Palm Coast Observer 2-2-23

CITY WATCH

Council reviews open record laws

Palm Coast City Council members spent their special workshop on Tuesday in the Sunshine. Or, rather, they spent it reviewing Florida’s Sunshine laws.

City Attorney Neysa Borkert and City Manager Denise Bevan spent the special workshop on Jan. 31 reviewing the legal requirements council members face.

agreed.

“It’s up to the media and their opponents to dive into them, if they desire,” Danko said. “I just think that’s a place we should not go.”

TENNIS TOURNAMENT RETURN

The Palm Coast Open Men’s 15K Tournament is returning for another round on Feb. 6.

Computer, tech classes coming to public library

The Flagler County Public Library is once again hosting technology classes at the Palm Coast branch.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Palm Coast adds group for visually impaired

Palm Coast is continuing to grow its programming at the Palm Coast Community Center, starting with a new support group for the visually impaired.

The program is designed for the visually impaired and will begin at 11 a.m. on Jan. 31, according to a press release from the city. The condition is one of the leading causes of loss of independence among people over 65.

Meetings will be on the last Tuesday of every month. New participants are welcome; those interested can register by calling the Community Center at 386-986-2323.

The support group aims to be a place of support and a respite from the isolation and difficulty that can come with living with a visual impairment, the press release said.

“Visual impairment affects many residents here in Palm Coast, so we are happy to offer this program where we are hopefully able to address their needs as well as a place for support from other members of the community that endure the same challenges,” Community Center Supervisor Carrie Todd said.

To adhere to procedural due process requirements for quasi-judicial matters — like rezoning requests — the city will have witnesses and applicants sworn in before they begin, Borkert said.

“Moving forward, we’ll be asking applicants if they will either swear in or they can waive the swearing in,” Borkert said.

After reviewing the procedures and regulations they must follow, council members considered changing a few processes, like adding in a moment of silence after the pledge and revising the order in which presentations are made. The council also considered adding an invocation of some kind, like many other boards and commissions do.

Borkert said that because of separation of church and state, a specific policy would need to be written, based on case law. But as long as the invocation does not exclude anyone, it could be added, she said.

“As long as you’re meeting certain metrics with the policy, then it can be implemented,” she said.

SUNSHINE LAW

Local elected officials in the state of Florida are bound by Florida’s public records laws, known as the Sunshine law. All communication between elected officials on the same board must be in a public forum because of these laws.

Even something as innocuous as hitting “reply all” on an email is a violation, City Attorney Neysa Borkert said.

Here are some of the parameters City Council members must follow:

At the end of the meeting, Mayor David Alfin brought up a concern a resident had asked him about. City employees are required to undergo background checks, and the question was whether elected officials should, as well, after an election is won.

Vice Mayor Ed Danko did not think that would make sense.

“It’s just not our job,” Danko said. “We’re not being hired by an organization; we’re being elected by the public”

Danko said it’s up to the individuals to run their campaigns. The other council members

„ The law applies to any gathering of two or more members of the same council

„ It prohibits any knowing communication between members, outside of a public forum, about items that could reasonably come before the board

„ Text messages, emails, phone calls, social media or using a messenger can all count as violations

„ No communicating about board items is allowed during meeting recesses, and "completed" items should not be discussed after meetings.

The Palm Coast Tennis Center is hosting the tournament again for the 12th year. The tournament is a United States Tennis Association men’s pro-circuit tournament, according to a press release from the city.

Players are competing for a $15,000 grand prize and points toward their Association of Tennis Professionals ranking. The ATP ranking is a merit-based method determining a player’s tournament entry and ranking. Players can gain or lose points — and thus ranks — based on how well they do in professional tournaments.

The tournament will begin with a “Wild Card” qualifying round on Feb. 4 and 5, when amateur tennis players vie for two spots in the qualifying rounds. The winner of the Wild Card qualifier will receive a champion spot in the main draw, and the runner-up will receive entry into the qualifier, the press release said.

On Monday, Feb. 6, the tournament’s main draw begins at 10 a.m. and plays through Sunday, Feb. 12. The semifinals will run on the Feb. 10-11, with the finals and award presentation taking place on the Feb. 12.

A food truck will be on site providing snacks, meals, and drinks for purchase, the press release said. Residents are encouraged to come out to watch the tournament, but parking is limited. Additional parking will be available at Lehigh Trailhead, off of Belle Terre Parkway.

The Palm Coast Open is sponsored by AdventHealth Palm Coast, Flagler Broadcasting and Friends of Tennis. the press release said.

Tennis Expo Day will be on the 11th and feature fun, free activities for kids and special presentations by the Special Olympics players, the press release said.

The classes will cover mobile technology and computer classes, focusing on teaching and improving the skills needed to keep in touch remotely, according to a press release from Flagler County.

The first class starts on Feb. 1, and residents are only required to sign up in advance for the computer-based classes, because of space limitations.

Chief of Special Projects and Library Director Holly Albanese said that the county is happy to have these classes, since the skills are more universal, postpandemic.

“We learned the value and necessity of staying connected with one another during the pandemic, and the way we interact has changed,” Albanese said. “There now seems to be a universal expectation that everyone has some level of technical ability.”

Most classes are held 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, but there are some classes offered from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

The mobile-technology classes do not require advanced signup, as participants must bring their own smart phone or tablet, the press release said. Signup for the computer classes can be done up to one month before the class date.

Classes are typically limited to six, but couples usually have allowances because they can share, Saloom said.

The full class schedules are available online and at the library’s Palm Coast branch at 2500 Palm Coast Parkway, the press release said.

. Photo by Sierra Williams

Vice Mayor Ed Danko

Preliminary design for Flagler Beach pier adds 10 feet in height

The pier is currently just under 18 feet tall. If FEMA allows, the design will also make the pier 5 feet wider.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The design for the Flagler Beach pier has one main focus: resiliency.

The company leading the design process is Moffatt & Nichol, an infrastructure advisory firm. Gabriel Perdomo, the project manager with Moffatt & Nichol, said that they are looking to preserve as much of the pier as they can and build it with the community in mind.

At the meeting on Jan. 31, Perdomo

and the Moffatt & Nichol team were hoping to share the preliminary design with the community and hear their feedback, questions and concerns. The small room in the senior center off of South Daytona Avenue was packed with interested residents.

City Manager William Whitson said the meeting was the first step in a long process.

“We want to get your ideas, your thoughts flowing,” Whitson said, “so that we can make this the biggest and best pier that we can in Flagler Beach.”

The first 100 feet of the wooden pier will be restored and reinforced, Perdomo said. The remaining 700 feet — assuming FEMA will allow a full rebuild — will be replaced with a concrete pier that meets modern

codes and engineering practices, and elevated 10 feet, with an interface connecting the original section to the new one.

The firm is also looking to expand the width of the pier from 20 feet to 25 feet and add a 20-by-32 foot “T-head” at the end of the pier for fishermen.

The updated design is also intended to withstand rising wave-heights of 100-year storm events.

Assistant Project Manager Jackie Brower, a coastal engineer, said that historic storm events have statistically changed how the firm designs piers. Florida has seen eight major storms that FEMA has allocated funding for in the last seven years, Brower said.

Coastal engineers use data from wave events to design their piers. Before 2017, she said, large-scale wave events had a 20-year return — now, they’re at a six-year return.

“We do know that intense storms are happening more frequently,” Brower said. “Fundamentally, we have to shift our design, as engineers.”

“We do know that intense storms are happening more frequently. Fundamentally, we have to shift our design, as engineers.”

‘Going

Elevating the pier an extra 10 feet — for a 28-foot elevation — keeps the substructure from being submerged by large wave events, Brower said. A 100-year wave event would almost completely cover the pier at its current height, Perdomo said.

“We want survivability; we don’t want to be rebuilding these projects as often as we do,” he said.

Moffatt & Nichol is also looking to add break-away decking that will pop off during a wave event, which would protect the substructure from damage and be easier and cheaper to fix afterward, Brower said.

Perdomo said the engineers want to minimize environmental, operational and public impacts during construction.

“That includes keeping the Funky Pelican open, that includes consideration of the businesses that are in and around that area during construction,” Perdomo said.

The timeline is aggressive. The firm is concurrently working the design and permitting processes, placing the project out to bid in January 2024. Perdomo said the firm hopes the project can be under construction by summer 2024 and be complete by the end of 2025.

Perdomo also said the firm is going to preserve as much of the integrity of the original pier as possible. Not only are the engineers keeping the first 100 feet and the iconic A-frame

intact, the engraved planks that line the pier now — donated from residents — will not be thrown away. Instead, city staff will be trying to return any removed planks to their owners. Some planks have already been lost because of the storms, Whitson said — but even some of the ones ripped away were recovered from the surf and beach.

Kee Shell, 33, is an Ormond Beach resident, but he said that he has been fishing at this pier since he was 12. Several of his friends and loved ones have engraved planks on that pier, he said, and he’s glad to know they won’t be tossed aside.

“That means the world,” Shell said. “That pier is literally my childhood.” Moffatt & Nichol is also looking at what other options the firm could add down the line to make the pier better for its residents, Perdomo said. It’s considering shading options, fish cleaning stations, options for adding solar or wind-powered energy, under-lighting — even creating a small event space to make the pier more usable for non-fishermen.

Perdomo said that the design team hopes to get feedback from the community on these ideas to help finalize design.

The team is also looking to host another community meeting in the summer, he said.

in circles’: Flagler Beach city manager remains under scrutiny

William Whitson received his initial review in July and will face a follow-up review on Feb. 9. Part of the issue with his performance, Whitson said, is that the city is short-staffed.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Flagler Beach Commission will conclude its city manager’s performance review at a Feb. 9 commission meeting. Commissioner Deborah Phillips began a discussion at a Jan. 2 meeting to follow up the performance review for City Manager William Whitson. Phillips also asked Whitson if he needed additional help.

In a statement explaining her reasoning for the agenda item, Phillips said she didn’t want things to slip

anymore.

“I want you, city manager, to be proactive in your job,” she said, “not reactive in your day.”

Whitson received a performance review in July 2022, when the commission gave him instructions on how to improve his performance.

He overall rating “meets job standards,” Phillips said, with one commissioner giving him a “needs improvement” score, four commissioners rating him average “meets job standards,” and one giving him an “exceeds standards.”

The review came after several slipups on Whitson’s end in 2022 — like missing the application deadline for a grant in the beginning of the year — and the commission originally intended to do a 90-day review of his progress since then. Because of the hurricanes last fall, the review, like many items, was pushed to the back burner.

Whitson joined Flagler Beach as its city manager in May 2021. The spot sat empty for more than eight months after the previous city

“There’s no administrative support, there’s no bandwidth, there’s no structure in place to help them.”

WILLIAM WHITSON, city manager

manager, Larry Newsom, died in August 2020. Whitson inherited several issues from the previous administration, he said. Commission Chair Ken Bryan agreed, saying problems had built up in the absence of a city manager.

“The city was in a hole for a while,” Bryan said.

Whitson told the commissioners that he is trying to dig them out of that hole, but part of the issue is the city’s short staffing.

The department supervisors and team leads — who would normally be able to assist the city manager with smaller projects — are out in the field instead, he said, leaving Whitson with many projects he has to handle himself instead of delegating.

