart and Beethoven to contemporary jazz and pop music, marches and patriotic favorites. Free event.

Advanced registra tion is encouraged. Visit https://bit. ly/3XAd9Bi.

RICKMAN-ACREECORPORON PIANO

3:30-5 p.m. Lighthouse Christ Presbyterian Church, 1035 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond

6 p.m.

Where: Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd. Details: Taste food from

TRIBUTES

Susan A. Willis 1954-2022

The Rickman-AcreeCorporon Trio will play the

music of Clara Schumann, Franz Schubert and Johann N. Hummel. The performance is part of the 2022-2023 concert season of Daytona Solisti, a chamber music ensemble which is in residence at Lighthouse Christ Presbyterian Church. $20 donation requested at the door. For more information, call 386-562-5423 or visit daytonasolisti.com.

BACHELORS OF BROADWAY

When: 7-9:30 p.m.

Where: Flagler Auditorium, 5500 State Road 100, Palm Coast

Details: See this trio perform songs from modern and classic musicals such as “Wicked,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Jersey Boys,” “The Greatest Showman” and “Hamilton.” Tickets cost $40$50. Visit flaglerauditorium. org.

THURSDAY, FEB. 2

WINTER BIRD WALKS WITH JOAN TAGUE

When: Where: mond Beach Environmental Discovery Center, 601 Division Ave., Ormond Beach Details: Join Master

Naturalist Joan Tague of the Halifax River Audubon for a casual bird walk along the trails of Central Park. Bring water. Walking shoes and sunscreen are recommended. Visit ormondbeach.org.

OUR LADY

OF LOURDES ANNUAL ITALIAN FESTIVAL

When: 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 and Friday, Feb. 3; 12-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 Where: Our Lady of Lourdes Church Pavilion, 1014 N. Halifax Ave., Daytona Beach Details: Join Our Lady of Lourdes for its annual Italian Festival. Enjoy authentic Italian foods, including the church’s famous pizza and desserts, plus drinks, live entertainment and dancing. There will also be bounce houses and games.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1

CORK BASKET MAKING WORKSHOP

When: 9:30 a.m. to noon Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach Details: The Ormond Beach Garden Club is holding a cork basket workshop, which costs $25. Drilled corks, wire, a plant and assistance will be provided; additional plants will be available for purchase. Please RSVP by Jan. 28 by calling Sharon Mihalyak at 203-668-6413 or emailing sharchar@gmail.com; or calling Zetta Gillespie at 386301-0366 or emailing znginflorida@aol.com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 4

9TH ANNUAL GRANADA GRAND FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: New Britain Avenue from Beach Street to Ridgewood, Ormond Beach Details: This festival is returning to Ormond Beach on New Britain Avenue for a day of art, crafts, a chalk art competition, music, food, beer and wine. There will be more than 80 artists and crafters in attendance, and the “Pop-up Plaza” will host live music. The chalk art competition is sponsored by ArtHaus. You can also get creative at the “Youth Art Tent” or at the Ormond Beach Library tent with hands-on family-friendly activities. Bring your ukulele for the festival’s afternoon “Ukes in the Street” jam session, led by Beachside Music. Visit ormondbeachmainstreet.com.

FOUR CHAPLAINS MEMORIAL SERVICE

When: 2:30 p.m.

Where: VFW Post 8696, 47 N. Old Kings Road, Palm Coast Details: American Post 115, in coordination with other veterans organizations, will host a memorial service dedicated to four World War II chaplains who sacrificed their lives to save others on the USAT Dorchester in 1943. Visit fourchaplains.org or immortalchaplains.org to learn more about the chaplains.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ITALIAN FESTIVAL

When: 5-9 p.m.

Where: St. Brendan Catholic Church Social Hall, 1000 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach.

Details: The Father Eamonn Gill Council 13018 Knights of Columbus invites the community to attend its annual Italian Festival Dinner and Dance. Proceeds go to the St. Brendan Catholic School scholarship fund. The $25 dinner includes homemade lasagna, meatballs, sausage, salad, dessert and a beverage. Dinner will be served between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Moonlighters will play from 6-9 p.m. Reservations are required. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets are available for purchase before and after Sunday mass, weekdays in the church and school offices, or by calling Vince at 486-441-4713.

Susan A. Willis, age 68, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2022, under the care of Covenant Hospice in Tallahassee, FL. She was born on March 1, 1954 in Daytona Beach, FL and was a resident of Ormond Beach, FL for 59 years.

Susan made it her personal mission to patrol her favorite place, the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, and the old Willis Hotel owned by her grandparents. She also loved riding her bike around Ormond, and loved the beach.

She is preceded in death by her parents Clifford and Annette Willis. She leaves behind her half-sister Melody Bamburg and step-sisters

She also loved riding her bike around Ormond, and loved the beach.

Cynthia Phelps, Patricia Packer, Rhonda Hart, and step-brother Ray Phelps, as well as numerous cousins.

Susan requested no formal service and chose to be cremated and her ashes scattered.

On January 6, 2023, we lost one of the good guys, Ronald Wilfred St. Charles, 89, of Nashville, Tennessee.

Born in Goodells, Michigan, on July 31, 1933, Ron developed a love of dance, specifically tap, ultimately leading him to his permanent dance partner for 66 years – his wife, Janet St. Charles.

DONATIONS: Donations in her memory can be made to Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach, FL or to a charity of your choice.

Besides dance, Ron was also an avid boater. Known as Captain Ron and rarely seen without his captain’s hat, he raced sailboats around Mackinac Island, MI and cruised Lake Erie with family and friends aboard his boat, The Saint Sea.

