Palm Coast Observer 12-11-25

PALM COAST

Getting creative for affordable housing

Whitehouse helps Kristabella Salem

for

at the 17th

Christmas with Community Heroes. Photo by Remy Battles

NEWS BRIEFS

Flagler detective arrested in Ormond; charges dismissed

A Flagler County deputy was arrested on Thursday, Dec. 4, after he fled for 1.9 miles from an Ormond Beach Police officer who had initiated a traffic stop. The Seventh Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s office has dismissed the charges. According to OBPD’s report, 28-year-old Ardit

Coma was seen speeding at 7:44 a.m. in the 1400 block of North U.S. 1. Coma was driving at a speed of 88 mph; the posted speed limit is 55 mph.

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release that Coma was on his way to work in his unmarked assigned agency vehicle.

The police officer attempted to pull Coma over, activating his emergency lights and siren, but Coma continued northbound to the area around Wall Avenue, where he merged into the outside lane and accelerated around traffic. Instead of pursuing, the officer turned off his emergency lights and siren and notified other OBPD officers

COPS CORNER

NOV. 16 WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO

3:54 a.m. — 600 block of West Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach

of the fleeing vehicle. Coma was spotted by another officer further north at Ormond Lakes Boulevard and North U.S 1; he was traveling at about 90 mph, the report states.

Stop sticks were deployed at North U.S. 1 and Pine Tree Drive. Coma drove around them and stopped in the turn lane, at which point, officers and Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a felony stop.

When informed that he was being arrested for fleeing and eluding, Coma “laughed and stated, ‘When did that happen?’” according to the police report.

Coma told police he had been unaware that a traffic stop had been initiated. He was taken to jail and has been suspended without pay.

Coma joined the FCSO in June 2023. The Sheriff’s Office states he serves in the major case unit and has received numerous commendations, including a Life Saving Award in 2024.

The FCSO reported in a press release on Tuesday, Dec. 9, that the State Attorney’s Office filed an order of no information in the case against Coma.

The FCSO will now conduct an internal investigation to determine if there were any violations of their general orders, policies, procedures,

rules or regulations, according to the press release; Coma had been on his way to work when he was arrested.

“We believe in the criminal justice system,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in the press release. “The case was dismissed just like it would be for any citizen based on the evidence and facts of the case presented to the State Attorney’s Office by the Ormond Beach Police Department. I personally reviewed the arrest report and was surprised that an arrest was made based on the lack of evidence showing he was intentionally trying to flee, while driving an agency vehicle. Although the criminal charge was dismissed, the facts appear clear that Detective Coma was speeding in an agency vehicle. I believe in accountability for everyone in our agency and transparency with our community, and our internal investigation will determine what policies were violated, and he will be held accountable. In fact, he will likely be held accountable to a higher standard than an average driver committing a traffic infraction.”

Coma has been reassigned to administrative non-law enforcement duties while the internal investigation is completed.

Man who caused fatal crash sentenced to seven years

The man who killed a 26-yearold Pathways Elementary faculty member in a 2024 vehicular crash was sentenced to seven years in prison on Monday, Dec. 1. Wyatt Dickerson, 27, was charged with vehicular homicide and three counts of driving under the influence with damage to person or property for the fatal crash that happened on A1A in Ormond Beach on May 1, 2024.

Ormond Beach Police report Dickerson was traveling at 110 mph on A1A between Harvard Drive and Milsap Road when he crashed into the sedan. The victim, Mary Pezza, was in the passenger seat of the sedan and was pronounced dead twice: once at the scene and again at the hospital, due to injuries sustained in the crash.

A toxicology report showed Dickerson had been under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash.

In addition to his prison sentence, Dickerson was given eight years of probation, to be completed after his release.

“This sentencing underscores the deadly dangers of high-speed and reckless driving,” Ormond Beach Police

NOV. 28

Chief Jesse Godfrey said in a press release. “This senseless crash negatively impacted many people’s lives. A life was lost, and a family forever changed.”

Teen indicted on first-degree murder in Daytona shooting

A Volusia County Grand Jury has indicted a suspect on first-degree murder charges in the April 13 shooting in Daytona Beach.

Jamarcus Summerall, 18, was charged with first-degree murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle, according to a State Attorney’s Office press release. Summerall is accused of shooting into a parked vehicle outside of a large party in Daytona Beach.

One victim was shot in the chest and died at the scene.

The indictment was handed down on Dec. 8.

Palm Coast woman ignores school zone, hits Bunnell officer

A Palm Coast woman was arrested on Dec. 9 for running through a school zone and hitting a public safety officer.

Tiffany Marie Goyzueta, 29, has been arrested by the

Bunnell Police Department after she struck Bunnell PSO Heather D’Arcangelo with her Toyota Hyundai at 9 a.m., while the 20 mph school zone beacons were active. D’Arcangelo, dressed in uniform and wearing a traffic safety vest, was stopping traffic to allow students and parents to cross the crosswalk at East Moody Boulevard near Chapel Street, according to a BPD press release.

Goyzueta stopped her Hyundai “only inches from” D’Arcangelo and then shouted at the PSO, “Don’t you ever f-----g step out in front of me again,” the press release said. Goyzueta then accelerated, hitting the PSO in the upper right leg and driving away.

D’Arcangelo was uninjured and reported the incident.

A BPD detective found Goyzueta at a Palm Coast residence, where she admitted to the incident. She said she should have stopped, but became angry and drove off.

A charging affidavit and criminal traffic citations have been prepared and forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office to charge Goyzueta with reckless driving and leaving the scene of a crash, the press release said.

BPD Chief David Brannon said the safety of “children and those protecting them must never be compromised.”

and other customers.

NOV. 18 CONTEST ‘WINNER’

12:16 p.m. — First block of Cypress Grove Lane, Ormond Beach Information.A 77-year-old Ormond Beach woman was defrauded out of about $60,000 after she received an email claiming she had won an $8.5 million sweepstakes contest.

Suspicious incident.Police responded to a local gas station convenience store after its store manager reported a man trying to urinate in an empty field across their parking lot. No charges were filed; the store’s bathrooms were closed.

Police report that the woman received the email in mid-September and that she was then contacted by a man who alleged he was an associate of the contest, as well as a bank employee. The victim declined to press charges. She told police that she had received a call from an FBI agent and was told not to proceed with completing a police report “due to the concern of interference in their existing FBI case,” the report states.

MEDICATED MISTAKE

11:48 p.m. – first block of Florida Park Drive, Palm Coast DUI. An Orlando woman who was initially arrested for driving under the influence with a minor in the car found herself in worse trouble after attempting to hide anti-anxiety medication in her genitals.

The woman has been charged with drug possession, tampering with evidence and introducing a contraband into a secure facility, as well

as issued a DUI traffic citation and a citation for refusing to provide a urine sample.

DEC. 5

DRUNK AND BELLIGERENT

7:25 p.m. – 300 block of State Road 100, Flagler County Disorderly conduct. A Palm Coast woman was arrested after she tried to slam a Sheriff’s Office deputy’s hand in a bar door.

The woman was drinking at a local bar when she began yelling and swearing at staff

As they stood in the bar’s doorway, one deputy tried to calm the suspect and get her to leave while holding onto the metal doorframe. The suspect suddenly lunged forward and attempted to slam the door on the deputy’s hand.

The woman was eventually placed in the back of a deputy’s cruiser and taken to jail, continuing to scream, yell and curse during the entire ride.

More than just a library: Flagler County celebrates new Nexus Center, ‘a never failing spring in the desert.’

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Flagler County’s Nexus Center has opened its doors.

Since 2015, Flagler County has been working on plans for a new public library on the southwest side of the county, applying for grants year after year to fund the project. In August 2024, the county began construction on the 23,000-square-foot facility and on Thursday, Dec. 4, the Nexus Center opened for the first time.

Library Director Holly Albanese — who has said she’s been dreaming of the new library space for 19 years — said it has been a long journey full of challenges to get to the grand opening.

“My parents taught me, ‘Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.’ So, ‘I took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference,’” Albanese said, quoting from “The Road Not Taken,” by Robert Frost.

The Nexus Center library replaces the old Bunnell library that was formerly on State Road 100. That location closed down, and its contents moved to the Nexus Center.

The Nexus Center is located at 2199 Commerce Parkway, behind the Flagler County Government Services buildings and across from the Flagler County Operations Center. The Bunnell library at the Nexus Center will be open Sunday through Thursday.

Albanese was the driving force behind the Nexus Center. After several applications and rejections, Albanese secured three grants to help fund the Nexus Center, which cost $16 million.

During her remarks at the grand opening, Albanese said the grants, impact fees and revenue from the library’s passport services covered $8 million of the project cost.

Hours of operation

The Bunnell library at the Nexus Center is located at 2199 Commerce Parkway. Its hours, effective Dec. 7, are:

„ Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

„ Monday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

„ Tuesday and Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

„ Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

„ Friday and Saturday: Closed

The Palm Coast library is located at 2500 Palm Coast

‘A beacon of hope’

The facility, she said, is a “dynamic, multi-faceted facility that serves as a hub for learning, innovation and community engagement.”

“As Andrew Carnegie said, ‘A library outranks any one thing a community can do to benefit its people,’” Albanese said. “‘It is a never failing spring in the desert.’”

The Nexus Center is not just the new home of the Bunnell library. Though the library takes up the majority of the space, it also has conference rooms, a room for passport services, administrative offices and a multi-use room with a kitchen that can be rented out for events.

In order to support additional staffing at the Nexus Center, the County Commission made changes to the operational hours and staffing at the county library’s Palm Coast branch for the fiscal year 2026.

The changes included closing the Palm Coast branch on Mondays in addition to its Sunday closure, reducing the branch’s weekly operational

Parkway NW. The branch’s hours of operation, effective Nov. 1, are:

„ Sunday: Closed „ Monday: Closed

„ Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

„ Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. „ Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. „ Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. „ Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5p.m. The Health and Human Services Department at the Nexus Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

hours from 52 to 40. Five Palm Coast branch employees were shifted to the Nexus Center as well, leaving the Palm Coast branch with 10 full-time employees and one part-time employee, according to the July decision.

The Nexus Center Bunnell library has 11 employees, including those from the original Bunnell library branch.

The Nexus Center also now houses Flagler County Health and Human Services — which encompasses Human Services, Senior Services, Adult Day Care and Housing Services — and its 22 employees. The HHS is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

During the opening ceremony, Health and Human Services Director Joseph Hegedus said the new facility is “a manifestation of a promise to our seniors, our family, our vulnerable community members.”

“The resources and help are not far away,” he said. “Dignity, respect and care are not optional. They are foundational to Flagler County.”

Hegedus said the new, combined HHS will serve as “a centralized, accessible and collaborative hub” where services are available across a broader campus to provide compassionate and forward thinking support to those in need of services.”

“I believe this space is a beacon of hope,” Hegedus said. “A model of inspiration and a reminder that together, we build a stronger and healthier, healthier community.

The HHS’ Senior Center and Congregate Meals programs will be housed at the

Nexus Center, he told the Observer , utilizing the inhouse kitchen and multi-use room for the programs. The program runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays and has 20-30 participants, he said.

“We’ve got some that have been coming to us for years,” he said.

Church on the Rock previously held the senior program, but, he said, the HHS programs had been spread out across several locations. Now, with the new and integrated space it allows for more collaboration across the HHS programs, which tend to overlap.