“There’s no administrative support, there’s no bandwidth, there’s no structure in place to help them,” Whitson said.

But at the same time as the city is understaffed, the city’s website only has three job positions listed as available for applications.

Staffing falls under the city manager’s purview.

Cooley said that the city can’t expect to find new employees until the city has completed the competitive pay analysis that has been in the works since the summer.

Whitson delayed starting that analysis until the new fiscal year in October instead of requesting the funding to begin it right away. It was then further delayed by the hurricanes. “We have more positions now than

we have had in a very long time,” Cooley said. “We have positions, but there are no bodies in them.”

Ultimately, after much circuitous discussion, the commission directed Whitson and staff to finish their current pay analysis and implement the new payroll — expected to be completed by the end of February — and then focus on filling the staff from the bottom up, rather than adding a new position to support Whitson. That should, hopefully, alleviate the number of projects on Whitson’s plate.

“You can’t do it top down. More management’s not going to get that happening,” Cooley said. “You got to fill your positions before you can do anything.”

The commission will review Whitson’s performance on Feb. 9, based on the direction given to him in July from his first review.

“It is time to move on, because we as a city have a lot of work to do,” Phillips said. “And I feel like we are sometimes going in circles.”

Assistant Project Manager Jackie Brower with Moffatt & Nichol.

Photos by Sierra Williams

The Flagler Beach Pier.

JACKIE BROWER, assistant project manager

“We want to get your ideas, your thoughts flowing, so that we can make this the biggest and best pier that we can in Flagler Beach.”

WILLIAM WHITSON, City Manager

Burns that heal

Flagler County’s prescribed burn program averages 10-15 burn operations a year. ‘If we don’t burn under prescribed conditions, these areas will burn under wildfire conditions,’ program supervisor Mike Orlando said.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

For most, a fire burning in the woods would be a cause for concern.

But when a small team of firefighters lit wiregrass and saw palmettos on fire over the last weekend in January, it was with careful planning and close observation.

These firefighters were led by Flagler County’s Mike Orlando — the supervisor of the county’s prescribed burn program — in a necessary prescribed burn and training exercise.

“Prescribed fire is a very misunderstood practice,” Orlando said. “A lot of folks don’t want it. They don’t understand it.”

Flagler County’s Land Management team scheduled two prescribed burns over a week at Princess Place Preserve.

The first burn, from Jan. 27-29, also played host to the National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center Program, based out of Tall Timbers in Tallahassee.

The second began on Monday, Jan. 30, and extended through Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Eight firefighters from all over the nation came to Flagler County to learn how fire reacts in different regions.

Orlando said the experience is vital because it helps firefighters become more well-rounded.

“It allows them to handle situations that they may not normally run into, if they didn’t have these training programs available,” Orlando said.

Being a host site simply means that Flagler County’s prescribed fire program requested and received the

burn authorization, but the burn is run by the firefighters in the training program. Flagler County hosts burn sites about twice a year for the program, Orlando said.

The training is especially useful in cases where firefighters from across the country are sent to other states to help with wildfires — as in the case of the 1998 Florida wildfires that damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes.

Thousands of firefighters from across the country were sent to Florida then.

Orlando has 18 years of experience with prescribed burns and fighting wildfires, in Florida, California and nine other states.

“The training experience I gained from that is immeasurably valuable,” Orlando said. “[It] helps me tenfold better to react to those situations.”

Prescribed fire season is almost year-round, Orlando said. It is most active from December to February, and then from April through June, he said; the burns at Princess Place Preserve were the first ones of the year.

But prescribed burns are just as important for ecological health and public safety as they are for training.

Flagler County Public Lands and Resource Manager Mike Lagasse said that organisms in Florida — the lighting strike capital of the nation — have evolved to withstand fire.

Some plant life cycles require it, Lagasse said. Wiregrass, a native Florida plant, reproduces with the presence of fire, he said.

These changes to flora also effect the animals in an environment, Lagasse said.

Gopher tortoises feed on wiregrass, for example, and will leave an area if food sources are not available.

“I believe there’s a perception around fire that fire is bad,” Lagasse said. “But the truth is … the natural world actually benefits from it.”

Lagasse said the “fire is bad” perception came, in part, from marketing campaigns in the early 20th century — like the ones with Smokey Bear — to prevent all fires. Instead, he said, it is now well-documented that suppressing all fires isn’t always beneficial.

“We try to actively use ‘good fire’ — prescribed fire — to prevent bad fire,” Lagasse said. Prescribed fires do that by burning up the built-up fuel on the land in a

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Andrew Stenbeck was this training exercise’s fire-starter.

“Prescribed fire is a very misunderstood practice. A lot of folks don’t want it. They don’t understand it.”

MIKE ORLANDO, Flagler County's prescribed burn program supervisor

Photos by Sierra Williams

Wildfires won’t burn out of control where there isn’t much fuel, Lagasse said.

To receive authorization for a prescribed burn, the county’s prescribed burn program must apply to the Florida Forest Service.

The organization needs to plan for as many potential conditions as possible for a safe burn, Lagasse said.

And if, on the day of the burn, the conditions change how the fire behaves, the burn could be scrubbed or moved.

“We use a test fire in a location that can be easily controlled,” Lagasse said. “So we can start the fire, and we kind of gauge it and determine if it is behaving how we expect.”

Flagler County’s prescribed burn program, just four years old, averages

“The training experience I gained from that is immeasurably valuable.”

MIKE ORLANDO, Flagler County prescribed burn program supervisor

10-15 operations a year.

Usually, the county lets the underbrush build up for two to four years between burns, Orlando said.

“If we don’t burn under prescribed conditions, these areas will burn under wildfire conditions,” Orlando said.

Firefighters from across the country participate in a training exercise during Princess Place Preserve’s

FEB. 4TH

American Legion Flagler Post 115

Annual Four Chaplains Ceremony

When: 2:30pm

Where: VFW Post 8696 47 Old Kings Rd N, Palm Coast, FL 32110

DETAILS: The Four Chaplains were four World War II Chaplains who died rescuing civilian and military personnel as the American troop ship SS Dorchester sank on February 3, 1943.

JAN. 9 UNHOLY THEFT

5:11 p.m. — 600 block of South Nova Road, Ormond Beach Burglary. A local church employee called police after three containers of holy oil were stolen.

According to a police report, the employee told the reporting officer that the oils were taken from a cabinet near the altar, and that she didn’t know exactly when the items were taken, but that they were first noticed missing on Dec. 30. The officer tried to find fingerprints, but was unsuccessful. The employee suspected that the culprit was the same person who left a drug pipe on the altar during a previous incident.

JAN. 10 NIGHT OUT ENDS WITH A CRASHED GATE

11:32 p.m. — 200 block of Ocean Crest Drive, Palm Coast Property damage. A woman went out to a bar but ended her night as a witness to property damage when a man drove into a gate.

The woman met the man — a stranger — at a bar in European Village, where he offered to give her a ride home since she had been drinking, a Sheriff’s Office report said.

The man drove her to Hammock Beach Resort, and ran into the front gate there. Security confronted the two, who were both “highly intoxicated,” but the man “got upset” and left the scene in his truck, leaving the woman behind, the report said.

The Sheriff’s Office was called, but when deputies arrived, security had left with the female witness to return her to European Village without telling anyone, the report

said. Deputies called security back and had security officers return with the woman to give a statement.

When they returned, the woman said she didn’t know why the man brought her to the Hammock Beach Resort, because she does not live there.

Deputies continued to search for the man. The estimated damage to the gate? $20.

JAN. 17 MORNING GREETINGS

8:25 a.m. — 600 block of Fleming Avenue, Ormond Beach Vandalism. Police responded to a local park after an Ormond Beach resident reported seeing a man leaving the women’s restroom with a bicycle.

The resident told an officer that the man greeted her with “good morning” as he passed her, and that she responded by asking him if he knew he had just used the women’s restroom. The man told her that there were “creepy men” in the men’s restroom, according to a police report, and that his “old lady was just in there.”

The woman didn’t see anyone else around. She told him, “It is still the women’s restroom,” and the man looked shocked at her response, the report states. When the woman finally entered the restroom, there was graffiti in the room and ashes in the sink, and the toilet area was flooded.

The graffiti contained derogatory remarks and phrases, as well as a phone number. City staff said the graffiti would be painted over.

The officer wrote that he would keep an eye out for transient activity in the area.

JAN. 22

YOU BREAK IT ...

9:41 a.m. — 500 block of South Atlantic Avenue, Ormond Beach Vandalism. A 19-year-old man

from Interlachen paid $200 to a local hotel after he smashed one of its pool chairs.

According to a police report, the man was seen on video surveillance walking around the hotel’s pool and throwing furniture into the water before returning to his room. Hotel staff had to remove all the furniture from the pool in the morning, and discovered the broken chair. The man admitted that he had caused the damage. Because he made an agreement with the hotel to pay for the chair, the man avoided arrest. He was trespassed from the property.

MAN TRIES TO HIDE DRUGS IN WOMAN’S HOME

9:39 p.m. — First block of Pelican Drive, Bunnell Burglary, cocaine possession. Police officers and Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an active burglary.

When the officers and deputies got there, the homeowner told deputies that she came home to find the suspect in her house, according to an arrest report. She told the officers that she’d known the suspect since high school, but that he was not living in the home and did not have permission to be there.

When she confronted the suspect, he told her he was hiding narcotics in the home to get her in trouble with the police, the report said.

The deputies and officers detained the suspect. The suspect told the officers that he and the woman had been in a relationship, but that she was mad at him because he would not share his cocaine with her, the report said.

Officers found cocaine in the man’s pocket; in the home, they also found a “white powder” substance in a bag next to a screwdriver. The woman claimed neither item belonged to her, as did the suspect, according to the report. The suspect was taken to the county jail.

BRIEFS

Matanzas High School bomb threat was ‘hoax call’

The phone call reporting a bomb threat at Matanzas High School originated from a California phone number associated with false “swatting” calls across the country, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

The school’s front office received the hoax phone call reporting a bomb on campus at 11 a.m. on Jan. 25, sending MHS into a “Code Blue” lockdown. The FCSO was notified and searched the school using the explosive ordinance detection K-9s and deputies.

“We do not take threats of this nature lightly,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “We thank the students and staff of MHS who adhered to Flagler School’s Code Blue plan and allowed us space to conduct a thorough search.”

The all-clear was given just after 12:45 p.m.

Based on information in the call, students in Building 5 were moved to the gym, and the rest of the school stayed in place during the Code Blue lockdown and search, a press release from Flagler Schools said.

Flagler Schools made automatic calls to parents and also posted on its website and social media accounts to inform parents of the lockdown and when it was lifted.

The person who made the hoax bomb threat has not been identified, but the FCSO is still inves-

tigating, Staly said. “If we can identify the caller, they will face serious consequences and a trip to the Green Roof Inn,” Staly said. “The safety of our students is paramount.”

Former BTMS student arrested over threats

A former student at Buddy Taylor Middle School was arrested on Jan. 26 for allegedly threatening to kill a current student.

A current female student brought the threats to the administration and a school resource officer on Thursday morning, according to a press release from Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

The female student told the officer that a former, male BTMS student was threatening to shoot a male student at the school.