Ron spent 40 years in the television industry rising from a production assistant at WJRT in Flint, MI to

Director of Programming & Operations at WUAB-TV in Cleveland, OH. He was inducted into the NATAS Silver Circle in 1997, honoring his contributions and accomplishments in the industry. Upon retirement, the St Charles’ moved to Ormond Beach, FL for 20 years and eventually settled near family in Spring Hill, TN in 2013.

Ron is survived by his sister Barbara McKinley (Milton), children Lori Butterfield (Mark), Robert St. Charles (Erin), and David St. Charles (Michelle), six grandchildren, and 2 great-granddaughters.

A Private family ceremony to honor Ron and his wife, Jan will take place later this year.

ONGOING

RENT

When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday Jan. 27, 28, and Feb. 3, 4; 2 p.m. on Sunday Jan. 29 and Feb. 5

Where: Flagler Playhouse, 301 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell Details: Set in the East Village of New York City, this award-winning musical is loosely based on Puccini’s “La Boheme.” It follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create. Tickets cost $30 for adults; $25 for students. Visit flaglerplayhouse.com.

MOAS EXHIBITIONS

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Museum of Arts and Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach Details: Want to spend a

day looking at fine art? The Museum of Arts and Sciences has the following shows on display: “Every Girl Deserves Flowers”; “Minor Masterpieces: Porcelain Painted Scenes from the Collection”; “Magical: The Art of Susan Zukowsky”; “Selections from the MOAS Contemporary Art Collection”; “A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard.”

EXERCISES FOR THE MATURING BODY

When: 10:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays

Where: First Baptist Church of Palm Coast, 6050 Palm Coast Parkway, Palm Coast Details: Presented by Synergy Senior Fitness, attend upbeat classes with Senior Fitness Specialist Artie Gardella. Classes are ongoing. Insurances that cover fitness accepted, or a donation for those with no coverage. Visit Synergyseniorfitness.com.

Ronald Wilfred St. Charles 1933-2023

Courtesy photo

A mural project from a previous festival of the arts

THE FINE ARTS

COCA

Artist Lorena Molina’s work considers identity at the margins, according to her artist bio.

“At the core of her work is an exploration of spatial inequalities and the challenges that oppressed groups face in constructing place and establishing a sense of belonging,” the bio states.

Molina is from El Salvador, and the civil war in that country forced her and her family to leave when she was 12.

“Coca” is among a series of pieces by Molina on display at an exhibition called Threshold: Recontextualizing Self-Portraiture, at the Southeast Museum of Photography in Daytona Beach. The exhibition runs Jan. 26 through May 27.

“This is a self-portrait showing Lorena’s pride in her culture and ownership of her own femininity,” a museum statement about the piece says.

Molina’s other pieces at the show include video elements that represent ordinary activities from her daily life. In one, according to a museum statement, she eats a mango in front of the camera, not worrying about the mess the fruit can make.

“She aims to enjoy what she is doing without care for traditional acts of femininity,” the statement says.

–JONATHAN SIMMONS

TRIBUTES

Mary Haywood passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on January 14th. Mary kept her witty personality until the end and will be remembered by those who knew her as an extraordinarily kind and caring person.

She was born in Chicago to Marie and Anthony Cook. Mary attended St. Michael’s High School in Chicago, Illinois. Following high school, she married the love of her life, Jerry, started a family, and supported him over his long and successful career in business. In the early 1970s, she and Jerry moved their three daughters to Atlanta and eventually settled in Dunwoody, GA.

Due to their love of warm weather, Mary and Jerry ultimately moved to the Hammock Dunes community in Palm Coast, Florida. During her final years, she enjoyed playing golf, socializing with friends, and hosting her family, which meant everything to her. In addition, she was an avid reader, enjoyed bird-watching, and loved animals.

Mary was pre-deceased by her parents, Marie and Anthony, her husband, Gerald (Jerry) Haywood, and her granddaughter Jacqueline Kulzer. She is survived by her daughters, Cathleen Kulzer, Patricia Lamb, and Pamela Norton; grandchildren Matthew Bailey and

Due to their love of warm weather, Mary and Jerry ultimately moved to the Hammock Dunes community in Palm Coast, Florida.

wife Maggie, Alexandra Hersko and husband Josh, and Michael Hovanetz; great-grandchildren Carter and Madison Bailey; siblings Paula Cook Dale, Rita Cook, Philip Cook, and Tony Cook; and several nieces and nephews.

There was a mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Rd. NE Atlanta at 10:00 AM on Monday, January 23rd.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Mayo Clinic to support Alzheimer’s Disease Research.

DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Mayo Clinic to support Alzheimer’s Disease Research.

Mary Lynn Haywood

DISTRICT SOCCER:

FPC boys looking for turnaround

DISTRICT SOCCER MATCHUPS

Flagler Palm Coast’s girls soccer team finished its regular season with a 3-0 victory over University on Jan. 20 at home.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The locker room talk after the game seemed to last as long as the second half.

Flagler Palm Coast’s boys soccer team gave up three goals during a four-and-a-half minute span early in the second half as the Bulldogs fell to Jacksonville Atlantic Coast 4-2 on Thursday, Jan. 19, in their final regular-season home game.

The players and coaches were frustrated.

“We’re exhausted,” said FPC head coach Ramtin Amiri. “It’s kind of clear we’re burning out a little bit, especially when you’re playing 12, 13 guys. At the end of the game we had 11, because we had no available subs left, because all the guys on the bench were injured.”

The following night, the Bulldogs (8-10-1) traveled to Taylor High and lost 1-0. It was FPC’s sixth loss in its last seven games after starting the season 8-4.