“We’ll get a senior that’s getting services through our

“They might need a rental assistance or utility assistance through Human Services, or a new roof through our housing program. So absolutely, we have folks that kind of cross the program lines there.” Flagler Commission Chair Leann Pennington said during the ribbon cutting ceremony that the Nexus Center is the result of the growing need for accessible resources in the southwest side of Flagler County.

“This center stands as our commitment to ensuring that every resident, regardless of where they live, has access to the support and opportunities

“The resources and help are not far away. Dignity, respect and care are not optional. They are foundational to Flagler County.”

JOSEPH HEGEDUS, Flagler County Health and Human Services director

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP EXPERIENCES

DEC 14 TH -3 RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT : CANDLE OF JOY

WORSHIP EXPERIENCES

The kids section at the new Bunnell library. The Flagler County Nexus Center is 23,000 square feet in size. The Bunnell library inside is open Sunday through Thursday.

The Flagler County Nexus Center opened on Dec. 4. Photos by Sierra Williams

Affordable housing idea: 2 small homes instead of a duplex?

Councilman Charles Gambaro proposed the idea, and the City Council wants to hear a staff presentation.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Palm Coast City Council is considering diversifying the type of housing allowed on

“A smaller, highquality home could present an opportunity for residents to attain affordable housing.”

duplex-zoned lots in an effort to expand affordable housing to essential workers.

At the Dec. 4 City Council meeting, Councilman Charles Gambaro asked the council for consensus to take steps in altering the city’s Land Development Code to allow separate, smaller-sized homes to be built on infill lots zoned for duplexes.

The idea would only be applicable to infill lots, not new developments, he said, and merely separates the two units to individual single family homes that could be more affordable to purchase.

“The cost per square foot is still the cost per square foot,” Gambaro said. “This is why, potentially, a smaller, highquality home could present an opportunity for residents to attain affordable housing.”

The rest of the council was tentatively on board with the idea, and gave consensus for city staff to prepare a presentation on the change.

According to the city’s current Land Development Code,

Single-Family Residential

District 1 zoning has a minimum lot size requirement of 6,000 square feet, while SFR District 5 has a minimum lot of 20,000 square feet and a Duplex District a minimum of 9,000 square feet.

Palm Coast requires the minimum living area of a single family home in any single family residential district to be 1,200 square feet. A Duplex District has a minimum living area of 800 square feet, as it assumes two residential units on the lot.

“They’re already zoned for a double residence on that piece of property, and they’re a little bit wider than a standard single family lot,” Councilman Ty Miller said. “So really, the question is, do they have to be adjoining or not?”

Gambaro’s suggestion comes as Flagler County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee is preparing recommendations to the City Council and the Flagler County Commission on ways to encourage affordable housing.

The AHAC is a joint advisory board between Palm Coast and Flagler County that promotes strategies targeted at affordable housing. Gambaro serves on the board as Palm Coast’s representative.

The report shows AHAC recommends both boards establish a variety of incentives, initiatives, policies and ordinances that would make affordable housing attainable for low income families. Those initiatives include ways to diversify housing.

Diversifying the available housing is one way to make housing more affordable, Flagler County Housing Program Manager Devrie Paradowski said in an interview with the Observer. Flagler County has a shortage of affordable hous-

ing units, she said.

“In the city of Palm Coast right now,” she said, “there are no incentives specific to affordable housing.”

According to the 2024 Shimberg Center for Housing Studies, Flagler County has a deficit of available affordable housing. With just under 12,000 renters in 2024, 37% were considered “cost burdened renters,” or people paying more than 40% of their income on rent.

The Shimberg report also shows that Flagler County has a deficit of affordable housing across the Area Median Income spectrum, especially for individuals making 60% and 80% of Flagler County’s AMI.

The report defines “low income” as a person whose income is 60% of the area’s median income.

But the need for diverse housing is not new. Palm Coast’s Community Development Block Grant program is required to analyze impediments to fair housing, Paradowski said, and a lack of diversity is one of the issues.

A proposal like Gambaro’s does increase the options available to the cost burdened, but, Paradowski said, what is really important are the incentives that ensure the housing is affordable for people in different income brackets.

Without the right incentives and policies in place, these smaller homes could potentially become “luxury cottage homes” by developers, she said, that don’t end up being affordable to the people who need them — a concern shared by the council at the Dec. 4 meeting.

One recommendation to diversify housing in the AHAC report is to develop an Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance

that, consistent with state law, allows an independent residential unit on the same lot as a primary home.

Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri said outright that she would not support an ADU or “tiny home” initiative.

“As long as we have more folks coming in than we have supply on demand, it doesn’t matter what we institute,” she said. “And my concern is packing people in like sardines.”

Pontieri said that while she was on board with the explicit circumstances outlined in Gambaro’s proposal, she wouldn’t be amenable to changes that would increase the density, especially without council review.

But the AHAC report recommends to adopt general local incentives that encourage “affordable housing production.”

One way to do this is to maximize the cost efficiency through lot sizes. Larger lot sizes, and larger minimum living space requirements, cost more to purchase and build. It also lowers the cap on the number of available homes.

But lower minimum lot sizes “unlocks densities” and would allow for smaller homes and a greater variety of home types, the report said. It simultaneously improves affordability.

Gambaro’s proposal, if adopted by the council in the Land Development Code, would simply split a duplex from having a shared wall to being separated units on the lot.

As it is, a typical single family home is too expensive for the essential worker in Palm Coast, Gambaro said. They’re “out of reach.”

“I think it’s important to explore the options,” he said.

FlaglerGOP to host 2026 candidate forum

The Flagler County Republican Executive Committee (FlaglerGOP) will host its 2026 Candidate Forum from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE.

“This forum is a great opportunity for residents to meet the candidates seeking local office and hear directly from them about their vision for Flagler County,” said Perry Mitrano, chairman of the FlaglerGOP. “We’re committed to creating an open, welcoming environment.”

Florida House proposes health care plan

The Florida House on Tuesday released two wide-ranging health care bills that include eliminating some regulations and trying to reduce prescription drug prices.

House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, said in a prepared statement that the bills would help carry out President Donald Trump’s healthcare “vision” in the state.

“We are taking decisive action to cut red tape, grow our health care workforce, expand patient choice, and protect taxpayer dollars while ensuring families can access high-quality care when they need it most,” Perez said.

One of the bills (HB 693), sponsored by Rep. Mike Redondo, R-Miami, is dubbed the “Big Beautiful Healthcare Frontier Act.” The 143-page proposal deals with myriad issues, including as eliminating the state’s certificate of need regulatory process. The bills are filed for the legislative session Jan. 13.

Palm Coast Councilman Charles Gambaro. Photo by Sierra Williams

CHARLES GAMBARO, Palm Coast councilman

New fire station to serve west Flagler

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

For the second time in a matter of weeks, Flagler County is breaking ground on a new fire station — this time, located in west Flagler County.

The new station will cut down on emergency response times to the Daytona North area, Fire Chief Mike Tucker said. The station will also be designed in a way that is safer for fire personnel, he said, to keep them separated as much as possible from “the carcinogens that they’re exposed to” on the job.

“It represents change,” Tucker said. “It represents a new direction that we’re going as an organization.”

Flagler County has four full-time fire rescue stations, including the current Fire Station 51 in Espanola, located at 3055 County Road 13. The FCFR also shares six stations with Flagler Beach and Palm Coast, and two volunteer fire stations, one of which is in Korona in Bunnell.

The new Station 51 will be located at 245 C.R. 305, next to the Flagler County Road and Bridges Department building.

The new facility will be a one-story, 11,000-squarefoot building with three equipment bays. It is estimated to cost $10.36 million and will include a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office substation.

In her ceremony remarks, Flagler Commission Chair Leann Pennington said the design has been two years in the making and is “smart forward-thinking prototype that will serve as a standard for future stations.”

“This station is strategically placed between existing facilities to ensure faster response times and stronger service for our western community,” she said. Pennington told the

Observer this is another step to ensuring the west side of Flagler County has access to emergency services, especially as more people have been moving into the county.

Fire Station 57, at 89 E. County Road 2006, will remain open as well. The county will next turn its eye to opening a fire station in Cody’s Corner, on the southwest portion of Flagler County, she said.

“We’re just trying to give them the services that they really need out here,” Pennington said. “Police, fire and rescue. It takes 30 minutes or more sometimes to get [out here]. So I think the community is really excited about this.”

Tucker said that in fiscal year 2024-2025, Flagler County Fire Rescue ran 20,111 calls and has seen an overall increase of 3% in call volume countywide.

Using modeling programs, Tucker said, the county identified the trend in service calls and chose the C.R. 305 location as the spot for a new fire station.

The west side of Flagler County already has a fire engine average response time is 12 minutes, while the rest of Flagler County is below 8 minutes. Tucker said much of that is because a majority of the call volume is from within

Palm Coast.

Tucker said the goal is to be under a 10-minute response time at least 90% of the time countywide.

There’s a lot of factors that go into cutting down response time, he said: how soon 911 is called, a good alerting system, the location of the stations and even how a fire house is designed.

Tucker said this fire station will be designed so the firefighters are not living on the opposite side of a building from the fire engines and ambulances.

“You want to make sure they’re in close proximity to each other,” he said. “This station is designed in that manner.”

Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill attended the groundbreaking ceremony, celebrating the success of the city’s emergency response partners. All the municipalities in Flagler County have an interlocal agreement to provide automatic aid to a call — that is, whichever unit is closer to responding, automatically responds, across jurisdictions.

“As the fire service is beginning to catch up to the growth that we’ve had in Flagler County,” Berryhill said, “things like this, it’s a really exciting time for Flagler County Fire Rescue.”

available agency. insurance expertise

Flagler County commissioners and Fire Rescue Chief Mike Tucker break ground for Fire Station 51. Photo by Sierra Williams

JetBlue back at Daytona airport as its 5th commercial airline

The airline will run two daily, nonstop routes: Daytona Beach to Boston (BOS) and New York City (JFK).

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

JetBlue has returned to the Daytona Beach International Airport, making it the fifth commercial airline to fly in and out of the airport.

The airline will run two daily, nonstop routes: Daytona Beach airport to Boston (BOS) and New York City (JFK). Officials from Volusia County, JetBlue and the DAB airport celebrated the airline’s return on Dec. 4 with a ribbon cutting ceremony as the inaugural flight from JFK Airport in New York City landed in Daytona Beach at 9:20 a.m.

Volusia County Council

Chair Jeff Bower said it was his pleasure to welcome JetBlue back to Daytona Beach.

“We are glad that you’re here. We couldn’t ask for two more exciting routes,” he said.

JetBlue’s inaugural flight was made on its Airbus A220 plane, which seats 140. The flight from JFK — with its 124 passengers — was met with a water cannon salute on the

tarmac of DAB. The return flight to JFK had 97 passengers.

Alongside JetBlue, DAB has commercial flights from Delta, American Airlines, Avelo and Breeze. They offer 11 nonstop destinations and connections to cities around the nation and worldwide.

Brower said he remembers when, as a child, DAB was a “dingy little one-story air-

port” where passengers had to board planes from the tarmac, even in inclement weather. Now, he said, DAB is set to celebrate a “record-breaking year” of over 745,000 flights in 2025.

DAB Aviation & Economic Director Cyrus Callum said he’s never seen the terminal as busy as it has been lately. The return of JetBlue is a “significant win” for the airport and

the local economy, he said. The new flights will lead to increased international destinations, an increase to the local tourism and also contribute to an increase in job opportunities.

