PALM COAST
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 47
Happy holidays, from the Observer family
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025
TEACHERS OF THE YEAR What motivates our best teachers to teach? Inside, a conversation with each school’s nominee: PAGES 1B-6B
No appetite for 13 more homes
More than just the lights Fantasy Lights has raised $375,000 over the last 20 years. PAGE 3A
Planning Board says new market pressures are not a good reason to add density PAGE 2A INSIDE $325K SCHOLARSHIP Flagler Palm Coast High student, Syed Haider, wins prestigious QuestBridge College Match scholarship to Cornell University PAGE 4A
IB REUNION
Flagler Palm Coast holds IB Diploma Ceremony for 2025 graduates PAGE 4A
NEW AND IMPROVED
Palm Coast Dunkin’ celebrates re-opening after remodeling PAGE 7B
Flagler County Commissioner Leann Pennington with Palm Coast Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri and Councilman Ty Miller hand out candy to festival goers. Photo by Sierra Williams
CHIPOTLE PROGRESS Future Chipotle could open next summer PAGE 7B
100TH SALLY
A golf tradition in Ormond’s Oceanside Country Club PAGE 7B
Celebrating St. Elizabeth 50 years in Ann Seton’s Father Jose the priesthood PAGE 8A
SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
INDEX
Business......................PAGE 7B Calendar......................PAGE 5A Cops Corner................PAGE 2A Crossword.................. PAGE 4C Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Sports......................... PAGE 8B Tributes ...................... PAGE 2C Real Estate................. PAGE 6A
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GratitudeAmerica raises 50K
Father Jose Panthaplamthottiyil. Photo by Brian McMillan
The sixth annual GratitudeAmerica Charity Golf Tournament at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa has raised $50,000 for veterans, and has received an additional $15,000 donation from The Hammock’s Lori Fund. The $50,000 raised at the Nov. 11 Veterans Day tournament is a 15% increase over the previous year’s raised funds, GratitudeAmerica Board Chairman Stephen Gallagher said, and stems solely from the 175 event donors. The money raised will fund two GratitudeAmerica MSR retreats for veterans. When he started with GratitudeAmerica, he said he’d never dreamed it would be so successful. “It’s mainly because of the very generous community that we have,” Gallagher said. “We have a lot of people that really want to give back.” GratitudeAmerica is a nonprofit organization that sup-
ports reintegration of veterans and first responders through three main programs: The Fallen, the MSR Retreats, and the Warrior PATHH. The tournament originally raised under $20,000 in the first year and used just one of the resort’s golf courses. Now it is so popular they have had to spread across two of Hammock Beach Resort’s golf courses. This is also the third year in a row the Lori Fund has made a donation, Gallagher said. Lori Fund founder Frank Petruno said that over the years Gallagher has become a great friend and he “understands the commitment to help our veterans,” who go are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder issues or need help readjusting to society. Gallagher is an army veteran who served in active duty from 1980-1984. “That’s my motivation is that I can give back and raise money, and know it’s going to a great cause,” he said. Email sierra@observerlocal news.com.