Palm Coast Observer 3-2-23

Adam Bell, Francisco Zamora, Otter Oliver and Alex Alvarez drum and sing as Lily Littlebird, 6, Megan Zamora and baby Ainara Zamora watch.

Photo by Jake Montgomery

Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh

CITY WATCH

City Council reviews budget priorities

Between public council meetings, Palm Coast City Council members meet one-on-one with city staff about fiscal year 2024 budget priorities.

The council members’ meetings to establish their individual priorities began the week of Feb. 27 and will continue into the first week of March, Palm Coast Communication Director Brittany Kershaw said.

Below is a breakdown of the city’s Strategic Action Planning process.

OUTREACH

City, county launch parks input website

Flagler County and Palm Coast’s governments have teamed up to develop a Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the entire community.

The city and county have launched an interactive engagement website for residents’ input on the parks master plan as well. The feedback will help determine city and county priorities for recreational facilities, according to a press release from the city of Palm Coast.

“We are thrilled to collaborate on our new Planning Our Parks initiative and we are inviting you to get involved and bring us your ideas, feedback and foresight,” Palm Coast City Manager Denise Bevan said.

The website is available through the city’s online parks and recreation page, under the “Planning Our Parks” menu item.

“As residents, you can help us navigate the direction we take as our county continues to grow and evolve,” Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito said.

Visit berrydunn. mysocialpinpoint.com/palmcoast-flagler-county-parksand-recreation-master-plan.

Attending City Council meetings and using the public comment section is the best way for residents to get involved in the process, Kershaw said.

“That’s when you’re front and center in front of your City Council members and you’re able to have your public comment, have your voice heard,” she said.

And the earlier, the better: Once the City Council adopts the maximum millage rate in July, Kershaw said, there isn’t much that can be changed from that point on.

For those who can’t make the morning meetings, Kershaw said, the public is welcome to speak at evening business meetings or reach out to their council member.

Kershaw said the city is also working on outreach for the city to engage the public.

“We are doing a big educational push this year on the different funds that are available, the entire budget process, and what that looks like,” Kershaw said.

Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin also announced at the end of 2022 his new “Share with the Mayor” program, in which residents can invite Alfin to their home, churches or community meetings to talk to him about their concerns.

The city has also just jointly launched a community feedback website alongside the county to help build a Parks and Recreation master plan that fits the entire community, Kershaw said.

THE PROCESS City Manager Denise Bevan implemented several facets of the start of

DATES TO KNOW:

Here are the upcoming major dates for the city’s Strategic Action Planning process.

March 21: The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

March 28: Review the 1-year Capital Improvement Plan

April 25: The Fire Department and Parks and Recreation Department present year-to-date budget results

May 23: The Water and Wastewater Utility, Public Works and Stormwater Management departments give their presentations

June 13: Property tax presentation

the budgeting process when she was the interim city manager, Kershaw said, including five-year goal plans for the individual departments to maintain and 10-year capital project plans.

The staff regularly reviews the five-year plans to help them stay on track, she said.

Department heads also use “key performance indicators” alongside the City Council’s priorities to plan ahead for priorities and goals for the coming years, she said.

Staff determines department priorities based on focus areas, Assistant City Manager Lauren Johnson wrote in an email: succession planning, safe and reliable services, datadriven metrics and level of service.

City staff will adjust budgeting based on work orders from the public, hot spots, case management reviews and to maintain acceptable levels of service, Johnson wrote.

Pre-budget planning begins in February, when staff begin presenting information to the council for consideration at workshops.

After the one-on-one meetings — which function as listening and learning meetings for staff — staff will evaluate and adjust.

THE TIMELINE

The budgeting planning doesn’t ever really stop for city staff, Kershaw said.

July 18: Adoption of the maximum millage rate

BUDGET PRESENTATIONS

July 11: General Fund presentation

July 25: proprietary funds presentation

Aug. 8: Internal services, capital fund and all other funds presentation

Aug. 29: Final proposed budget presentation. Sept. 7 and 20: the final two meetings to adopt the budget and millage rate.

Once the fiscal year budget is adopted in September, the city staff almost immediately begins looking ahead to the next year. Staff are set to a strict schedule throughout the calendar year in order for things to run smoothly, Kershaw said.

After staff meet in January to decide on priorities, Johnson and department heads begin presenting information to the council for consideration in February.

Now, coming into March and through May, department heads will individually present in-depth presentations on the their departments’ needs.

These presentations will explain the departments’ 10-year outlook and budgeting process, Kershaw said. The city will also have an economist from the University of Florida present about the nation’s finances.

In June and July, the City Council will adopt a maximum millage rate after it reviews information from the county’s property appraiser, Kershaw said, allowing it to build the final budget based on projected tax income.

Right now, until March 10, council members are reviewing the strategic action planning process with staff.

The next budget-related meeting will be on March 21, when the council will review the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

Planning Print Ads – U.S. & Canada

Humane Society volunteer state award

A Flagler County Humane Society volunteer has won the Florida Animal Control Association’s Volunteer of the Year award.

Manny Confusione was honored with the award on Feb. 25 at the association’s educational conference. He was one of the top three nominees honored at the banquet. The Flagler Humane Society celebrated his win with a reception at the shelter on Feb. 28.

Confusione has volunteered at the Humane Society for 12 years. At 25 hours a week, he has logged over 16,000 volunteer hours as a greeter, FHS Executive Director Amy Wade-Carotenuto said.

“Manny’s smile has kept us out of so much trouble,” she said. “His smile lights up the room.”

Confusione’s team at the Humane Society, along with family and friends, all showed up to the reception. Sheriff Rick Staly and a few of his deputies even showed up — because Confusione volunteers there, too. Confusione said he was surprised when they announcing he had won. “It feels good,” he said. Working with animals is his passion, he said, and he hopes more animals get adopted out from the Humane Society.

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Photo by Sierra Williams Manny Confusione shares a joke with Sheriff Rick Staly.

Student charged as an adult in attack on MHS employee

Matanzas student charged as an adult after attack on paraprofessional

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

A 17-year-old Matanzas High School special education student who attacked a paraprofessional on Feb. 21 has been charged as an adult with aggravated battery on an elected official or educational employee.

The charge, a first-degree felony, is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

The student, identified as Brendan Depa, is scheduled to appear before Judge Melissa Distler on March 13 at the Flagler County courthouse.

Surveillance video showed the student, who is described as 6 foot, 6 inches and weighing about 270 pounds, running at paraprofessional Joan Naydich and knocking her hard to the floor, where she fell face down, unconscious.

The student then stomped on her twice, straddled her and began punching her in the back and the head, hitting her 15 times before MHS employees could pull him off of her. He kicked her again as a staff member pushed him away. A

school resource deputy arrived after the student was restrained by a dean, according to the arrest report.

The student told the deputy that he would beat the paraprofessional every time she takes away his Nintendo Switch.

Depa was first charged with felony aggravated battery and bodily harm. He was released Feb. 22 from the Department of Juvenile Justice to his group home in Palm Coast, which is operated by East Coast Habilitation Options. He was re-arrested on Feb. 24 and charged with the first-degree felony. Bond was set at $1 million.

FUND FOR THE VICTIM

A Go Fund Me page has been set up by Jessica White Leon for Naydich, a mother of two. As of the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 28, it had raised over $60,000. On Feb. 26, Naydich’s daughter wrote on the page that her mother was home and recovering.

On Feb. 27, White Leon posted a message that was dictated by Naydich, which said that, contrary to reports, she never confiscated the Nintendo Switch from the student.

The message begins: “Overwhelmed with the idea of the long fight ahead ... your contributions are lessening that burden, and I’m truly grateful! I’m hopeful that the awareness of this incident being spread far and wide will prevent anyone else from ever dealing with the trauma,

TO HELP

To contribute to the Go Fund Me, go to www. gofundme.com/f/supportencouragement-for-joan.

physical healing and disruption of everyday life that this has caused. It’s touching to know that so many care.”

CHARGED WITH BATTERY IN 2019

Depa had previously been charged as a juvenile with first-degree misdemeanor battery three times in 2019 in Hillsborough County.

According to court records, he successfully completed a Juvenile Diversion Alternative Program.

In the Matanzas incident, a deputy reported that when he was typing his report, the student kept asking about returning to his group home. When the deputy didn’t have answers, the student started kicking the deputy’s desk, knocking the deputy’s computer monitor to the ground.

Body cam footage of the arrest showed deputies handcuffing the student. The student asked if he was going to jail. When the deputy answered, “Yes you are,” he asked for how long.

When the deputy asked if he was going to be cool, the student said,

CHONG CALLS FOR DISCUSSION ON ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION SCHOOL

Flagler County School Board member Christy Chong would like to see the board discuss the possibility of creating an alternative school for emotionally disturbed children prone to violence.

Her suggestion was prompted by a Flagler County Sheriff deputy’s body camera video of the arrest of a Matanzas High School student charged with beating a paraprofessional unconscious on Feb. 21.

“We do need to start a conversation about an alternative school for children that are breaking the law,” Chong said during new business toward the end of a board workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 22, a day after the brutal attack, which was captured by surveillance video.

“This is becoming a constant complaint across the campuses in our community. We just had the battering, beating of a faculty (member) unconscious, which is horrible. I’m hearing conversations about students who are constantly disrupting classrooms. It’s not fair,”

Chong said. “These students need to know there’s consequences when they’re acting out.”

Board chair Cheryl Massaro asked if there was a consensus to have a future conversation about an alternative school, and the other board members, including Colleen Conklin, who was on speaker phone, chimed in with a “yes.”

John Fanelli, the district’s coordinator of behavior and conduct management, told the Observer that there have been multiple alternative education schools over the years in Flagler including Devereux, Everest and Pathways.

“We currently have an alternative education program called RiseUp, which serves the same purpose,” Fanelli said in an email.

“F--- you. I don’t want to go to jail.

I have more important places to be.”

As deputies walked him past the paraprofessional as she was being treated by EMS workers, the student yelled, “Stupid (expletive), I’m going to (f-ing) kill you.”

Naydich was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to a press release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

“Thankfully, students and staff members came to the victim’s aid before the SRDs could arrive,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Our schools should be a safe place – for both employees and students.

“The actions of this student are absolutely horrendous and completely uncalled for,” Staly added.

“We hope the victim will be able to recover, both mentally and physically, from this incident.”

“Thankfully, students and staff members came to the victim’s aid before the SRDs could arrive, Our schools should be a safe place –for both employees and students.”

RICK STALY, sheriff

Board member says challenged media center books are ‘pornography’

Chong also wanted to know why an LGBTQ-related sign was on a Matanzas classroom bulletin board.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

At the Flagler County School Board’s monthly business meeting on Feb. 22, board member Christy Chong said she expects media center book challenges will eventually be decided by the board, and she left little doubt as to where her vote will land.

The conservative group Moms for Liberty Flagler Chapter has challenged 22 library books, 14 of which are currently in at least one school media center.

Two district committees are scheduled to meet in March to review challenges that have been appealed by the complainant after school review committees voted to retain the books. After district, reviews can be appealed to the superintendent and eventually to the School Board.

Chong said the board is required by law to keep “pornography” out of schools.

“I’m absolutely tired of hearing about it,” Chong said in her closing comments. “Ultimately it will come down to us. This is not difficult. There are parents and people who do not want pornography in schools, and there are those that do. That’s all

that this is about.”

She cited Florida Statute 847.012, which deals with the sale or distribution of obscenity to minors.

“It is a felony of the third degree,” she said. “Our tax dollars should not be providing pornography in schools. It’s ridiculous. … I encourage parents to keep challenging these books. As a board, I know we’ll eventually do the right thing.”

VIDEO CAPTURES LGBTQ SIGN

At a workshop earlier in the day, Chong noted that a body cam video by a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy at Matanzas High revealed an LGBTQ-related poster in a class-

room. The footage was from the arrest of a Matanzas student charged with beating a paraprofessional on Feb. 21. Following her request for a discussion on an alternative school, Chong said she had an item “kind of unrelated to the situation.”

Chong noted that in the body cam footage, as two deputies are escorting the handcuffed student out of a classroom, a sign on a bulletin board that reads, “This is a safe space for LGBTQ students and their allies,” is clearly visible. The wording is printed over a rainbow flag background.

“Let me try to choose my words carefully,” Chong said. “Within that classroom there’s a poster on the wall pushing the LGBTQ agenda, and I want to know how much this is going on in our schools. If we can’t hang Bible verses or pray, then we shouldn’t be pushing any kind of agenda in our schools. Our children are going there to have an education and not to have other things be pushed down there throats, especially sexuality.”

At the conclusion of her comments, Superintendent Cathy Mittlestadt said, “I’ll take care of it.

“This is not difficult. There are parents and people who do not want pornography in schools, and there are those that do. “

‘PARENTAL RIGHTS’ LAW COULD BE EXPANDED

A House Republican on Tuesday filed a proposal that would bar instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity through eighth grade, expanding a controversial 2022 law that prohibited such instruction in early grades.

The eight-page bill (HB 1223) also would prevent school employees from telling students their preferred pronouns if those pronouns “do not correspond to his or her sex” or asking students about their preferred pronouns.

Rep. Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor, filed the bill for consideration during the legislative session that will start March 7. The 2022 law prohibited instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade and required it to be “age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate” in in higher grades.

Under Anderson’s bill, the “ageappropriate or developmentally appropriate” test would continue to apply in ninth through 12th grades.

Thank you.”

Board attorney Kristy Gavin told the Observer in a text that the school district does not permit signs affiliated with social or political causes.

“Safe spaces are not limited to any specific student population,” Gavin

The 2022 law drew national debate, as supporters said it would help protect students and opponents disparagingly gave it the moniker “don’t say gay.”

Anderson’s bill would go beyond the instruction issues to address personal pronouns. The bill says that it “shall be the policy” of all public-schools “that a person’s sex is an immutable biological trait and that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to such person’s sex.”