“What I tell everyone is, ‘Get used to it,’” he said. “‘Get ready for it,’ because we plan on carrying on that momentum.”

The Florida Department of Transportation last measured DAB’s annual economic impact at $3.2 billion in 2023. Callum said with the JetBlue flights, DAB’s “economic impact is going to be significantly more.”

“These flights are going to bring in 560 passengers per day,” he said, “and they’re going to contribute to our local economy as well.”

JetBlue Capt. Richard Fetchik said driving a plane through a water cannon salute was a first for him. Fetchik graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1990 and has flown for JetBlue for 21 years.

The last time time he has flown a plane at DAB, he said, was in March 1995. Now, 30 years later, he and JetBlue have returned to the Daytona Beach airport.

He said he had no idea that it was the inaugural flight until he showed up at JFK that morning.

“It’s nice to be Embry Riddle alumni and be part of the festivities today,” he said. “And I actually got to cut the ribbon in New York for the first flight coming down. So that was nice.”

He said he’s next scheduled to fly back to Daytona Beach for two flights in January.

Mary Hammel, her wife

Eileen Cunningham and their friends Catherine Varanock and Catherine Kennedy were among the first off JetBlue’s inaugural flight to Daytona Beach. The four of them have been coming to Daytona Beach every year for the last 13 years to stay in Varanock’s Ormond Beach condo for Hammel’s birthday.

During JetBlue’s sevenyear absence from Daytona, Hammel said the four of them would have to commute from the Orlando airport, taking an hour and a half or longer to get to the condo.

“This is excellent; we love JetBlue,” Hammel said. “... JetBlue, thank you for listening to people.”

Volusia County residents Roslyn and Ernie Bennett were at the Daytona Beach International Airport before 8:30 a.m., holding a sign that read “Welcome, JetBlue.” For them, JetBlue’s return to DAB represents an opportunity to see their son more.

Roslyn Bennett said their son works for JetBlue and when the airline was previously at DAB, they saw their son more frequently than they have in the last seven years.

The Bennett said they bought the JetBlue crew and staff Swillerbee’s doughnuts to celebrate and to let them know “we’re happy you’re here.”

“We’re excited that Jet Blue has returned to Daytona Beach,” Roslyn Bennett said, “because now it makes it easier for us to travel to Boston or New York, but also to see our son and maybe have them come more often to see us.”

Flagler sheriff to lead state private investigation council, PIRSAC

Council members of Florida’s Private Investigation, Recovery and Security Advisory Council have elected Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly chairperson for 2026. This is the first time the council’s law enforcement representative has been elected to serve as chair. In 2023, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson appointed Staly to fill the law enforcement representative position on the PIRSAC board for a four-year term, which expires on June 20, 2027.

Staly previously served on PIRSAC as an owner of a Palm Coast-based security company, which represented small security companies. He and his wife later sold their company to a national security firm in May 2012.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be selected to serve as chairperson of PIRSAC,” Sher-

iff Staly said. “I am grateful for the trust and confidence council members have placed in me to fill this role, and I am committed to serving with the same level of integrity and transparency that I have had throughout my law enforcement career.” The volunteer council is required by Florida law and meets at least four times a year to advise and make recommendations to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on the regulation of the private investigative, recovery and security industries

Volusia County officials, JetBlue and Daytona Beach International personnel celebrate the return of JetBlue to DAB. Photo by Sierra Williams

Flagler County seeks to purchase 153 acres from Summertown developer

Acquisition will expand conservation options at the future Bulow Creek Headwaters Regional Park.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Flagler County has met the deadline for a land acquisition application to purchase 153 acres of land from the massive Summertown development.

The application is to amend Florida Forever’s boundary through the Flagler County Blueway project. The 153 acres, currently owned by the developers for the proposed Summertown and Veranda Bay projects in Flagler Beach, abuts the Bulow Creek conservation land.

The land is the site of the future Bulow Creek Headwaters Regional Park. One of the concerns facing the Summertown development is how the project will impact the floodplains. But selling the land to Flagler County will ensure the

floodplains are preserved.

The deadline to submit the application was Monday, Dec. 8, according to a press release from Flagler County. In an email to the Flagler County Commissioners, County Administrator Heidi Petito said the application was submitted on time.

“This milestone reflects our community’s strong commitment to protecting the headwaters of Bulow Creek and ensuring that future generations can enjoy its natural beauty,” she wrote.

The boundary amendment application still needs to be ratified by the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners at its Dec. 15 meeting.

The additional land will preserve wetlands and wildlife habitats that are vital to the health of Bulow Creek and the Halifax River estuary, expand recreational opportunities at the future regional park, safeguard the community from flood risks and protect open space in a rapidly growing area, the press release said.

Flagler County staff,

including Petito and Commissioner Andy Dance, met with developer representative Ken Belshe and attorney Michael Chiumento on Dec. 3 to discuss the potential sale of the land. At the Flagler Beach City Commission workshop meeting on Dec. 4, Dance spoke to the commission and

said his original goal “was 100% protection of the flood plain,” but has reached a compromise with the developer.

“We’ve compromised to about 80% protection of the area, not 100% but anywhere in a 75 to 80% range.”

Chiumento, in the Dec. 4 Flagler Beach meeting, char-

acterized the meeting with Flagler County staff as a “long, productive meeting.”

He said it would be a long process of potentially a year or two to complete the sale.

The press release did not include a potential price for the 153 acres. The Flagler Beach Commission commit -

Flagler Schools presents proposed district calendar for 2026-2027

The first day of school is scheduled for Aug. 10, 2026. Last day for students May 27, 2027.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Schools’ district staff presented the School Board with the proposed 2026-2027 instructional calendar at the

board’s Dec. 9 agenda workshop.

The board is expected to approve the calendar at its business meeting on Dec. 16. The calendar committee met on Nov. 19. The committee includes two members each of the teacher and support staff unions, four district staffers and two parents of students. The proposed calendar has the first day of school for students on Aug. 10, 2026, which is the earliest day school can

start according to Florida statute. A week-long Thanksgiving break is scheduled from Nov. 23-27. The two-week winter break runs from Monday, Dec. 21, to Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, with students also off on Monday, Jan. 4, a teacher workday, and Tuesday, Jan. 5, a professional learning day. Students return on Jan. 6. Spring break week is scheduled for March 15-19. The last day of school for students is Thursday, May 27.

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ted in the workshop meeting to sending a letter of support for the sale alongside the Florida Forever application. If the sale is successful, it will potentially resolve one of the main hurdles facing the developers for a successful annexation into Flagler Beach.

“This is the first step,” Dance said. “This is just ... giving them the data for the project or for the proposal.”

The Acquisition and Restoration Council will review this proposal at its meeting on Feb. 14, 2026. If approved, the next steps will involve pursuing acquisition through Florida Forever, the St. Johns River Water Management District and Flagler County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands program, the press release said.

“There is the potential to share funding for either fee simple purchase or conservation easement,” Petito said. “This is the beginning of a long process, but it was essential to start with a willing seller, and I’m pleased to report we were able to secure that commitment today.”

The first quarter lasts 43 days and ends on Oct. 9. The second quarter is 42 days long and ends on Dec. 18, the last day of school before winter break. The third quarter is 45 days long and ends on March 11. Students are off on Friday, March 12, before spring break, as it is a designated teacher workday. The fourth quarter is 49 days long with the last day May 27.

Eight hurricane makeup days are built into the calen-

dar starting with a teacher workday on Oct. 12. The other hurricane days would come out of Thanksgiving break on Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 23-24; winter break on Dec. 21-22 and the teacher workday and professional learning day on Jan. 4-5; and the March 12 teacher workday.

The last two days of school for students, May 26-27, are early release days.

Holidays include Labor Day on Sept. 7, Veterans Day on

Nov. 11, Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18 and Presidents Day on Feb. 15. Superintendent LaShakia Moore said parents can comment on the calendar on the Flagler Schools website at flaglerschools.com/connectwith-us/website-feedback or by emailing Moore or a School Board member.

Email Brent Woronoff at brent@observerlocalnews. com.

The 153 acres abut the Bulow Creek conservation land. Photo courtesy of Andy Dance

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Florida immigrants: Documented and undocumented

Dear Editor:

It is not a crime for an immigrant without permanent legal status to live in the United States, unless such person has been previously deported.

We have seen a dramatic rise in Florida’s number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of people who have no convictions or criminal charges. ICE raids have sparked fear in Florida towns and immigrant communities, arresting individuals with no warrant, criminal record, or evidence of gang membership.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature were quick to comply with executive orders and rules which have thrown immigrants into the deportation process. “Operation Tidal Wave” resulted in 780 Florida arrests between April 21 and 26.

Detentions surged in Florida while deportations have not, resulting in overcrowded detention centers and inhuman conditions. Six immigrants have died in Florida custody this year. In 2023, ICE detention centers held over 36,000 adults at a daily cost of $6.9 million taxpayer dollars.

Family separations continue. Immigrant children born in the United States with full citizenship have been placed

in federal detention centers and confined for months. Sixhundred children are presently in custody. Spouses of U.S. citizens have been arrested and held for deportation.

Florida immigrant families live in fear, afraid to drive to work, go to the hospital, or take their children to school.

Latino communities have canceled events, and businesses have closed.

Communities have lost trust in local law enforcement agencies. Immigrants are afraid to go to the police if they are victims of, or witnesses to, crimes. The Florida Attorney General has warned cities that “sanctuary policies are not tolerated in Florida.”

The ICE raids have major economic consequences for Florida’s agriculture, fern, and construction industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor. Local cities have maintenance contracts with companies that employ immigrants, hard workers, not criminals. There is documented evidence of ICE arrests of U.S. citizens and others who have legal immigrant status.

Except for indigenous natives, we are a nation of immigrants. All people living in the United States, regardless of legal status, have a right to due process and fair and speedy hearings. Our brave military fought and died for these rights. There is no justice for

YOUR TOWN

Caroling on the Canals to spread holiday cheer

The Flagler Beach Yacht Club will spread holiday cheer on the water with its annual

Caroling on the Canals event Sunday, Dec. 14, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Club members will travel through the F- and C-sections of Palm Coast, bringing festive music and colorful deco-

people who have peacefully lived and worked in our communities for years but now face new rules. We need to demand legislation that provides a sensible path to legal immigrant status and stop terrorizing immigrants.

LINDA KALADJIAN

REBECCA CASHETTE

JEFF BOYLE

VIVIAN LORD Members of the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ormond Beach

DeSantis Is right to restore local control over our fisheries

Dear Editor:

For too long, Florida’s Atlantic fishermen have been subject to arbitrary federal limits that make little sense for the realities of our waters or the livelihoods of our coastal communities. That is why Gov. Ron DeSantis’s announcement to seek full state management of the Atlantic red snapper fishery is not just welcome news; it is long overdue. Florida has already proven that state-level management works. Since taking control of Gulf red snapper seasons in 2018, our state expanded fishing days from a mere three under federal control to 127 days in 2025, all while maintaining healthy fish

rations to residents along the canal system. The event will feature a fleet of decorated boats with club members singing holiday classics.

“This event has become something we look forward to all year,” organizers said.

“It’s a wonderful way to bring the community together and

stocks and rigorous conservation standards. Florida’s success did not come at the expense of sustainability; it came through data-driven management, strong local partnerships, and a deep respect for both the resource and the people who depend on it. By contrast, the federal system has failed to reflect those same values. For years, Washington bureaucrats have imposed one-size-fits-all rules that reduced Atlantic red snapper seasons to one or two days a year. Families who invest thousands in boats, fuel, and gear were given a single weekend, if that, to enjoy the very waters that define our coastal identity. That is not sound management; that is suffocating overregulation.