The loss to Atlantic Coast was reminiscent of FPC’s 5-2 loss to Spruce Creek in the Five Star Conference tournament on Jan. 7. The Hawks scored three goals in the first six minutes of the second half to take

Isabella Kummernes, Camilla Gonzalez and Savannah O’Grady scored for the Bulldogs, who improved to 13-4-3.

FPC received the third seed in the District 2-7A tournament. It was scheduled to again host University, the sixth seed, on Wednesday, Jan. 25.

With a win, the Bulldogs would face No. 2 seed Sanford Seminole at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at Daytona State College.

Matanzas’ boys soccer team ended the regular season with a 6-4-2 record. The Pirates are seeded second in the District 5-5A tournament and will play in a semifinal at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, against No. 3 seed Pine Ridge at Deltona High School.

a 4-1 lead.

“It’s us coming out too flat-footed (in the second half),” Amiri said after the Atlantic Coast game. “We had a nice conversation in the locker room, kind of like insanity, doing the same thing over and over again with the same result. You can’t be diving in

and missing tackles and letting the ball go over your head, especially in a game — no offense to their team — I thought we had them in the first half. We were the better team in the first half.”

The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the game on Grayson Ronk’s eighth goal of the season. Jace Zecca beat his man and played the ball to Ronk, who got past his man and buried the ball in the net from just inside the 18-yard box.

Atlantic Coast (7-6-4) tied the score with a goal in the 18th minute of the first half.

Zecca scored his eighth goal of the season with 5:51 left in the game to

make it 4-2.

“Jack (Moberly) played a really good ball over the top, and Jace just had more determination to get there than the goalie,” Amiri said.

The Bulldogs brought up players from JV for the Taylor game. They hope to be healthy for their firstround District 2-7A tournament game.

FPC, seeded fourth, will host fifth-

seeded DeLand at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26. The winner will advance to the semifinals on Monday, Jan. 30, at Daytona State College against No. 1 seed Lake Mary.

“This team still has some life left,” Amiri said. “I’m hoping whatever magic we have left shows up (against DeLand).”

Matanzas girls soccer team happy with tie to end the regular season

The Pirates lost by mercy rule, 8-0, to Taylor early in the season; on Jan. 20, they fought to a 1-1 tie.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Matanzas girls soccer coach Scott Crooke knows his young squad has come a long way since the beginning of the season.

The amount of progress the Pirates have made was revealed on Friday, Jan. 20, as they ended their regular season with a 1-1 tie with Taylor High School at the Ship.

These same Taylor Wildcats beat Matanzas by the mercy rule, 8-0, on Dec. 9.

“We definitely played better tonight as a cohesive group than we did in that game,” Crooke said. “Their coach said that, too — what a difference in what they were up against.”

Inman scored off an assist from freshman Caleigh Walden. Inman

it into the left corner off a

after goalie Jacqueline Galvan made a save in the right corner.

“It was nice to see (us) fight a little harder, come at it,” Crooke said. “It always feels good to have that comfort at the beginning of the game.”

The score would remain 1-0 until Taylor tied it up with a goal by April Mendoza with 4:25 left in the game.

The Wildcats were able to press the ball into the Pirates’ defense throughout the second half, but their aggressiveness was rewarded with just the one goal.

“I think a little exhaustion set in in the second half of the game,” Crooke said. “They kept the ball in our half. We did well defending it nicely.”

The Pirates (1-7-3) will meet Deltona (3-13-2) in a first-round District 5-5A game on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

Matanzas has just three seniors and 13 freshmen and sophomores on the team. A win in the district tournament would help set the stage for next season.

“Last time we played (Taylor) we got mercied,” Inman said. “It’s a big difference from the beginning of the year, so I’m happy about that.”

The Bulldogs have battled injuries and fatigue heading into the district tournament.

FPC’s Jack Moberly tries to get a ball past an Atlantic Coast player.

Photo by Brent Woronoff

“We’re exhausted. It’s kind of clear we’re burning out a little bit, especially when you’re playing 12, 13 guys.”

RAMTIN AMIRI, FPC boys soccer coach

The Pirates showed early that this game would be different as sophomore midfielder Parker Inman scored an empty-net goal five minutes into the match to put the home team up 1-0.

kicked

deflection

Photos by Brent Woronoff

“We definitely played better tonight as a cohesive group than we did (in an 8-0 loss to Taylor on Dec. 9). Their coach said that, too — what a difference in what they were up against.”

SCOTT CROOKE, Matanzas girls soccer coach

Lorraine Wilson in warmups

Stallings returns, wins title

Matanzas wrestler Toryion Stallings dislocated his elbow at the Knockout Christmas Classic Dec. 21 and thought this season was over. Exactly one month later, he won the 126-pound title at the Jerry Brisco Challenge Jan. 21 in Tampa.

“Beyond proud of Toryion Stallings,” Matanzas coach T.J. Gillin tweeted after the tourney. Stallings replied: “I’m thankful for my coaching staff, and they just keep my love for wrestling going everyday.”

Stallings was one of five Pirates to win titles at the Brisco Challenge. Timothy McLean (106 pounds), Kaden Golder (113), Landon Wright (160) and Jordan Mills (170) also took home first-place medals as Matanzas (204.5 points) finished second behind Lithia Newsome (210.5 points) for the team title.

Sword surpasses 1,000 points

Mason Sword of Palm Coast surpassed 1,000 points in his basketball career at St. Joseph Academy Catholic High School in St. Augustine and received a commemorative basketball from Flashes head coach Marcus Perez on Jan. 13.