The threats were made over messages on the social media app Snapchat between the female and former male student, according to the incident report; the female student was apparently dating the threatened student and had previously dated the former student.

In the messages, the former student threatened to fight the male student at Rymfire Park, stating he would bring his “gang” and gun.

The female student immediately told the male she was dating that he was being threatened, the report said.

The threatened male student told the resource officer that the former student managed to get his Snapchat handle and threatened him directly over Snapchat, too.

“Threats such as these are not a joke, and will always be taken seriously,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “We don’t like making these arrests, but we will come knocking on your door if your child makes any threat to harm someone.”

FCSO deputies contacted the former student at his home, the press release said, where he admitted to sending the messages.

The student was placed under arrest for making written threats to kill and taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. He was later turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice, the press release said.

The former student attended BTMS until the winter break this year and was transferred to a school in Daytona Beach after the break, the report said.

“Parents, talk to your kids and be the sheriff in your home,” Staly said. “Thank you to the student who alerted school administration, who then alerted the SRD.”

AFSCME, Volusia school district reach tentative agreement

Volusia County Schools and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 79, Local 850, have reached a tentative agreement for a one-year contract, according to a news release from Volusia County Schools.

AFSCME represents employees providing support services such as student transportation, maintenance, the School Way Café and campus advisors.

The bargaining teams met

six times and worked.

The tentatively agreed upon contract with changes will be available prior to ratification.

“The support of our AFSCME employees on the day-to-day operations of the district is invaluable,”

VCS Superintendent Carmen J. Balgobin said. “I am grateful for the collaborative spirit in which these negotiations took place. Both teams exhibited true professionalism and leadership. In these trying times, AFSCME has demonstrated their commitment to our students and for that, I thank them.”

FCSO Detention Facility wins innovation award

The Flagler County’s Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility has won the American Jail Association’s 2023 Innovation Award for medium-sized facilities.

Chief Daniel Engert — who commands the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s Court and Detention Services — and Sheriff Rick Staly will accept the award at AJA’s 42nd Conference and Jail Expo on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska, according to a press release from FCSO.

The award is presented to correctional facilities that have developed innovative approaches that positively impact the industry as a whole, the press release said.

Three Innovative Awards are given out, based on a facility’s size: large, with more than 1,000 beds, medium, with 100-999 beds, and small, having under 100 beds.

To win, facilities must show their

program significantly impacted the jail’s operations and can be reasonably expected to be replicated at other facilities, the press release said.

“This is a huge honor for our detention team, FCSO and the community to be recognized and selected as a model for jails across the country to emulate,” Staly said.

In 2022, FCSO partnered with Flagler Technical College to implement the Homeward Bound Initiative for inmates.

This program offers three certificate courses to provide job skills, training and certificates issued by the Florida Department of Education along with GED education, the press release said.

The courses offered are in vinyl graphics application, a pre-apprenticeship HVAC program and a food service management and culinary course.

The county jail’s Successful Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Treatment program — otherwise known as S.M.A.R.T. — is also available to address underlying substance abuse issues like mental health disorders, the press release said.

“I commend Chief Engert and his team for taking my vision and implementing an award-winning detention facility and the inmates that are taking advantage of our programs to turn their lives around to become productive citizens in the community,” Staly said. “I also want to thank our community partners. Without them, this would not have been possible.”

Undercover investigation ends in four arrests

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested four people at a Palm Coast house Jan. 24 after deputies searched the home.

The search warrant for the home — located on the first block of Black Hawk Drive — was the result of an undercover investigation, according to a press release from the FCSO. The FCSO’s Special Investigations Unit and SWAT conducted the search.

SIU and SWAT found fentanyl, cocaine, synthetic cathinones — more commonly known as molly — and various drug paraphernalia, the press release said.

“Great job to our SIU and SWAT team, who continue to combat illegal narcotics in Flagler County,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “My message to poison peddlers is to get out of Flagler County before we give you a new home.”

The four people arrested were charged with drug possession and drug paraphernalia possession charges and one contempt of court charge.

Man charged with child molestation pleads guilty

A Palm Coast man who was arrested for molesting children in a group home in 2022 pleaded guilty to all 26 charges on Jan. 25.

He has been sentenced to 25 years at Florida state prison.

Peter Strickland, 32, will be designated as a sex offender, and, upon his release, will have to register as a sex offender for 15 years, according to a press release from Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. He was originally arrested in July 2022.

He admitted to detectives that he had sexual contact with victims — ranging from 13 to 17 years old — around 15 times over two years, the press release said.

In total, Strickland pleaded guilty to and was sentenced for the following charges, from three different cases: one count of unlawful sexual activity with a minor; four counts of lewd or lascivious battery sex act with a victim 12-16 years old; 16 counts of possession of child pornography; five counts of sexual activities involving animals.

“I’m thankful that our detectives and the State Attorney’s Office could bring this case to a close, especially during Human Trafficking Awareness Month,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “We also hope that knowing the offender will spend 25 years in prison will help the victims recover from their trauma and the innocence he took away from them.”

FCSO detectives became aware of Strickland, a former city utility worker, during a human trafficking investigation in 2022, according to the press release.

FCSO detectives received a delayed sex offense complaint involving multiple female victims living at a group home.

Detectives found that Strickland enticed victims with items of value in exchange for sexual activity and would video record the sexual encounters, the press release said.

FCSO catches two subjects who fled stolen truck

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office caught two suspects who fled from a stolen pink semi-truck on Monday, Jan. 31.

FCSO deputies were called out to the Days Inn in the

100 block of North Garden Street in Palm Coast at 2:12 p.m. on Jan. 30 because an employee saw two people spray painting a new-looking, pink semi-truck red, according to the arrest reports.

When the two suspects — a man and a woman — saw deputies approaching, they ran into the trees lining Interstate 95 and on to the 289 mile marker, southbound off ramp. Deputies caught the woman quickly, but the man hid in the trees, evading law enforcement and trying to hitchhike to escape, the report said.

Deputies initially set up a perimeter around the wooded area the man was hiding in and began searching for him, but dismantled it when he could not be found.

Just before 5 p.m., deputies responded to a call about a man matching the suspect’s description who was waving down cars on the southbound side of I-95.

Deputies were able to catch the man and identify him as the suspect, the report said.

The semi-trailer had a Mississippi tag and had been reported stolen out of Columbia County in Florida earlier that morning.

Both suspects were from Tampa, the report said, The woman said the truck was meant to be used to transport cargo, though she said she didn’t know what kind.

While searching the man, deputies found a VIN number sticker for a separate vehicle that had been stolen out of Manatee County, plus a dollar bill with a white substance that field-tested positive for fentanyl.

The two were taken to the county jail and charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief over $1,000, resisting an arrest, and, in the man’s case, possession of fentanyl and possessing a vehicle with altered numbers.

The City of Palm Coast brings the fun!

District presents book choice policy to House

allow their children to have full access to their age-appropriate material. Level two originally allowed families to choose five books that they did not want their children to read. But now the district is allowing families to opt out of as many books as they want, Moore told the subcommittee.

You’re invited to the Annual State of the City Address 2023 on February 9th at 5:30pm at the Palm Coast Community Center. There is no charge to attend, but seating is limited, be sure to reserve a seat by visiting parksandrec.fun.

Three to See Net Generation Kids Day Free Learn to Play Tennis Net Generation Kids Day Free Learn to Play Tennis Saturday, February 11 Saturday, February 11

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

For almost a year, Flagler Schools has allowed parents to choose what books their children can check out from their schools’ media centers.

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, Flagler Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt and Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services LaShakia Moore discussed the policy at a Florida House Education Quality Subcommittee hearing.

Polk County Superintendent Fred Heid also spoke at the hearing in favor of his district’s opt-out policy, and the three district officials answered questions from State Representatives.

Moore, who led the development of the district’s policy, introduced a Flagler Schools video which detailed the three-level process. Parents who select level one

“We started off saying, ‘let us know the five books,’ because at that point in time we did not have an abundance of (book) challenges that were happening,” Moore said.

In level three, parents preapprove all books before their children can check them out.

“We did not want to have our families opting out of media services, because we know that our media centers are for more than just checking out books. And so, for level three, we went with our pre-approval process,” Moore said. “We want this to be a positive environment for our families, where they sit together as a family and identify those books that their child is allowed to read, rather than for them to just completely opt them out of media service as a whole.”

Moore said the district encourages parents to contact their child’s school media specialist.

“I

TRIBUTES

Marion McCombs

3-14-1935-12-27-2022

“It really gave an opportunity for our media specialists to meet with our families and have a great dialogue with them (about) what are current practices we have in place and to ensure that we’re answering their questions,” she said.

Moore said in a district of almost 13,000 students, only 10 families have selected level three. Mittelstadt said that over 300 families have engaged in the process.

“I think as this becomes more of a focus moving forward in the spring in all of the districts ... it might elevate to a higher level of communication,” Mittelstadt said. She said there is already a lot of interest by stakeholders in the the community.

Mittelstadt and Moore were asked if Flagler currently lists all the books that community members have challenged for removal from the schools’ media centers.

“We do list that on our website,” Moore said.

Chapter Chair Shannon Rambow criticized the district for keeping “Nowhere Girls” on the shelves during the challenge process.

“The sex parts start on Page 9,” Rambow said at the Jan. 17 board meeting. Moore told the subcommittee that the school principal and the media specialist make the decision on whether to keep a book in circulation during the challenge process, which starts on the school level and can advance to the district, the superintendent and finally to the School Board.

Palm Coast Open Tennis Tournament: A USTA Pro Circuit Event Finals Matches

Palm Coast Open Tennis Tournament: A USTA Pro Circuit Event Finals Matches

Sunday, February 12 Sunday, February 12

Over 35 Adult Basketball League games begin Over 35 Adult Basketball League games begin

Friday, March 10 Friday, March 10

For more information or to register, visit parksandrec.fun

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Marion was married to Mac McCombs for 48 years. She had two boys, Ed and Dan, from her first marriage and has three granddaughters.

Marion was a Claims Adjuster for Electric Boat of Groton, Connecticut and The Plaster Craft of Mystic, Connecticut. She moved to Florida with her husband Mac McCombs and was a Guardian Ad Litem for St. Johns County, a Guardian Ad Litem for Flagler County and a volunteer for the Palm Coast Fire Department where she was Associate of the Year 2002. Marion was Life Associate Member of the Purple Heart, one of the founders of the Red Knights of Palm Coast and a volunteer for the Flagler County Sheriff’s Department. She

Marion was Life Associate Member of the Purple Heart, one of the founders of the Red Knights of Palm Coast and a volunteer for the Flagler County Sheriff’s Department.

belonged to RSVP and was the first woman volunteer at the Fire Company in Ledyard Connecticut.

Under Media Services on the Flagler Schools site, there are currently 22 books listed that have been challenged. Three of the books — “The Haters”, “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” and “L8R, G8R” — have been removed from all of the district’s schools, according to the website’s list. Four have been kept on the shelves at this point — “The Kite Runner,” which is part of adopted curriculum; “SOLD” and “Breathless”, which are now only available in the two high schools; and “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”.

But the list does not include “The Nowhere Girls,” one of the books that Flagler County Chapter Moms for Liberty representatives have challenged.