Gov. DeSantis’s proposal, backed by coordination with Georgia and South Carolina, would finally restore balance to our federalist system by returning management authority to the states that know their waters best. His administration’s exempted fishing permit application to the U.S. Department of Commerce is a sensible step toward that goal. It allows Florida to set its own 39-day Atlantic red snapper season, with 30 days in the summer and three weekends in the fall, starting in 2026. That is a common-sense plan that supports conservation and strengthens our economy.

The benefits will ripple far beyond the docks. Extending the season means more busi-

celebrate the season from the unique perspective of Palm Coast’s beautiful waterways.”

The yacht club encourages canal-front residents to join in the fun by wearing holiday colors, waving from their docks or even decorating along the shoreline. The boats will proceed at a slow, safe

ness for tackle shops, marinas, hotels, and local restaurants that thrive on tourism and weekend anglers. It means more work for charter captains and deckhands. And it means that coastal families from Ormond Beach to New Smyrna to the Keys can once again enjoy the traditions that built our state’s proud reputation as the Fishing Capital of the World.

The governor’s leadership reminds us that conservation and commerce do not have to be enemies. When decisionmaking happens closer to home, with local knowledge and accountability, we get better results. Federal agencies should take note: Florida does not need Washington to micromanage our reefs and wrecks. We have the science, the expertise, and the will to manage our resources responsibly.

It is time to trust the people who live here. By restoring fishery management to the states, we are not just protecting red snapper; we are protecting our way of life.

DUNCAN S. DEMARSH DeLand

Vice chairman of the Volusia County Republican Party

Send letters to jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com. Include first and last name, as well as city of residence. Editor may alter the letter for clarity and/or length.

pace to ensure residents have plenty of time to enjoy the parade. Weather permitting, the event is expected to run through early afternoon.

Send Your Town stories to Brent Woronoff at brent@ observerlocalnews.com.

On Page 1A in the Dec. 4 Palm Coast Observer, Beth Keer, a permanent guardian of Leaders 4 Life Fellowship winner Remy Battles was incorrectly identified. To read the full story of Matanzas High School senior Battles winning the award, go to https://bit. ly/4q0QjRt

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Volusia County awards over $8.7M in Transform386 dollars to Ormond

This will help fund a new pump station on Fleming to reduce flooding in the Central Park neighborhoods.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Ormond Beach’s Fleming Avenue pump station project was among six flood-mitigation and stormwater initiatives that received disaster recovery funding on Tuesday, Dec. 2, following approval by the Volusia County Council.

The $17 million project, which also includes the construction of a force main, is designed to reduce flooding in the city’s neighborhoods surrounding Central Park. The County Council awarded over $8.7 million in funding from its Transform386 Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program.

“This is a transformative grant,” Assistant City Manager Shawn Finley said at the county meeting. “This is one that was a long time coming.”

The project would construct a pump station at 601 Fleming Ave., and the force main pipe would be installed along the Fleming Avenue corridor to Ridgewood Ave-

nue, commencing south along Ridgewood Avenue to Reynolds Avenue, and then east to the Halifax River.

Last year, Ormond Beach received $5.35 million from the state for the project, which was first identified as a need after a 2009 storm brought 30 inches of rain to the city in two-and-a-half days, causing historic flooding in the Central Park neighborhoods.

Since then, the city has interconnected the five lakes in Central Park, upgraded the existing Bennet Lane pump station and enhanced its pumping system.

The Fleming Avenue pump station will have the ability to pump 45,000 gallons a minute, an amount equivalent to three swimming pools.

“I am pleased to hear that a grant was awarded through the Transform 386 program by the County Council,”

Mayor Jason Leslie said to the Observer. “This project has been a long time in the making, and city staff has worked diligently to bring it to this point. It’s great to see it moving forward. The station is expected to protect hundreds of homes, especially in floodprone neighborhoods along the Fleming Avenue corridor.”

In July, the city applied for a $9.4 million FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant for the

“This project has been a long time in the making, and city staff has worked diligently to bring it to this point. The station is expected to protect hundreds of homes, especially in flood-prone neighborhoods along the Fleming Avenue corridor.”

JASON LESLIE, Ormond Beach mayor

project, but Finley told the council it had been stuck in this process for a long time. He commended the county for its Transform386 program, which was created in 2023 after the county received $328.9 million in disaster relief funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the critical infrastructure and flooding mitigation projects. The funding is available for projects initiated by the county, its cities and nonprofits.

Ormond’s project was part of the third round of funding. In November 2024, the county awarded over $63 million in grant funds to 20 projects. Another 13 received funding in October, totaling almost $50 million in grant funds.

“This is a substantive project in the city of Ormond Beach,” said Donna Butler, county Recovery and Resiliency Department director.

“This was their first time coming to us, so almost all of the cities now have come forward with projects in these three rounds.”

The third round of funding also included $585,000 for the town of Ponce Inlet, for the acquisition of two vacant lots for a revised stormwater project.

The county also approved four stormwater initiatives at the meeting: studies for the Spruce Creek watershed and the Rhode Island and Graves Avenue Basin in Orange City, as well as a stormwater and future resiliency master plan for Daytona Beach Shores and a flood-mitigation alternatives analysis for Lake Helen.

Email news tips to Jarleene Almenas, at jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com.

Flagler pier demo set for January

The project has been delayed 40 day and incurred $144,000 from sea turtle nests and other delays.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Flagler Beach’s pier reconstruction project could be moving forward with demolition of the existing pier in January.

In an email sent to Flagler Beach City Manager Dale Martin on Dec. 5, EnglandThims & Miller engineer Maksim Milovidov wrote the “work schedule is a little fluid,” due to the recent and upcoming holidays, but “we’re anticipating demolition of [the] existing pier to start next month.” Disassembly of the existing pier will start from the A-frame and deck and work out to the end of the pier, according to city documents.

Milovidov wrote that contractors Vecellio & Grogan were working on unit 10 of 16 on the trestle, which runs parallel to the pier, and completed a side-platform used for storage.

Though the project is moving forward, it has also seen a 40-day delay and $144,000 cost increase from a combination of sea turtle nests, inclement weather and other hurdles, according to Flagler Beach City Commission documents.

The project, which began in June, is now estimated to be “substantially completed” by Jan. 15, 2027 and fully completed by Feb. 14, 2027. Flagler Beach city staff will present a contract adjustment resolution to the Flagler Beach City Commission at its Dec. 11

meeting. According to city documents, the new project costs will be $14.325 million, up from the original amount of $14.142 million. This is the second adjustment for the pier construction contract. One active turtle nest located within the trestle’s footprint on July 27 cost the city $94,784 and 36 days of work as trestle installation had to be completely stalled until the nest hatched or the project could go around it in a 20-foot berth, according to the city documents. The other four days of delay were incurred from October’s inclement weather and the remaining $50,000 in additional costs from permit restrictions, insurance adjustments and almost $11,000 from a struck city-owned power line in July. According to the city docu-

ments, the powerline was unmarked in utility documents. The contractors were driving an H-Pile into the sand on July 23 when an employee at the 98.7 Surf Radio station alerted the team that the station had lost power. Florida Power & Light was able to de-energize the line, and the next day came back and separated the unmarked line out to return power to the other surrounding powerlines. The contractor states in a letter of intent notice to Flagler Beach that as “the issue is not the fault of V&G, V&G shall not be responsible for any claims from the City or the nearby businesses, directly resulting from the line being hit, including the ensuing emergency response and the loss of power on July 23, 2025.”

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Disassembly of the Flagler Beach pier could begin in January. Pictured is drone footage of the project from Nov. 22. Courtesy of Flagler Beach

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Community heroes brighten Christmas

100 kids were given $150 to shop for gifts at 17th annual Christmas with Community Heroes.

The Christmas spirit was alive in Palm Coast last week, with 100 students in Flagler

PWFC honors 2025 women leaders

BRIAN MCMILLAN

PUBLISHER

Every time a new edition of the Coffee News is printed, it is delivered in Flagler County in part by adults with disabilities, from Vincent’s Clubhouse.

“They wear their uniforms, and they count their papers, and they go out in the community, and it’s just amazing,” said Erica Flores, who founded Vincent’s Clubhouse in 2016.

Flores told her story on Dec. 9, at the annual Professional Women of Flagler County gala, at the Hilton Garden Inn, as she accepted the Nonprofit of the Year Award, which came with a $2,010 check.

The delivery arrangement came about through Vanessa Cole, who is the franchise

owner of the Coffee News locally and was also the 2025 president of PWFC.

“Special needs is not glamorous,” Flores said. “... We are doing hard, hard work with people that society sometimes has shunned. That is why the work at Vincent’s Clubhouse is so important, and I’m so proud to be part of it.

“The disabled individuals in our community deserve dig-

nity and respect and quality programs.”

Other annual awards: Rising Star: April Newman (Nominees: Michelle Bartlone, Rachel DeMarsico)

Business of the Year: Flagler Broadcasting (Nominees: AdventHealth, Palm Coast Observer)

Woman of the Year: Caroline Johnson (Nominees: Dr. Lisa Magary, Patti Sarinana) PWFC also gave out $30,000 in Go Girl grants. See the list in the online version of this story, at observerlocalnews. com.

THE NEW BOARD

Before Flagler County Judge Andrew Totten administered the oath of office to the new board, she praised the organization for creating jobs and donating to charitable causes.

County able to gift shop with $150 through the 17th annual Christmas with Community Heroes’ shopping event on Friday, Dec. 5.

The students were matched with 75 community heroes at the Walmart in Palm Coast. Guidance counselors from Flagler County schools nominated students they felt needed assistance this Christmas.

The students were given money donated by the community to shop and eat dinner provided by Mike Morgan’s Smokin’ BBQ truck.

The most notable donation was from Belle Terre Elementary School through a grade contest to collect the most loose change. The contest raised over $3,000 for this event.

Larry Jones founded Christmas with Community Heroes in 2008. With buzzing spirit and gift cards in

hand, Jones said the event “gets better and better every year.”

Christine Sullivan, who volunteers every year

“Everyone in here is contributing, and it really makes me proud,” Totten said.

Next year’s board is as follows: Dr. Erika Equizi, president; Kelly Chapman, vice president; Kay Click, secretary; Tracie Cotto, treasurer; Amy Dumas, membership director; Vanessa Cole, immediate past president.

After the event was over, at about 9 p.m. Dec. 9, while the rest of the crowd was going

home, Equizi and Cole finally sat down to eat dinner.

Equizi said Cole has provided great leadership and is a great connector.

“Her goal is to help people ... and always focuses on everyone before herself,” Equizi said, adding that PWFC helps provide women with mentorship and support, just as Cole and Nina Guiglotto have done for Equizi in the past.

Cole said Equizi is the type

of person who is always willing to help. Equizi even made the centerpieces for the gala and joked that she would like to be an event planner if she ever decided to stop being a chiropractor (she owns Premier Chiropractic).

“Part of the reason why she’s going to take Professional Women of Flagler County to the next level is because she really is a leader who shows the way,” Cole said.

Christmas with Community Heroes team Caroline McNeil, Kathy Vasquez, Larry Jones and Lacy Martin.

Woman of the Year, Caroline Johnson.

with her husband, said it’s “a way to give back.”