Seabreeze boys win regular-season finale

Seabreeze’s boys soccer team was missing four starters in its final regular season game, but the Sandcrabs had little trouble dispatching Winter Springs 4-1 Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

The Sandcrabs ended the season with a 10-3-3 record and a 10thplace ranking among Class 5A teams. They are seeded first in the District 5-5A tournament and will meet the winner of the Jan. 26 Deltona-Mainland game in a semifinal at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Deltona High School. The district championship is scheduled for 7:20 p.m., Feb. 2, at Deltona.

Seabreeze led Winter Springs 1-0 at the half on an Anthony Pelermo penalty kick. The ’Crabs put the game away in the second half on goals by Kaden Reamer, James Crowley and Joe Romero.

“We came out (after halftime) with a lot more intensity,” said Seabreeze assistant coach Tanner Barnwell. “Guys were coming with a little more tenacity, working to make their mark.”

Barnwell said the ’Crabs moved up the backline, and more opportunities arose due to the higher pressure.

“Passes started connecting,” he said.

The Sandcrabs were missing Michael Hogan, Hector Vazquez, Gabe De Carvalho and goalkeeper A.J. Cole.

Cole suffered an injury in the previous game but will be back for district, Barnwell said. Hogan, Vazquez and De Carvalho were playing for a DME Academy club team. Head coach Jon Kinsler also left early to coach a DME game. Barnwell, the head JV coach— who graduated from Seabreeze in 2019 and returned to the program this year to coach —filled in.

When Barnwell played at Seabreeze, the Sandcrabs advanced to the state finals three years in a

GIRLS SOCCER: ’CRABS, BUCS HAVE TOP TWO SEEDS

The last time Mainland’s girls soccer team played Seabreeze, the Buccaneers were missing 10 players and had just seven players available.

The Bucs lost 5-0 to the Sandcrabs in a Five Star Conference semifinal on Jan. 10. The game ended after one of Mainland’s seven players, who had just returned from concussion protocol, took a knee.

Seabreeze and Mainland could meet again in the District 5-5A championship game on Feb. 2 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. This time, the Bucs are healthy. Mainland (13-2) is the second seed and will face Pine Ridge at 5 p.m. Jan. 31 in a semifinal game at the Ormond Sports Complex. Seabreeze (11-7), the No. 1 seed, will follow in the second semifinal against the Matanzas-University winner.

FPC lifters close regular season

FPC’s girls weightlifting team closed out its regular season with a home quad meet on Jan. 17. In both the traditional and Olympic competitions, the Bulldogs finished second to Oakleaf, while Spruce Creek was third and Bartram Trail fourth. FPC’s Aryannah Rosa (119 pounds) and Brianna Tucker (129 pounds) won both events in their weight classes.

Midlyne Thomas won the traditional title at 183 pounds with a 310-pound total. Rosa totaled 290 in traditional and 255 in Olympic, while Tucker totaled 290 in traditional and 275 in Olympic.

row, winning the championship in his sophomore season. How does this team compare?

“They obviously have heart and passion. They have technical skill. They can go as far as they push themselves,” he said.

BTES joins kids4reel

The Flagler Sportfishing Club and “kids4reel” has made a “substantial” donation to Belle Terry Elementary School to help support the school’s new fishing club, according to a club news release.

This is the second elementary school to join the club’s kids4reel program, with three more schools planned in Flagler County, according to the release.

“Teaching clinics, scholarships, tournaments and ad hoc school fishing activities have always been a part of the club,” said Captain Adam Morley, FSC’s president. “But creation of the ‘kids4reel’ brand in 2022 helped us to galvanize our club members and the community around initiatives to educate our youth in the sport of fishing.”

According to the release, BTES will use the funds from the club to help pay for bait, tackle, rods/reels and gear and expenses.

Science, safety, conservation and regulations will be emphasized to students. To support the kids4reel program, go to flaglersportfishing.com/ product/kids4reel.

BEST OF THE WEEK

WRESTLING

Jan. 27-28: 37th annual Flagler Rotary tournament, Friday, 3 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING

Jan. 27: District 6-2A meet at Matanzas, 3:30 p.m.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Jan. 28: Seabreeze at Mainland, 5:30 p.m.

by Seth Bisen-Hersh, edited by Amanda Rafkin By Luis Campos

Luke Harrell (36) surveys the field.

Photo by Brent Woronoff

Luke Harrell kicks a through ball.

Top transaction: $1,875,000

Ahouse in Hammock Dunes was the top real estate transaction for the week of Dec. 15-21 in Flagler County in the Multiple Listing Service. Ada Abernathy, individually and as trustee, sold 24 Island Estates Parkway to Henry and Pamela Heflich, of Palm Coast, for $1,875,000. Built in 1999, the house is a 4/2 and has a swimming pool, boat dock, boathouse and 5,753 square feet.

WAYNE GRANT REAL ESTATE EDITOR

Condo Georgia Peach World Vineyard LLC, of Brunswick, Georgia, sold 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Unit 409, to RUF Investor LLC, of Tampa, for $660,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/3 and has 1,676 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $485,000.

Heirs Holdings LLC sold 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Unit 636, to Ocean 636 LLC, of St. Johns, for $337,500. Built in 2003, the condo is a 1/1 and has 678 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $224,000.

Adam Keilson and Marcela Dinoso, of Campbell Hall, New York, sold 46 Club House Drive, Unit 204, to Katherine Weintritt, of St. Augustine, for $225,000. Built in 1977, the

The house at 59 Llama Trail sold for $370,000.

condo is a 2/2 and has 986 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $135,000.

Atlanta Beach Brian and Kelsey Guetschow, individually and as trustees, sold 2648 S. Ocean Shore Blvd. to Michael and Theresa Isabelle, of Leominster, Massachusetts, for $1.3 million. Built in 1999, the house is a 5/4.5 and has a dune walk and 3,673 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $1.05 million.