At two recent School Board meetings, Moms for Liberty

BRIEFS

Flagler renews ‘StormReady’ certification

Flagler County received notice on Thursday, Jan. 25, from the National Weather Service that its certification as a StormReady county has been renewed until April 2027.

It is the seventh time the county has been re-certified since the program’s inception in 1999, according to a Flagler County government news release.

“While being StormReady tends to tie into Emergency Management programs, it also has positive implications for all of our residents because it allows many of our homeowners to received automatic discounts on their flood insurance,” Growth Management Director Adam Mengel said.

StormReady is a voluntary program that validates a community’s commitment to focus on communication, mitigation, and preparedness to save lives impacted by weather hazards.

Communities that are StormReady have gone to

Moore told the representatives that the district has eliminated access to all ebooks while it continues to develop the parental choice process in accordance with state statute. Said Mittelstadt: “We’ve embraced (parental choice) in Flagler County as an opportunity to have some great conversations with our parents recognizing choice, having them realize what we have in terms of materials available to our students. And so, those dialogues have been very powerful.”

extensive measures to receive and disseminate weather information and are ready to mitigate the loss of life and property from weather events.

Both the city of Palm Coast and the city of Flagler Beach participate in the StormReady program and have been renewed as well.

“Our team, including our city partners, works tirelessly to prepare our community for all types of hazards and weather events,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. “It is important for us to work closely with the National Weather Service to ensure we maintain the StormReady designation.”

Residents can also make themselves “StormReady” by taking the free Skywarn Storm Spotter course hosted by Flagler County at least twice a year, and by signing up to receive automatic weather alerts through the ALERTFlagler notification system.

Training and ALERTFlagler information can be found at FlaglerCounty.gov/emergency, or by calling 386-3134200 during normal business hours.

Over 300 families have engaged in the parental choice process, Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt said.

“We want this to be a positive environment for our families where they sit together as a family and identify those books that their child is allowed to read.”

LASHAKIA MOORE, Flagler Schools assistant superintendent

think as this becomes more of a focus moving forward in the spring in all of the districts ... it might elevate to a higher level of communication.”

CATHY MITTELSTADT, superintendent

Cathy Mittelstadt File photo

Transportation funding initiative includes interchange at I-95, US 1

JARLEENE ALMENAS SENIOR EDITOR

The city of Ormond Beach could soon receive $340 million in state funds for the redesign of the I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange in Ormond. The money is part of a $4 billion infrastructure initiative proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, Jan. 30.

The Moving Florida Forward initiative is meant to expedite transportation projects over the next four years, and, if passed by legislature, would also redirect an average of $131 million annually to the state Transportation Work Program and leverage more funding over the four years, for a total of $7 billion for transportation infrastructure improvements, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The initiative would expedite 20 Florida Department of Transportation projects.

“Gov. DeSantis’ Moving Florida Forward proposal is truly historic, and the projects included will help relieve congestion while also focusing on safety, resiliency, the supply chain and economic growth,”

FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue said in the press release. “These are important for Floridians’ quality of life and to ensure we maintain a strong transportation system to keep Florida moving forward. ... Receiving this funding will

allow the vision of each project to become a reality in the immediate future to better meet the growing demands in communities throughout the state.”

Florida’s population is projected to grow by 600 people every day for the next 30 years, FDOT stated in its own press release. Some areas are seeing growth rates higher than 20% .

The Ormond Beach I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange project is the only one of the 20 included in the initiative that is located in Volusia County. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Ormond Beach and Volusia County to make a significant impact on our transportation system,” Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington said in a press release.

“We are grateful for the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis and FDOT and are excited to move forward with this transformative project far ahead of any completion schedule we could have imagined.”

Partington, who attended the initiative’s announcement in Auburndale, and his fellow city commissioners — under the guidance of Maryam Ghyabi-White of Ghyabi Consulting and Management — have been working to secure fund-

ing for this project, the press release states. FDOT first launched a Project Development and Environment study for the interchange in the summer of 2021 to evaluate safety improvements. The interchange was constructed in the early 1960s, and some of its original elements no longer meet current FDOT standards.

During an open house held last June, FDOT predicted that by 2050, traffic will increase by over 40% on I-95, and more than double on U.S. 1 with the build-out of both Plantation Oaks and Ormond Crossing, rendering the improvements necessary.

The city reported in its press release that the interchange and the roadways it serves “are consistently some of the most dangerous in Volusia and Flagler counties,” with 70-80 crashes over the past three years.

“This project will have a lasting impact on our residents and visitors, and we are committed to making sure it is executed efficiently and effectively,” Partington said. “I can’t wait to see the positive changes and safety improvements this project will bring to Ormond Beach and Volusia County.”

If the funding is approved, Ormond Beach and Volusia County will receive $340 million.

Photo courtesy of the city of Ormond Beach Gov. Ron DeSantis announces the Moving Florida Forward Initiative.

Guns and Hoses Chili Challenge returns to Flagler

Flagler Woman’s Club hosts annual chili contest.

ABBIE PACE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Flagler Woman’s Club presented its Guns and Hoses Chili Challenge in Veterans Park on Jan. 28. Flagler County police and fire departments participated in the challenge.

“It’s perfect weather for the chili cook-off — I guess Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney ordered it from Amazon Prime,” Flagler Beach City Manager William Whitson joked.

The Flagler Beach Fire Department, Flagler Beach Police Department, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, FCSO K9 Unit, Flagler County Fire Department, Bunnell Police Department provided their own pots of chili to be tasted, as did Flagler Woman’s Club member Linda McCann, a retired domestic violence EMT.

“We have not had a chili challenge since COVID, so we’re super excited today,” said Deborah Phillips, Flagler

Beach city commissioner and board member of the Flagler Woman’s Club. Winners of the challenge were determined through a fan favorite vote, as well as a judge’s choice category.

WINNERS

JUDGE’S CHOICE

 First: Linda McCann

 Second: Bunnell Police Department

 Third: FCSO K9 Unit

FAN FAVORITE

 First: Bunnell Police Department

 Second: FCSO

 Third: Flagler County Fire Department

of chili. The fan favorite vote consisted of those who purchased a $10 wristband. They were provided with cups of chili at each station.

PalmCoastObserver.com

PALM COAST

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

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

Publisher John Walsh, jwalsh@palmcoastobserver.com

Managing Editor Jonathan Simmons, jonathan@palmcoastobserver.com

Senior Editor Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@ormondbeachobserver.com

Associate Editor Brent Woronoff, brent@palmcoastobserver.com

Staff Writer Sierra Williams, sierra@palmcoastobserver.com

Design Editor Hailey McMillan, hailey@palmcoastobserver.com

Media Director Holly Oliveri, holly@ormondbeachobserver.com

Senior Media Specialist Susan Moore, susan@palmcoastobserver.com

Advertising Coordinator Jessica Boone, jessica@palmcoastobserver.com

Office Coordinator Bonnie Hamilton, bonnie@palmcoastobserver.com

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The judges were Flagler Beach Mayor Suzie Johnston; Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin; Beach Belly Bob’s Sandwich Shop owner Bob Gamblain; Crave’s Coastal Kitchen and Cocktails restaurant owner Mike Crave; and Paul Chestnut, the coowner of Tortugas Florida Kitchen and Bar and Crave’s Coastal Kitchen and Cocktails.

Judges participated in a blind taste test and voted on their favorite cups

Kathleen Bolanos

HAMMOCK BEACH MEMBERS RAISE

$25,000

FOR VETERANS

Hammock Beach members hosted the Club at Hammock Beach’s third annual golf outing on Dec. 17 for veterans charity GratitudeAmerica.

GratitudeAmerica host four-day, no-cost military support retreats in Marineland and Amelia Island to helps combat veterans and their supporters make peace with their past and plan for their future, according to a news release from the club.

GratitudeAmerica also conducts a program called Warrior PATHH, a seven-day program that is followed by 90 days of guidance.

The club thanked Flagler County Commissioner Greg Hansen, a 27year Navy veteran, for his support for the event.

Sponsors included Rodies Place, Bronx Pizza, Captains BBQ, Sharp Media, Chiumento Law, Veterans Title, Tee Time USA, Club at Hammock Beach, Coldwell Banker, Pioneer Title, and United Preferred reality. For information or to donate, go to GratitudeAmerica.org.

Kathleen Bolanos, of Bayside Drive, has been recognized by The Garden Club at Palm Coast as the club’s February 2023 Selection of the Month awardee.

Bolanos lived in Tennessee before moving to Palm Coast in 2019.

Her front entrance has potted succulents, bromeliads, jade, red dragon flower, ground orchid, bird’s nest fern, aloe, flapjack, and lipstick plant.

The center island has several bromeliads mounted on a palm tree.

The surrounding island gardens display her garden arts and handmade beautiful pottery planters, pottery dolls and fountains.

Native plants abound, with Carolina jasmine, scarlet sage, button sage, lantana, scorpion tail, creeping sage, Maypop passion vine, coral bean, salt bush and beauty berry. At night, Bolanos has lighted wine bottles for her edging.

After tasting each chili, they were asked to write their favorite on a piece of paper that was then placed in a jar.

“It’s our way to celebrate men and women that are first responders, because they come to our rescue when our life goes sideways,” said Mary Louk, co-second vice president of the Flagler Woman’s Club and board member of Flagler Strong.

Locally Owned / Publishers of The Palm Coast Observer Palm Coast Observer, LLC P.O. Box 353850 Palm Coast, 32135

VETERAN OF THE WEEK

Nicolas Denis

 Branch of military: U.S. Navy

 Dates of service: 1993-1995

 Rank/occupation: EWSA/Electronic Warfare Systems Technician

 Hometown: Palm Coast, Florida

Nicolas Denis was assigned in Long Beach, California. His naval specialty involved detecting enemy planes and ships and determining target distance, maintaining, repairing, and calibrating all electronic equipment used to detect, track, and identify adversaries, and electronic countermeasures, in addition to repairing and calibrating electronic equipment including radar, communications, and navigation equipment. Today, Denis is the veteran owner-operator of a personal shuttle service operating out of Palm Coast. He specializes in transportation to airports, medical appointments and more.

NEED HELP WITH VETERAN SERVICES?

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

Lieutenant Armando Castaneda represents the Flagler County Fire Department.

Chief Matt Doughney represents the Flagler Beach Police Department.

Photos by Abbie Pace

Co-second vice president of the Flagler Woman’s Club Mary Louk; Robert McCann with his wife, Linda McCann; and Flagler Woman’s Club President Barbara Macready.

Cmdr. Scott Vedder, Cpl. Troy Cavas, Sgt. Rob Tarczewski and Deputy Robin Towns represents the FCSO K9 Unit.

Courtesy photo Kathleen Bolanos

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Mentor appreciation

Volunteers are the heart of the Take Stock in Children program.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Tom Witherspoon finished a four-year stint as a volunteer mentor with Take Stock in Children.

His mentee graduated from Matanzas High School in May and is now a student at the University of North Florida.

“I was with him for his first job and his first car,” Witherspoon said.

The experience was so fulfilling, Witherspoon is now mentoring another student, taking on another four-year commitment.