–REMY BATTLES

Flagler County Education Foundation Executive Director Teresa Rizzo (left) and Kareen Movsesyan with stu-

dents Madeline and Rielyn Grine at the 17th annual Christmas with Community Heroes.

The 2025 PWFC Board: Erikq Equizi, Kelly Chapman, Kay Click, Tracie Cotto, Amy Dumas and Vanessa Cole. Photos by April Newman Ryan with Salty Mermaid Photography

Connor Rowe (left) shops for gifts with Thomas Davidson. Photos by Remy Battles

Christine Sullivan with child shopper Kaylin.

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, DEC. 11

KAYAK TOURS OF CENTRAL PARK

When: 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Tuesday and Thursday, Dec. 11, 16 and 18

Where: Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center, 601 Division Ave., Ormond Beach

Details: Take part in this free guided tour, open to ages 18 and up. Single kayaks available, or bring your own. Space is limited. Registration restrictions apply. Call 386-6100615 to reserve your spot.

BINGO FUNDRAISER FOR TOYS FOR TOTS

When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Flagler County Association of Realtors, 4101 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell

Details: The Flagler County Association of Realtors and the Women’s Council of Realtors are hosting this fundraiser. Bring a new unwrapped toy to be entered in a prize drawing. Entry includes $25 and includes five bingo cards plus a meal ticket. All proceeds will benefit Flagler County Toys for Tots.

CHRISTMAS AT THE OPRY: A NASHVILLE FAMILY COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Peabody Auditorium, 600 Auditorium Blvd., Daytona Beach

Details: Enjoy a festive evening with timeless classics and the sounds of fiddle and steel guitar. Before the show, there will be a photo opportunity with Santa, his elf and a cup of hot cocoa. Tickets start at $47.72. Visit www.peabodyauditorium.org.

‘YOU BETTER WATCH OUT’

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 11 and 12; and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday,

Dec. 13 and 14

Where: Flagler Playhouse, 301 E Moody Blvd, Bunnell

Details: This is a festive comedy about a theater group who tries to pull off their Christmas pageant, and mishaps, mixups and madness take over. Tickets cost $31.50. Visit flaglerplayhouse.org. Friday, Dec. 12

DSC THEATER PRESENTS

‘HOLIDAZZLE: A YEAR WITH FROG & TOAD’

When: 10:30 a.m. and 6

p.m. Friday, Dec. 12; 1 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 13; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14

Where: News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Details: Some shows include a holiday dinner. Visit https:// njc.ludus.com/200497255.

BUNNELL CHRISTMAS

When: 5-9 p.m.

Where: JB King Park, 300 Citrus St., Bunnell

Details: Music, games, crafts, an obstacle course, the Grinch, and Santa. Free.

THE BRONX WANDERERS

HOLIDAY SHOW

When: 7 p.m.

Where: The Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, 5500 E. Highway 100, Palm Coast

Details: The Bronx Wanderers return to the Fitz for a night of rock and roll, holiday cheer and classics. Tickets: $54$64. Visit flaglerentertainment.com.

SATURDAY, DEC. 13

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

When: 8-11 a.m.

Where: Matanzas High School cafeteria

Details: Meet Santa and the Grinch and enjoy some breakfast. There will be a photo booth, raffle baskets, cookie decorating, face painting, arts and crafts, games and music. Costs $5 per person.

HOLIDAY IN THE GARDENS

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 6400 N.

Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast

Details: Enjoy music, art, craft vendors, food trucks and kids activities. Santa will be in attendance. The state park will be collecting donations of non-perishable food and toys for local families. Entry fee is $5 per vehicle.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY TOUR OF HOMES

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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

Details: The Ormond Beach Historical Society presents its annual Holiday Tour of Homes, a mix of historic and modern homes. The tour begins at the Anderson-Price Memorial Building. Complimentary buses will run throughout the day. Tickets cost $50 in advance; $60 at the door. Visit www.ormondhistory.org/tour-of-homes.

ARTWAVE YOUTH WORKSHOP

When: 2-3:30 p.m.

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

Details: Artists ages 11-14 will learn about digital photography with guest instructor Suzanne McCarthy, an awardwinning fine art photographer and photojournalist. Students should bring a smart phone or digital camera. $16 for members and $19 for non-members. Visit ormondartmuseum.org/classesprograms.

34TH ANNUAL HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS PARADE

When: 6 p.m.

Where: West Granada Boulevard, between Ridgewood Avenue and Beach Street, Ormond Beach

Details: This year’s theme is “A County Christmas.” The parade will include walkers, vehicles and floats and will start at Division Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue, go north until turning east at West Granada Boulevard. The

Palm Coast hosts 42nd annual boat parade Dec. 13

Palm Coast invites residents to join the 42nd annual Holiday Boat Parade on Saturday, Dec. 13. The boat parade will begin at 6 p.m. from the Cochise Waterway/North Cut on the Intracoastal Waterway and travel south beneath the Hammock Dunes Bridge toward Grand Haven. The parade of boats will turn around at the Grand Haven Gazebo to make the return trip. Spectators can enjoy the best views of the illuminated boats from Waterfront Park, St. Joe Walkway, and Canopy Walk, a Palm Coast press release said. The parade will be held rain or shine, but will be canceled in the event of severe weather or lightning.

parade will then turn south on Beach Street and end in front of City Hall.

HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Palm Coast

Details: See box above.

JINGLE LASER ROCK

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Peabody Auditorium

Details: This is a holiday rock spectacle, a laser light show choreographed to Christmas and holiday favorites. Tickets start at $61.92. Visit peabodyauditorium.org.

CRT PRESENTS ‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’

When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12 and 13; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14

Where: City Repertory Theatre, 160 Cypress Point Parkway, B-207, Palm Coast

Details: City Repertory Theatre is putting on “It’s a Won-

Palm Coast is again offering a complimentary shuttle service from EuropeanVillage nd the Daytona State College Palm Coast Campus parking lot, the press release said. The shuttles will run from 4-9 p.m.

Parking at Waterfront Park is limited. The event schedule is as follows:

„ 4 p.m. – Shuttles begin

„ 5 p.m. – Boat staging

„ 6 p.m. – Parade begins

„ 8 p.m. – Event ends

„ 9 p.m. – Shuttles conclude

A live stream of the parade will be available on the City of Palm Coast YouTube channel for those watching from home, the press release said. The Palm Coast Historical Society will also be selling limitededition Boat Parade shirts at Waterfront Park.

derful Life,” a holiday classic reimagined as a 1940s radio broadcast that tells the story of George Bailey on Christmas Eve. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for students. Visit https://crtpalmcoast. com.

SUNDAY, DEC. 14

WREATHS ACROSS

AMERICA

When: 11:45 a.m.

Where: Craig Flagler Palm Coast Memorial Gardens, at 511 Old Kings Road S., Flagler Beach; and Volusia Memorial Park, 550 N. Nova Road, Ormond Beach

Details: The event’s mission: remember the fallen, honor those that serve and their families, and teach our children the value of freedom.

THE SALTY GRASS BAND

When: 2 p.m. Where: Ormond Beach Regional Library

Details: The Salty Grass Band will perform “A Bluegrass Christmas.” Free.

CHRISKANZUUKAH

When: 2-4:30 p.m.

Where: Unitarian Universalist Society Congregation, 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: The Creative Happiness Institute celebrates traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the winter solstice. Music, poetry, an open mic session and refreshments. Free, but donations encouraged.

ORMOND BALLET PRESENTS ‘UNDER THE MISTLETOE & NUTCRACKER’ When: 3 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center

Details: See Ormond Ballet perform jazz, ballet and contemporary numbers, including excerpts from “The Nutcracker,” a Christmas ballet exhibition and a holiday showcase. Tickets $35. Visit https://ormondbeachperformingartscenter.csstix.com/.

MONDAY, DEC. 15

DSC THEATER PRESENTS: ACTING SHOWCASE When: 7 p.m.

Where: News-Journal Center

Details: Watch DSC acting students take the stage in this free showcase.

TUESDAY, DEC. 16

DSC DANCE PRESENTS: DANCE SHOWCASE

When: 6 p.m.

Where: News-Journal Center

Details: Free event featuring DSC dance students.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17

CHRISTMAS IN KILLARNEY

When: 7-9 p.m.

Where: The Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center

Details: Irish Christmas celebration featuring dancers, musicians and choirs. Tickets $54-$64. Children 12 and under are $5. Visit flaglerentertainment.com.

FOCUS ON FAITH

Bunnell churches and Rotary clubs expand food pantry

A faith-driven partnership is strengthening the fight against hunger in Flagler County as the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach, its Bunnell Satellite Club, and the Care Cupboard Food Pantry — housed at the United Methodist Church in Bunnell — come together to expand the pantry’s ability to serve the community.

Supported by a $5,180 collaborative grant, the project has resulted in the installation of a new 10-by-15-foot outdoor storage shed at the Care Cupboard Food Pantry located at 205 N. Pine St. Funded equally by the two Rotary clubs, Rotary District 6970, and the Rotary Foundation, the shed increases the pantry’s capacity to store donated food and meet growing community needs.

Delivered on Nov. 1 and dedicated during a ribboncutting ceremony on Nov. 12, the shed symbolizes a shared mission rooted in service.

On Nov. 16, the First Baptist Christian Academy of Palm Coast boys’ soccer team did the landscaping around the new structure.

Operated every Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Bunnell, the Care Cupboard Food Pantry relies heavily on the support of congregations, volunteers, and

community organizations. The new storage space has expanded the pantry’s indoor capacity by 27%, enabling it to serve 1,495 people weekly — an increase of 195 individuals from previous numbers. Among those served are 375 children.

Bob Snyder, president of the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach, said: “By working together with our Bunnell Satellite Club and the Care Cupboard, we’re creating a sustainable solution that will help feed 195 additional community members each week.”

Sandra Shank, of the Bunnell Satellite Club, added: “This project serves as our club’s first tangible project,” she said. “This grant represents our shared commitment to ensuring no family in our community goes hungry.” Visit www.flaglerbeach rotary.org.

Chanukah celebration returns to European Village Chabad of Palm Coast will host a community Chanukah celebration Dec. 15 at European Village, featuring a public menorah lighting, live music and family activities.

Stephenson, Wilcox and Associates

The event begins at 5 p.m. and is free to the public. Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris and Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly are scheduled to speak and participate in the lighting of a large outdoor menorah.

Dr. Laz & His Band, known as “The Rockin’ Reggae Rabbi,” will headline the evening with a live concert. The festival will also include a petting zoo, train rides, a dreidel mascot, dancing rabbis, face painting, balloon twisting, a Judaica gift booth and traditional Chanukah foods such as doughnuts and latkes. Starbucks coffee will also be available.

Rabbi Levi Ezagui, director of Chabad of Palm Coast, said the celebration aims to bring families together and highlight the message of Chanukah.

“Chanukah reminds us that a little bit of light can change an entire environment, and we’re excited to bring that light to the center of Palm Coast,” Ezagui said.

The European Village celebration has become one of the most prominent Jewish events in Flagler County, drawing hundreds each year. Organizers say it reflects the area’s growing Jewish community and provides children with a visible and joyful way to experience Jewish tradition.

The Palm Coast event is part of a global initiative by Chabad centers, which host thousands of menorah lightings and holiday programs worldwide during the eightday festival.

— ALEXIS MILLER

Brought to you by:

The shed’s ribbon cutting was held on Nov. 12. Courtesy photo

You’re invited to HQ’s Cookies with Santa holiday market featuring local vendors, HQ giveaways, seasonal treats, and plenty of merry moments. Perfect for snagging gifts, sipping something sweet, and getting that Santa photo!