Colony Park Landing Pad LLC, of Port Orange, sold 701 N. Anderson St. to Kayla and Susan Davis, of Bunnell, for $210,000. Built in 1990, the house is a 2/1 and has 864 square feet. It sold in July, 2022, for $78,700.

Cypress Knoll William and Paula Spark sold 37 Edgewater Drive to Greg Farina and Joyce Didomenico, of Palm Coast, for $553,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,046 square feet.

Dolphin Cove Veronica Oistad, of Flagler Beach, sold 203 N. 19th St. to Jerry and Vilma Dunn, of Fresno, California, for $615,000. Built in 2019, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,752 square feet.

George Moody Patricia Marion and Teresa Ayres, individually and as trustees, sold 216 N. 6th St. to Susan and William Dailey, as trustees, for $809,000. Built in 2015, the house is a 3/2.5 and has an elevator and 2,150 square feet.

Grand Haven North

Claudia Towne, of Jacksonville, sold 7 Lakeside Drive to Khanh-Lien and John Banko, of Palm Coast, for $715,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 3/3.5 and has a fireplace, swimming pool and 2,870 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $463,000.

Hammock Dunes

Timothy Rask, individually and as trustee, sold 3 La Costa Place to Calle Gato Ocho LLC, of Lake Worth, for $850,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 2,230 square feet.

Not in Subdivision

Michael and Elvira Saenz, of Palm Coast, sold 91 Cimmaron Drive to Grady Halamicek, of Lyons, Colorado, for $637,500. Built in 1984, the house is a 3/2 and has a swimming pool, boat dock, boathouse and 1,274 square feet. It sold in 2006 for $280,300.

Jordan and Sarah VanHeusen, of Palm Coast, sold 10 Bud Shire Lane to Dmitriy and Natasha Gerasimenko, of Palm Coast, for $460,000.

Built in 2021, the house is a 5/3 and has 2,400 square feet.

Christine and Vincent Dippolito, of Statesboro, Georgia, sold 8 Russkin Lane to James and Karen Franks, of Palm Coast, for $390,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,988 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $234,000.

LGI Homes Florida LLC, of The Woodlands, sold 9 Ryecarr Place to Donna Shadron, of Palm Coast, for $312,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,463 square feet.

LGI Homes Florida LLC, of The Woodlands, sold 23 Rylin Lane to Christopher Granholm and Jenna Hassani, of Palm Coast, for $294,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,270 square feet.

Fernando and Maria Brandao, of Palm Coast, sold 52 Pickering Drive to Hector Perez and Jorge Perez, of DeLand, for $290,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,439 square feet.

Palm Harbor James and Virginia Williams, of Jacksonville, sold 6 Chestnut Court to Mark and Christina Morache, as trustees, for $899,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a boat dock, swimming pool and 2,895 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $479,000.

CORPORATE

Sarah Comitale, individually and as trustee, sold 9 Floyd Court to Antonio and Liane Cunha, of Palm Coast, for $420,000. Built in 1985, the house is a 4/2 and has a boat dock and 1,997 square feet. It sold in 1985 for $116,600.

Pine Grove

D.R. Horton Inc. Jacksonville, of St. Johns, sold 26 Potters Lane to Gary and Sherrill Oakley, of Palm Coast, for $412,990. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/3 and has 2,363 square feet.

Plantation Bay

Frances Whitney, as trustee, sold 5 Lakewood Drive to Gary and Elisabeth Chatfield, of Salisbury, Maryland, for $535,000. Built in 1999, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, swimming pool and 2,101 square feet.

Quail Hollow

Dalys Herrera, individually and as trustee, sold 59 Llama Trail to Taynika Williams, of Palm Coast, for $370,000. Built in 2017, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,201 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $235,300.

Sawmill Creek Adams Homes of Northwest Florida Inc., of Pensacola, sold 39 Rivertown Road to Virginia Holmes, of Palm Coast, for $318,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,512 square feet.

Tower Oceanfront

James Gordon, of Jacksonville Beach, and Kenneth Aston Jr., of St. Louis, Missouri, sold 3171 N. Ocean Shore Blvd. to Eric Gratias, of Flagler Beach, for $1.55 million. Built in 1973, the house is a 5/3 and has 2,902 square feet. It sold in 2010 for $430,000.

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

BEACHSIDE OFFICE - 386-441-SOLD (7653) 2110 Oceanshore Blvd., Ste. B, Ormond Beach, FL 32176

PORT ORANGE OFFICE - 386-767-SOLD (7653) 840 Dunlawton Ave., Ste. D, Port Orange, FL 32127

COMMERCIAL OFFICE - 386-253-8565 140 S. Atlantic Ave., Suite 102, Ormond Beach, FL 32176

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES OFFICE - 386-766-SOLD (7653) 3118 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118

Courtesy photo

The top real estate transaction in Flagler County was a pool home with a boat dock and boathouse.

Pool home draws $940,000

Plantation Bay home was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea for the week of Dec. 11-17 in the Multiple Listing Service. Brett Eggleston, individually and as trustee, sold 818 Millstream Lane to Jannetta and Todd Litzman, of Ormond Beach, for $940,000. Built in 1995, the house is a 3/3 and has a fireplace, swimming pool and 3,723 square

WAYNE GRANT REAL ESTATE EDITOR

ORMOND BEACH

Brendale Heights

Jeffrey and Frances Chaisson, of Holly Hill, sold 14 La Palma St. to Carmen Buonomo, of Ormond Beach, for $375,000. Built in 1997, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,354 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $140,000.

Carrollwood

Owen Gelais, of Atlanta, sold 1816 Hope Drive to Rand Black, of Ormond Beach, for $235,000. Built

in 1976, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,036 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $107,000.