Take Stock in Children is a statewide nonprofit that provides full college tuition for low-income students who are accepted into the program and make it through. The Flagler County Education Foundation facilitates Take Stock in Flagler County. Twenty-three Flagler students graduated from the program last year.

On Thursday, Jan. 26, the Ed Foundation held its Mentor Appreciation Night at Oceanside Beach Bar & Grill. It was a chance for current mentors to enjoy the night out and share notes.

Ed Foundation Executive Director Teresa Rizzo opened the evening by telling the mentors, “I want to thank you for mentoring kids, some of whom wouldn’t have graduated high school, and thanks to you we’re putting them through college.”

Flagler County Judge Andrea Totten is a veteran mentor. She attended the Welcome Mentors event at the beginning of the school year with Courthouse Security Officer Carlo Schiandra.

“He came as my security and walked away with a mentee of his own,” Totten said.

“I feel like I was blessed to go with her that day,” Schiandra said. “It was

like divine intervention.”

Pete Celestino is a mentor as well as the county’s college success coach. He meets with all of the juniors and seniors in the program twice a semester, and the freshmen and sophomores once per semester, and organizes college tours for the participants.

Christy Butler, the foundation’s student services coordinator, guides new mentors such as Beth Branick. Twenty ice-breaker questions are a good place to start, Butler said. A couple of examples, she said, are, “If you can travel anywhere for two weeks, where would it be?” and “If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be?”

The mentors meet their students at school for lunch at least once every other week. Sometimes an icebreaker can take up the whole lunch, Butler said. From there, they can discuss grades and testing and issues that are important to the student.

The mentor-mentee relationship often continues into college and beyond, Butler said.

Dr. Ana Blaine, a professor of education at Daytona State College, is mentoring a senior. She believes in the program so strongly she convinced her mother to become a mentor too.

“I said, ‘I’m too old for that,’” Idalia Betancourt said.

But Betancourt is now in her second year as a mentor and has developed a special relationship with her mentee.

“At first, it was hard to get her to

BECOMING A MENTOR

If you’d like information on becoming a mentor in the Flagler County Take Stock in Children program, visit flagleredfoundation.org/how-to-help/becomea-mentor.html.

talk,” Betancourt said. “But she’s really gracious. She always asks about my life.”

Many retired people find being a mentor a fulfilling pursuit. Dave and Roi Parris, a retired couple, are now each working with a second mentee.

“I saw an ad,” Roi Parris said, explaining how they originally got involved with Take Stock in Children. “We needed something to pursue.”

“There was a learning curve,” Dave Parris said. “Who knows what a mentor is supposed to do? But there’s a list of exercises, and it gives us an entry point. It’s a great program.” Witherspoon is also retired.

“I was in retail for 40 years,” he said. “In retail management, I was constantly mentoring people. People who worked under me went on to be doctors and lawyers.”

Being a Take Stock mentor is just part of a group effort, Witherspoon said.

“You have to use your resources at the school as well as with the Foundation,” he said.

Mentors Dave and Roi Parris

Photos by Brent Woronoff Flagler County Education Foundation Executive Director Teresa Rizzo and Student Services Coordinator Christy Butler

Take Stock in Children mentor Tom Witherspoon

"At first, it was hard to get her to talk. But she's really gracious. She always asks about my life."

IDALIA BETANCOURT, Take Stock in Children mentor

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, FEB. 2

OUR LADY OF LOURDES ANNUAL

ITALIAN FESTIVAL

When: 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 and Friday, Feb. 3; 12-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4

Where: Our Lady of Lourdes Church Pavilion, 1014 N. Halifax Ave., Daytona Beach

Details: Join Our Lady of Lourdes for its annual Italian Festival. Enjoy authentic Italian foods including the church’s famous pizza and desserts, drinks, live entertainment and dancing. There will also be bounce houses and games.

COMMEMORATING ORMOND

BEACH’S AFRICAN-AMERICAN

WWII VETERANS

When: 6-7:30 p.m.

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

Details: Attend this Black History Month lecture by Master Sgt. Thomas James Johnson Jr. to honor the 77 African-American World War II veterans of Ormond Beach. They were commemorated along with their fellow white veterans with a plaque unveiled in a 1999 city ceremony, replacing the one at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum that previously only contained the names of white veterans. Free lecture hosted by the Ormond Beach Historical Society.

FRIDAY, FEB. 3

FIRST FRIDAY GARDEN WALK

When: 10-11 a.m.

Where: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 6400 N. Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast

Details: Come out the first Friday of the month to learn more about the gardens and history of Washington Oaks. No registration necessary; the walk is included with the park’s entry fees. Meet at the garden parking lot at 10 a.m. and wear comfortable walking shoes. Tours last one hour.

FREE FAMILY ART NIGHT

When: 5:30-7 p.m.

Where: Ormond Memorial Art Mu-

seum, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: Decorate a box to store special Valentines or other treasures during OMAM’s Free Family Art Night. Adults may drop in to the museum with their children to create this art project together, under the direction of Linda King. All art supplies provided. This monthly program is sponsored in part by the Women United Volusia Chapter. Learn more at bit.ly/omam-ffan.

MOVIES ON THE HALIFAX

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Rockefeller Gardens, 26 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy “Grease,” rated PG. Movies are weather-sensitive. Call 386-6763216 for rainout information.

RUMOURS: A FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE

When: 7 p.m.

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

Details: See this group — composed of Mekenzie Jackson, Denny Hanson, Alex Thrift, Adrienne Cottrell, Nick Whitson and Daniel Morrison — recreate the harmonies and sound of Fleetwood Mac. Tickets cost $40$50. Visit flaglerauditorium.org.

SATURDAY, FEB. 4

SECOND ANNUAL TUNNEL TO TOWERS 5K

When: 8-11 a.m.

Where: Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast

Details: Take part in this run and walk event, which benefits the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, created in honor of Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who died on 9/11. Registration costs $40 for adults; $25 for military and first responders; $20 for children 13-17 years old and $15 for children 12 and under. Visit https://runsignup.com/Race/ FL/PalmCoast/TunneltoTowers5KRunWalkPalmCoastFL.

9TH ANNUAL GRANADA GRAND FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: New Britain Avenue from Beach Street to Ridgewood, Ormond Beach Details: This festival is returning to Ormond Beach on New Britain

Avenue for a day of art, crafts, a chalk art competition, music, food, beer and wine. There will be over 80 artists and crafters in attendance, and the “Pop-up Plaza” will host live music. The chalk art competition is sponsored by ArtHaus. You can also get creative at the “Youth Art Tent” or at the Ormond Beach Library tent, with family-friendly activities. Bring your ukulele for the festival’s afternoon “Ukes in the Street” jam session, led by Beachside Music. Visit ormondbeachmainstreet.com.

ART BATTLE ORMOND BEACH

When: 4 p.m.

Where: 31 Supper Club, 1 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: See 12 artists compete live in three rounds during this art battle event. All artwork will be available for action. Tickets cost $25. Visit https://bit.ly/3iMu8l5.

FOUR CHAPLAINS MEMORIAL

SERVICE

When: 2:30 p.m.

Where: VFW Post 8696, 47 N. Old Kings Road, Palm Coast

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

ART WALK

When: 3-7 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach MainStreet Arts District, 128 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: Join Ocean Art Gallery, Frame of Mind, Art Spotlight, The Studio by Artist Angel Lowden, the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and more on the first Saturday of each month for art openings and events.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ITALIAN

FESTIVAL

When: 5-9 p.m.

Where: St. Brendan Catholic Church

Social Hall, 1000 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach.

Details: The Father Eamonn Gill Council 13018 Knights of Columbus invites the community to attend its annual Italian Festival Dinner and Dance. Proceeds go to the St.

Brendan Catholic School scholarship fund. The $25 dinner includes homemade lasagna, meatballs, sausage, salad, dessert and a beverage. Dinner will be served between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Moonlighters will play from 6-9 p.m. Reservations required. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets are available for purchase before and after Sunday mass, weekdays in the church and school offices, or by calling Vince at 486-441-4713.

TUESDAY, FEB. 7

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP WITH BIBI GROMLING

When: 1-4 p.m.

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

Details: Join Ocean Art Gallery for a watercolor workshop with local artist Bibi Gromling. Learn how to paint a flamingo-themed piece. Cost is $75 per student. Supplies included. Call 386-317-9400 to reserve a spot.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8

TWO-DAY ACRYLIC WORKSHOP WITH SCOTT HIESTAND

When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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

Details: Learn how to paint acrylic landscapes with local painter Scott Hiestand. Cost is $100. Supplies are an additional $20, if needed. Call 386-317-9400 to reserve a spot.

THURSDAY, FEB. 9

WINTER BIRD WALKS WITH JOAN

TAGUE

When: 8 a.m.

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

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

PANEL ON BOOK BANNING

When: 6 p.m.

Where: African American Cultural Society, 4422 N. U.S. 1, Palm Coast

Details: The Palm Coast Democratic Club will host a panel discussion with the Atlantic Coast Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State on the issue of book banning. The evening will begin

with a social hour, followed by a brief business meeting at 7 p.m. before the discussion begins. The panel will conclude with questions and answers. The meeting is open to all and is free. For more information, call Merrill Shapiro at 804-914-4460.

ORMOND BEACH AREA DEMOCRATIC CLUB MEETING

When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Join the Ormond Beach Area Democratic Club for its February meeting, to be held in-person and on Zoom. Social visiting will begin at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. Legislation and policies will be reviewed and discussed, and responses developed. Applications for precinct captains will be accepted. Like-minded non-members are welcome to attend as guests. Visit ormondbeachdems.org.

SATURDAY, FEB. 11

MAYOR’S HEALTH AND FITNESS CHALLENGE KICK-OFF

When: 9 a.m. to noon

Where: South Ormond Neighborhood Center, 176 Division Ave., Ormond Beach

Details: The Mayor’s Health and Fitness Challenge will begin on Saturday, Feb. 11, with a kickoff event and weigh-in. The eight-week challenge is open to all city residents, employees and their families. The challenge costs $35 per person; or $70 for a family with up to three children 18 and under. Participants are encouraged to pre-register, but registration will also be available the day of. Visit ormondbeach.org/MHFC.

SUNDAY, FEB. 12 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PANCAKE BREAKFAST

When: 8 a.m. to noon

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

Details: The Father Eamonn Gill Council 13018 Knights of Columbus will serve its famous pancake breakfast in the Social Hall. The meal includes all the pancakes you can eat, scrambled eggs, a sausage link, orange juice and endless coffee. The breakfast costs $6 for adults; children under 12 eat free. All are welcome.

Title town

Matanzas wrestlers McLean, Golder win at Flagler Rotary.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

T.J. McLean didn’t have fond memories of the Flagler Rotary wrestling tournament. As a Flagler Palm Coast freshman last year, McLean went 0-2 at the tourney. This year, he won a championship.

Now a sophomore at Matanzas, McLean won the 106-pound title Saturday, Jan. 28, at the 37th annual Flagler Rotary at FPC. Matanzas 113-pounder Kaden Golder also won a title, and the Pirates sent five wrestlers to the finals on the way to a third-place team finish. FPC finished fifth for the second year in a row.