BUSINESS

Aldi to open new store in Ormond Beach on Dec. 18

The new Aldi in Ormond Beach, located at 353 W. Granada Blvd., will open on Thursday, Dec. 18.

Aldi announced the grand opening of the new store on its website. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held 30 minutes before the store opens, at 8:45 a.m.

The first 100 customers will receive a “golden ticket,” which could be worth up to $100, as well as a free goodie bag.

The Aldi replaces the former Winn-Dixie, a result of Aldi’s acquisition of Southeastern Grocers in 2023.

Daytona Beach’s new Panda Express opens

Daytona Beach’s new Panda Express celebrated its grand opening with 20 local residents on Dec. 9.

The restaurant is located at 1950 LPGA Blvd. and a ribboncutting ceremony was organized for the grand opening by the Daytona Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce.

In honor of its new location, the Panda Express team also donated $1,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank, a Panda Express press release said.

The store hours are Sunday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“Our entire Panda team is grateful to serve the Daytona Beach community by providing nearly 40 new jobs and supporting local organizations through various fundraising opportunities,” said Jose Alvarenga, Panda Express Area Coach of Operations. “We hope to be a lasting part of the community and welcome all guests into

REAL ESTATE

WEST DAYTONA BEACH

Highridge Estates

The house at 1470 Colin Kelly Ave. sold on Nov. 21, for $280,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,289 square feet.

Latitude Margaritaville

The house at 356 Parrot Lane sold on Nov. 17, for $399,900. Built in 2021, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,464 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $306,100.

The house at 621 Hang Loose Way sold on Nov. 20, for $680,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 2/2.5 and has 2,338 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $640,500.

The townhome at 329 Good Life Way sold on Nov. 18,

our doors to try our American Chinese favorites and discover their own.”

The location will also be serving limited-time menu item of crispy sesame shrimp and beef, which has shrimp, beef and veggies wok-tossed in a savory sesame glaze with toasted sesame seeds.

The first 88 guests in line received a special gift and 40 panda headbands were handed out to guests under 18.

The Daytona Beach Panda Express features the new “Panda Home” restaurant design.

for $469,000. Built in 2021, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,563 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $299,400.

The house at 713 Landshark Blvd. sold on Nov. 19, for $619,000. Built in 2019, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,939 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $364,000.

Legends Preserve

The house at 1225 Pampus Drive sold on Nov. 20, for $373,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,908 square feet.

Lennar at Preserve at LPGA

The house at 1235 Belle Isle Lane sold on Nov. 18, for $344,990. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/2.5 and has 1,874 square feet.

The house at 1215 Belle Isle Lane sold on Nov. 19, for $354,990. Built in 2025,

the house is a 5/2.5 and has 2,112 square feet.

Links Terrace

The house at 105 Pitching Wedge Drive sold on Nov. 17, for $315,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,483 square feet. The house at 109 Pitching Wedge Drive sold on Nov. 20, for $335,455. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,687 square feet.

Lionspaw

The house at 232 Gala Circle sold on Nov. 21, for $315,000. Built in 2001, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,836 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $307,500.

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

Sud Stop Car Wash: 2742 LPGA Blvd. Photo by Travis Hurlbut

The new Panda Express in Daytona Beach opened on Dec. 9, 2025. Courtesy of Panda Express

REAL ESTATE

A house in Hammock Dunes

sells for $3.3M

Ahouse at 6 Cordoba Court, in Hammock Dunes, was the top real estate transaction for Nov. 22-28 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The house sold on Nov. 24, for $3,300,000. Built in 1997, the house is a 4/5 and has a pool, a hot tub, two fireplaces, an outdoor kitchen and 5,212 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $1,085,000.

Shore Blvd. sold on Nov. 28, for $1,060,000. Built in 1989, the house is a 3/3.5 and has a fireplace and 3,120 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $462,500.

PALM COAST

square feet. It sold in 2022 for $395,000.

A condo at 8 Oxford Lane sold on Nov. 26, for $146,000. Built in 1983, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,098 square feet. It sold in 2025 for $106,100.

A condo at 101 Palm Harbor Parkway, Unit C233, sold on Nov. 25, for $165,000. Built in 2005, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,250 square feet. It sold in 2023 for $225,000.

FLAGLER BEACH

Beach Park Village A house at 24 Signet Circle sold on Nov. 28, for $433,532. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,766 square feet.

Fuquay

A house at 1944 S. Ocean

Cypress Knoll A house at 9 Evanston Lane sold on Nov. 24, for $585,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,431 square feet.

Hammock Dunes

A house at 77 Island Estates Parkway sold on Nov. 25, for $1,600,000. Built in 2001, the house is a 4/4.5 and has a pool, a boat dock, a boat house, a boat lift, a hot tub, an outdoor kitchen and 4,149 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $1,150,000.

Lehigh Woods

A house at 30 Rolling Fern Drive sold on Nov. 28, for $288,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,535 square feet. It sold in 2023 for $302,000.

A house at 9 Rolls Royce Court S. sold on Nov. 25, for

$340,000. Built in 2022, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,650 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $341,000.

A house at 11 Russkin Lane sold on Nov. 26, for $310,000. Built in 2022, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,552 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $302,000.

A house at 53 Rockefeller Drive sold on Nov. 25, for $414,900. Built in 2025, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 2,208 square feet.

Matanzas Woods

A house at 91 Lancelot Drive sold on Nov. 26, for $370,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,829 square feet. It sold in 2024 for $350,000.

Pines Lakes

A house at 29 Wendover Lane sold on Nov. 28, for $290,990. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,574 square feet.

A house at 8 Wainmont Place sold on Nov. 24, for $375,000. Built in 1997, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,852 square feet.

A house at Woodfalon Place sold on Nov. 26, for $391,000. Built in 1999, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, a hot tub and 2,106 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $290,000.

Sawmill Branch

A house at 22 Sawdust Lane S. sold on Nov. 28, for $320,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,714 square feet.

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

PALM COAST

BEST ADVICE I EVER GOT

‘It’s your fault.’

Before Brett Snider got into the air conditioning business, he was a pastor.

One person he visited often while leading Trinity Lutheran Church, in Holly Hill, was a homebound woman. They got to know each other, and he confided that he was struggling to lose weight. She gave some simple advice: “Just eat one less cookie.”

That resonated with Snider, and he eventually saw that it was the same message he had learned from a social media influencer and author, Gary Vaynerchuk: “It’s your fault.”

“It’s my fault,” Snider said during a recent interview with the Observer, at the Arctic Breeze office, in Palm Coast.

“It’s my fault when I eat too much food, and that causes weight gain. It’s also my fault when I reel it back in and put the cookie down. And so, when you have that mentality, you know that there are controllables in this life. And so the things I can control are my fault. They’re my responsibility.”

Snider has lived in Palm Coast for 20 years and loves it because it’s the “perfect middle spot” between larger cities.

He still is connected to Volusia County, as he is a part-time associate pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, in South Daytona; and his children attend Riverbend Academy, in Ormond Beach.

Mark Eidman Jr. has owned Arctic Breeze since 2002, with his daughter, Erin, who is Snider’s wife. Today, it has grown to 30 employees and 16 trucks, serving Flagler and Eastern Volusia counties. Arctic Breeze, which does 90% of its business in residential installation and service, recently became a Carrier dealer, to go along with American Standard.

Snider is involved with many aspects of the business at Arctic Breeze: accounting, marketing, human resources. In all of those areas, he has learned to say to himself: “It’s your fault” — whether the outcome is good or bad.

He also preaches it to his children: Bad outcomes often feel like a crossroad. If we can use that moment as an opportunity, we can find peace about future outcomes.

“Find that crossroad,” Snider said. “And then when you look back and say, ‘Yeah, that was my fault; I caused that to happen,’ take some credit for it.” Visit arcticbreezeair.com or call 386-270-0375.

—BRIAN MCMILLLAN Email brian@observerlocal news.com.

YOUR TOWN

European Performing Arts group presents ‘A Christmas Carol’ European Performing Arts Conservatory will present its semi annual ballet production, “A Christmas Carol,” on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Seabreeze High School Theatre.

During the two shows — to be held at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. — EPAC will transform Charles Dickens’ holiday classic into a ballet experience, according to a press release.

The production features over 80 cast members, including dancers as young as 4 years old to professionals.

“We love creating performances that allow dancers of all ages to shine,” said artistic director and choreographer Kaley Marshall in the press release. “’A Christmas Carol’ is such a meaningful story to tell through movement. Watching our students grow, learn, and bring this classic to life has

been incredibly inspiring.”

In addition to Marshall, the production is choreographed and directed by Alex Reiter, Karyn Ruddy and Patricia Santamarina.

“Being part of EPAC for so long has been a true joy,” said Karyn Ruddy, who has been a part of EPAC for more than 15 years. “Watching our dancers grow year after year — both as artists and as individuals — is one of the most rewarding parts of this work.”

“Seeing our dancers connect with such a powerful story reminds us why we do what we do,” Santamarina added. “The community will

be moved by the magic that we have all created.”

EPAC, which has been around for 48 years, also announced it plans to expand.

The press release states that the conservatory will be enlarging its current space at 128 N. Nova Road in Ormond Beach by taking on the unit next door. This will allow for more classes and more students. Enrollment begins in January. Tickets for “A Christmas Carol” cost $31.95. Visit https://www.epaconservatory.com.

FCSO employees, community give over $40K for Shop with a Cop

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office will be able to take 145 children to its annual Shop with a Cop event thanks to the $40,000 donated by FCSO employees and other community members.

The 145 children who have been selected to participate — the most in the event’s history — will each receive a $275 gift card to spend during the shopping trip, a FCSO press release said. This is also the most the FCSO has been able to provide to participating kids.

Shop with a Cop is an annual event that helps disadvantaged children facing

economic hardships, are in foster care or are victims of domestic violence to experience a happy holiday, the press release said. The children are nominated by FCSO and Flagler Schools staff.

FCSO employees alone donated $26,020 to the Flagler Sheriff’s Children’s Charities for Shop with a Cop. The remaining funds were donated by local community organizations, businesses and individuals, the press release said.

“Shop with a Cop is an amazing event that we look forward to every year. This will be our biggest event yet, and we set new and exciting marks every year because of the generous support we receive from our team and our incredible community,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “To everyone who donated this year, big or small, I cannot thank you enough for supporting our mission to help children in need during the holidays.”

The 2025 Shop with a Cop will be held on Dec. 12. Deputies and police officers from across Flagler County and state law enforcement agencies will pick up children from their homes and bring them to the FCSO Operations Center for games and holiday activities. The kids will then ride in a motorcade to Walmart Supercenter in Palm Coast.

OF FLAGLER BEACH NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Brett Snider. Photo by Brian McMillan

Mr. Cratchit and Mrs. Cratchit with their kids including Tiny Tim. Photo courtesy of Jen Sabatini photography

Milestone night at FPC

Bulldogs give Coach Pete Hald his 550th career victory. Goalkeeper Natalie Neal also notched her 400th career save.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

As Flagler Palm Coast’s girls soccer game against Jacksonville Sandalwood progressed, it became evident that this would be the night that Bulldogs coach Pete Hald would attain the rare coaching milestone of 550 career wins.