The LGBTQ-advocacy organization Equality Florida quickly criticized the proposal and said the 2022 law was part of a “censorship agenda” driven by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“The DeSantis regime isn’t satisfied with a hostile takeover of traditional public schools. They envision a future where LGBTQ families have no school choice to find dignity or respect,” Jon Harris Maurer, Equality Florida’s public policy director, said in a statement.

–THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

said. Gavin also said the teacher who was in that classroom last year was the sponsor for the Gay-Straight Alliance, but that teacher is no longer in that classroom and the group no longer meets in that room.

Image courtesy of the FCSO

Surveillance video shows the student, 17, stomping on the back of a Matanzas High School paraprofessional after he knocked her unconscious.

Image from a Feb. 21 Sheriff’s deputy body cam footage of an LGBTQ sign in a Matanzas classroom.

Hunt wants to expedite superintendent vote

Flagler Schools

Superintendent Cathy Mittlelstadt’s contract will expire on June 30.

With Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt’s contract scheduled to expire on June 30, Flagler County School Board member Sally Hunt wants to begin discussions on Mittelstadt’s future immediately.

But in what looks almost like a generational divide, School Board Chair Cheryl Massaro and longtime board member Colleen Conklin said that Hunt and the board’s two other new members — Will Furry and Christy Chong — do not know enough about the superintendent or the evaluation process to make an informed decision.

“Time is of the essence,” Hunt said at the board’s Feb. 22 workshop.

Hunt said she was afraid of a ripple effect in the district should the board wait to review Mittelstadt’s contract.

“I feel like today we need to talk about the structure of that vote, the structure of that conversation,” she said. “While this hangs out there, we have a district team wondering what’s ahead. We have parents wondering what’s ahead.”

But Massaro said the board has four months to decide, and the decision is too important to rush into.

“I, myself, don’t believe a School Board with three new members who’ve only known the superintendent for three months can make the decision without having experienced the actual evaluation process. That concerns me,” Massaro said.

Massaro said important information will be coming in with data on how the district is progressing on its Strategic Plan, and the district’s principals will soon be discussing their School Improvement Plans with the board.

But Hunt said there are other components to the superintendent position besides metrics.

“I feel like today we need to talk about the structure of that vote, the structure of that conversation. While this hangs out there, we have a district team wondering what’s ahead. We have parents wondering what’s ahead.”

SALLY

board members were sworn in on Nov. 22, they never heard about the superintendent’s contract being up for renewal until a School Board retreat on Feb. 7. Since then, she said, she’s been getting conflicting information on the process.

Hunt also said she would like to advertise for public comment on Mittelstadt’s performance.

Chong agreed with her fellow new board member about the urgency of getting the process started.

“We do have to decide what direction we’re going,” Chong said.

School Board Attorney Kristy Gavin said it’s perfectly appropriate to begin discussions in March on renewal or an extension.

Finally, Mittelstadt, listening to the discussion, asked to speak.

“To make an informed decision, you need to have the breath of the organization and everything that’s been done under my 30 months of leading the school district,” she said.

BRIEFS

Grant money offered for people with stormdamaged homes

Realtors Relief Foundation money is available to help any Florida resident make a mortgage payment, up to $2,500, if their home was damaged by Hurricane Ian or Nicole, according to a news release from Florida Realtors.

The RFF can also pay a month’s rent for people who were displaced from their homes and had to pay for alternative housing due to Hurricane Ian or Nicole damage.

Grants are contingent on funding availability, and aid will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The application deadline is April 28.

“There’s communication, leadership, morale, a lot of pieces. I’m hearing from across staff. I’m hearing from key community members,” she said. “I would like to figure out the structure.”

While Massaro said it’s too soon to evaluate Mittelstadt, Conklin defended the superintendent’s performance and said she hopes Mittelstadt decides to stay on. Mittelstadt was selected for the position in March 2020, days before the COVID-19 lockdown.

“I have no issues with her performance,” Conklin said. “I think we go through the process and find out what Cathy’s intention is. Hopefully she will choose to continue. This has been a challenging three years as a first-time superintendent. Her ability to continue to refocus everybody’s attention on student academics, I admire that tremendously.”

Massaro said there is also the possibility of extending Mittelstadt’s current contract if the superintendent is willing.

But Hunt said that since the new

She said she has already agreed to submit her self-evaluation by March 17, two weeks before she would make her contract request.

March is very important because of the School Improvement Plans, Mittelstadt said. Before the workshop’s discussion turned to Mittelstadt’s contract, staff had presented the board with an overview of the district’s academic assessments.

“I think it’s critical to you as board members to be privy to all the information, so you can make an informed decision. After that,” Mittlestadt told the board, “part of my contract allows for us to have one-on-one conversation time, so you can give me feedback before you come to a meeting to determine if you want to do an extension or not.

“I know it’s a race,” Mittelstadt said. “But I learned a long time ago, a race to the finish line without the process to get there is going to create a stumble somewhere. And I just think in terms of being fully transparent and working with you, trying to achieve that in a very methodical manner, so you can make the decision that you need to for the future of the district, is all I ask, respectfully.”

For more information or to apply, go to: floridarealtors.org/about/ charities/hurricane-ian-disasterrelief-information.

House panel eyes treatments for transgender kids

A Florida House committee on Tuesday, Feb. 21, heard testimony from a panel of doctors, researchers and other people opposed to gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

Republican leaders in Florida and other parts of the country are adopting measures to block doctors from using puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery to treat youths diagnosed with gender dysphoria, which the federal government defines clinically as “significant distress that a person may feel when sex or gender assigned at birth is not the same as their identity.”

GOP lawmakers in more than half the states are pushing bills to restrict some gender-affirming care for minors, according to Stateline, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Chloe Cole, an 18-year-old

“detransitioner” from California who has traveled across the country speaking out against genderaffirming care for kids, was part of the panel that addressed the House Health & Human Services Committee on Tuesday. Cole, who said she had a double mastectomy at age 15, warned of “an epidemic approaching” among people seeking to detransition.

“These bills are trying to take away something without replacing it with something else. We have thousands of individuals who regret the transitions, who want to go off these treatments … but they have no idea how,” she said.

Committee Chairman Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, pledged to address the issue during the legislative session that will start March 7.

“I will tell you this. I say these panels are often a predicate for what’s to come. That’s exactly what today was. And I promise you, you will like the bill,” he said.

More than two-dozen medical associations have deemed genderaffirming care to be medically necessary, safe and effective at treating gender dysphoria in minors. But Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republicans have targeted the treatments.

Florida medical boards, at the request of DeSantis’ administration, recently adopted rules restricting doctors from providing genderaffirming treatments to trans kids.

The rules are expected to go into effect next month, Board of Medicine Chairman Scot Ackerman told the House panel Tuesday.

Also, the state Agency for Health Care Administration last year approved a rule prohibiting Medicaid reimbursements for puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery for transgender youths and adults.

The rule is being challenged in federal court.

On Monday, Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, filed a measure (SB 952) that would require employers that provide coverage of gender dysphoria treatment to also cover “the full costs associated with treatment that reverses such gender dysphoria treatment,” even after the patient is no longer an employee, and regardless of the rate of coverage for the initial transition treatments.

— THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

HUNT

Volusia County holds first opioid abatement meeting

A new board is tasked with helping the county determine how to use settlement funds to address the opioid crisis.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

SENIOR EDITOR

When it comes to treating substance use disorders — particularly involving opioids — Volusia County needs more services, according to a report by the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences.

The age-adjusted death rate for opioid overdoses in Volusia County was 63.2 per 100,000 people in 2020 — over double the state’s rate of 29.9, the report stated. The death rate for drug overdoses in general was 69.2 per 100,000 people in Volusia. The state’s rate was 36.

But when it came to the availability of mental health services, Volusia County fell behind the state in almost every category: Licensed mental health counselors, licensed psychologists, licensed clinical social work-

ers, total behavioral/mental health professionals and adult psychiatric beds.

The only service availability category for which Volusia surpassed the state was child and adolescent psychiatric beds.

“Again, high need in Volusia County, but we’re slightly behind the rest of the state in terms of access to care,” said Randa Matusiak, with Volusia County Public Protection.

Matusiak presented the report to Volusia County officials during the first meeting of the Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board on Friday, Feb. 24.

Composed of 14 members, the board was created to help the county determine how to use settlement funds from a nationwide class-action suit against major opioid pharmaceutical distributors, including Janssen, Endo, Teva, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart.

The board, according to the county, will review Volusia’s Opioid Abatement Plan and make funding recommendations to the Volusia County Council.

Three seats — representing Edgewater, Holly Hill and Lake Helen — remain vacant on the board, which is chaired by County Councilman Dan-

SUSPECTED OVERDOSE

ny Robins.

The settlements, totaling $26 billion over an 18-year period, were finalized on Jan. 31, 2022. Volusia County will receive 3.13% of the regional funds, or over $27.39 million. Flagler County, which also joined the suit, will receive 0.38%, or $3.4 million.

The city of Ormond Beach will receive just under $293,000.

“I want to see us make recommendations to the council that provide the best benefit to Volusia County residents, and also the most bang for

IN 2022

their buck,” Ormon Beach Mayor Bill Partington said at the board meeting.

Opioid abuse abatement is the goal, Partington continued, and medication-assisted treatment — a plan which, according to the FDA, uses medicine, counseling and behavioral therapies to treat opioid use disorders — is a part of that. But the mayor, who serves as the board’s vice chair, added that he’d like to see an increase in therapy services.

“People are dying every day,” Partington said. “The record here is not great. It’s worse maybe in a couple other places, but we’re up there near the top of the list. Whatever we can do to help prevent that, I think it’s going to be a good thing.”

There was one discrepancy in the report: the number of adult substance abuse beds in the county. The report noted four, but a representative from SMA Healthcare, Nicole Sharbono, told the board it has 54 men’s residential treatment beds in DeLand, 24 adolescent beds in Daytona Beach, 70 women’s beds in

Flagler County (the two counties share the facility) and 19 detox beds.

“With that said, though, with the exception of the adolescent beds, we have a waiting list,” Sharbono said.

The detox beds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but they’re nearly always occupied.

Ponce Inlet Police Chief Jeff Glazier said that law enforcement officers “deal with the symptoms of crime,” but not the root causes.

“We don’t deal with the poverty,” he said. “We don’t deal with the social injustice. We don’t deal with the inequities, the poor parenting and things like that. So I think when we attack this issue, I’m excited to go after those root causes — to go after the trauma that these people are experiencing that sometimes causes these opioid addictions and things like that.”

To start, the board will meet on a monthly basis.

The next board meeting’s date has yet to be announced, but county staff were directed to explore a date in late March.

Renner backs DeSantis on defamation law

House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, said on Friday, Feb. 24, that he supports Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call to revisit a U.S. Supreme Court decision that has helped protect media companies from defamation lawsuits.

The 1964 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a case known as New York Times Co. v. Sullivan held that the First Amendment limits public officials’ ability to sue for defamation.

DeSantis said this month he thinks the case should be revisited, a position that Renner echoed Friday during a news conference at the Capitol.

“I think the governor’s right. It’s time to test that law, you know the New York Times v. Sullivan,” Renner, an attorney, said. “And if a reporter is hiding behind an anonymous source that may not be a real person, may not be a real source, and putting out what we’ve come to know as fake news, then there needs to be some liability for that.”

Renner’s comments also came three days after Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, filed a potentially far-reaching bill (HB 991) that would make changes in state defamation laws.

Presenting

Long, Director

works by Tartini Geminiani, Sammartini and Vivaldi

Violin- Paulo Torres - concertmaster, El Gervasio, Connie Murray-Lytle, Mary Meridith, Chris Romaine Viola- Karen Hacker, Amanda McFadzean Cello- Joe Corporon, Sandy Pearson Harpsichord- Paige Long

Flagler

File photo House Speaker Paul Renner

COPS CORNER

FEB. 19 SPEAK FOR YOURSELF 7:27 p.m. — 1500 block of West Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach Petit theft. A big box store employee watched a man and a woman skip-scanning items at a self-checkout station.

When she approached them, the man left and the woman, a 28-year-old from Daytona Beach, refused to go to the store’s loss prevention office, according to a police report. Officers soon arrived and handcuffed her.

The woman told officers that she had paid for everything, but needed help from an employee when an item didn’t scan.

The store employee showed the officers an itemized receipt and video footage showing the items that were skip-scanned.

When asked about her companion’s whereabouts, the woman said, “I don’t know, I can’t speak for someone else.”

She was taken to jail.

ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER

10:05 p.m. — 7000 block of Ocean Shore Boulevard, Palm Coast Possession. A St. Augustine

woman pulled over for not wearing her seatbelt was arrested for possession of four types of drugs by the end of the traffic stop.

A deputy had noticed the driver putting on her seatbelt as she was driving. He flashed his emergency lights for a traffic stop, according to the woman’s arrest report.

During the stop, the woman had her passenger call the SUV’s owner for insurance information. The deputy asked the woman to step out of the car. The deputy asked the woman if she would let him search her purse. She gave him permission, and he found hashish oil in the bag.

Deputies then searched both occupants and the SUV. They found a pouch tucked into the waistband of the woman’s leggings, containing cocaine, fentanyl and meth. The drugs collectively weighed 6.78 grams.

The woman was arrested.

FEB. 22 SEEKING SHELTER

7:51 p.m. — 1400 block of Hand Avenue, Ormond Beach Trespassing. Police responded to a church after an employee reported that a man was sleeping on the property.

The employee told the reporting officer that the 59-year-old man, a transient, had been previously issued a trespass warning, and that the employee wanted him to be arrested. The transient

LIVE, WORK, SHOP, PLAY, in FLORIDA with JOE MULLINS

man, according to a police report, was laying on a blanket near the east entrance of the church property.

He told police that’s where he had slept for the night because “he knew churches were a safe space,” the report stated.

The officer asked the man if he knew he had been issued a trespass warning. The man said he had been asked to leave once recently, but that he didn’t know he had been trespassed. He advised police he has been homeless since his home recently burned down. The man was issued a notice to appear in court.