Fiesta Heights

Timothy Goddu sold 117 Bonita Place to Robert Adams Group LLC, of Palm Coast, for $231,500. Built in 1965, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, swimming pool and 1,479 square feet.

Halifax Plantation

Elizabeth King, individually and as trustee, and Neil King, of Ormond Beach, sold 4138 Salina Lane to Bruce and Tracy Boliver, of Ormond Beach, for $720,000. Built in 1999,

the house is a 3/3 and has a swimming pool and 2,600 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $381,500.

Hickory Village Eve Debordenave sold 9 Thomas St. to Amber and Caleb Kresl, of Daytona Beach, for $320,000. Built in 1984, the house is a 3/2 and has a swimming pool and 1,184 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $228,700.

Hunter’s Ridge Matthew Cyr, of Hebron, Maine, and Hilary Cyr, of Auburn, Maine, sold 109 Forest Quest to Michael and Susan Buckmann, of Wellington, Florida, for $375,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,085 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $254,900.

Northbrook Taylor Daller and Micah Pollitz, of Ormond Beach, sold 926 Northbrook Drive to Joshua Munson, of Ormond Beach, for $325,900. Built in 1978, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,552 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $207,000.

Oak Forest Jennifer and Darren Kent, of Daytona Beach, sold 1514 Oak Forest Drive to Raymond and Patricia Scullian, of Winter Park, for $475,000. Built in 1977, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,686 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $256,000.

Ocean Village Jo Anne and Donald O’Brien, Douglas Ballou and Diane Hurst, of Ormond Beach, sold 133 Cardinal Drive to George Johnson, of Ormond Beach, for $345,000. Built in 1947, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,350 square feet.

Roselyn Keen, of Ormond Beach, sold 11 Cardinal Drive, Unit A, to Karen Leary, of Ormond Beach, for $244,500. Built in 1947, the villa is a 2/1 and has 768 square feet.

Pineland D.R. Horton Inc., of Orlando, sold 255 Carabelle Court to Nicholas Moulton, of Ormond Beach, for $433,990. Built in 2022, the house is a 5/3 and has 2,674 square feet.

Plantation Bay

Bryan and Michelle Smith, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, sold 604 Aldenham Lane to Lucian and Christine Stephens, as trustees, for $625,000. Built in 2016, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,961 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $242,000.

Stratford Place Gordon and Donna Pierce, of Oak Hill, sold 825 W. Victoria Circle to Daniel Deegan, of Ormond Beach, for $305,000. Built in 1984, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,538 square feet.

Tomoka Oaks

Denise Bittner, of South Daytona, sold 110 N. St. Andrews Drive to Rolando and Sharon Salas, of Ormond Beach, for $495,000. Built in 1975, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a fireplace, swimming pool and 2,263 square feet. It in 2019 for $300,000.

ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA

Todd and Denise Scammell sold 123 Sand Dunes Drive to Amanda Haines and Barry McManus, of Bourne, Massachusetts, for $670,000. Built in 1990, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, swimming pool and 1,564 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $379,900.

Charlotte and Gerald Bandola, individually and as trustee, sold 1239 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 11-D-4, to Thomas and Cynthia Bradshaw for $490,000. Built in 1984, the condo is a 3/2.5 and has 1,853 square feet.

Christopher and Theresa Thomas, of Ormond Beach, sold 3360 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 107A, to Karl Hayes and Katherine Moniz, of Ormond Beach, for $225,000. Built in 1983, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,275 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $189,000.

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

Courtesy photo

The highest real estate transaction in Ormond Beach was a three-bedroom home in Plantation Bay.

PUBLIC NOTICES

FLAGLER COUNTY LEGAL NOTICES

FIRST INSERTION

FIRST INSERTION

SEMINOLE PALMS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

NOTICE OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SPECIAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Palms Community Development District (the “District”) will be held on Monday, February 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, 55 Town Center Blvd., Palm Coast, FL 32164. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss any topics presented to the board for consideration.

Copies of the agenda may be obtained from the District Manager, DPFG Management & Consulting LLC, 250 International Parkway, Suite 208, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, Telephone (321) 263-0132, Ext. 193.

The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law for community development districts. The meeting may be continued in progress without additional notice to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at the meeting. There may be occasions when Staff and/or Supervisors may participate by speaker telephone.

Pursuant to provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in the meeting is asked to advise the District Manager’s office at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting by contacting the District Manager at (321) 263-0132, Ext. 193. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service at 711, for assistance in contacting the District Manager’s office.

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

Seminole Palms Community Development District David McInnes, District Manager (321) 263-0132, Ext. 193

January 26, 2023

23-00006F

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 Palm Coast Pros located at 59 Brockton Lane in the City of Palm Coast, Flagler County, FL 32137 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated this 19th day of January, 2023. Danaw Management Services, LLC January 26, 2023 23-00004F

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Go Store It 4601 E Moody Blvd A7 Bunnell, FL 32110 hereby gives NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE of the storage space(s) listed below, Robert Sawart #124 and William Crawford #162 containing household and other goods will be sold for cash on 2/10/23 at 2:00pm. With the contents being sold to the highest bidder. Owner reserves the right to bid. The sale is being held to satisfy a landlord’s lien, in accordance with Florida Statutes Section 83.801-83.809, and will be held online at www.storagetreasures.com January 26, February 2, 2023 23-00003F

SECOND INSERTION

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 Upkeep Exterior Cleaning located at 12 Poppy Pl in the City of Palm Coast, Flagler County, FL 32164 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated this 22nd day of January, 2023.