“We were third in 2019, but we had no one in the finals that year,” Matanzas coach T.J. Gillin said. “To have five in the finals, that’s a first for us. It’s a big deal.”

Matanzas and FPC each had six wrestlers make the medal round. Toryion Stallings (126 pounds), Dylan Parkinson (152) and Jordan Mills (170) all finished second for the Pirates. Dalton Schell finished second at 195 pounds for FPC.

Harmony High School won the 32 team-tourney with 218.5 points, followed by Winter Springs (172.5), Matanzas (170), Bartram Trail (142) and FPC (140.5).

McLean (33-4) pinned Harmony’s Tristan Horn (27-7) in 3:40 in the final. At the end, Horn tried taking down McLean with a lateral drop.

feet. He’s very tough when he’s on top.”

McLean is ranked third in the state in Class 2A. The other two wrestlers in the top three are in the same district as Matanzas. McLean said he transferred because he lives down the street from Matanzas, and FPC was in transition with its coaching staff.

“I’m training harder,” he said. “Last year, I weighed 100 pounds, wrestling at 106. Now I’m cutting weight for 106.”

Golder transferred from Mainland High School before the school year. He improved to 25-4 with a pin at 2:36 over Carmen Dibella (111) of Bartram. Golder notched four straight pins in the tournament. He hasn’t lost a 113-pound match all season.

“Once he got on top, he put them on their backs,” Gillin said. “He’s probably the biggest, strongest Parkinson (31-6) lost to undefeated Roberto Cuartero of Bishop Kenny by pin the final after notching three wins on the mat. Stallings lost by pin to 2022 Class 3A state runnerup Ethan Vugman (39-1) of Bartram in the final after winning three Mills (14-1) lost his first match of the season by injury default in the final to Elijah Penton (350) of Winter Springs. Mills felt soreness in the shoulder that he injured in October which kept him out of the first part of the season.

“He said it was just sore (the following day), and he had full range of motion. We can’t risk him injuring it,” Gillin said.

“To win state, this is the guy

(he’s) going to have to beat.”

Schell (33-5) lost a 5-3 decision to Isaiah Shevchook of Oakleaf in the final. Schell decisioned Newsome’s Peyton Turner in the semifinal, 8-6.

“Dalton stuck to his game plan,” FPC coach David Bossardet said.

“When Dalton Schell is wrestling his match, he’s pretty hard to beat.” Also placing for the Bulldogs were:

Kole Hannant (34-6), fourth at 132 pounds; Hayden Herndon (25-6), fourth at 145 pounds; Kelton Howard (25-7), fifth at 160 pounds; Brandon Calidonio (26-6), fifth at 182 pounds; and Ethan Laupepa (26-9), third at 220 pounds.

Laupepa went 4-1 with a pin against Lake Brantley’s Shawn Hernandez in the third-place match.

Landon Wright (24-10) finished fourth at 160 pounds for Matanzas.

DAVID BOSSARDET, FPC coach

Christina Calidonio, Garrick Schwartz and Carson Baert cheer for FPC wrestlers.

Matanzas’ Carmine Lania looks for the pin against Deltona’s Thomas Berrios in the 220-pound class.

FPC’s Hayden Herndon is taken to the mat by Newsome’s Jeremy Gradford in the 145-pound class.

“Dalton stuck to his game plan. When Dalton Schell is wrestling his match, he’s pretty hard to beat.”

FPC’s David Bossardet coaches from the mat.

Seminole tops FPC in district semifinal

BOYS DISTRICT SOCCER

DISTRICT 2-7A

Matanzas drops FPC in dual wrestling

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Palm Coast girls soccer coach Pete Hald was hoping Sanford Seminole’s early goal would be the extent of the damage, and the Bulldogs could go into halftime down 1-0.

“I thought we were going to get away with giving up just the one goal, and we could regroup and collect ourselves,” Hald said.

But the Seminoles scored again two minutes before halftime and then held off FPC in the second half to win 2-0 in a District 2-7A semifinal at Daytona State College on Friday, Jan. 27.

Seminole was scheduled to meet No. 1 seed Lake Mary for district championship on Feb. 1. The Bulldogs’ season ended with a 14-5-3 record.

“We had six seniors. It hurts,” Hald said. “We won some games. I was leery about our ability to finish. Between

Quarterfinal: DeLand 3, FPC 1 (FPC goal: Aaron Binkley).

DISTRICT 5-5A

At Deltona High: Quarterfinal: Matanzas 8, Mainland 0 (eight different players scored). Semifinals: Jan. 31, Matanzas 3, Pine Ridge 0; Seabreeze 4, Deltona 1.

penalty box and penalty box, we did pretty good, but we weren’t finishing.”

In their final home game, a district quarterfinal against University on Wednesday, Jan. 25, the Bulldogs took 20 shots against but converted just once in the 1-0 victory. Senior defender Hailey Tucker scored the lone goal for FPC, sending the Bulldogs to the semifinals.

At DSC, Seminole’s Morgan Wright scored off her own rebound shot before halftime to put her team up 2-0. “She came flying through

Final: Seabreeze vs. Matanzas Feb. 2, 7:20 p.m.

GIRLS DISTRICT SOCCER

DISTRICT 5-5A

At Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Quarterfinal: Deltona 2, Matanzas

0. Semifinals: Jan. 31, Mainland 2, Pine Ridge 1; Seabreeze 6,. Deltona 0.

Final: Seabreeeze vs. Mainland, Feb. 2, 7:20 p.m.

the middle and got a crack. There was a deflection, and we didn’t jump on it. She did,” Hald said.

FPC had some chances in the second half, but couldn’t convert.

“We had a chance right at the beginning of the game, but (senior Jessie Seay) missed the goal,” Hald said. “After that we didn’t get anything going offensively. In the second half, we played better. We stopped them from scoring.”

Hald said the Bulldogs had difficulty early acclimating to the larger college field.

“The girls were really tired. We’re not used to playing on a huge field like this, and (the Seminoles) probably are, because they play a lot of teams that have turf, and the turf fields are big,” Hald said.

“They’re very athletic and confident,” Hald said of the Seminoles. “We got beat by a better team. (Freshman goalkeeper Natalie Neal) played really well. A.J. Johnson, the center back, played really well. Eva Sites, she’s a freshman. She plays center back as the marker behind A.J. She had (Seminole leading scorer Kyana Cezalien) and did a good job.”

The Pirates defeated the Bulldogs for the first time in four years.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Three days before Matanzas finished third at the Flagler Rotary wrestling tournament, the Pirates won the county championship with a 42-30 dual-match victory over Flagler Palm Coast. It was the Pirates’ first dual win over their county rivals in four years. The Jan. 25 match at Matanzas High drew a sizable crowd with fans from both schools.

“Wrestling means a lot to the people in this county,” Matanzas coach T.J. Gillin

RESULTS

106: T.J. McLean (M) p. Joslyn Johnson. 113: Mariah Mills (M) p. Matthew Shipp. 120: Kaden Golder (M) p. Sean Smith. 126: Toryion Stallings (M) tech. fall Ana Vilar, 27-12. 132: Kole Hannant (FPC) forfeit.

138: John Hald (FPC)

d. Carter Wilder, 15-10 (sudden victory). 145: Hayden Herndon (FPC)

d. Mason Obama, 17-13.

152: Dylan Parkinson (M) major dec. Carson Baert, 12-4. 160: Kelton Howard (FPC) p. Samuel Nay. 170: Landon Wright (M) d. Josh Davis, 12-10 (sudden victory). 182: Jordan Mills (M) p. Brandon Calidonio. 195: Dalton Schell (FPC) forfeit. 220: Ethan Laupepa (FPC) p. Adyn Cox. 285: Tyler Thomas (M) p. Joseph Wronowski.

said. “A lot of people have wrestled for FPC. Our coaching staff all wrestled for FPC. People don’t like to see FPC lose.”

Three girls wrestled against boys in the match, with Matanzas’ Mariah Mills pinning Matthew Shipp at 113 pounds. Mills, who sang the national anthem before the match, took two injury timeouts to stop a nosebleed.

“I think he head-butted me a little,” she said. “I felt it was going to bleed, but I didn’t know when. Right after I got a takedown, it just started bleeding everywhere.”

Her nosebleed plugs came loose after action resumed, and the trainer then taped the plugs to Mills’ nose.

“What’s special about the sport is the co-ed factor,” Gillin said. “Everybody is a part of it.”

Also winning matches for Matanzas were T.J. McLean (106 pounds), Kaden Golder (120), Toryion Stallings (126), Dylan Parkinson (152), Landon Wright (170), Jordan Mills (182) and Tyler Thomas (285).

FPC’s winners were Kole Hannant (132) by forfeit, John Hald (138), Hayden Herndon (145), Kelton Howard (160), Dalton Schell (195) by forfeit and Ethan Laupepa (220).

The best matches were at 138 and 170, which both went into overtime. Carter Wilder, wrestling up from 132, lost a 15-10 decision to Hald at 138. Wright decisioned Josh Davis 12-10 at 170.

Thomas, who wrestled at 220 at the Rotary, drank a few bottles of water before weigh-in to make the minimum weight for 285.

On Jan. 27, the Matanzas girls team competed in their final regular-season tournament, winning the Tournament of Champions in Lake Mary. It was the Pirates’ sixth title in eight tournaments. Brielle Bibla and Christina Borgmann won their weight classes. Mariah Mills lost a one-point decision in the final.

celebrity cipher

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Puzzle One Clue: H equals U

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Puzzle Three Clue: W equals K

© 2023 NEA, Inc.

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

The FPC girls soccer team ended the season with at 14-5-3.

Photo by Brent Woronoff Jessie Seay (4) dribbles ahead of Seminole’s Nola Johnson (17).

Hayden Herndon, left, takes down Mason Obama.

Matanzas’ Tyler Thomas pinned his opponent. Photos by Brent Woronoff

THE LITTLE THINGS by Stella Zawistowski, edited by David Steinberg

Luis

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

SIDE LINES

Matanzas, FPC win district championship

Matanzas and Flagler Palm Coast each won district girls weightlifting championships.

The Bulldogs swept the District 4-3A traditional and Olympic titles at University High School on Wednesday, Jan. 25. They will send 14 lifters to the regional championships on Thursday, Feb. 2 at Oakleaf High.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

State cheerleading

Seabreeze, Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas will be competing at the competitive cheerleading state championships Feb. 3-4 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville.

Seabreeze finished second at regionals to advance directly to the finals in the Class 1A small varsity division.

The Sandcrabs are scheduled to perform at 3:24 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3.

Matanzas and FPC will compete in the small nontumbling competition at the Class 2A state meet Saturday, Feb. 4. Matanzas, which finished fifth at regionals, is scheduled to perform at 5:08 p.m. FPC, which finished eighth at regionals, is scheduled for 3:08 p.m.

Girls basketball

FPC’s girls basketball team was scheduled to open district tournament play on Jan. 31 against Sandalwood. The Bulldogs (13-11) closed the regular season with five straight victories, including a 67-45 win at Matanzas on Jan. 24 in a game that was rescheduled after three FPC players were injured in a crash on Jan. 13 on Belle Terre Parkway.

The Pirates won the traditional title and finished second behind New Smyrna Beach in the Olympic competition at the District 6-2A meet, which they hosted on Jan. 25.

Matanzas is sending 13 lifters to the regional at Leesburg on Feb. 2.

Seabreeze is sending three lifters to Leesburg: Camilla Arellano, who won the district Olympic title at 129 pounds, and Rylie Deiter (110) and Charlotte Lowe (154) in the traditional competition.

FPC won 10 individual titles at district. Aryanna Rosa (119), Brianna Tucker (129), Chloe Long (145) and Midlyne Thomas (183) won both competitions. Leila Turner (139) and Zoey Gotera (unlimited) won the Olympic competition.

The Bulldogs qualified six other lifters in both competitions: Madeline Brinker (101), Angelis Rosa (101), Nereyda Campos (110), Alexa Calidonio (199), Ashlyn Hardy (199) and Colleen Haaf (unlimited). Sher-

lande Paul (154) and Kelsey Coyne (169) qualified in the Olympic competition.

Matanzas’ Sarah Sanchez (154) and Samantha Simon (unlimited) won district championships in both competitions. Jordan Crews (129) and Maria Kelly (139) won titles in the traditional competition.

Kelly, Crews, Sanchez, Simon, Aiyana Reyes (101), Rilee Whitmore (169), Eva Ossler (183) and Alexi Rosario (199) advanced to regional in both competitions.

Aryanna DiFatta (110) advanced in the traditional competition, while Carina Tavares (119), Isabella Hille (183) and Kaitlin Kostal (199) advanced in the Olympic competition.

The traditional competition includes clean and jerk and bench press, while the Olympic competition also counts the clean and jerk along with the snatch lift.

Discus thrower Bradyn Cox signs letter of intent

Josh Petro, an assistant track and field coach at West Virginia Wesleyan College, was very familiar with Matanzas discus thrower Bradyn Cox.

As the former throws coach at the Villages Charter School, Petro had seen Cox in action. That familiarity led to Cox signing a letter of intent with the Division II track program.

“I’m excited,” Cox said after a signing ceremony Jan. 25 in the Pirates’ gym lobby. “I’ve been in contact with Coach Petro since last year, over the summer. He has seen me at a few track meets, and that’s how he recruited me.” Cox plans to major in nursing and throw discus, hammer and weight for Wesleyan.

He started throwing discus in middle school because his father had done it.

“He had a record of 150 feet when he was in middle school,” Bradyn said of Terry Cox Jr. “So I thought I’d try it, and I liked it a lot. I started getting serious in the summer after seventh grade. I started seeing the coach every weekend, and I got a lot better.”

Bradyn won a state championship as an eighth grader at Indian Trails Middle School. He was an AAU All-American as a freshman. With his father coaching the throwers at Matanzas, Bradyn qualified for the Class 2A state meet as a junior last spring with a throw of 45.54 meters, which is just short of 150 feet. He finished 11th at the meet.

“It’s sad I only got three years (of high school track) because of COVID (which canceled the 2020 season),” Cox said. “But hopefully I can make it back to state (this season) and bring home a medal this time.”

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Photo by Brent Woronoff

Matanzas’ Alexi Rosario qualified in both competitions at 199 pounds.

Matanzas' Brianna Corley competed at 154 pounds.

REAL ESTATE

House on beach sells for $3.05 million

Ahouse in Ocean Hammock was the top real estate transaction for the week of Dec. 22-28 in Flagler County in the Multiple Listing Service. Wesley Key, of Bloomington, Indiana, sold 536 Cinnamon Beach Lane to Julie Cancilla, of Buford, Georgia, for $3.05 million. Built in 2012, the house is an 8/8.5 and has a swimming pool, elevator, shared dune walk and 4,658 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $1,512,500.

WAYNE GRANT

REAL ESTATE EDITOR

Condos Cesar and Eloisa Bermudez sold 85 Avenue de la Mer, Unit 301, to Vincent and Marcella Dellaposta, as trustee, for $1.45 million. Built in 2006, the condo is a 4/3.5 and has 3,070 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $960,000.

Marine Torres, of Palm Coast, sold 3600 S. Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 114, to Rickey Millem, of Flagler Beach, for $227,000. Built in 1984, the condo is a 1/1 and has 715 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $166,000.

Country Club Cove

Nathan Neal, as guardian, sold 4 Carr Lane to Timothy and Molly Romein, of Palm Coast, for $207,000. Built in 1972, the house is a 2/1 and has 1,153 square feet.

Crossings at Grand Haven

Patrick and Andrea Paparelli, of Houston, sold 10 Waterside Parkway W. to Jane Edwards, as trustee, for $350,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,611 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $212,500.

Grand Haven

Joseph and Bonnie McCloskey, of Burke, Virginia, sold 29 Deerfield Court to Simon Gluzman and Elvira Taipenyak, of Palm Coast, for $365,000. Built in 1999, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,739 square feet. It sold in May for $391,500.

Grand Reserve and Golf Club

Badeossa Holdings LLC, of Plantation, sold 716 Grand Reserve Drive to Brian and Holly Walsh, of Palm Coast, for $398,000. Built in 2022, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,147 square feet.

James and Annette Glavich sold 76 Birdie Way to David Atkinson, of Bunnell, for $375,000. Built in 2021, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,750 square feet.

D.R. Horton Inc. Jacksonville, of St. Johns, sold 769 Grand Reserve Drive to Lorraine Ostrubak, of Bunnell, for $312,990. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,655 square feet.

Indian Trails Mandeville Manor Health Systems Inc., of Palm Coast, sold 222 Birchwood Drive to Alvin and MaryAnn Collins, of Palm Coast, for $370,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 4/3 and has 2.252 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $188,000.

Domingos Cravo, of Mountainside, New Jersey, sold 32 Banner Lane to Mark and Susan Garbatini, of Watertown, Connecticut, for $330,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,742 square feet.

Theodore and Emma Adams, of Palm Coast, sold 32 Breeze Hill Lane to Yasars LLC, of Palm Coast, for $325,000. Built in 1987, the house is a 4/3 and has a swimming pool and

2,331 square feet. It sold in 1987 for $99,400.

Los Lagos Nathan and Brande Crutchfield, of St. Augustine Beach, sold 27 Los Lagos Blvd. to Walter Radziszewski, of Palm Coast, for $591,100. Built in 2021, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,216 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $413,800.

Richmond American Homes of Florida LP, of Jacksonville, sold 82 Los Lagos Blvd. to Molly Smith and Tiziano Busetto, of Palm Coast, for $575,878. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,810 square feet.

Not in Subdivision Peter and Wanda Zuke, of Palm Coast, sold 339 Wellington Drive to Robert and Christine Leland, of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, for $461,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a swimming pool and 2,051 square feet. It sold in 2014 for $206,000.

Mitsuko Mcintyre, of Rapid City, South Dakota, sold 1 Post Lane to Stanley and Karen Haines, of Palm Coast, for $430,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, swimming pool and 2,025 square feet.

Ivy Stambaugh, of Palm Coast, sold 2 Zammer Court to Charles Hodges and Alicia Bury, of Palm Coast, for $320,000. Built in 2017, the house

is a 3/2 and has 1,441 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $295,000.

Southern Impression Homes LLC, of Jacksonville, sold 13 Pilgrim Drive to Navin Prasad, as trustee, for $309,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,617 square feet.

LGI Homes Florida LLC, of The Woodlands, Texas, sold 25 Riddle Drive to Anthony Caputo and Nicholas Caputo, of Palm Coast, for $294,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1.270 square feet.

Ocean Hammock Patricia Lanier, individually and as trustee, sold 27 Atlantic Place to Vanessa Underhill, of Marietta, South Carolina, for $1,295,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 4/4 and has a swimming pool, elevator and 3,787 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $1.1 million.

Palm Harbor Nancy and Robert Eisenberg sold 7 Carollo Court to David and Jane Gravett, of Palm Coast, for $425,000. Built in 1995, the house is a 3/2 and has a boat dock and 1,926 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $387,000.

Pine Grove

D.R. Horton Inc. Jacksonville, of St. Johns, sold 29 Postwood Drive to Kathy and Douglas Fleming, of Palm Coast, for $417,990. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/3 and has 2,363 square feet.

Pine Lakes Christopher and Alicia Burdi, of Palm Coast, sold 15 Woodhollow Lane to Blake and Stephanie Morton, of Palm Coast, for $335,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,755 square feet.

Seminole Woods

Seagate Homes LLC, of Palm Coast, sold 13 Utide Court to Armelle and Arthur Vallejos, of Palm Coast, for $400,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,832 square feet.

Woodlands

Lynette Lyons, Latwi Charles and Eric Charles, of Lithonia, Georgia, sold 118 Blare Castle Drive to Mary Medina, of Palm Coast, for $238,000. Built in 1985, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,081 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $145,900.

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

top real estate transaction in Flagler County has eight bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a half-bath and a swimming pool.

FLAGLER COUNTY LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS TO CONSIDER THE IMPOSITION OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 170.07 AND 197.3632, FLORIDA STATUTES, BY THE SEMINOLE PALMS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT (DEBT ASSESSMENT HEARING –ENCLAVE EXPANSION PARCEL)1

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SEMINOLE PALMS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

In accordance with Chapters 170, 190 and 197, Florida Statutes, the Seminole Palms Community Development District’s (“District”) Board of Supervisors (“Board”) hereby provides notice of the following public hearings and public meeting:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

DATE: February 27, 2023

TIME: 11:00 a.m.

LOCATION: Hilton Garden Inn – Palm Coast 55 Town Center Blvd. Palm Coast, Florida 32164

The purpose of the public hearings announced above is to consider the imposition of special assessments (“Debt Assessments”), and adoption of assessment rolls to secure proposed bonds, on benefited lands within the portion of the District known as the “Enclave,” and, to provide for the levy, collection and enforcement of the Debt Assessments. The proposed bonds secured by the Debt Assessments are intended to finance certain public infrastructure improvements, including, but not limited to, stormwater management, water and sewer utilities, landscape, irrigation, lighting, and other infrastructure improvements (together, “Project”), benefitting certain lands within the District, including the Enclave. The Project is described in more detail in the Engineer’s Report, dated February 2, 2022, as supplemented by the Revised Master and First Supplemental Engineer’s Report, dated August 19, 2023 (as updated January 23, 2023) (together, “Engineer’s Report”). The Debt Assessments are proposed to be levied as one or more assessment liens and allocated to the benefitted lands within the Enclave parcel, as set forth in the Master Special Assessment Methodology Report, dated April 25, 2022, as supplemented by the Supplemental Special Assessment Methodology Report, dated January 23, 2023 (together, “Assessment Report”). At the conclusion of the public hearings, the Board will, by resolution, levy and impose the Debt Assessments as finally approved by the Board. A special meeting of the District will also be held where the Board may consider any other business that may properly come before it.

The District is located entirely within the City of Palm Coast, Florida, and covers approximately 309.81 acres of land, more or less. The site is generally located west of Seminole Woods Boulevard, north of Grand Landings Parkway, and south of an existing drainage canal. A geographic depiction of the District is shown below. All lands within the District are expected to be improved in accordance with the reports identified above.

Pursuant to Resolutions 2022-26 and 2022-33, the District previously levied a debt assessment to secure the funding of the Project on the original 239.63 acres of land within the District. On October 4, 2022, the City Council for the City of Palm Coast, Florida adopted Ordinance 2022-19 amending the District’s boundaries and adding the 70.18-acre Enclave parcel into the District. The District is now undertaking efforts to levy a debt assessment on the Enclave parcel.

A description of the property to be assessed and the amount to be assessed to each piece or parcel of property may be ascertained at the “District’s Office” located at c/o DPFG, Inc., 250 International Pkwy., Ste. # 208, Lake Mary, FL 32746, phone: 321-2630132. Also, a copy of the agendas and other documents referenced herein may be obtained from the District Office.

The proposed Debt Assessments are as follows:

Proposed Debt Assessments

*Not including early payment discounts and collection charges.

NOTE: THE ENCLAVE PARCEL IS PLANNED FOR 182 OF THE SF 50’ UNITS SHOWN IN THE CHART. THE BAL-

ANCE OF THE LOTS ARE ALLOCATED TO THE ORIGINAL LANDS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

The assessments shall be paid in not more than thirty (30) annual installments subsequent to the issuance of debt to finance the improvements. These annual assessments will be collected on the County tax roll by the Tax Collector. Alternatively, the District may choose to directly collect and enforce these assessments.

The public hearings and meeting are open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with Florida law. The public hearings and meeting may be continued to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record. There may be occasions when staff or board members may participate by speaker telephone. Any person requiring special accommodations because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Office at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1, or 1-800-955-8771 (TTY) / 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Office.

Please note that all affected property owners have the right to appear and comment at the public hearings and meeting and may also file written objections with the District Office within twenty (20) days of issuance of this notice. Each person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the public hearings or meeting is advised that person will need a record of proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

District Manager

RESOLUTION 2023-02

[RESOLUTION DECLARING DEBT ASSESSMENTS – ENCLAVE PARCEL]2

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE SEMINOLE PALMS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT DECLARING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS; DESIGNATING THE NATURE AND LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS; DECLARING THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE PORTION TO BE PAID BY ASSESSMENTS, AND THE MANNER AND TIMING IN WHICH THE ASSESSMENTS ARE TO BE PAID; DESIGNATING THE LANDS UPON WHICH THE ASSESSMENTS SHALL BE LEVIED; PROVIDING FOR AN ASSESSMENT PLAT AND A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT ROLL; ADDRESSING THE SETTING OF PUBLIC HEARINGS; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION OF THIS RESOLUTION; AND ADDRESSING CONFLICTS, SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS, the Seminole Palms Community Development District (“District”) is a local unit of special-purpose government organized and existing under and pursuant to Chapter 190, Florida Statutes; and

WHEREAS, the District is authorized by Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, to finance, fund, plan, establish, acquire, install, equip, operate, extend, construct, or reconstruct roadways, sewer and water distribution systems, stormwater management/earthwork improvements, landscape, irrigation and entry features, conservation and mitigation, street lighting and other infrastructure projects, and services necessitated by the development of, and serving lands within, the District; and

WHEREAS, the District hereby determines to undertake, install, plan, establish, construct or reconstruct, enlarge or extend, equip, acquire, operate, and/or maintain the portion of the infrastructure improvements comprising the District’s overall capital improvement plan as described in the Revised Master and First Supplemental Engineer’s Report, dated August 19, 2023 (as updated January 23, 2023) (“Project”), which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the District to pay for all or a portion of the cost of the Project by the levy of special assessments (“Assessments”) using the methodology set forth in that Master Special Assessment Methodology Report, dated April 25, 2022, as supplemented by the Supplemental Special Assessment Methodology Report, dated January 23, 2023, which is attached hereto as Exhibit B, incorporated herein by reference, and on file with the District Manager at c/o DPFG Management & Consulting, LLC, 250 International Pkwy, Suite 208, Lake Mary, Florida 32746 (“District Records Office”);

1 Pursuant to Resolutions 2022-26 and 2022-33, the District previously levied a debt assessment to secure the funding of the Project on the original 239.63 acres of land within the District. On October 4, 2022, the City Council for the City of Palm Coast, Florida adopted Ordinance 2022-19 amending the District’s boundaries and adding the 70.18-acre Enclave parcel into the District. The District is now undertaking efforts to levy a debt assessment on the Enclave parcel. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE SEMINOLE PALMS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT:

1. AUTHORITY FOR THIS RESOLUTION; INCORPORATION OF RECITALS. This Resolution is adopted pursuant to the provisions of Florida law, including without limitation Chapters 170, 190 and 197, Florida Statutes. The recitals stated above are incorporated herein and are adopted by the Board as true and correct statements.

2. DECLARATION OF ASSESSMENTS. The Board hereby declares that it has determined to undertake the Project and to defray all or a portion of the cost thereof by the Assessments.

3. DESIGNATING THE NATURE AND LOCATION OF IMPROVEMENTS. The nature and general location of and plans and specifications for the Project are described in Exhibit A, which is on file at the District Records Office. Exhibit B is also on file and available for public inspection at the same location.

4. DECLARING THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE PORTION TO BE PAID BY ASSESSMENTS, AND THE MANNER AND TIMING IN WHICH THE ASSESSMENTS ARE TO BE PAID.

A. The total estimated cost of the Project is $52,483,200 (Total CIP) / $13,434,518 (Enclave Only) (“Estimated Cost”).

B. The Assessments will defray approximately $ 64,500,000 (Total CIP) / $14,610,923 (Enclave Only), which is the anticipated maximum par value of any bonds and which includes all or a portion of the Estimated Cost, as well as other financing-related costs, as set forth in Exhibit B, and which is in addition to interest and collection costs. On an annual basis, the Assessments will defray no more than $ 4,195,818 (Total CIP) / $950,461 (Enclave Only) per year, again as set forth in Exhibit B

C. The manner in which the Assessments shall be apportioned and paid is set forth in Exhibit B, as may be modified by supplemental assessment resolutions. The Assessments will constitute a “master” lien, which may be imposed without further public hearing in one or more separate liens each securing a series of bonds, and each as determined by supplemental assessment resolution. With respect to each lien securing a series of bonds, the special assessments shall be paid in not more than (30) thirty yearly installments. The special assessments may be payable at the same time and in the same manner as are ad-valorem taxes and collected pursuant to Chapter 197, Florida Statutes; provided, however, that in the event the uniform non ad-valorem assessment method of collecting the Assessments is not available to the District in any year, or if determined by the District to be in its best interest, the Assessments may be collected as is otherwise permitted by law, including but not limited to by direct bill. The decision to collect special assessments by any particular method – e.g., on the tax roll or by direct bill – does not mean that such method will be used to collect special assessments in future years, and the District reserves the right in its sole discretion to select collection methods in any given year, regardless of past practices.

5. DESIGNATING THE LANDS UPON WHICH THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS SHALL BE LEVIED. The Assessments securing the Project shall be levied on the lands within the District, as described in Exhibit B, and as further designated by the assessment plat hereinafter provided for.

6. ASSESSMENT PLAT. Pursuant to Section 170.04, Florida Statutes, there is on file, at the District Records Office, an assessment plat showing the area to be assessed with certain plans and specifications describing the Project and the estimated cost of the Project, all of which shall be open to inspection by the public.

7. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT ROLL. Pursuant to Section 170.06, Florida Statutes, the

that hearing or submit their comments in writing prior to the hearings at the District Records Office. Notice of said hearings shall be advertised in accordance with Chapters 170, 190 and 197, Florida Statutes, and the District Manager is hereby authorized and directed to place said notice in a newspaper of general circulation within Flagler County (by two publications one week apart with the first publication at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the hearing established herein). The District Manager shall file a publisher’s affidavit with the District Secretary verifying such publication of notice. The District Manager is further authorized and directed to give thirty (30) days written notice by mail of the time and place of this hearing to the owners of all property to be assessed and include in such notice the amount of the assessment for each such property owner, a description of the areas to be improved and notice that information concerning all assessments may be ascertained at the District Records Office. The District Manager shall file proof of such mailing by affidavit with the District Secretary.

9. PUBLICATION OF RESOLUTION. Pursuant to Section 170.05, Florida Statutes, the District Manager is hereby directed to cause this Resolution to be published twice (once a week for two (2) weeks) in a newspaper of general circulation within Flagler County and to provide such other notice as may be required by law or desired in the best interests of the District.

10. CONFLICTS. All resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are, to the extent of such conflict, superseded and repealed. This Resolution is not intended to affect in any way Resolution 2022-26 and 2022-33, which remain in full force and effect. y section or part of a section of this resolution be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the validity, force, and effect of any other section or part of a section of this resolution shall not thereby be affected or impaired unless it clearly appears that such other section or part of a section of this resolution is wholly or necessarily dependent upon the section or part of a section so held to be invalid or unconstitutional.

11. SEVERABILITY. If any section or part of a section of this resolution be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the validity, force, and effect of any other section or part of a section of this resolution shall not thereby be affected or impaired unless it clearly appears that such other section or part of a section of this resolution is wholly or necessarily dependent upon the section or part of a section so held to be invalid or unconstitutional.

12. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution shall become effective upon its adoption.

[THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK] PASSED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of January, 2023.

ATTEST:

SEMINOLE PALMS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

Secretary/Asst. Secretary Chairman

Exhibit A: Revised Master and First Supplemental Engineer’s Report, dated August 19, 2023 (as updated January 23, 2023)

Exhibit B: Master Special Assessment Methodology Report, dated April 25, 2022, as supplemented by the Supplemental Special Assessment Methodology Report, dated January 23, 2023 April 25, 2022, as supplemented by the Supplemental Special Assessment Methodology Report, dated January 23, 2023

February 2, 9, 2023

32110. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS

AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

23-00008F

FIRST INSERTION SEMINOLE PALMS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF THE DISTRICT’S INTENT TO USE THE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTION OF NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS [ENCLAVE EXPANSION PARCEL]

Notice is hereby given that the Seminole Palms Community Development District (“District”) intends to use the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem assessments to be levied by the District pursuant to Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. The Board of Supervisors of the District will conduct a public hearing on Monday, February 27, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Hilton Garden Inn – Palm Coast 55 Town Center Blvd., Palm Coast, Florida 32164. The purpose of the public hearing is to consider the adoption of a resolution authorizing the District to use the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem assessments to be levied by the District on the Expansion Parcel, which was added to the District pursuant to an Ordinance adopted by the City Council of the City of Palm Coast, Florida. The District may levy non-ad valorem assessments for the purpose of financing, acquiring, maintaining and/or operating community development facilities, services and improvements within and without the boundaries of the District. Owners of the properties to be assessed and other interested parties may appear at the public hearing and be heard regarding the use of the uniform method of collecting such non-ad valorem assessments.

The public hearing is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law. The public hearing may be continued to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record. There may be occasions when Board Supervisors or District Staff may participate by speaker telephone.

Any person requiring special accommodations at this hearing because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Manager, c/o DPFG Management & Consulting LLC, 250 International Parkway, Suite 208, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, Phone (321) 263-0132, at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the hearing. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1, or 1-800-955-8771 (TTY) / 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Manager.

Each person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the public hearing is advised that person will need a record of proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

February 2, 9, 16,

District Manager

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NEXTRUNDATE:04/21/16