A PRANK BACKFIRES

12:39 p.m. — 7100 block of State Road 100, Bunnell Throwing and discharging a destructive device. A man was arrested for throwing a lit firecracker at a coworker. The victim was eating his lunch on his tractor when, he said, his coworker pulled up behind him on his own tractor and threw a large firecracker at him, according to the suspect’s arrest report. The firecracker detonated on the ground next to the victim, causing a 4-inch burn on his leg and pain in his ear. The coworker then drove off without speaking a word. When a deputy spoke to the suspect, the man said he’d lit and thrown the firecracker at his coworker as a prank. He was arrested.

CRIME REPORT

Man allegedly points gun in road rage incident

A Palm Coast man pointed a gun at two women while driving, the women told deputies.

The road rage incident started on Interstate 95 and ended with the man arrested on Zebulahs Trail. The 55-year-old man — who does not have a concealed carry permit — was charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one felony concealed carry of a firearm.

The women told Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies that they had been driving north on I-95 when a black Ford F250 swerved in and out of their lane, according to an arrest report. The woman who was driving flashed her lights at the other driver to let him know he could merge.

But as he merged, the man made several rude hand gestures and flashed a firearm out the window, according to the report.

The two vehicles exited I-95 at State Road 100, and the man extended his arm out of the driver’s window and pointed the gun at the women’s vehicle, according to the report.

The women got the truck’s license plate number, and FCSO deputies quickly found and arrested the man.

They found a Glock 36 under the driver’s seat. The man said he didn’t have a concealed carry permit for it because he didn’t believe a permit was necessary to carry a firearm, the report said.

One of the two women — the one who’d been in the passenger seat — identified the man and the truck as the ones from the incident.

The man denied ever pointing a gun at them.

Woman arrested over shovel attack

A 51-year-old Bunnell woman has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after allegedly hitting another woman with a shovel.

The incident happened Feb. 17, when the victim was visiting someone who lived on a property in the 1700 block of Candleberry Street in Bunnell.

The 51-year-old woman also lived there, and came out of a trailer on the property and began yelling at the victim, the victim later told deputies.

The victim tried to walk past the 51-year-old woman, but the woman grabbed a shovel and hit the victim several times in the arms and once in the leg, leaving bruises, according to the victim’s account in an arrest report.

The 51-year-old woman told deputies that the victim had been threatening to burn down her trailer and had grabbed her arm.

Deputies did not see any injuries on the suspect’s arm.

The other resident said the suspect had been yelling at the victim to get off her property before swinging the shovel at her.

Deputies arrested the suspect.

Woman shot with pellet gun in highway chase

A car chase that started in Daytona Beach ended with an 18-year-old man accused of shooting a woman in the face with a with a pellet gun.

He was arrested in Flagler Beach later the same day.

The incident began on a roadway in Daytona Beach Feb. 24 when the man, a Springhill resident driving a silver Honda, allegedly almost hit a Ford F-150.

The F-150’s passengers called 911 and followed the man onto northbound Interstate 95, according to the arrest report.

The Honda pulled over at mile marker 268, in Ormond Beach. The Ford’s driver pulled over as well, hoping to get the man’s tag number for law enforcement.

But the 18-year-old got out of his car and walked toward the Ford, holding one hand behind his back, according to the report.

As the Ford’s driver pulled back onto I-95, the Honda driver fired a pellet gun at the two occupants.

One pellet came through an open window and hit a female passenger on the forehead just above her eye, leaving a large bruise, and several others hit the side of the truck, the report said.

The Honda driver got back in his car and passed the truck, exiting onto State Road 100 eastbound.

The victims in the Ford followed the man again while on the phone with emergency services, but lost the Honda at S.R. 100 and Oceanshore Boulevard,.

Dispatch directed the two victims to the Flagler Beach Police Department, where officers took statements and photographed the truck and the woman’s injury.

Later the same day, the suspect called Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, telling them he was involved in the incident.

The victims to identified the man as the one from the road rage incident.

The 18-year-old was arrested by the FCSO and turned over to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

He has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and one aggravated battery charge.

BRIEFS BIZ BUZZ

Daytona man, 27, dies in crash on U.S. 1 in Flagler

A 27-year-old man from Daytona Beach died in a car crash on U.S. 1 in the early morning hours of Feb. 26, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The man was driving an SUV south on U.S. 1 south of Cemetery Road at about 3:37 a.m. when the SUV veered off the road, over the grass median and into the northbound lanes, colliding with a northbound SUV driven by a 42-year-old Palm Coast woman. Both cars came to rest on the grass shoulder. The man was killed, and the woman had minor injuries, according to an FHP report.

Nurse triage program to end March 31

The Volusia County Emergency Medical Services Nurse Triage program will end at 7 p.m. March 31.

The program started in December 2019 to divert nonemergency, non-critical 911 calls to a registered nurse to determine if an alternate form of non-emergency medical care would be appropriate.

The goal was to minimize unnecessary emergency service dispatches.

A data review showed that most callers referred to the nurse triage were still taken by ambulance to an emergency room. One of the program’s barriers was the inability to accept patients into alternative care sites, such as urgent care or community health clinic.

“The data isn’t there to substantiate keeping the program, so we’re going to divert these funds into other areas to keep our residents safe,”Emergency Services Director Jim Judge said.

FCSO chief invited to FBI National Academy

A Flagler County Sheriff’s Office division chief has been invited to attend the FBI National Academy.

Community Policing Division Chief Jonathan Welker will attend the 286th session in Quantico, Virginia, in April. Less than 1% of law enforcement officers receive an invitation from the FBI to attend the academy during their career, according to a press release from the FCSO.

The 10-week program is fully paid for by the FBI. Participants are nominated by their agency heads.

Sheriff Rick Staly is the only other FCSO employee who has graduated from the FBI National Academy.

“The FBI National Academy is considered the ‘West Point’ of law enforcement,” Staly said. “This type of training continues my mission to provide opportunities and mentor employees, so the Sheriff’s Office remains on the cutting edge of our profession.”

Grant money available for hurricane damage

Realtors Relief Foundation money is available to help any Florida resident make a mortgage payment, up to $2,500, if their home was damaged by Hurricane Ian or Nicole, according to a news release from Florida Realtors.

The RFF can also pay a month’s rent for people who were displaced from their homes due to Hurricane Ian or Nicole damage.

Grants are contingent on funding availability, and aid will be provided on a firstcome, first-served basis. The application deadline is April 28.

For details or to apply, go to: floridarealtors.org/about/ charities/hurricane-ian-disaster-relief-information.

INTRACOASTAL BANK ADDS BOARD MEMBER

Thomas D. Gibbs has joined the board of directors of Intracoastal Bank. Gibbs is a third-generation Volusia/Flagler resident and the general manager for Tom Gibbs Chevrolet. He began his career with the dealership in 2009 and is a University of Florida graduate.

LOCAL BUSINESS HAS A NEW PRESIDENT

R&R Industries, headquartered in Holly Hill, has a new president: Tim Roberts. Roberts, who assumed the position in November 2022, was previously the operations manager of an Ormond Beach roofing company. He began his career at R&R in January 2019 as general manager of production. R&R is celebrating 75 years of business in 2023.

FAMILY NP JOINS

HALIFAX HEALTH

Taylor Perry, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, has joined Halifax Health Primary Care in Ormond Beach. Her office is located at 1688 W. Granada Blvd., Suite 2A, in Ormond Beach.

Courtesy photo

Dance for joy: Palm Coast’s new dance studio finds a permanent home

The Dance Method, which opened in January 2022, moved several times within a year before opening at a new location in November.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

It’s late February, and The Dance Method’s new studios are echoing with the exclamations of little dancers trying on their recital costumes.

In just two months, The Dance Method’s students will be performing at their first recital. The recital hits a lot of firsts, actually: first recital for the business, for many of the students, and even Lauren Jaussi’s first as a studio owner.

The Dance Method is her baby, she said, and her life-long dream. Jaussi has been dancing since she was 4, but it wasn’t until 2022 that her studio opened.

But Jaussi said she knew even as a child in her first dance classes that she wanted to own her own studio one day.

Dance classes were expensive even when she was a kid, Jaussi said. Her father was a police officer in Ozark, Alabama. They didn’t have much extra money. Her mother, Jaussi said, used to clean and teach at dance stu-

dios just so Jaussi could afford to take lessons.

Jaussi said she took every class she could: She was hooked.

“I fell in love with [dancing] immediately,” she said. She spent her childhood in dance studios — taking classes, doing her homework, hanging out, and, later, assisting with classes. Eventually, she began teaching her own classes at dance studios, all the while taking notes and designing her own studio, she said.

But The Dance Method didn’t have the smoothest start.

When it opened in January 2022, it was supposed to be leased out of the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club building through May. Instead, the lease was ended in February, and the studio had to move. And move again, a few months after that. And again. And again.

Hayden Jaussi, Jaussi’s husband, said finding a location in Palm Coast was very difficult. There weren’t many options to begin with for a dance studio, he said, and the cost was another issue.

“Finding this place was magical,” Hayden Jaussi said.

Their new location — 3371 N. State St. in Bunnell — is under a five-year contract and was built to Jaussi’s design, with two studios and a lobby. It opened in November 2022.

Hayden Jaussi said it was incredible what his wife pushed through to get to this point. He would have given up, he said.

“I can’t brag about her enough,” he said. “I just think she’s so cool. It’s inspiring, and I don’t know how she does it.”

The studio teaches a variety of classes: ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and musical theater. There are classes for parents and infants ranging from 3 months old to 3 years old, independent dance classes for children starting from two-and-a-half all the way to 18, and classes for adults.

All of this, Jaussi said, she does while keeping the costs as low as she can for kids whose parents are like hers were — struggling to afford

extracurriculars.

The studio offers recreational classes only — students don’t compete, which is a major money-saver on its own, she said.

Jaussi also doesn’t require specific uniforms or gear. As long as the kids are covered and can move around, a T-shirt and shorts work fine.

Participation in the recital, while fun, is also not required, meaning fewer fees to pay for parents.

For this first recital, the students who are participating paid for their own costumes and will get to keep them afterward.

Next year, Jaussi said, she hopes to start a fundraiser for the costumes, allowing the studio to keep them and reuse them.

“I’d love to get to the point where I

“We really focus on just bringing out that passion and love for dance.”

JADA HATHAWAY, teacher at The Dance Method

can have an annual fundraiser … and maybe have local businesses donate a scholarship,” Jaussi said. “I do want to support anybody who definitely has a passion for dance and wants to be here.”

Amber Jackson, who has taught dance for 10 years, joined The Dance Method as a teacher in August. She said she grew up in a competitive environment, but can see the draw and positive impact the relaxed environment has on the kids at the studio.

“It allows for the child to grow at their own pace,” she said. “It’s more of a lifelong, ‘take-with-you’ type of thing. … It gets to stay with them a lot longer.”

Jackson said she and Jaussi both have a similar passion for taking care

of their dance students.

“She’s all about them and making sure that they’re getting what they need,” Jackson said. “And I love that about her.”

Jada Hathaway, who also joined in August, is in her first year of teaching dance and said The Dance Method really focuses on the joy of dance and balancing that with the technical work seen at competitive studios. Even over just seven months, her students have grown tremendously in The Dance Method’s environment, she said.

“At The Dance Method, we really focus on just bringing out that passion and love for dance,” Hathaway said. “I never see [the students] coming in looking like they don’t want to be here.”

Photos by Sierra Williams

The Dance Method owner Lauren Jaussi demonstrates ballet positions with one of her ballet classes.

“She’s all about them [and] making sure that they’re getting what they need. And I love that about her.”

AMBER JACKSON, teacher at The Dance Method

United against hate: Volusia, state officials denounce antisemitism

DO NOT REMAIN SILENT

JARLEENE ALMENAS SENIOR EDITOR

Standing together as a united front, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office and various religious and community leaders in a Feb. 27 press conference condemned the actions of a hate group that has been spreading antisemitic flyers. State officials also presented an anti-hate crime bill at the conference.

Last week, a series of antisemitiic incidents occurred throughout Volusia County: People with antisemitic signs stood beside the Daytona International Speedway, and homes in Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach, which has a significant Jewish population, received antisemitic flyers.

Law enforcement officers believe the people behind the acts are part of the “Goyim Defense League,” a “small network of virulently antisemitic provocateurs,” according to the Anti-Defamation League. Goyim is a disparaging Yiddish and Hebrew word for non-Jews.

This isn’t the first time antisemitic flyers have been delivered to local

homes.

Last year, in late February, flyers were delivered to homes on Riverside Drive in Ormond Beach. In December 2021, two men were arrested for vandalism with antisemitic messages.

“These scumbags came to the wrong county,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said at the press conference. “We have unity in this county. We stand beside one another in this county, and we stand beside our Jewish neighbors.”

This isn’t a free speech issue: It’s about violence, the sheriff said, adding that one of the GDL members shot two Jewish Orthodox men outside their synagogue in Los Angeles two days after the incident at the Speedway.

Other members of the neo-Nazi group have been previously arrested for trying to solicit sex from minors.

‘THERE IS NO PLACE FOR HATE HERE’

The press conference highlighted 14 people involved with the group, including its leader, Jon Minadeo II, who moved from California to Florida in December 2022.

State Rep. Randy Fine, who represents Brevard County, spoke at the press conference. He is the only Jewish member of the Republican party at the state level, and presented House Bill 269 as a response to the recent incidents.

“[HB 269] will make clear that, while you have the right to be an idiot, and you have the right to be Nazi, and you have the right to walk down the street and say whatever you want, that when your speech turns into conduct, that is where we draw the line,” Fine said.

The bill proposes that printed materials containing anti-religious or anti-ethnic rhetoric leading to littering will be a third-degree felony.

It also proposes that a person who harasses, follows or interferes with someone due to their religious or ethnic garb, or defaces public or private property with symbols such as swastikas, be charged with a thirddegree felony.

