PALM COAST
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 15, NO. 29
Late heroics: FPC over MHS 6B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025
Norris after boat parade: ‘It will grow again’ Rejoicing is mixed with frustration, after Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade shrinks in 42nd year PAGE 3A INSIDE
In the spirit
IN SEARCH OF AN INDUSTRIAL BOOST
Flagler Sheriff’s Shop with a Cop brings the holiday spirit to 145 Flagler children. PAGE 1B
Palm Coast Council designates Tract 17 as Brownfield Area to help spur economic growth. PAGE 4A
ORMOND DEFENDS STOPPING DEPUTY
Flagler detective suspended without pay for ‘unbecoming conduct’ following Dec. 4 arrest. PAGE 6A
KEEPING IT FUNKY IN FLAGLER BEACH
Flagler Beach, Funky Pelican tentatively agree on lease contract that could last until 2057. PAGE 10A
‘IT’S A BIG DEAL’: 30 SIGNATURES NEEDED Flagler County needs 30 more easements for next beach renourishment phase. PAGE 9A
FOCUS ON FAITH: LIVING NAVITY
Parkview Church hosted the Palm Coast Living Nativity with the help of 200 volunteers. PAGE 12A
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS IN PALM COAST Palm Coast community celebrates festival of lights at Chabad Chanukah Jewish Festival. PAGE 12A
500 WREATHS LAID IN FLAGLER
Wreaths Across America honor fallen veterans at Flagler Memorial Gardens. PAGE 1B
BULLDOGS THRIVE ON THE MATS
Flagler Palm Coast wrestlers win district duals title for third year in a row. PAGE 8B
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 3B Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner................PAGE 2A Crossword.................. PAGE 4C Letters....................... PAGE 11A Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Sports......................... PAGE 6B Tributes ...................... PAGE 2C Real Estate................. PAGE 4B
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The FCSO Grinch showed up once again at Shop with a Cop. Courtesy of the FCSO
Q + A LAUREN JOHNSTON, PALM COAST ACTING CITY MANAGER
‘I’m stronger than I think’ BRIAN MCMILLAN Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston received a plaque from the council in honor of her tenure as acting city manager. Photo by Sierra Williams
PUBLISHER
W
ith the hiring of Mike McGlothlin as the next city manager of Palm Coast, Lauren Johnston will transition back to being assistant city manager. As a member of city staff for the past 17 years, Johnston has worked in Parks and Recreation, then chief of staff, then assistant city manager, and, since March 2024, as acting city manager. She and Communications Director Brittany Kershaw met with the Palm Coast Observer on Dec. 12. What follows is an edited transcript of the interview. For more, see Page 4A This is your final meeting as acting city manager. What’s the best and worst part of that change? JOHNSTON: The best part is
we’re adding another person to the team and we’re all excited for that. It’s wonderful to have somebody come in with fresh perspective. I’m the person that is: “Upset status quo.” There’s always ways that we can do things better and ways to improve. The worst part of it: While my time in the role has definitely had its challenging times and some people being not so nice, I felt like I was really making a difference. And not that I’m not making a difference in my secondary role, but I guess that’s a little bit hard.
What’s one thing you learned
about city staff while you have been acting city manager? JOHNSTON: They’re resilient.
They’re adaptable to change, but change is hard and they count on you to be their advocate, or their spokesperson. And being the spokesperson for 600 plus employees, that’s a lot of pressure. But at the end of the day, I’m one of those employees, and I’m making sure that I’m advocating for what’s best.
What’s something you learned about yourself? JOHNSTON: I’m stronger than I
think. I definitely had moments where I was ready to throw the towel in, and I didn’t.
Brittany, what’s one thing you learned about Lauren in the past
couple years? KERSHAW: I don’t think there’s
anything that she can’t learn. In her previous roles as chief of staff and as assistant city manager, I think that she oversaw a lot, but since she’s been in this role, she’s had to really understanding how our entire utility system works, understanding how development works and property rights and land use and all of these things. She’s like a sponge; she can absorb anything and retain it and communicate it in a way that’s understandable on the fly. I don’t think many people have that quality. What is Lauren’s leadership style? KERSHAW: I think it is um oh how
can I phrase it? She has a way of leading by bringing you into her vision. So she is not the type of leader who will demand action,
but she’s somebody who can help you see her vision and get you on board with it so that you are ready to execute with her. What impact do you hope to make as assistant city manager in the next year or so? JOHNSTON: There’s only one of
me, but I’ve been doing multiple things. Things have fallen through the cracks or I haven’t been able to spend enough time on it, whether it’s strategizing on a particular project — or even just customer service and how we can improve incrementally there. I don’t get to spend any time on that, or accountability, or those things that our executive team done. Just to be able to slow down a little bit, take one thing, dissect it and solve it all the way through, when it’s not haphazard or rushed. I think it’s going to make us better.