What made this accomplishment even more uncommon was that Hald has achieved all 550 wins with the same school. He is in his 35th season as FPC’s girls soccer coach. With the 5-0 home victory against Sandalwood on Friday, Dec. 5, Hald improved his coaching record to 550 wins, 264 losses and 93 ties.

His players celebrated the moment by dumping a cooler of water over his head and presenting him with a poster recognizing the achievement and signed by each player.

“It was important to celebrate Coach Hald,” assistant coach Cat Bradley said. “It’s special that it happened at our home field. I had the sign made, and the girls were definitely all in. They wanted to celebrate.”

Junior Hailey Sammons who scored on a penalty kick and added an assist in the victory, said celebrating with their coach meant a lot to the team.

“I knew it was going to happen. I figured we would win at least eight games this year. I didn’t know we were going to win eight out of our first nine.”

“We want to give him as much as we can back, that he gives us,” she said. With the win, the Bulldogs remained undefeated at 8-01. They tied Bolles 0-0 on Dec. 9 to remain undefeated at 8-0-2.

Senior goalkeeper Natalie Neal also reached a milestone against Sandalwood with her 400th career save.

Neal needed two saves against to reach 400. Sandalwood had two shots on goal in the game. Neal, who will play for two-time Junior College national champ Daytona State College next year, made her second save of the game in the second half.

“Natalie’s been awesome,” Hald said of the fourth-year starter. “She’s had a tremendous career, and I know it’s not over, but it makes you very comfortable playing most teams when you have a keeper of that caliber. She’s a leader back there. I’m glad we’re having a good year for her.”

Indeed, the Bulldogs’ start is their best since they were 8-0-2 to start the 2013-14 season, the year they advanced

to the state semifinals. Their best start under Hald was in 2012 when they were 21-0-2 before losing their first game.

EARLIER THAN EXPECTED

Hald said he knew his 550th win was coming, but getting it this early in the season was a pleasant surprise.

“I figured we would win at least eight games this year,” he said. “I didn’t know we were going to win eight out of our first nine. I didn’t foresee that. But Wolfson beat us last year, and we turned around and beat them, Seabreeze beat us, and we tied them and New Smyrna beat us twice last year, so that road victory aganst the defending conference champs was nice.”

FPC beat New Smyrna Beach 2-1 on Dec. 2 to give Hald his 549th victory.

“There are so many things people don’t see that Coach does and all the hours he puts in,” said Bradley, who has coached with Hald for 15 years and played for him before that.

“... He’s a pretty loved guy.”

Eva Sites broke a scoreless tie against Sandalwood with about 15 minutes, 40 seconds

Last-minute goal gives FPC boys a 2-1 victory

Jonny Perez scored off a free kick to lift the Bulldogs to a comefrom-behind victory over Sandalwood.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jonny Perez scored a goal off a free kick with less than a minute left in the game to give Flagler Palm Coast a 2-1 victory over Jacksonville Sandalwood on Wednesday, Dec.

3, at FPC’s Sal Campanella Stadium.

It was the Bulldogs’ first victory over a News4-Jax Super 6 team in 11 years, FPC coach Ramtin Amiri said.

Amiri brought up both center backs, Spencer Zogg and Perez, for the final-minute free kick. Androw La Rosa took the free kick and played it to Zogg in the box. Zogg’s touch ended up in Perez’s path, Amiri said, and Perez fired a shot into the back of the net for his first goal. FPC handed Sandalwood its first loss of th season, and the

victory began a three-game win streak for the Bulldogs, who improved to 7-3 with wins over Providence and Mainland.

Sandalwood took a 1-0 lead over FPC on a penalty kick with 11:33 left in the first half.

FPC’s River Rodriguez tied the score with a goal off of Garrett Tucker’s assist in the second half. FPC goalie Teagan Paulo had four saves.

The Bulldogs played host to St. Augustine on Wednesday Dec. 10 and will have another home game against Spruce Creek at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11.

left in the first half. Laurelee Macleod made it 2-0 before the end of the first half.

After Sammons’ penalty kick, Katherine Ouellette scored with 17:42 left to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead. Ouellette put an exclamation point on the victory with her second goal with 3:13 remaining.

“We all play better if we have a goal in mind,” Sammons said. “We just love coming together. It’s just loving the game we play.”

Bradley said she didn’t want to talk too much about Hald’s upcoming milestone as to not put too much pressure on the players. Neal, who also received a commemorative poster, said she wasn’t told about her upcoming milestone until after the New Smyrna Beach game.

“I wasn’t really thinking about my stats,” she said. “But as I was going to sleep last night, I started thinking about it. ... I can get (two saves) in a breeze,” Neal said. I’m so glad Coach Hald got to 550. He’s a very great coach. And then 400 ... I feel like it’s just been a good night.”

“As I was going to sleep last night (on Dec. 4), I started thinking about it. I was, like, ‘Wow, I actually almost have 400 saves, that’s a lot.”

FPC’s girls soccer team signed a keepsake poster for coach Pete Hald commemorating his 550th career victory and posed with their coach after the win on Dec 5.

Photos by Brent Woronoff

FPC midfielder Dylan Hardesty (17) looks upfield as he battles with a Sandalwood player. Photos by Brent Woronoff

PETE HALD, FPC girls soccer coach

NATALIE NEAL, FPC goalkeeper

FPC players celebrate coach Pete Hald’s 550th victory with a post-game drenching.

FPC forward River Rodriguez (9) takes a shot on goal.

FPC girls team has teeth — just like its coach’s Sharks teams of the past

Bulldogs dominated Matanzas Pirates.

FPC’s smallest margin of victory this year is 14.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Veteran girls basketball coach

George Butts said his Flagler Palm Coast team is finally reminding him of his dominating squads at Atlantic High School.

Butts and his longtime assistant Mike Ebert are in their third year at FPC, and the Bulldogs are looking like playoff contenders. They dispatched Flagler County rival Matanzas 64-17 at home on Friday, Dec. 5, to improve to 3-0.

It was the 580th career win for Butts, who is in his 30th year coaching high school girls basketball. He is just four wins behind former DeLand boys coach John Zeoli for the most wins by a Volusia-Flagler high school coach, Ebert said.

FPC’s closest margin of victory so far this season is 14 points (62-48 over Oviedo on Dec. 4). The Bulldogs are averaging 63 points per game while holding their opponents to 26 points per game.

“We’re not there yet. (The players) think that they are there, but they’re not there yet.”

Junior guard Ava Works

drained four 3-pointers and scored 20 points in the win against the Pirates (3-2) — FPC’s fourth straight against Matanzas. Tori Spann, who missed most of last season with an ACL tear, scored 12 points, all in the first half, and Calvary Christian transfer Lexi Brown added 11 points. Kaylina Vitt led Matanzas with eight points. FPC led 44-9 at the half. With a 35-point margin, the second half was played with a running clock.

Works, who has been with the Bulldogs since Butts arrived, is excited about the new-look team. Freshman Stephanie Turner has taken over the point guard position allowing Works to move to shooting guard. And the addition of Brown and Spann’s return have given the Bulldogs an inside presence.

“The chemistry is amazing,” Works said. “Everything just snapped together. It was super quick considering our circumstances. We work together very, very well.”

Spann hasn’t missed a beat, Butts said.

“She’s come back, like she’s never been hurt,” he said. Brown, Butts said, “is something to deal with.” And he compared Turner to former Atlantic point guard Destiny Woodard, who helped lead the Sharks to the 2013 final four.

Works, who averaged 12.4 points per game last season, said having Turner running

the offense, has allowed her to set up for her shot.

“It’s really nice because I’m a shooter at heart,” she said.

But when her shot’s not falling, the Bulldogs have other options. Nine players scored against the Pirates.

“(Against Oviedo), Ava only had one point. She did more on the defensive end and assisting,” Butts said. “You can’t watch her now, because we got other scorers. If you pick her up, the other ones can score, so that makes a difference. Basically, there are five that are able to score on the floor.”

That includes senior Nereyda Campos, the Bulldogs’ flag football star who joined the basketball team last year.

“Last year was her first year playing basketball, ever,” Works said. “She works really hard. If you were to go to war, you would take her with you. She’s very strong and dependable.

“It’s just all working together,” Works added. “We have all the parts that we need. I think we can go far this year. I know we can go far this year. I’m very confident in our team.”

“When I got here, I wanted to implement the type of basketball we played at Atlantic. We wanted to play up tempo, pressure basketball, and push teams to do what they don’t want to do. And we’re getting there.”

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

If the Flagler Palm Coast High School boys wrestling team is to have a successful duals season, it will likely need contributions from its freshmen.

Four freshmen were in the Bulldogs’ lineup against Fleming Island in FPC’s first competition of the 2025-2026 season, and three of them won their matches.

“Those guys are pretty tough wrestlers, but you come in, it’s your first high school match where you got friends and family in the stands, and it’s a whole different envi -

ronment. They handled it very well,” FPC coach David Bossardet said. FPC defeated Fleming Island 64-12 at the Bulldogs’ main gym on Wednesday, Dec. 3. FPC won 12 of 14 matches. Freshmen Buster Bossardet

(8-5 decision at 126 pounds), Jacob Hald (17-2 technical fall at 2:00 at 106 pounds) and Jojo Foalima (pin in 33 seconds at 175 pounds) all began their high school wrestling careers with a victory. Foalima had the most antic-

ipated debut.

“He could be the best one to ever come through this program,” David Bossardet said without a trace of hyperbole, while recognizing the parade of state champs that the Bulldogs have produced over the years.

“He’s come up through our kids club,” Bossardet said. “When I took over this program, there were a lot of coaches after him to come wrestle somewhere else, and he stuck it out with me. He was a fifth grader at that point. He, Buster and Jacob all came up together. And now, hopefully, we’ll see the benefits of that.

175-pound match with a pin in 33

JoJo Foalima did what he was expected to do, and I’m excited for his high school career.”

The Bulldogs’ other winners in their opener were: Robert Twilley (pin in 1:34 at 132 pounds), Lenny Fries (5-4 decision at 138 pounds), Michael Fries (pin in 1:35 at 150 pounds), Gabriel Moy (pin in 3:27 at 157 pounds), Ronden Ricks (18-3 technical fall at 4:24 at 165 pounds), Doyvonne Leadon (pin in 2:31 at 190 pounds), Aidan Korth (pin in 31 seconds at 285 pounds), Joseph Dailey (pin in 33 seconds at 113 pounds) and Kevin McLean (pin in 1:10 at 120 pounds).

FPC went undefeated in the Friday Knight Lights duals tournament at Oakleaf High in Clay County on Dec. 5, defeating Camden County Georgia in the championship match 47-25. On the way to the final, the Bulldogs defeated Oakleaf B 68-5, Orange Park 69-6, Mandarin 77-6 and Oakleaf 59-23. The Bulldogs will wrestle in the District 2-3A duals championships on Dec. 11 at Gainesville Buchholz.

“We’re usually competing with Buchholz for a district title or a region title, so I think it’s going to be the same way this year,” Bossardet said.

FPC’s Tori Spann drives between Matanzas players. Photos by Keishia McLendon

GEORGE BUTTS, FPC girls basketball coach

FPC’s Ava Works (1) shoots a jumper from the elbow.

Freshman Jojo Foalima won the

seconds.

Jacob Hald won by technical fall in the 106-pound match. Photo by Brent Woronoff

FPC’s Michael Fries pinned David Charles in 1:35 at 150 pounds.

opener.