So far, Fine said, 42 of the 120 members of the Florida House have cosponsored the bill. He will pursue making the bill, if approved, go into effect immediately after the governor signs it.

Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington said the city stands with its Jewish residents and those of neighboring cities.

“I want to be clear: There is no

place for hate here,” he said. “We stand united against any form of bigotry and discrimination. The recent incidents are not representative of who we are as a community, and the outsiders who felt the need to spread their awful message should know that we are a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes everyone, regardless of their race, religion or background.” In a statement, Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey said no form of hate or discrimination toward any group of person will be tolerated in the city.

He urged people to support the Jewish community by volunteering at the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, donating to Jewish causes or simply speaking out against antisemitism.

“I would like these recent incidents to have the opposite effect that the perpetrators intended,” Godfrey said. “As a community, we need to come together and take action to support the Jewish community in Ormond Beach and beyond.”

Rabbi Ron Lennick, executive director of the Jewish Federation, said the rash of antisemitic and hate incidents, brought to Volusia by outsiders, “is an affront to our Jewish community and general community.” Quoting Elie Wiesel, author and Holocaust survivor, Lennick urged the community not remain silent on this issue.

“Our Jewish community is ready to stand in an alliance against hate to defend all at-risks groups in our community if they’re ever objects of hate, as we are experiencing right now,” Lennick said.

Rabbi Pinchas Ezagui, of Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Daytona, told the story of a man who woke up in the early hours of the morning to pick up the antisemitic flyers from his neighbors’ driveway. He isn’t Jewish. “You dispel darkness by adding more light,” said Ezagui, who is one of the longtime rabbis in Ormond Beach. “More love. More action. More good things.”

Rev. Ronald Durham, president of the Volusia County Democratic Black Caucus, cited a recent report by the ADL that identifies an upward trend of extremist, antisemitic activity in Florida, driven in part by new white supremacist groups. Representatives of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds stand together to repudiate those beliefs, Durham said.

“These acts of intimidation, including projecting slurs on buildings, flyers distributed on personal property in our community, and hate signs held in public events, are doing nothing more than strengthening the resolve of the Jewish, black and all minority communities to stand together in solidarity with equal resolve,” he said. “Although the GDL and their cohorts may no longer be wearing hoods and robes, their modus operandi is a parallel demonstration that we see time and time again in the past. And if history is any indicator of the outcome, if we say and do nothing, we run the risk of letting history repeat itself.”

Sheriff Mike Chitwood condemns antisemitism at the press conference

Rabbi Pinchas Ezagui, of Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Daytona, speaks during the press conference. He is joined by Rabbi David Kane and Rabbi Rob Lennick.

Sheriff, other officials speak out after a string of antisemitic incidents in the Volusia County.

Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Bone-afide partners: Ormond Police K-9 Rex retires

After more than six years with OBPD, K-9 Rex’s career has come to an end.

JARLEENE ALMENAS SENIOR EDITOR

The Ormond Beach Police Department celebrated the retirement of one of its fourlegged officers on Friday, Feb. 24.

K-9 Rex, a black Labrador, has been working with OBPD alongside his handler, Officer Keaton LaBrie, since September 2016.

Over six years, garnering numerous narcotics arrests along with some white scruff around his nose, Rex’s career has come to an end. Now he’ll just get to enjoy life, LaBrie said.

“It’s been a great run with him,” LaBrie said. “I know he’s happy to be retired. We wouldn’t be the team we were if it wasn’t for every other member of this agency and department.”

Police officers shared their favorite memories of Rex during the ceremony and highlighted the importance of his training in narcotics detection. He’d helped find a mobile meth lab and a vehicle with homemade pipe bombs, along other accomplishments, and had worked alongside agencies including the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, Holly Hill Police Department, Port Orange Police Department and Daytona Beach Police Department.

Lt. Tom Larsen said that Rex had also helped the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and FBI joint task forces, and that during one of those cases, his narcotics alert on a vehicle led to arrests for fentanyl possession and child abuse.

“Good boy,” Capt. D.W. Smith said, eliciting laughs from attendees at the ceremony.

K-9 Rex has been one of the greatest narcotics detection dogs Larsen said he’s ever seen.

“The belief and trust that Keaton had in Rex was absolute,” Larsen said. “... And therefore, my belief in Rex was absolute, and every time we worked and he did a positive sniff or a positive alert, it usually ended up resulting in something to corroborate either finding the drugs or some kind of drug paraphernalia.”

And sometimes, Rex’s work ethic carried over at home. LaBrie’s mother, Kim, said that one day after her husband had back surgery, Rex wouldn’t leave him alone: Her husband had been carrying his pain medicine in his pocket.

Rex has kept a lot of drugs out of the city, Smith said. Narcotics are a problem nationwide, he said, and the department doesn’t take them lightly. K-9 Rex may be retiring, but the department’s other two K-9s are working hard, Smith said.

“They’ve already proven beyond doubt that they’re going to keep this poison out of our city,” Smith said.

Officer Keaton LaBrie and K-9 Rex

Ormond Beach Police Lt. Tom Larsen, Lt. Michelle Willis, Capt. D.W. Smith, City Commissioner Susan Persis, Officer Keaton LaBrie and K-9 Rex, Chief Jesse Godfrey and Capt. Chris Roos

Photos by Jarleene Almenas

K-9 Rex spent much of the ceremony chewing on a bone, a retirement gift from City Commissioner Susan Persis.

“We made sure that everything you see could be in any type of urban farming environment. We took a very small area, where literally our animals can see the waves of the ocean, and brought it to life.”

Seabreeze Agricultural Land Lab: lessons in

Students

urban

farming

sor for the Seabreeze chapter of the Future Farmers of America.

and urban farming at new land lab.

MICHELE MEYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Two pigs, two goats, two cows, multiple rabbits, a flock of chickens and one belligerent rooster are the current residents of the newly built Seabreeze Agricultural Land Lab.

After a collaborative six-month effort between Seabreeze agriculture teacher Craig Lungren; building trades, construction and design teacher Raymond Grimard; their students and a generous group of local donors, the land lab opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony and afternoon open house on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Principal Tucker Harris began the event by introducing the district’s “fearless leader,” Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin. She was joined by Ormond Beach Zone 3 City Commissioner Susan Persis, District 4 Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis, Ormond Beach Zone 4 City Commissioner and Deputy Mayor Harold Bailey and Career Technical Education Specialists Amy McAllister, Daniel Cox and Vince Roeshink.

Balgobin commended Lungren on deciding to teach at Seabreeze over other opportunities.

“He chose this option because this is where his heart is,” she said. “When he heard there was a possibility that the program would go away, he said, ‘I can’t let that happen.’ That’s what it takes in a community — that type of passion and dedication.”

Lungren has worked as an agriculture teacher intermittently for nine years. He was previously the supervisor of the education department at Seaworld, organizing field trips and conferences.

Six months ago, he accepted the Seabreeze position, becoming the school’s agriculture teacher and an advi-

He immediately began overhauling the land lab to make every aspect educational. Now, students can learn basic livestock veterinary science, greenhouse functions, composting and how urban farming can work in a controlled environment.

“This would not be possible without the community’s support as well as all of our school and staff making sure this is a success,” Lungren said. “Who would have thought that this would only take six months — a lot of time with no sleep, and I have grey hair now. We are excited to open this, do the ribbon cutting and start our community off the right way, by allowing them to see what type of program farming is all about and how that can be involved in a city-type environment.”

Before Lungren arrived, the area that is now home to the land lab consisted of two rundown greenhouses that needed irrigation and a cooling system, six raised planters in disrepair and a few structures to house animals. There were only a few chickens and ducks. Now there are separate livestock structures for cows, goats and swine, a chicken coop with a run, and a rabbit hutch. A standing desk was built for note-taking, and everything is painted in cheery Seabreeze red and white.

Many students in the agriculture class are also members of the Seabreeze FFA Chapter. Members go through an interview process to become FFA officers. Officers in attendance were president Cody Thomas, secretary Summer Martin, treasurer Shasta Varlesi, Casey Jensen Gainey and Colby Parrish. Thomas got emotional when he addressed the crowd before the ribbon cutting.

“When I got here, none of this was here,” Thomas said. “Watching it grow into this wonderful thing and the community that we’ve brought together feels amazing. We have cows now, we have pigs now, we have goats, we have too many rabbits to count. I feel like I can’t say enough about the community. It’s

been our biggest help. If we need something, they’re there to help us.”

A common thread among the officers was their exposure to farming and livestock as they were growing up. Varlesi and Gainey own horses and are barrel riders, while Martin was raised in a family with cattle and has always wanted to show an animal.

Last summer, Parrish transferred from DeLand, where he was an FFA member but only participated in the FFA’s welding program. This is his first year being involved in the agricultural aspect of FFA and serving as an officer. His family owns a farm on Lake Seminole in Tallahassee, and he’s a natural at helping kids who are new to farming.

“I love FFA because, honestly, it’s opened so many new doors for me,” he said. “It kind of just opened my eyes to see that I have chances to do something great in life that I didn’t even know I could. I can get a scholarship and go to college, which I never even thought about. I was always like, I’ll go to trade school and be in construction the rest of my life.”

Lungren’s goal is to create a top-notch CTE program through a partnership with the construction class and by partnering with Seabreeze’s culinary academy this year to provide their fruits and vegetables. A floriculture department is being created, with a floral shop. Students will learn basic communication skills, marketing strategies and how to run a business.

“We made sure that everything you see could be in any type of urban farming environment,” Lungren said. “We took a very small area, where literally our animals can see the waves of the ocean, and brought it to life.”

can learn about greenhouse functions, composting

Seabreeze agriculture teacher Craig Lungren and Seabreeze principal Tucker laugh before Lungren speaks to the crowd about the Agricultural Land Lab.

The Seabreeze Agriculture Land Lab has livestock buildings for goats, cows and pigs. There is also a chicken coop and a run-along with a rabbit hutch.

Seabreeze Culinary Academy teacher Hannah Offenberg hugs Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin.

Casey Jensen Gainey, Shasta Varlesi, Carmen Balgobin, Carl Persis, Summer Martin, Susan Persis, Cody Thomas and Colby Parrish

FFA Treasurer and former President Shasta Varlesi holds one of the twoweek old bunnies.

CRAIG LUNGREN, Seabreeze agriculture teacher and FFA advisor

Former DeLand manager chosen as interim Flagler Beach manager

tion.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Flagler Beach City Commission has unanimously selected a new interim city manager.

Former DeLand City Manager and educator Mike Abels started in the position on March 1. The two other candidates dropped out ahead of the Feb. 23 selection meeting, but Abels’ experience had already impressed commissioners.

“He was the one I was going to pick anyway,” Commissioner Jane Mealy told the Observer. “I think he’d be perfect for it. I think he’ll be great.”

The commission hired Abels at the former city manager’s salary of $127,000, but also monetized several fringe benefits that Abels said he did not need — health insurance, disability and life insurance among them.

The commission authorized Flagler Beach Mayor Suzie Johnston to sign Abels’ contract and finalize any minor changes on its behalf.

Abels, who has a doctorate in pub-

lic administration, spent his career in city administrations and later worked as an educator from 2008 until he retired. He served as city manager of DeLand for almost 10 years.

Abels worked with Flagler Beach in 2022 to help with its strategic planning process. He said from he learned a lot about the challenges the city will face in the coming years.

“I’m fascinated with the governing structure that you have and the planning that you’ve done,” Abels said at the meeting.

Despite his interest, Abels has a firm deadline: He said will only be able to stay on until September, no longer.

“I’m only doing this as a public service to the city,” he told the Observer “I have no interest in being manager.”

Abels will also need to be out for two weeks at the end of March into April because a family member will be dealing with some medical issues.

Flagler Beach resident Scott Spradley — who is campaigning for one of the two commission seats up for election — said he thinks the strict timeline will keep the commission on schedule. He said Abels checks all of his boxes for the posi-

“Every day that the city does not have an interim city manager delays the beginning of the search for city managers,” Spradley said.

Commissioner Deborah Phillips told the Observer she is going to recommend that the board hire a headhunter for the city manager position after the new board is established.

Most of her fellow commissioners agreed with her: Commissioners Ken Bryan, Eric Cooley and Mealy all said ahead of the meeting that a headhunter would be necessary.

In the meantime, Phillips said, Abels will have to hit the ground running and get staff to support him.

For Cooley, the other two candidates’ decision to drop out was not a surprise.

Cooley said he had received calls about firings and unfavorable press about the other candidates, but nothing about Abels.

“There’s literally nothing negative about the guy anywhere,” he said. “And I’ve looked.”

Cooley and Bryan asked Abels to agree to at least stay on until a city manager is found, or consider extending his six months, but Abels was firm on his deadline.

Abels said he thinks six months will be enough to time to find a city manager, but the commission must start working on it right away. After the death of previous City Manager Larry Newsom, it took Flagler Beach almost a year to settle on William Whitson as city manager, with Flagler Beach Chief Building Official Rick McFadden stepping in as the interim.

Abels told the Observer that using professional headhunters to find a city manager would be an investment in the city’s future.

“To not spend that money will leave the city in a position where it might not be able to find the right person to take [the city] into the future,” Abels said.

Dystopian novel on book-banning chosen for Flagler Reads Together

Director Holly Albanese said.

This year’s book, the dystopian novel “Our Missing Hearts,” by Celeste Ng, hits on several important themes, Albanese said. Some books, she said, teach about the past so people don’t repeat it.

a 12-year-old boy whose mother’s poems were deemed unpatriotic at a time when laws were written to preserve “American culture,” according to the book’s synopsis.

Together selection should be.

This year’s Flagler Reads Together selection concerns a contentious topic in the nation and in Flagler County: book banning.

Every year, the Flagler County Public Library tries to pick books that are relevant to current times and discussions for its annual March Flagler Reads Together event, Library

“[‘Our Missing Hearts’] is more of a cautionary tale of what the future could be,” Albanese said.