Shelton Shilliday January 26, 2023 23-00005F

SECOND INSERTION

FIRST INSERTION

GRAND HAVEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WORKSHOP MEETING

Notice is hereby given that a workshop meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Grand Haven Community Development District (the “District”) will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. at the Grand Haven Village Center, Grand Haven Room, 2001 Waterside Parkway, Palm Coast, Florida 32137. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss matters brought to the board.

Copies of the agenda may be obtained from the District Manager, DPFG Management & Consulting LLC, 250 International Parkway, Suite 208, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, Telephone (321) 263-0132, Ext. 193.

The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law for community development districts. The meeting may be continued in progress without additional notice to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at the meeting. There may be occasions when Staff and/or Supervisors may participate by speaker telephone.

Pursuant to provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in the meeting is asked to advise the District Manager’s office at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting by contacting the District Manager at (321) 263-0132, Ext. 193. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service at 711, for assistance in contacting the District Manager’s office.

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

Haven

David McInnes, District Manager (321) 263-0132, Ext. 193

January 26, 2023

NOTICE OF RESCHEDULED SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL ACTION CASE NO.: 18-2018-CA-000333 NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A CHAMPION MORTGAGE COMPANY, Plaintiff, vs. THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, OR AGAINST, ROBERT S. WHITEHEAD, DECEASED, et al, Defendant(s).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Pursuant to an Order Rescheduling Foreclosure Sale dated December 8, 2023, and entered in Case No. 18-2018-CA-000333 of the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for Flagler County, Florida in which Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company, is the Plaintiff and The Unknown Heirs, Devisees, Grantees, Assignees, Lienors, Creditors, Trustees, or other Claimants claiming by, through, under, or against, Elizabeth Whitehead, deceased, The Unknown Heirs, Devisees, Grantees, Assignees, Lienors, Creditors, Trustees, or other Claimants claiming by, through, under, or against, Robert S. Whitehead, deceased, Craig Stuart Whitehead a/k/a Craig S. Whitehead, Elizabeth DeMarcus Parr, Suncoast Roofing Services Inc. a/k/a Sun Coast Roofing Services Inc., Tonya Clark, United States of America Acting through Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, are defendants, the Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash in/ on online at www.flagler.realforeclose.com, Flagler County, Florida at 11:00AM on the February 10, 2023 the following described

property as set forth in said Final Judgment of Foreclosure: LOT 23, BLOCK 75 OF PALM COAST, MAP OF EASTHAMPTON, SECTION 34, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 11, PAGES 30 THROUGH 49 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA.

A/K/A 49 EGRET TRAIL, PALM COAST, FL 32164

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.

ATTENTION: 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, within 2 days of your receipt of this notice. If you are hearing impaired, call 1-800-955-8771; if you are voice impaired, call 1-800955-8770.

THIS IS NOT A COURT INFORMATION LINE. To file response please contact Flagler County Clerk of Court, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Building 1, Bunnell, FL 32110, Tel: (386) 313-465; Fax: (386) 437-1928.

Dated this 12 day of January, 2023.

ALBERTELLI LAW P. O. Box 23028 Tampa, FL 33623 Tel: (813) 221-4743 Fax: (813) 221-9171 eService: servealaw@albertellilaw.com By: /s/ Nathan Gryglewicz Florida Bar #762121 Nathan Gryglewicz, Esq. CT - 17-020796 January 19, 26, 2023 23-00009G

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 7th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROBATE DIVISION Case Number: 2022 CP 788 IN RE: THE ESTATE OF GEORGE A. HOYT Deceased.

The administration of the Estate of George A. Hoyt, Deceased, whose date of death was August 19, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Flagler County Courthouse, 1769 E. Moody Boulevard, Bunnell, FL, 32110. The name and address 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 the Decedent’s Estate on whom a copy of this Notice is required to be served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF 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 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 SECION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES 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 first publication of this notice is January 19, 2023.

Diane Annetta, Personal Representative, 72 Burbank Drive, Palm Coast, FL 32137

By: Stacy Geiger, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 0015711 Geiger Law, PLLC Post Office Box 352951 Palm Coast, FL 32135 (386) 264-6937 telephone Attorney for Petitioner stacygeigeresq@yahoo.com January 19, 26, 2023 23-00007G

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

File No. 2020 CP 000232 Division 48

IN RE: ESTATE OF JOSE BARRETO, Deceased.

The administration of the estate of JOSE BARRETO, deceased, whose date of death was December 1, 2019, is pending in the Circuit Court for FLAGLER County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR FLAGLER COUNTY,. 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 first publication of this notice is January 19, 2023.

Personal Representative: /s/ JOSEPH A. BARRETO 152 POPLAR AVE. HACKENSACK, NJ 07601

Attorney for Personal Representative: /s/ LYNNETTE J. CALLENDER, Attorney for Personal Representative E-Mail: LJC@AdvocateLC.com Florida Bar No. 99340 Lynnette J. Callender, P.A. 7 Florida Park Drive, North, Ste. B Palm Coast, FL 32137 Telephone: 386-503-7335 January 19, 26, 2023 23-00008G

Grand

Community Development District

FIRST

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 NDPVolusia located at 2121 Kenilworth Ave, in the City of South Daytona, Volusia County, FL 32119 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated this 23rd day of January, 2023.

Pastors Prayer Gathering, Inc. January 26, 2023 23-00005V

VOLUSIA COUNTY LEGAL NOTICES

INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

File No. 2022-13136-PRDL Division 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF BEVERLY FANNIN Deceased.

The administration of the estate of Beverly Fannin, deceased, whose date of death was October 11, 2022, 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.

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 West Road Sewing Co. located at 244 Pine Woods Road in the City of Ormond Beach, Volusia County, FL 32174 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated this 23rd day of January, 2023.