SIDELINES

won the 155-pound championship at Freedom High with a 7-4 decision in sudden victory overtime against Lake Mary’s Zaria Slater. She pinned her three opponents en route to the final. Calidonio won the 170-pound championship in Orlando with a 7-2 decision in the final against Aurora Edwards of Brantley County, Georgia. Calidonio pinned her first three opponents.

Joslyn Johnson, who won the 105-pound title at the Flagler Rotary, placed second at Let Freedom Ring. Breanna Higgins of Camden County, Georgia, pinned Johnson at 5:44 in the championship match. Johnson pinned her first three opponents.

Matanzas’ Cardy Michel placed third at 125 pounds at Let Freedom Ring. Michel came back from an opening loss with four wins and a technical fall. She pinned Jada Williams of Aquilla Morgan High School in 51 seconds in the consolation final.

New football classification S

The Florida High School Athletic Association set tentative classifications and district assignments for the 2026 and 2027 football seasons. There will be one fewer classification next year for a total of seven — Rural and 1-6A. Flagler Palm Coast and

Mainland have been placed in the District 2-6A with DeLand, Ocala Forest and Spruce Creek. Matanzas was placed in District 3-5A with Belleview, Gainesville Buchholz, Orange Park Oakleaf, Ocala South Marion and Ocala West Port. Seabreeze has been placed in District 6-4A with Orlando Bishop Moore, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach, Pine Ridge, Seabreeze and winter Springs. The schools will have a chance to appeal their placements.

Matanzas, FPC win weightlifting matches

Matanzas and Flagler Palm Coast hosted girls weightlifting tri-matches on Dec. 3. Matanzas won both the Olympic and traditional competitions against DeLand and Bartram Trail. Amara Nagel won both titles at 119 pounds, and Katelyn Meeks swept the titles at 183 pounds for the Pirates. Chloe Cheeks (101), Elaine Padilla (110) and Jordyn Crews (139) won traditional titles. Ella Raffo (unlimited) won the Olympic title. FPC defeated Palatka and

Menendez in Olympic and finished two points behind Palatka in traditional. Alexcia Lilavois (101), Angelis Rosa (110) and Lillian Ames (139) won both titles. Nya Williams (119) competed only in Olympic, winning with a 260-pound total. Aaradhana Moluguri (119) and Brianna Long (169) won in traditional.

Bulldog achievers

FPC senior swimmer Matilda Noble set a school record this past season with a time of 1:00.05 in the 100 butterfly.

FPC graduate Colby Cronk, a freshman defensive end who was redshirted this year at North Carolina State, was one of three Wolfpack players named Swole Patrol Development Squad Players of the Year.

Record numbers for Mad Dogs Flag Football

Mad Dogs Flag Football

President Jay Maxwell said he’s always wanted to see the league surpass 400 players. But registration for the upcoming winter season has been more than a pleasant surprise. A total of 455 players registered surpassing the league’s record of 393 and blowing past the winter

season average of 295, Maxwell said.

Here are some other notable numbers for the winter season: The 13U division typically has 65 players. This season it will have double that. There are typically 22 teams in the winter. This season, there will be 50. A total of 115 volunteers signed up for the season.

“It’s unbelievable,” Maxwell said. “We weren’t expecting it at all.”

The winter season runs from Jan. 9 to March 7, 2026, on Friday nights at Ralph Carter Park in Palm Coast with divisions for 4U, 6U, 8U, 10U, 13U and 17U. Games will start at 6 p.m. with six fields going at once, Maxwell said.

“The high school kids will start last. We’re hoping to be out before the lights go out at 10:15,” he said.

The men’s and women’s adult leagues have also expanded. The adults will play on Wednesday nights at Ralph Carter Park beginning Jan. 7. This is the second season that Mad Dogs will have a women’s league and it has grown from two teams to four to six teams for the winter, Maxwell said.

Mad Dogs will host a free all-girls flag football clinic for ages 5-17 on Jan. 10, 9 a.m. to noon, at Ralph Carter Park.

The winter season’s growth follows a record year with a total 1,300 registrations and over 333 volunteers for the

winter, spring and fall seasons in 2025, Maxwell said. Mad Dogs began in 2018.

For more information, go to maddogsfootball.net/info/ Swim Across America, at Speedway

Nearly 3,000 athletes participated in one or more CLASH Endurance events Dec. 5-7 at Daytona International Speedway. More than 1,200 participated in the Jingle Jog 5K on Friday, Dec. 5, at One Daytona. The course included more than 1 million holiday lights and cookies-and-milk

stations from Halifax Health. Saturday’s activities included competitive and recreational triathlons and duathlons.

On Sunday, swimmers of all ages dove into the speedway’s Lake Lloyd in a Swim Across America event to raise money for pediatric cancer research and the NASCAR Foundation. Olympic swimmers Jarrod Shoemaker (2008), Craig Beardsley (1980) and Paige Zemina Northcutt (1988) served as “swim angels” for anyone that wanted a swim buddy. Email sports news to Brent Woronoff at brent@ observerlocalnews.com

FPC’s Alexa Calidonio, here winning the 170-pound championship at the Flagler Rotary Girls Invitational on Nov. 25, won a second title along with teammate Alisha Vilar at the Let Freedom Ring tournament on Dec. 6. File photo by Brent Woronoff

Swimmers complete their swim in Lake Lloyd at Daytona International Speedway on Dec. 7 in a Swim Across America event as part of a CLASH Endurance weekend. Courtesy photo

Ownership

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Items under $200

PLANT LADY HAS ASSORTED PLANTS FOR SALE!!! Elephant

Ears, Snake Plants, Plus Many Other Types of Plants. Call for Appointment. Starting at $1 PC 814-574-6387

7.5 Pre Lit Xmas Tree Tree has 3 settings white lights, color lights and both. $50 (386) 569-6795

Aquarium Complete setup with fish $99 (386) 597-4801

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New Char-Broiled Grill 2 Burner With Side Shelves With Full Propane Tank $150 Call Landline Please

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Set of 4 Yokohama tires225/60 R18 tires at 5/32nds (approx 25,000 miles left). $100.00 or best offer. (386)283-7172

Scotts Turf Builder Fertilizer Never Used, $20. 386-586-8745

Fish Tank 28 gal. Complete w/ fish $99 (386) 597-4801

2 Bedside Tables Good quality, drawers with glass ball handles off white $40 (407) 687-4739

White Wicker Rocking Chair W/ Cushion and Small Table Like New $189 For Both. 386-597-7579

CITY OF FLAGLER BEACH NOTICE OF PUBLIC

CITY OF FLAGLER BEACH NOTICE OF FUTURE LAND

USE MAP AMENDMENT CITY COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

The City Commission proposes to adopt Ordinance No 2025-25 Entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FLAGLER BEACH FLORIDA AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 544.97 ACRES OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY; PROVIDING

FIRST INSERTION

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 CA 000076 PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff, vs. CONSTANT C. VAN HOEVEN, AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE LIVING TRUST AGREEMENT OF CORNELIS C. FRANK AND CATHARINA F. FRANK, DATED FEBRUARY 22, 1993, et al. Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated November 06, 2025, and entered in 2025 CA 000076 of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH Judicial Circuit in and for Flagler County, Florida, wherein PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION is the Plaintiff and CONSTANT C. VAN HOEVEN, AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE LIVING TRUST AGREEMENT OF CORNELIS C. FRANK AND CATHARINA F. FRANK, DATED FEBRUARY 22, 1993; CONSTANT C. VAN HOEVEN; BERNARDUS F. FRANK; JAN H. VAN HOEVEN; CAROLINA A. SCHILLEMANSFRANK; CHRISTIANUS C. FRANK; TINA M. ORTIZ; PILAR A. ORTIZ are the Defendant(s). TOM W. BEXLEY as the Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at https://flagler.realforeclose.com, at 11:00 AM, on January 09, 2026, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 4, BLOCK 67, PALM COAST MAP OF EASTHAMPTON, SEC-

TION 34, A SUBDIVISION, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 11, AT PAGE 36, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA. Property Address: 10 ELLIOT PLACE, 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 in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 45.031. IMPORTANT AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to access court facilities or participate in a court proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. To request such an accommodation, please contact Court Administration in advance of the date the service is needed: Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste D-305, Deland, FL 32724, (386) 257-6096. Hearing or voice impaired, please call 711. Dated this 8 day of December, 2025. ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33487 Telephone: 561-241-6901 Facsimile: 561-997-6909 Service Email: flmail@raslg.com By: \S\Danielle Salem Danielle Salem, Esquire Florida Bar No. 0058248 Communication Email: dsalem@raslg.com 24-266323 December 11, 18, 2025 25-00305G

Nelliana Calvert 7763-328907 Dec. 11, 2025 PUBLIC NOTICE $4,040.05 USD was seized via search warrant by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. A portion of the funds originated from a victim located in Flagler County which were taken fraudulently and under false pretenses between August 12, 2025, and August 14, 2025. 7763-328543 Dec. 11, 18, 2025

Request for Proposals

Architectural/Engineering Services

The Palatka Housing Authority formally requests competitive proposals from licensed, qualified, responsible firms interested in providing a full service approach in the execution of PHA plans for miscellaneous projects as defined in the Public Housing Comprehensive Grant Program Handbook 7485.3 of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Respondents will be evaluated based on the A/E’s ability to perform the work, past performance, state certification, program familiarity, and availability. Selection will be in accordance with Competitive Proposal Procedures in HUD Handbook, 24 CFR 85.36 (d) (3) (v), Procurement for Public Housing Agencies.

Each Proposer should submit an original and two (2) copies of its Proposal to Palatka Housing Authority, attention: Willie Mae Thomas, Procurement Officer, 400 N. 15th Street, Palatka, FL 32177. Proposals will be accepted until Proposals will be accepted until 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), Monday January 12, 2025

Proposals must be clearly marked –“Architectural and Engineering Services” and sent to: Willie Mae Thomas, Procurement Officer, Palatka Housing Authority 400 N. 15th St., Palatka, FL 32177.

A copy of the proposal packet will be on available Thursday, December 11, 2025 for pickup at the PHA office and on the PHA website: www.palatkaha.org

The PHA reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to waive any informality thereto and to select the proposal that is in the best interest of the PHA. The PHA is an EOE Employer and DF Workplace. The PHA has a goal and policies encouraging participation of small, minority, and women-owned businesses in the provision of goods and services.

7763-328667 Dec. 11, 18, 2025

NOTICE OF RULE DEVELOPMENT BY THE GRAND HAVEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO STORMWATER RULES

The Board of Supervisors of the Grand Haven Community Development District (“District”) provides notice that it intends to develop rule amendments which amend District’s Rules regarding Surface Water Management

Systems, Drainage Easements and Encroachments on District Property.

The proposed rule will amend certain requirements regarding drainage easements and will codify the District’s fishing policies within the stormwater rule, moving them from the District’s Rules, Policies and Fees for All Amenity Facilities Specific legal authority for the rule includes Sections 190.011(5), 190.012(3), 120.54, and 120.81, Florida Statutes (2023).

Any person who wishes to provide the District with a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative as provided by Section 120.541(1), Florida Statutes (2025), or any person who wishes to request a public hearing on the proposed rule amendments, must do so in writing within twenty-one (21) days after publication of this notice.

A copy of the proposed rule may be obtained by contacting the District Manager at 250 International Parkway, Suite 208, Lake Mary, FL 32746, (321) 263-0132 ext. 193, or by email at dmcinnes@vestapropertyservices.com.

District Manager Grand Haven Community Development District December 11, 2025 7763-328903 Dec. 11, 2025