Ng has written two previous New York Times bestsellers: “Everything

I Never Told You” and “Little Fires Everywhere,” which was adapted into a series on Hulu.

“Our Missing Hearts” was published in October 2022 and follows

“Because we’re talking about book challenges, racism — it’s all things that do happen in our society,” Albanese said. “And we, frankly, if we don’t talk about it, it could become bigger.”

Librarian Lisa Catalano works in circulation and sees almost every book the library has.

When she saw “Our Missing Hearts,” she said, she had no doubt as to what this year’s Flagler Reads

“It was an obvious winner right off the bat,” Catalano said. “I think we all agreed that that was the one that we wanted to go with, just because it’s so relatable.” Catalano said that the book also speaks to how libraries and librarians play a role in freedom of information.

“And not only that, it’s also a message of being brave and hopeful and having humanity as well,” she said.

In keeping with the book’s themes, the library will host a kick-off poetry reading at 1 p.m. March 4.

The Flagler County Book Club will

host a discussion on Ng’s book at 2:45 p.m. on March 22, then a movie matinee at 1 p.m. March 24 of the dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

Whether Flagler County residents choose to read “Our Missing Hearts” or a different book, Albanese said, doesn’t matter — as long as they read.

“Of course, we want to always encourage reading,” she said. “But hopefully in the month of March, those who would like to join us will read ‘Our Missing Hearts.’”

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Mike Abels will serve in the position for six months.

This year’s book selection is ‘Our Missing Hearts,’ by Celeste Ng.

Photo by Sierra Williams

Flagler Beach Fire Chief Bobby Pace, new Interim Flagler Beach City Manager Mike Abels and Flagler Beach Ocean Rescue Director Tom Gillan

School Board, union reach agreement

The agreement includes $5 million for teacher salary increases.

JARLEENE

ALMENAS SENIOR EDITOR

The Volusia County School Board voted unanimously on Feb. 28 to ratify an $11.7 million collective bargaining agreement between the school district and Volusia United Educators.

The district had announced in a news release on Friday, Feb. 24, that 96% of instructional personnel, or 2,825 staff members, had approved the agreement, which includes $5 million for teacher salary increases.

In addition, the package will provide: $2.1 million to continue a previously bargained longevity supplement; $3.9 million for a retention supplement for employees with 10 or more years of service; $2.6 million for advanced degree supplements; and $250,000 for a one-time bonus for ESE instructional personnel who

“We are thrilled to see our instructional personnel’s overwhelming support of these agreements, which will provide welldeserved raises to teacher salaries and supplements to our veteran teachers, ESE personnel and instructors with advanced degrees.”

CARMEN BALGOBIN, VCS superintendent

DISTRICT REACHES AGREEMENT WITH VUE SUPPORT

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, the district also announced it had negotiated a bargaining agreement with VUE Support, which includes office specialists and paraprofessionals.

According to a news release, the $3.1 million package includes:

„ An adjusted salary schedule that reflects the new minimum wage of $15 per hour and increases at all levels

„ An increase to the values of the longevity supplement

„ A committee to be convened to review clerical and paraprofessional job duties.

VUE Support employees will vote on the contract, and, if ratified, it will later come before the Volusia County School Board for approval.

don’t currently receive a stipend.

During the School Board meeting Tuesday, VUE President Elizabeth Albert thanked the bargaining teams for their hard work and said VUE was “very happy with the outcome.”

Only 133 of the union’s instructional personnel voted against the agreement.

The first payment — the payout of the retention supplement for teachers who have been with the district for 10 or more years — will take place March 9. The longevity payout

BIZ BUZZ

TRIBUTES

will follow on March 31.

District staff said instructional personnel will be able to see their new salary reflected in their paycheck on April 14. Those who will be receiving the advanced degree supplement will also then see the retroactive pay for that.

The overall retroactive pay, from the beginning of the school year to date, will be given on April 30.

“We are thrilled to see our instructional personnel’s overwhelming support of these agreements, which will provide well-deserved raises to teacher salaries and supplements to our veteran teachers, ESE personnel, and instructors with advanced degrees,” VCS Superintendent Carmen Balgobin said in the news release. “We look forward to communicating payment dates as soon as possible once the agreement is approved.”

School Board Chair Jamie Haynes, who was a teacher for over 30 years, suggested that bargaining for next year begin in April to be ready to go by July 1.

“There was an occasion back in the day when I started ... where we started the school year off knowing what the raise was, or what we were getting,” she said. “It used to happen a long, long time ago.”

Albert said that was the intention of what VUE had attempted to do in the past.

“It didn’t work, but if you are committed to that, we’re absolutely in favor of doing that,” Albert said. “Because it also makes us as a district more competitive to those folks who are looking to secure employment if we can say to them, ‘This is a contract that’s ready to go for you,’ when these other districts are still trying to work it out.”

COLDWELL BANKER NAMES TOP AGENTS

Coldwell Banker Premier Properties’ top agents of January 2023 were:

„Dottie Dills, top listing/sales agent „Vlaja Telfer, top producer and million dollar club.

REALTY OFFICE WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

Karen Razzetti-Giaimis and Paul McDonald have joined the team of sales professionals at EXIT Realty First Choice, according to a news release.

AGENT JOINS

WEICHERT, REALTORS

Carlos Diaz has joined the Weichert, Realtors - Hallmark Properties office in Palm Coast, according to a news release.

FUNDRAISER HELD FOR K9S FOR WARRIORS

Thomas A. Fallon 1939-2023

Metro Dino’s Palm Coast location, as well as locations in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach and Julington Creek, pledged 10% of the revenues of their third annual “Dinner With Santa” event to K9s For Warriors, a provider of service dogs for military veterans. The event raised $2,000, and the restaurants presented a $2,000 check to K9s For Warriors at the nonprofit’s headquarters in Ponte Vedra, according to a news release.

Thomas A. Fallon, 83, of Palm Coast passed away on February 13, 2023.

Mr. Fallon was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, a son of Rose (Houghton) and Lawrence G. Fallon. A graduate of the McAllister School of Mortuary Science, Mr. Fallon worked for several years in the family-owned business before leaving to pursue a career in sales. In 1992 he relocated to Palm Coast. An avid golfer, Mr. Fallon also enjoyed bocce, tennis, and bicycling. He was a member of the Elks Lodge 2709 and the Irish Social Club.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, the former Linda Sansevere who he married on November 29, 1975 in Paramus, New Jersey. He is also survived by a son, Thomas and grandson Tyler,

two brothers, William Fallon and Joseph Fallon. Mr. Fallon was preceded in death by a brother, Lawrence, and two sisters, Elizabeth Quish and Sr. Mary Rose, OP. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

DONATIONS:

Memorial donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Courtesy photo

LETTERS Mills were forced to sit out ‘Parent Test’ finals

Dear Editor:

Are you kidding me? Has this town lost its mind, or are the people running the city really doing their job? I think a lot of people need to step down.

We’ve got more problems in his town than you know what to do with, and you want to spend $72 million on an art center.

You can’t handle the traffic problems that you have already. The swales need to be repaired. We have runoff problems, water problems. Electrical problems. Building problems. The roads need to be repaired and in most cases replaced, and you wanna spend $72 million on an art center.

Give me a break. Anyone that votes on this needs to step down.

TERRY WEBB Palm Coast

One of the Mills kids tested positive for COVID, so Rachel and Abe Mills had to miss the show’s finale.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Mills family made it to the finals of the ABC reality show “The Parent Test,” but Abe and Rachel Mills weren’t on the finale “due to unforeseen circumstances,” host Ali Wentworth announced.

Many people got the wrong idea when no other explanation for their absence was given, and they were replaced in the final three by another couple. One news outlet said they opted out.

The unforeseen circumstances turned out to be a positive COVID test by one of their children, who were flown to Los Angeles during their parents’ filming last summer.

Abe and Rachel were not allowed

HYDRAFACIAL BAR OPENS IN PALM COAST

Skin Love by Ashley is a new HydraFacial bar in Flagler County. Ashley Daley, the business’ owner, said these kind of spa bars are not common in Florida outside of dermatology offices.

Daley said she is a certified HydraFacial master. Her bar accepts all skin types, including those with eczema and rosacea, for HydraFacial, which is a medical device that cleans the skin and pushes medical treatments in, Daley said.

Skin Love by Ashley opened in September 2022 and is located at 19 Old Kings Road North, Suite C104 in Palm Coast.

SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL TO RETURN ON MAY 4-7

The Palm Coast Songwriters Festival will return on May 4-7 for the event’s five-year anniversary, with more than 125 No. 1 hits.

The locally organized event will also feature hundreds of other charted songs, according to a news release.

Songwriter/artists performing at the festival this year will include: Deana Carter, Darryl Worley, Ira Dean (formerly of Trick Pony), Matraca Berg, and Anthony Smith and almost 35 others. National radio personality Shawn Parr also returns as this year’s emcee.

Attendees come from states across the country and from cities across Florida and have an opportunity to learn the story behind the songs as well as hear the writers perform them, according to the release.

The festival supports charitable organizations including the Gold Star Mentors Foundation, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library/Early Learning Coalition for Flagler and Volusia Counties and the Daytona State College Foundation.

Major sponsors include: “Title Sponsor” Mike Curb College of Music, Entertainment, & Art; “Main Stage Sponsors” SouthState Bank and Flagler Health+; “Major Media Sponsor’’ Spectrum; along with Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches, Flagler Broadcasting, Quantum A/C, and others.

For information about tickets and scheduling, go to palmcoastsongwritersfestival.com or search PalmCoastSongFest on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

ARTHUR MURRAY DANCE CENTER HOLDS BALL

The Arthur Murray Dance Center of Palm Coast held its annual Red Rose Ball on Feb. 10 at the Palm Coast Community Center.

The Dance Center is at 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Suite A214, in Palm Coast. For more information, go to dancelessonspalmcoast.com or call 386-225-4660.

REALTY EXECUTIVES OCEANSIDE TAKES PART IN RACE OF THE RUNWAYS

The Realty Executives Oceanside Team took part in the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach’s Race of the Runways 5K at the Flagler Executive Airport on Saturday, Feb. 25. The team’s “Bee You” costumes won first place for best theme costumes, according to a news release.

to return to the set because they had been exposed when they briefly visited the children in their hotel room. The families’ children were scheduled to go to Disney Land while the parents were filming, but the Mills kids were confined to the hotel room because of the positive test.

The Webb family, one of the 12 families appearing on the show, dropped off games, puzzles and Nerf guns for the Mills kids during their confinement.

“That was so selfless and loving of them,” Rachel said.

“No one asked them to do it,” Abe said, noting the gesture made all the difference between a boring stay and a fun time.

“It was a nice hotel room,” Abe said. “They were diving over couches (playing with the Nerf guns).

“We were disappointed not to be included (in the final episode broadcast on Feb. 16), but at the same time it was an opportunity to teach our kids,” Abe added. The Mills live in Ormond Beach,

YOUR TOWN

PORTUGUESE AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER ELECTS BOARD

The Portuguese American Cultural Center elected its 2023 board of directors during a Jan. 25 general assembly meeting.

The occasion also celebrated the center’s 35th year of existence, and 101 people attended, according to a press release from the center.

The new board of directors is:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

President: João Queimado

Vice President: Nina Sousa

Secretary: Márcio Oliveira

BOARD

President: Antonio Dos Santos

Vice Presidents: Camilo Freitas, Manuel Goulart and Jack Louro

Treasurer: Célia Pedro

Secretaries: Maria Silva and Lucy

Kelley

FISCAL COMMITTEE

President: Francisco Bahia

Vice President: Manuel Ramalho

Secretary: Ricardo Neves

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

Kenny Gonçalves

Paulo Amaral

Paulo Rodrigues

DIRECTORS

Joe Da Rosa

Fernanda Pereira

Julio Pereira

Elvira Pinto

Joaquim Gonçalves

Hermes Pedro

Also assisting the board are: Honorary President of the General

Assembly António Amaral, Assistant to the Board Amélia Da Conceição and consultants Rosa Costa and João Costa.

The Portuguese American Cultural Center (PACC) of Palm Coast is located at 1200 Palm Harbor Parkway.

To become a member, book an event, or for more information, visit palmcoastportugueseclub.com or call 386-446-3910.

MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER TRAINING STARTS MARCH 7

The Flagler County University of Florida IFAS Extension Office will hold training for new Flagler County Master Gardener volunteers beginning March 7. Florida Master Gardener volunteers help people find practical gardening and landscape solutions, according to a news release. People who finish the class will be certified as Master Gardener volunteers.

The classes will be held about twice a week at the Flagler County extension office at 150 Sawgrass Road in Bunnell from March 7 to May 18, covering topics including plant propagation, hydroponics, soil science, fruit crops and more.

Field trips are planned for Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, UF facilities and a sod farm. For information, apply at bttr.im/ g2mop or contact Judy Jean at jean. cjudy@ufl.edu.

THIS JOINT IS JUMPIN’: FPC DANCERS EARN SUPERIOR RATINGS

The Flagler Palm Coast High School Dance Company was invited to attend the Volusia County Dance Performance Assessment on Feb. 17.

The VCDPA gives local students the opportunity to take master classes with guest dance profes-

and their family’s challenges were filmed in Volusia County. They are well-known in Palm Coast, with their older children involved in sports at Matanzas High School. They are also well-known internationally by their YouTube channel, “Sunshine Mafia,” which often features their videos showcasing Matanzas sporting events.

Andrea McCoy, labeled as the show’s “disciplined parent,” won the competition. Rachel and Abe were labeled as strict parents, though they were uneasy with the classification. They came away from the experience admiring all of the parents on the show.

“When we started, we didn’t know there would be voting,” Abe said, adding that they were conflicted about the competition aspect.

“I think we were surprised (to reach the final),” Abe said. “I felt humbled and grateful. But we think all the families were absolutely wonderful. All the parents were doing the best for the children.”

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.”

Publisher John Walsh, jwalsh@observerlocalnews.com

Managing Editor Jonathan Simmons, jonathan@observerlocalnews.com

Senior Editor Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@observerlocalnews.com

Associate Editor Brent Woronoff, brent@observerlocalnews.com

Staff Writer Sierra Williams, sierra@observerlocalnews.com

Design Editor Hailey McMillan, hailey@observerlocalnews.com

Media Director Holly Oliveri, holly@observerlocalnews.com

Senior Media Specialist Susan Moore, susan@observerlocalnews.com

Advertising Coordinator Jessica Boone, jessica@observerlocalnews.com

Office Coordinator Bonnie Hamilton, bonnie@observerlocalnews.com

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Courtesy photo

sionals, perform in an adjudicated concert and compete for All County Dance Ensemble status.

FPCHS dancers earned Superior ratings performing in “This Joint is Jumpin’” — a swing dance performed to tunes from the Harlem Renaissance. The piece was performed at the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach in a concert open to the public.

The following dancers proudly represented FPC High School and earned Superior ratings: Ava Andrews, Hunter Baker, Zionni Butler, Alexis Cruz, Elizaveta Guseva, Davon Gwyn, Malina Hreib, Victoria Jones, Brooklynn Lapointe, Maya Laster, Markylah McKinney, Matilda Noble, Cristina Pruna and Mary Wilcox.

A group of All County elite dancers was also selected by judges based on technique and performance quality. This group included: Ava Andrews, Zionni Butler, Elizaveta Guseva, and Davon Gwyn.

The FPCHS Dance Company is directed by Flagler Palm Coast High School instructor Janice Monsanto.

The Dance Company will perform its spring concert at 7 p.m. on April 23 at Flagler Auditorium. Tickets are $15.

GARDEN OF THE MONTH

Lakemakers’ garden features azaleas, ligustrum

NANCY IANDOLI SELECTION OF THE MONTH COMMITTEE

Gerry and Linda Lakemaker are originally from Largo and moved to Palm Coast in 2006 when they retired.

Due to the heavy freeze this past January, it was difficult for the Selection of the Month Committee to find a curb appeal landscape.

After many hours of scouting Flagler County, I kept driving by this amazing green landscape that had no visible damage from the freeze, and had several azalea bushes flowering.

The Lakemakers’ front yard is surrounded with ligustrum hedges, which provide shelter for the blooming, dark pink azaleas behind them at the front door area.

Between the ligustrums are two podocarpus, plus sable palms surrounded by manicured round schillings.

In the front rows of the hedges, Boston ferns and liriope give the landscape a nice ground cover. There is potted sedum, vincas, aloe

bottlebrush in bloom.

VETERAN OF THE WEEK

and clovers. Not currently blooming in the back yard is a large gardenia tree. There are several flowering azalea hedges, a large bottlebrush tree, plumeria, pineapple, lemon and lime tree, jasmine, and a dwarf

Terry Larkin

 Branch of military: U.S. Navy  Dates of service: Active duty: 1971-1975  Rank/occupation: PH2/Photographer’s Mate  Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Terry Larkin enlisted in the U.S. Navy, was trained as a photographer and served aboard the USS Ticonderoga, CVA 14. He also had the privilege to be up close to history as the Navy photographer for capsule recovery efforts for Apollo 16 and 17, the last two manned lunar missions. He is now the junior vice commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 86, in Palm Coast. He uses his skills as a Navy-trained photographer to bring the chapter’s gallant efforts to help veterans and their families to life in pictures. Larkin also volunteers his time and skills to photograph events for other local service organizations, as well as the two local high school JROTC units. He is the fundraising organizer for the DAV’s Vietnam Veterans Casino Night, which will take place March 25 at the National Guard Armory in Flagler County. You can reach Larkin for tickets at 386-569-5883.

NEED HELP WITH VETERAN SERVICES?

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

The lanai area has Hawaiian ti, pink and red cactus in bloom and a waterfall pond with water lilies and wooden egrets grazing on luscious ferns.

Gerry and Linda Lakemaker, of Frontier Drive, have been recognized as the March 2023 Selection of the Month recipients by The Garden Club at Palm Coast.

Say ‘no’ to the $72 million event center

BIZ BUZZ

CORRECTION The Veteran of the Week entry in the Feb. 16 edition in one instance listed the veteran’s name incorrectly. Her name is Peggy Hengeveld.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Honoring heritage

The 8th annual Flagler County Native American Festival returned to Princess Place on Feb. 25-26. The event featured Native American dances, live demonstrations of weapons, trading booths and wildlife exhibits.

Sophia Polinski, 6, participates in the candy dance.

Kelly Jones and Florence Jones, 4, watch the presentation.

Michael Kuchma, 6, rides the train with Magic the dog and Vitaliy Kuchma.

Patricia Blinn, Donald Blinn, Jan Favaro and Rich Favaro watch the East vs. West presentation at the Native American Festival.

Former world champion hoop dancer Cody Boettner

Juliana Selic, 13, teaches 7-year-old Parker Ridley how to shoot a bow.

Photos by Jake Montgomery

THURSDAY, MARCH 2

‘ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S

NEST’

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday March 2-4 and Friday and Saturday March 10-11; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 5 and 12

Where: Flagler Playhouse, 301 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell

Details: See Dale Wasserman’s stage adaption of Ken Kesey’s novel. The play explores the brutality of life in a mental institution with humor, candor and unforgettable characters. Tickets cost $25 for adults; $20 for students. Visit flaglerplayhouse. org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 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 on 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.

SUNSHINE AND SANDALS SOCIAL

When: 1-2:30 p.m.

Where: Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE, Palm Coast

Details: Attend this new resident orientation hosted by Cornerstone Center. The event will include presentations and discussions about community resources, local activities, social clubs and restaurants. Free. For more information, visit palmcoastinfo.com/ sunshinesandals.

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 art events.

EIGHTH ANNUAL RAINBOW BRIDGE WALK

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Fortunato Park, 2 John Anderson Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Come join nonprofit Sophie’s Circle Dog Rescue to honor pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge. Send pictures of your lost pets to hang at the memorial to sandduch@aol.com. Registration costs $10 and includes water and a light-up necklace. Proceeds will benefit Sophie’s Circle Dog Rescue. For more information, visit sophiescircle.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 5 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.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION ANNUAL BIKE WEEK BBQ

When: 12-5 p.m.

Where: American Legion Post 267, 156 New Britain Ave., Ormond Beach

Details: This annual barbecue raises funds for veterans charities. The event costs $15, including your choice of sliced pork tenderloin, pulled pork with bun or smoked chicken wings with corn, coleslaw and beans. There will also be entertainment. Barbecue will be provided by Up in Smoke BBQ.

SUNDAY, MARCH 5 TASTE OF ORMOND 2023

When: 4-7 p.m.

Where: Rockefeller Gardens, 26 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Come out and taste small plates from more than two dozen local restaurants and food purveyors at this fundraiser for Ormond MainStreet. S.R. Perrott will offer a tasting area with 30 varieties of

wines, craft beers and hard seltzers. There will also be live music and a charity raffle. Single tickets cost $75. Visit buytickets.at/ormondbeachmainstreet.

MONDAY, MARCH 6

GARDEN CLUB AT PALM COAST

MONTHLY MEETING

When: 11:30 a.m.

Where: VFW Hall, 47 Old Kings Road

N, Palm Coast

Details: Join the Garden Club at Palm Coast for its monthly meeting. Lunch can be purchased starting at 11:30 a.m., and a plant sale will begin in the Pavilion at noon. The meeting will start at 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome one time to preview the club. There will be door prizes and a raffle for a floral design. Email info@ gardenclubatpalmcoast.org for more information.

tribute show incorporates a live band, LED walls, video, costume changes, dynamic dialogue, humor and audience participation. Tickets cost $40-$50. Visit flaglerauditorium.org.

senior softball league is now forming. It’s both recreational and competitive. Call Joe Daly at 954-732-0992 or visit nsbseniorsoftball.com.

EXERCISES FOR THE MATURING BODY

When: 10:30 a.m. Mondays and

Thursdays

Where: First Baptist Church of Palm Coast, 6050 Palm Coast Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: Attend upbeat classes presented by Synergy Senior Fitness, with Senior Fitness Specialist Artie Gardella. Classes are ongoing. Insurances that cover fitness accepted, or a donation for those with no coverage. Visit Synergyseniorfitness.com.

MOAS EXHIBITIONS

ONGOING VOLUSIA COUNTY SENIOR SOFTBALL

When: 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays

Where: Derbyshire Park and Sports Complex, 849 Derbyshire Road, Daytona Beach Details: This 50-and-older men’s

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Where: Museum of Arts and Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach

Details: Want to spend a day looking at fine art? The Museum of Arts and Sciences has the following shows on display: “Every Girl Deserves Flowers” (through March 5), “Minor Masterpieces: Porcelain Painted Scenes from the Collection,” and “Sensations: Florida Artists Group Statewide Exhibition.”

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

THE BEAT GOES ON

When: 7-9:30 p.m.

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

Details: Featuring singer and actress Lisa McClowry, this Cher

Peter Wilkinson, with My Cousin Vinny's, serves food during Taste of Ormond 2022.

File photo by Kyla Sabate

THE FINE ARTS

INDUSTREAL ART

Ever since Max Lazega was a boy, he collected things that looked interesting to him, to turn them into art.

“Now that I am 81 years old, I find myself still doing it,” Lazega said in a statement to the Observer. “Having spent most of my life in the construction industry, I can use my knowledge to create my art.”

Lazega, of Miami, is an award-winning artist who creates “whimsical and free-flowing interpretive art” by fusing recycled materials and discarded building supplies, according to his artist bio. The art form is known as upcycled metal art.

Lazega will be at Ocean Art Gallery on Friday and Saturday, March 3-4. Gallery clients may arrange to meet him on Friday by calling 386-317-9400.

On Saturday, he will be at the gallery from 3-7 p.m. during the Ormond Beach Art Walk, with a scheduled talk at 5:30 p.m.

–JARLEENE ALMENAS

CENTER

Medals for Mainland

MICHELE MEYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Family, focus, leadership and even the North Star played a part in the Mainland girls basketball team winning the Class 5A state championship Saturday, Feb. 25.

The Bucs defeated Plantation

American Heritage 62-61 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

Point guard Tia Dobson believed it was the Buccaneers’ time. Following the 56-23 win against Kissimmee Gateway in the sate semifinal, Dobson said the game plan was and always will be to be themselves.

“Our game plan, every game, is to go out and be ourselves,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s basketball. We all grew up playing the same game so we just go out there and be ourselves and have fun. We did what we did to get us here. Why change something for the state championship game?”

Dobson and transfers Anovia Sheals and Jordan Boddie led the Bucs this season in points, assists, rebounds and steals. Sheals racked up 413 points and 192 rebounds while Dobson had 87 assists and 56 steals. The three of them were top scorers in the championship game with Sheals scoring 22 points, Dobson 13 and Boddie 10.

Coach Brandon Stewart’s dominant scorers factored into the Buccaneers’ success this season, but after three of his top players fouled out of the championship game, he subbed in freshman Ronneisha Thomas and sophomores Samantha Lecas and Shilah-rayn Lord. Each played aggressively and scored key baskets, showing glimpses of the Bucs’ future.

Being a players-first coach has helped Stewart develop a team that is

family, making it easy to tap into the “Buc Pride Never Dies” belief system. The players not only bring skills to the court but the knowledge that the other players have their backs in any and all situations.

“Getting to know them as people (helped the team gel),” he said.

“When times do get hard, I know how to communicate. I think being able to communicate the right way with them means everything.”

Sheals had the benefit of playing ball with Dobson before joining the team. She spent time creating a bond with each of her teammates and talked to them as individuals. By being there for them, she was able to establish friendships and be part of the family.

“Being able to know each other and already know how each other plays is great,” she said. “We already

SEE BUCS PAGE 8B

Tia Dobson hits a layup. She had 13 points in the championship game against American Heritage.

Mainland’s Jordan Boddie works her way down the lane for a basket.

A jubilant Anovia Sheals runs toward Samantha Lecas at the buzzer as Mainland wins the state championship.

Jasleen Green, left, and Buc Samantha Lecas battle for a loose ball.

Tia Dobson and Samantha Lecas celebrate Mainland’s state championship at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

Photos by Michele Meyers

Mainland girls basketball head coach Brandon Stewart acknowledges Mainland family and friends in the stands as he walks toward the court with assistant coach Kevin Priccaciante for the state semifinal game.

New obstacle

Track athletes adjusting to longer hurdles event.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Palm Coast senior Isaiah Joseph said his feet clipped a few hurdles at the Flagler Pinnacle Preseason track meet on Feb. 17.

That’s uncharacteristic of the hurdler, who qualified for state last year in the 300-meter event.

But the 300-meter hurdles has been replaced this season by the 400-meter hurdles for both boys and girls. One hundred more meters and two additional hurdles may not sound like a lot, but the events are like night and day, FPC boys track and field coach Dave Halliday said.

“Any decent sprinter or hurdler can get their way through the 300,” Halliday said.

“You have to be fast and strong to run the 400. It’s a different animal. Some won’t be able to make that transition.”

Joseph skimmed the last three hurdles again at the 19th annual East Coast Classic on Friday, Feb. 24, at FPC. But he’s handling the transition just fine.

Joseph won the event with a time of 55.05 seconds, edging out Ponte Vedra’s Jarrell Jimenez, who ran a 55.09.

Joseph’s time was more than two seconds faster than his time at the Flagler Pinnacle meet.

“It’s a learning process,” he said. “It’s a little different from the 300.”

Mainland sprint and relay coach Vern Conaway said the Bucs have changed their training for the intermediate hurdles event.

“We have to reprocess their mental preparedness, show them it’s just another 100 meters,” he said.

To prepare the hurdlers mentally, they have to be physically prepared, Conaway said, so the Bucs have toughened the workouts, lengthening sprints to 500 to 600 meters.

“They need that endurance to last longer,” he said. “With the 300, you don’t need that kind of workout.”

The 400-meter hurdles is not only more grueling on its own, but it makes a day of competition tougher on athletes who compete in multiple events.

Joseph ran the 400 hurdles after finishing second with a time of 15.76

Atlantic’s Aidan Dixon ran the fastest time in the nation in the 400 meters so far this season, at 46.95 seconds in the East Coast Classic Feb.

OTHER EVENTS

Mainland’s Cameron Boatright won both the boys 100- and 200-meter dashes. Boatright was timed at 11.35 seconds in the 100 and 22.81 seconds in the 200. FPC’s Rodney Hill finished fifth in the 100, but was just one-tenth of a second behind Boatright, at 11.36.

Atlantic’s Aidan Dixon had the best performance of the day. Dixon won the 400-meter run in 46.95 seconds — the best time in the nation so far this season. Dixon crossed the finish line nearly two seconds ahead of runner-up Dennis Murray Jr. of FPC, who ran a 48.92. D.Z. Steward of FPC was third in 49.80 seconds.

“I like to have some better competition with me,” said Steward who clocked a personal record.

FPC won the boys 4x800 relay. Brandon Kalasnik, Barak Olago, Peyton Woodward and Kamron Davis won by nearly 14 seconds, with a time of 8:06.39.

Kalasnik, who had been a 400-meter specialist before this season, led the first lap of the 800-meter run before settling on a fourth-place finish with a time of 1:59.67.

TEAM STANDINGS

Kalasnik also ran in the 4x400 relay with Steward, Joseph and Murray. The Bulldogs finished second, with a time of 3:17.91.

FPC’s Ashton Bracewell placed second in discus, with a throw of 136 feet, 10 inches.

Among the girls, FPC freshman Marcelus Karina placed second in the 400 hurdles, with a time of 1:07.16, and was fifth in the 100 hurdles, in 16.09 seconds.

Summer Barnes of FPC was second in the 200 meters (26.53 seconds) and third in the 100 (13.00 seconds).

FPC’s girls also finished second in the 4x400 relay. Marcelus, Barnes, Fabiola LaPlante and Cassidy De Young finished in 4:11.52.

FPC’s boys team placed second overall behind Niceville. Mainland was fourth. Niceville also won the girls title with FPC sixth and Mainland 11th.

“We have to reprocess their mental preparedness, show them it’s just another 100 meters.” VERN CONAWAY, Mainland sprint and relay coach

The Marines’ Hymn was certainly in order for the graduation of Mr. Clarence Andre Walton at the commencement ceremony in Quantico, Virginia. The ceremony took place on his final day of training, November 19th, 2022.

Second Lieutenant Clarence Andre Walton is among the Few, and the Proud in becoming a United States Marine Corp Officer.

Thank you for your service Second Lieutenant Walton and congratulations on your success!

Sincerely, from your family and friends (those near and far)...

Clarence Andre Walton Stetson Graduate Palm Coast County Schools

FPC’s Isaiah Joseph, left, won the boys 400 hurdles with a time of 55.05, edging Ponte Vedra’s Jarrell Jimenez, right, with a time of 55.09.

FPC’s Robert Harris finished sixth in the triple jump.

Mainland’s Autumn Demarest had a time of 29.25 in the girls 200-meter dash.

seconds in the 110 hurdles at the East Coast Classic.

Mainland’s Jonathan Williams won the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.71 seconds.

24 at Flagler Palm Coast.

Photos by Christine Rodenbaugh FPC’s Karina Marcelus, a 14-year-old freshman, finished second in the girls 400 hurdles, with a time of 1:07.22.

Buccaneers sail to final four after 25-year drought

The Mainland boys basketball team narrowly defeated the Lake City Columbia Tigers 35-34 to take the Regional Championship and head to the state final four.

MICHELE MEYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After a lengthy drought, Mainland’s boys basketball team (24-5) hung on to a one-point, 35-34 lead to steal the regional championship from the Lake City Columbia Tigers (20-10). It has been 25 years since the Buccaneers were part of the elite final four. The team travels to the RP Funding Center in Lakeland to play St. Petersburg on Thursday, March 2.

In 1994, 1995 and 1996, Mainland head coach Joe Giddens made it to the state semifinals as a player, taking home state championships in his junior and senior years.

“I went to the final four three years in a row as a player,” he said. “Now I get to go as a coach. That’s why I was so emotional. Hard work paid off, man. It’s tough, man. I’m so proud of my guys.”

Columbia started off strong the first quarter, but Mainland guard Angelo Mack tipped the scoreboard in the second quarter, bringing the

score to 12-10. The teams headed into halftime tied at 14-14.

Buccaneers ran over the Tigers in the third quarter with two backto-back three-pointers by DeAndre Newland and a combined effort by forward Narayan Thomas, guards Nathan Kirk, Angelo Mack and Clayton Cornett.

The Bucs were ahead 29-18 heading into the fourth quarter when the Tigers went on a points spree of their own. Columbia shooting guard Isaac Broxey scored eight points, bringing the score to 34-32 with 50 seconds remaining.

“We talked about adversity,” Giddens said. “I just told them to keep fighting — keep fighting. It’s not over until it’s over. When you believe in what we are doing, nothing can stop you.”

Columbia had possession with five seconds remaining on the clock.

Jerel Moore went one-on-one with Broxey down to the basket, and Mack went up to block the shot. Rebound went to Mack at the buzzer.

“My mindset was defense, stay on top of everything and protect the perimeter, basically,” he said. “The whole season, our coach always been telling us, ‘Next play.’ If my team -

mate makes a mistake, I pick them up. If I make a mistake, they pick me up. We know we’ve got each other’s backs. There’s always next play.”

Mainland point guard Moore started playing basketball in elementary school and played three years at Spruce Creek High School before transferring to Mainland the beginning of the school year. From the first day he arrived, he felt nothing but “straight family vibes.”

“This is an experience I’ve been waiting for,” he said. “It means everything. It’s the world to me. It’s all I imagined.”

We talked about adversity. I just told them to keep fighting — keep fighting. It’s not over until it’s over. When you believe in what we are doing, nothing can stop you.

Buccaneer Narayan Thomas drives to the basket in the regional final against Columbia.

DeAndre Newland (21) goes up to block Columbia’s Ty’Jahn Wright’s shot as Buccaneer Narayan Thomas (3) muscles his way under the basket at the regional final.

Angelo Mack (2) battles for the ball against D’Maceo Sheppard (12) and Jerome Carter (5) in the third quarter.

Buccaneer Claytona Cornett passes the ball under Columbia’s D’Maceo Sheppard (15) during the regional final game.

Buccaneer Jerel Moore (10) goes up for the shot in the regional final game against Columbia.

JOE GIDDENS, Mainland head basketball coach

The Mainland boys basketball team takes the Regional Championship after a 25-year drought.

Bucs rule

fit together so perfectly.”

The team’s bond seemed to tighten when, with less than a month from playoffs, a fight broke out during the game against the University Titans. The Bucs’ future was uncertain as disciplinary measures were decided by the Florida High School Athletics Association. Mainland faced a double forfeit and a few suspensions, but it did not stop their drive to the top.

“I’m so proud of these girls,” Mainland athletic director Terrence Anthony said. “To fight through the adversity of the suspensions, the not knowing if the season is going to be taken away from them and to come back and just put it all behind them and keep on marching, is impressive.”

Volunteer coach Kimberly Davis Powell has been involved with basketball for 26 years and played five years prior to that. She helps Stewart with defense and in-game adjustments. She credited focus and leadership as factors for the team’s abil-

ity to push forward.

“The girls are excited to be here but focused,” she said. “I think it attributes to our leaders — Jordan, Tia, Anovia and Shaiya — their leadership has been amazing, especially for the young girls we pulled up (from JV).”

As the seconds counted down in the fourth quarter of the championship game, American Heritage made an astounding 31-point comeback. Mainland had to fight to hold on to its one-point lead. Lecas missed a free throw in the final seconds, American Heritage rebounded and Lecas went airborne to block the ball.

“We focused on the mission,” Stewart said. “We knew what the mission was. I told the girls to treat this game like an airplane and we were almost done landing it. Even if they fouled out, we still had a plane to land and that’s what we did.”

Boddie was incredulous at the thought of being state champions.

“I never thought I’d be standing here, ever,” she said. “I couldn’t even make it past districts so I don’t know how I got here, but I’m happy I made the transfer. We just had to calm down and play the game we knew how to play regardless of what was happening with the ref, the score, with the team. We just had to keep playing. It got us here.”

Mainland’s cheer team traveled to Lakeland to support the girls basketball team.

Guard Yashaiya Yisreal is unfazed by size as she dribbles past Dezuray McGill in the state championship game.

Mainland guard Tia Dobson blows

past Gateway defenders Maylayna Stevenson and SkyLynn Peterson to make the shot.

Paxia steps down from FPC Gold is the goal for FPC’s wrestling qualifiers

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Palm Coast football coach

Robert Paxia has stepped down to take a similar job at a high school in Georgia, he confirmed on Thursday, Feb. 23.

Paxia did not reveal the school, because he said he was waiting for official School Board approval. He said the position pays more. Georgia football coaches receive higher coaching supplements than Florida coaches.

“It’s an opportunity for my family. It changes a lot for us,” Paxia said.

Paxia was hired by FPC, his alma mater, on May 24, 2021, to replace Travis Roland, who left to become the head coach at Mainland High School.

Paxia informed his players that he was stepping down on Feb. 23, one day after FPC held a signing ceremony for eight seniors who will continue their football careers in college. He said leaving FPC was a difficult decision.

“Being the head coach in your hometown is a big-time thing,” he said. “I really love the school, and I really love the kids.”

Paxia led FPC to a district championship this past season. It was just the fourth district title in program history.

“He did a good job here,” said FPC athletic director Steve DeAugustino. “We wish Robert the best of luck. He’s doing what he feels is best for his family right now.”

DeAugustino said FPC has begun the process of finding a replacement for Paxia.

“We’re going to try to find the best person for the job. Our kids deserve that,” DeAugustion said. “I’m pretty confident we’ll find the right person for FPC.”

Paxia had a 13-8 record on the field in his two seasons with the Bullodgs. But his official record is 10-11 due to four forfeits (FPC won three of the games) imposed by the Florida High School Athletic Association after the Bulldogs self-reported an ineligible player.

Paxia graduated from FPC in 2008. As a student-athlete, he played offensive line for the Bulldogs and won a state weightlifting championship.

While he completed his bachelor’s at Daytona State, he returned to FPC as an assistant football coach for three seasons, from 2010 to 2012, and coached the boys weightlifting team.

After that, he coached at five schools over the next eight seasons, including two years as an assistant at Villa Rica High School in Georgia.

In 2019, Paxia became the head coach at Lake Gibson and led the Braves to a 22-3 record in two seasons before the FPC job opened up. His head coaching record, including one year as the head coach at Plant City, is 39-17 with the forfeits.

“I loved my time here,” he said. “I’ve given nine years of my life to FPC (as a student, assistant coach and head coach).”

Paxia wrote a message on Twitter to the Bulldog community Feb. 23 to announce his decision. “Two years ago, my family and I made the decision to return to FPC from Lake Gibson,” he wrote. “It has been a great and wonderful journey. ... I would like to thank everyone for the support in the past two years and it is very clear FPC is on track to continue being very successful. Today I am stepping down as the Head Football Coach but I will always be a Bulldog!”

First-year Bulldogs coach David

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Palm Coast wrestling coach

David Bossardet expects all five of his state qualifiers to earn a spot on the podium.

That’s what the Bulldog wrestlers like about their first-year coach.

“I think Coach Boss is harder on us and expects more,” said senior Johnny Hald. “Last year, making it to the state tournament was the goal. This year, placing is the goal.”

Bossardet placed fourth at state in 2001 when he was a junior at FPC.

“I expect them all to place,” he said. “You don’t go to a tournament to go to a tournament. You go to a tournament to win. We’re not going to walk out with five champions, but that’s the goal — gold medals.”

Kole Hannant (132 pounds), Hald (138), Kelton Howard (160) and Dalton Schell (195) qualified for the Class 3A boys state tournament, while Ana Vilar (130) will wrestle in the girls tournament. The tourneys will run concurrently March 2-4 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

“They’re a good group,” Bossardet said. “They’re all kind of different in their wrestling, but they’re all good kids, and I think that’s important.

I’m excited they have a chance to compete this week.”

Hannant (43-8) placed sixth last year as a junior. He is committed to improving on that finish this year.

“I think I’ve wrestled a good majority of the wrestlers in (the bracket),” he said. “I think I should beat them.”

Hald and Vilar also qualified for state last year. Schell came up one match short, losing in the blood round (consolation semifinals) at region. This year, the senior was a runner-up at the Region 1-3A tournament. Winning in the semifinals to clinch a spot at state was a relief, Schell said.

Hald finished fourth at region last week with two close losses to Johnathan Dishman of Oviedo. Hald (4010) is matched up in the first round at state with Harmony’s Shawn McCallister (45-2). Hald wrestled McCallister in the Flagler Rotary Tournament on Jan. 27, losing in the semifinals by an 8-2 decision. Howard, a junior, is a first-time qualifier. He was a JV wrestler last year before suffering a season-ending injury around mid-season.

“My skill level is definitely much better than it was before the injury,” said Howard, who has a 38-9 record.

Vilar is one of two girls on FPC’s wrestling team. She practices daily against the boys.

“Their strength helps you get stronger,” she said. “But you just have to wrestle. It’s the same sport, the same technique.”

Last year, FPC sent nine wrestlers to state, but six were seniors. Bossardet will be losing three more accomplished seniors in Hannant, Hald and Schell. After the season, Bossardet said, he will shift to recruiting mode, going to middle schools. He is also working on building the program through the Flagler Wrestling Club.

“We have about 15 to 20 middleschool aged kids,” he said of the club. “We need to have a very busy spring and summer.”

Bossardet is quite familiar with the storied history of FPC wrestling. He and his brother, FPC principal Bobby Bossardet, have their names on the

by Brent Woronoff FPC’s state wrestling qualifiers: Back row, Kole Hannant, Dalton Schell and Kelton Howard. Front row: Ana Vilar and Johnny Hald

STATE QUALIFIERS

MATANZAS (CLASS 2A)

Boys — T.J. McLean (106), Dylan Parkinson (152), Landon Wright (160). Girls — Mariah Mills (110), Christina Borgmann (120), Tiana Fries (125), Brielle Bibla (130). Saoimy Cabrera (135), Gabby Proctor (140), Kendall Bibla (145), Bella Tietje (155), Brooklyn Watt (170), Ani Brown (235).

FPC (CLASS 3A)

Boys — Kole Hannant (132), Johnny Hald (138), Kelton Howard (160), Dalton Schell (195). Girls — Ana Vilar (130).

wall of the wrestling room.

“To be the wrestling coach at FPC comes with a lot of accountability and expectations, and I need to be prepared to meet those expectations,” he said.

It’s been 11 years since David Bossardet was a wrestling coach — he was an assistant for five seasons at Labette Community College, in Kansas — and he feels like he’s home, back on the mat in his alma mater.

“I feel I have the best job in the world,” he said. “I love doing what I’m doing, and I love doing it here.”

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Paxia has accepted a position in Georgia.

Bossardet is holding his wrestlers and himself accountable.

File photo Robert Paxia puts on the headsets for his first game as the head football coach at Flagler Palm Coast on Sept. 3, 2021 at home against Mainland.

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NAME-DROPPING by Emet Ozar and Will Nediger, edited by David Steinberg

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FPC’s Bracewell takes risk, will walk on at FSU

LINES

WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

GOOD START FOR MARSH’S BULLDOGS

First-year coach Kyle Marsh’s FPC baseball team improved to 3-1 with a 6-5 victory in nine innings against University on Feb. 28.

Cody Clymer has been solid on the mound for the Bulldogs with a 2-0 record and a 0.54 earned run average. He has 12 strikeouts in 13 innings.

FPC has home games on consecutive nights, Thursday, March 2, at 7 p.m. against DeLand; and Friday, March 3, at 6 p.m. against New Smyrna Beach.

PIRATES HOST PINE RIDGE

Matanzas’ baseball team won its first two games, 16-2 over Mainland and 4-2 against Palatka with two runs in the top of the seventh.

The Pirates will face Pine Ridge in their home opener

Friday, March 3, at 7 p.m.

Ashton Bracewell could have played football at Navy. He could have signed a scholarship with a community college and transferred in two years.

Instead, the Flagler Palm Coast linebacker accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Florida State.

“It was a hard decision,” he said. “But it’s always been my dream to play high-level football. I’ve always been willing to take risks, and this is the biggest risk I’ve ever taken.”

Bracewell was one of eight FPC football players to participate in a signing ceremony on Feb. 22.

Offensive lineman Drew Droste, linebacker/running back Landin Simmons and defensive back/ wide receiver DZ Steward signed with St. Thomas, an NAIA school in Miami.

Safety Ben Laurore signed with NCAA Division II Emporia State in Kansas. Linebacker Josh Davis signed with Division III Averett University in Virginia. Offensive lineman Kobe Murphy signed with Iowa

Central Community College, and defensive back Gerod Tolbert signed junior college New Mexico Military Institute.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Bracewell began his high school career as a safety, but he outgrew the position. Since his freshman season he has played free safety, strong safety, outside linebacker, defensive end, middle linebacker and tight end.

Now he needs to grow into the size of a Power-Five conference defensive end/outside linebacker.

“He’s betting on himself that he’ll have the opportunity to earn a scholarship,” said FPC coach Robert Paxia, who resigned the next day to take a coaching position at a Georgia high school. Bracewell also had a preferred walk-on offer from Florida, but he said FSU showed more interest. He said the Navy offer was a great opportunity, but he couldn’t see himself making the five-year military commitment after he graduates.

That’s because Bracewell’s dreams do not end with college football. Eventually, he would like to have a chance to play in the NFL.

Murphy chose a community college over some NAIA offers. “It felt like a better option for me to develop at a very good JUCO school,” he said.

Droste, a 6-3, 315-pound left tackle at FPC, expects to shift to offensive guard at St. Thomas.

Matanzas, FPC softball teams are undefeated

Matanzas softball players Gabby Salgado and Ava Thomas each hit a home run in a 16-1, three-inning victory against Seabreeze on Thursday, Feb. 23.

Salgado’s two-run shot cleared the fence in deep center field. Thomas hit a three-run inside-the-park homer down the third-base line.

“I saw it get past the left fielder, and that’s when I stepped on the gas,” Thomas said.

Salgado said she was just trying to make contact. And she did, driving the ball over 220 feet.

Ashleigh Pigeon pitched two of the three innings and struck out five batters. Last season, she had shoulder and elbow issues and couldn’t throw at all. This season, she has 13 strikeouts in nine innings.

“I feel great. I love it,” she said. The following day, the Pirates improved to 3-0 with an 8-4 win over Mainland. Matanzas took advantage

of five Mainland errors to score six unearned runs.

Mainland pitcher Bella DeJulio held Matanzas to one hit and struck out 14 batters in six innings.

The Pirates have just two upperclassmen on the team — seniors Chloe Baker and Alyssa Lugo. They have eight sophomores — including Salgado, Thomas and Pigeon — and three freshmen.

Flagler Palm Coast’s softball team has also had a hot start. The Bulldogs opened with an 18-0, four-inning win against St. Augustine on Feb. 21.

They followed that with a 3-1 victory over Sanford Seminole on Feb. 24. Aun’yale Howard went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs against the Seminoles.

FPC visits Menendez on Thursday, March 2, and then plays its first game at home on March 6 against Seabreeze.

CRONK WINS FOUR MEDALS AT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Florida sophomore Micayla Cronk took home one gold medal and three bronze medals at the Southeastern Conference Swimming Championships Feb. 14-18 at Texas A&M.

The Flagler Palm Coast grad helped the Gators women’s team win their first SEC title since 2009 as Florida became the first school to sweep the men’s and women’s SEC titles since Auburn did it in 2008.

Cronk helped UF win the 800-yard freestyle relay with a time of 6:57.11. She swam a career-best 1:43.77 — the fourth-best time in school history — to finish third in the 200 freestyle.

She also helped the Gators win bronze in the 400 freestyle relay with the second-fastest time in school history — 3:29.48, And she won a third bronze in the 200 freestyle relay as the Gators swam a 1:27.28.

Cronk missed a fourth bronze medal by twohundredths of a second with a 47.99 time in the 100 free. She swam a career-best 22.08 in the 50 free to finish sixth.

SWEARINGEN TO PLAY IN ALLSTAR CLASSIC

FPC soccer player Emma Swearingen has been selected to play in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Girls All-Star Soccer Classic March 10-11 at Mulberry High School.

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This 4BR, 3BA, 2-CG home is must-see! Gourmet kitchen w/ Quartz Counter Tops & SS Appliances. Master suite located on one side of home w/ a private master bath. Large peaceful backyard that backs up to a conservation area. Community amenities: Golf course, Community Pool, Tennis Courts, Fitness Center, Large Clubhouse, Restaurant & Sports Bar!

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BRENT

Photo by Brent Woronoff

Ashton Bracewell said accepting a preferred walk-on offer from Florida State over a scholarship was a difficult decision.

Photo by Brent Woronoff Matanzas softball players Gabby Salgado, Ava Thomas and Ashleigh Pigeon

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Plantation Bay home tops sales list in Flagler A home on a historic street is top seller in Ormond

Ahouse in Plantation Bay was the top real estate transaction for the week of Jan. 19-25 in Flagler County in the Multiple Listing Service. Harold and Mary Coar, of Aiken, South Carolina, sold 901 Creekwood Drive to Edward Wyks, of Ormond Beach, for $645,000. Built in 2018, the house is a 3/2 with 1,997 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $485,000.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

SENIOR EDITOR

Country Club Cove

Andrew Madis, of Palm Coast, sold 56 Courtney Place to Christina Petria, of Palm Coast, for $315,000. Built in 2021, the house is a 2/2, has a pool and 1,514 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $295,000.

Cypress Knoll Helen Shamblin, of Palm Coast, sold 5 Ellis Place to Robert and Faith Bowers, of Leeds, New York, for $440,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 3/2, has a pool and 1,912 square feet. It sold in 2018 in $325,000.

Jaxsat Group, LLC, of Jacksonville, sold 83 Emerson Drive to Tia Marosi, of Palm Coast, for $416,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 4/2 and 2,554 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $370,000.

Grand Haven

Laurie Chatey, of Palm Coast, sold 15 Chinier St. to Donna Stoner, of Palm Coast, for $620,000. Built in 2001, the house is a 3/3, has a hot tub and 2,517 square feet. It sold

in 2013 for $330,000.

Hidden Lakes

Ivan and Helen Dalrymple, of Palm Coast, sold 90 Arena Lake Drive to the Michael J. Palena and Lorraine E. Palena Revocable Living Trust, of Palm Coast, for $480,000. Built in 2013, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,918 square feet.

Huntington Woods David and Connie Schor, of Ocala, sold 29 Shear Water Trail to William Press, of Ormond Beach, for $389,000. Built in 2018, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,161 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $379,900.

Indian Trails Violet Rodriguez, of Edgewater, Maryland, sold 41 Bassett Lane to Brendan Maydick, of Palm Coast, for $265,000. Built in 1993, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,615 square feet. It sold in 1998 for $86,500.

Pine Grove Holiday Builders, Inc., of Melbourne, sold 15 Powder Lane to Uliana and Saidikrom Radzhabov, of Palm Coast, for $341,500. Built in 2022,

the house is a 4/2 and has 2,134 square feet.

Pine Lakes

Gina Harding, of Palm Coast, sold 71 Westcedar Lane to Keri Hillrich, of Akron, Ohio, for $492,000. Built in 1996, the house is a 3/2, has a pool and 2,183 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $273,000.

Sawmill Creek Charles and Jean Suleski, of Palm Coast, sold 26 Ridge Road to Barbara and Patrick Esposita, of Palm Coast, for $400,000.. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and 1,998 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $360,700.

Seminole Woods

Seagate Homes, LLC, of Palm Coast, sold 34 Utica Path to Nicolette DiLoreto and Edmund DiLoreto, of Palm Coast, for $390,900. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,832 square feet.

Not in subdivision

Gerald Tinsley, of Daytona Beach, sold 46 Bressler Lane to Lisa George and David George, of Palm Coast. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,376 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $201,700.

Harry and Kathy Shlesier, of Newport, New York, sold 12 Birchbark Lane to Burdis and Sharon Boyd, of Palm Coast, for $330,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,800 square feet. It sold in 2004 for $164,400.

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

Ahouse located in one of Ormond’s most historic streets was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach and Ormondby-the-Sea for Jan.15-21 in the Multiple Listing Service. John and Yvonne Shelton, of Ormond Beach, sold 122 Orchard Lane to Mathew and Nora Quattrocelli, of Ormond Beach, for $810,000. Built in 1966, the house is a 4/3, and has a pool and 2,892 square feet. It sold in 1991 for $125,000.

JARLEENE ALMENAS SENIOR EDITOR ORMOND BEACH

Condo

Heather Hankey, of Ormond Beach, sold 640 N. Nova Road, Unit 103, to Melinda Vyskocil, of Ormond Beach, for $163,300. Built in 1976, the condo is a 2/2 and has 932 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $161,000.

Fox Hollow

Albert Mross and Martha Mross, of Clermont, sold 22 Silver Fox Trail to Aileen Kahn, of Ormond Beach, for $420,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,005 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $220,000.

Tomoka Estates

Logan Robert Perkins, of Ormond Beach, and Kyleaigh Bernkrant, of Edgewater, sold 1073 Roberts St. to Michael and Nikki Shearer, and Susan Ward, all of Ormond Beach, for $320,000. Built in 1988, the house is a 3/2, has a fire-

place and 1,282 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $300,000.

The Trails

Jamel and Starr Reimonenq, of Bronx, New York, sold 331 Timberline Trail to Ann and Jimmy Gambino, of Ormond Beach, for $275,000. Built in 1980, the townhouse is a 3/2.5, has a fireplace and 1,724 square feet. It sold in 2009 for $155,000.

Armstrong Family Properties Two, LLC, of Sanford, sold 325 Timberline Trail to Heather Hankey, of Ormond Beach, for $259,900. Built in 1980, the townhouse is a 2/2, has a fireplace and 1,302 square feet. It sold 2021 for $235,000.

ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA

Rodney Angstadt and Joan Sarcona, of Ormond Beach, sold 3360 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 405, to Bruce Peterson, of Cape Coral, for $380,000. Built in 1983, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,275 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $243,000.

Michael, Derek and Keith Davey, of Holtsville, New York, sold 3360 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 404A, to Paul and Maureen Nemergut, of Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, for $318,000. Built in 1983, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,275 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $233,000.

PORT ORANGE

Louise Palmier, of Port Orange, sold 6172 Sabal Point Circle to Gary and Amy Harms, of Port Orange, for $387,500. Built in 1996, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,064 square feet. It sold in 1996 for $128,910.

Christopher and Marisa Scott, of Daytona Beach Shores, sold 940 Village Trail, Unit 2-308, to Judit Kiraly and Edit Szalai, of Norwalk, Connecticut, for $235,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,006 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $198,000.

David Hill, of Port Orange, sold 6490 Justin Court, to April and Joshua Smith, of Port Orange, for $385,000. Built in 2001, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,466 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $210,000.

Diane Rohrer, of Lima, Ohio, sold 5441 Pineland Ave. to Lisa Halley, of Port Orange, for $190,000. Built in 2004, the manufactured home is a 3/2 and has 1,404 square feet. It sold in 2009 for $80,000.

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

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