Ellen Walbroel Borden January 26, 2023 23-00004V

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 Dellen Acres Handyman Service located at 244 Pine Woods Road, in the City of Ormond Beach, Volusia County, FL 32174 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated this 23rd day of January, 2023.

Delton D. Borden II January 26, 2023 23-00006V

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

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2022 13077 PRDL IN RE: ESTATE OF KENNETH BOSS DRAKE Deceased.

The administration of the estate of Kenneth Boss Drake, deceased, whose date of death was November 16, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is P.O. Box 6043, Deland, Florida 32721. 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 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 January 26, 2023.

Personal Representative: Steffie Joy Hoff 6202 Bayshore Blvd. Tampa, Florida 33611

Attorney for Personal Representative: Denyse D. Kruse, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 127152 Kruse Law, P.A. 600 1st Avenue North St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Telephone: (727) 256-4860

E-Mail: denyse@kruselawgroup.com

Secondary E-Mail: denysekruse@gmail.com Jan. 26; Feb. 2, 2023 23-00010I

You are hereby notified that an Order of Summary Administration has been entered in the Estate of Robert Charles Sprindis a/k/a Robert C. Sprindis a/k/a Robert Sprindis a/k/a Bob, deceased, File Number 2022-12283-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 November 6, 2021; that the total value of the Estate is less than $75,000.00 and that the names and addresses of those to whom it has been assigned by such Order are:

Name, Address; Barbara Jane Muller, 9 B. Cross Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804; Chad A. Sprindis, 1016 Immokalee Rd., #201, Naples, FL 33901; Alyssa Sprindis, 4120 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901

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 January 26, 2023.

Person Giving Notice: Barbara Jane Muller 9 B. Cross Rd. Brookfield, Connecticut 06804 Attorney for Person Giving Notice Cyrus Malhotra Florida Bar Number: 0022751

THE MALHOTRA LAW FIRM P.A. 3903 Northdale Blvd., Suite 100E Tampa, FL 33624 Telephone: (813) 902-2119 Fax: (727) 290-4044

E-Mail: filings@FLprobatesolutions.com Secondary E-Mail: cortney@FLprobatesolutions.com Jan. 26; Feb. 2, 2023 23-00011I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO: 64-2022-CP-010118-DL

IN RE: ESTATE OF JOANNA M. CRANNAN, Deceased.

The administration of the estate of Joanna M. Crannan deceased, whose date of death was September 21, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 2022-CP010118 DL, the address of which is 101 N. Alabama Ave. DeLand, Florida 32724.

The names and addresses of the personal representative, and the personal representatives attorney, are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons, who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, and who have been served a copy of this Notice, must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THRITY (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 the decedent’s estate, unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATOIN OF THIS NOTICE.

ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED 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 the first publication of this notice is January 26, 2023.

Personal Representative Elizabeth Sanders

Attorney for Personal Representative JENNIFER RAYBON, ESQUIRE Florida Bar No. 56869 105 East Robinson Street, Suite 212 Orlando, Florida 32801 PH: 407-472-0690 FX: 407-442-3699

JRaybon@TheAdvocateLegal.com Jan. 26; Feb. 2, 2023 23-00012I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Notice is hereby given that on dates below these vehicles will be sold at public sale on the date listed below at 10AM for monies owed on vehicle repair and storage cost pursuant to Florida Statutes 713.585 or Florida Statutes 713.78. Please note, parties claiming interest have right to a hearing prior to the date of sale with the Clerk of Courts as reflected in the notice. The owner has the right to recover possession of the vehicle without judicial proceedings as pursuant to Florida Statute 559.917. Any proceeds recovered from the sale of the vehicle over the amount of the lien will be deposited clerk of the court for disposition upon court order. “No Title Guaranteed, A Buyer Fee May Apply” at 10:00 AM 02/20/23 Two Wheel Technology LLC 815 N Ridgewood Ave Daytona Beach, FL 32114 1999 HOND 1HFSC4103XA003202 $2,214.98 2001 SUZI JS1VS53A712101487 $1,524.86 2004 HD 1HD1PHD114Y953114 $2,644.17 1996 KAWK JKBVNAD1XTA045516 $1,043.48 January 26, 2023 23-00008V

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION Case No.: 2022-13018-PRDL Division: 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF IVAN DAVILA Deceased.

The administration of the estate of Ivan Davila, deceased, whose date of death was September 6, 2022, 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.

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 January 19, 2023.

Personal Representative: Darcilla Lynn Davila 1123 Woodside Drive Daytona Beach, Florida 32117

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

Email: service@upchurchlaw.com 2nd Email: clutes@upchurchlaw.com January 19, 26, 2023 23-00008I

SECOND INSERTION

NOTICE TO CREDITORS (summary administration) IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2023 10099 PRDL Division Probate IN RE: ESTATE OF PATRICIA S. ANDERSON 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 Patricia S. Anderson, deceased, File Number 2023 10099 PRDL, by the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 North Alabama Avenue, DeLand, Florida 32724; that the decedent’s date of death was November 4, 2022; that the total value of the estate is $52,035.00 and that the name and address to whom it has been assigned by such order is: NAME Patricia S. Anderson Family Trust dated October 5, 1993 c/o Timothy D. Strong, successor Trustee ADDRESS 8801 Valentine Court Raleigh, North Carolina 27615

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE NOTIFIED THAT: All creditors of the estate of the decedent

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS (Summary Administration) IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2022-12283-PRDL IN RE: ESTATE OF ROBERT CHARLES SPRINDIS a/k/a Robert C. Sprindis a/k/a Bob Sprindis Deceased. TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE: