FPC’s state champion 4x400 relay team: Jordan Haymon, Will Roberts, coach David Halliday, Mikey Najpaver and Logan Jacobelli. Courtesy photos
FPC’s Karina Marcelus won the triple jump and was runner-up in the 100 hurdles.
Flagler SWAT snipers excel at national competition
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office SWAT snipers placed second and eighth out of 40 teams at the Snipercraft Challenge, competing against snipers from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across the country. The second-place finish is FCSO’s best in the annual competition, but the team has placed in the top 10 each year in the last five years of competition.
The FCSO sniper team of Cmdr. Brian Finn and Deputy Chandler Anderson earned second place. Sgt. Frank Gamarra was teamed up with a sniper from the Palm Bay Police Department due to his partner being unable to attend. They finished eighth, despite the two having never met or trained together prior to the competition.
“Our SWAT sniper team
COPS CORNER NEWS BRIEFS
consistently excels at this event, proving once again they are the best-of-the-best,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “The community can rest easy knowing they are some of the most skillful and well-trained law enforcement snipers in the country.”
Finn, who leads FCSO’s sniper team, added. “We pray we never have to use these skills, but this event provides an opportunity to learn, refine, and test our skills and bring that training back to serve our community.”
With 150 cases this year, Flagler sheriff warns of more scams
Since Jan. 1, Flagler deputies deputies and detectives have investigated at least 150 fraud-related cases, many involving scammers who use fear, urgency, and impersonation tactics to pressure victims into sending money or personal information.
“Scammers succeed when they create panic and demand immediate action,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Let
me be clear: No law enforcement Agency will ever call, text, or email you demanding payment to avoid arrest, to ‘clear’ a warrant, or to bond someone out. If someone threatens you with jail unless you pay right now — hang up. It’s a scam.”
FCSO has received reports of scams that include, but are not limited to:
Law enforcement impersonation: Scammers claim to be an FCSO employee or “deputy so and so,” sometimes using real names, and demand payment to avoid arrest, resolve “paperwork,” or resolve a fictitious warrant.
Court-related text scams: Messages such as “FINAL NOTICE — COURT ENFORCEMENT ACTION” or similar threats that pressure recipients to scan a QR code or click a link to pay a “balance” or avoid license suspension.
Payment-by-gift-card/ cryptocurrency scams: Any demand to pay using gift cards, Bitcoin/cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment apps is a scam.
Fake documents and seals: Scammers may send official-looking paperwork
with forged seals or signatures to appear legitimate.
Scammers impersonating a bank representative and convincing you your account is compromised and you must withdraw cash and a currier will come by and pick up the cash to protect it and open a new account.
Remember these key facts: Caller ID can be spoofed A call may look like it’s coming from a trusted agency when it is not.
Law enforcement does not ask for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency to prevent arrest.
Do not click links or scan QR codes sent by unknown sources or those requesting urgent action.
If a caller claims to be from FCSO, verify by calling the non-emergency number at 386-313-4911.
What to do if you receive a suspicious call, text, or email: Do not provide personal information. Do not send money or purchase gift cards/ cryptocurrency. Document what you can (phone number used, screenshots, names used, any links sent). Report it. Even attempted scams help
investigators identify patterns and prevent future victims.
Residents are encouraged to report scams or suspicious activity to FCSO by calling the non-emergency number 386-313-4911. If an emergency exists or someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
To report fraud, you can also visit the Florida Chief Financial Officer’s fraud reporting resource athttps:// www.myfloridacfo.com/safe/ report-fraud-and-scams.You may also visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center website athttps://www.ic3.gov.
FCSO continues to provide scam-prevention presentations to community groups, HOAs, and local organizations. Groups interested in hosting a presentation may contactCommunityEngagement@flaglersheriff.com.
“Our Cyber Crimes Unit is the fastest growing unit in the Sheriff’s Office,” added Sheriff Staly. “Last year over $1 million was reported stolen by our residents by scammers. We need you to be the first line of defense and learn how to protect yourself from being scammed out of your nest egg.”
Flagler deputies add sensory support kits
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is equipping members of its team with sensory support kits filled with items designed to help neurodivergent individuals or individuals in crisis during encounters with law enforcement. Each sensory support kit contains earmuffs, sunglasses, a fidget marble maze mat, and a liquid motion timer. The included items address human senses — sight, hearing, and touch — that may be overwhelming for certain people in stressful situations, including individuals who are neurodivergent (such as those with autism or ADHD), have developmental disabilities, or have conditions like anxiety or PTSD. They are intended to reduce sensory overload and stress, provide focus, and ground individuals during interactions.
Two hundred fifty kits were purchased using drug-seized assets at no cost to Flagler County taxpayers. Email news tips to rich@ observerlocalnews.com.
The trooper found the man walking near a mile marker, and stopped and asked the man where he was going, according to an arrest report.
The man told the trooper he was walking to the next exit. The trooper offered the man a ride, but needed his name first. The man told the trooper his name was “Eminem Reese’s Pieces reese reese reese reese Ho Lil’ Smith n’ Wesson,” the report said. He insisted this was his real name, and was placed under arrest for providing a false name to law enforcement. When the trooper positively identified him, he found the man had last been in contact with law enforcement in March 2025, again for walking along the interstate.
JUST TOO LAZY 2:22 a.m. — 100 block of South 7th Street, Flagler
Beach DUI. A suspect’s laziness led to him being arrested on a DUI charge.
A police officer on patrol noticed the suspect driving east on Moody Boulevard, recklessly rapidly accelerating before turning onto South Central Avenue. The officer followed the car and saw it had an expired tag on the back, according to an arrest report.
The officer pulled the driver over in a nearby parking lot and then noticed a valid license plate displayed in the car’s back windshield. The officer asked the suspect why it wasn’t properly attached to the car, and the suspect said he “was just too lazy” to put it on.
PopINTO PARADISE
That’s when the officer noticed the suspect was slurring his words and smelled of alcohol. The suspect admitted to recently drinking at a local bar before he drove a friend home, the report said.
The officer took the suspect through a field sobriety test, where he failed every part — at one point counting to 40 seconds instead of 30 seconds as he was directed to, because he “was a fast counter.”
The man was placed under arrest on charges of DUI and refusal of a breathalyzer.
MAY 6 BAD FALL 10:08 p.m. — Intersection of Airport Road and Leeway
Trail, Ormond Beach Fugitive from justice. An 80-year-old DeLand man was arrested after police, who were called after he fell off his bicycle, discovered he had an active warrant.
According to court documents, the man was found to be in violation of his conditional release, leading to the warrant; he was arrested in 2023 for failing to register as a sex offender.
The man was taken to the hospital for medical clearance and later admitted to the ICU for injuries sustained after he fell from his bike.
MAY 8
JAILBOUND 3:23 a.m. — 300 block of San-
An officer woke the man up, according to his arrest report, and informed him that the park was closed and he couldn’t be on the property. The man understood and was cooperative, but when asked for his ID, the man said, “I guess I’m going to jail.”
The man told police he had a civil court order directing officers to take him into custody. This was because he failed to appear before a judge in reference to a previous trespassing. He was taken to jail.
chez Avenue, Ormond Beach Fugitive from justice. Police arrested a 54-year-old Daytona Beach man after he was found sleeping on the docks of a local city park.
‘We’re
losing the battle’
Funding has fallen, costs have increased, and roads are deteroriating, Palm Coast staff says.
RICH CARROLL MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER
Palm Coast officials are warning that without a major new funding source, the city’s roadway system will continue to deteriorate and quickly. During a lengthy workshop presentation Tuesday, Stormwater and Engineering Director Carl Cote outlined what city leaders described as
a growing infrastructure crisis tied to rising paving costs, declining revenues and years of deferred maintenance following the expiration of a half cent infrastructure sales tax in 2012.
“Providing adequate funding for maintenance of infrastructure is critical,” Cote told council members while presenting the city’s updated Pavement and Roadway Asset Management Program. According to the presentation, Palm Coast maintained roughly 950 lane miles of roads between 2000 and 2012, largely funded through the half cent infrastructure
surtax approved by voters in 2002. Since the surtax expired, resurfacing activity has dramatically declined, with only about 350 lane miles maintained between 2013 and 2026.
At the same time, the cost of milling and resurfacing roads has skyrocketed by roughly 300% since 2005, while roadway maintenance revenues have actually declined about 9% over the last two decades.
The result, according to city staff, is a rapidly aging roadway network now valued at approximately $850 million. Residential roads are showing the steepest decline.
Cote said Palm Coast’s residential road pavement condition index, or PCI, has dropped from 78 in 2017 to 69 in 2026. The citywide roadway average now sits at 72, below Florida’s statewide municipal average of 76.
“We’re towards the top of the list early on in 2017 and now we’re almost at the bottom of the list in comparison to other cities,” Cote said.
The city has increasingly relied on micro surfacing, a less expensive treatment that seals and refreshes residential roads, but staff acknowledged it is only a temporary solution.
“It’s definitely a very short
How much funding do we need?
term fix,” Cote said. “It makes things look good for a little bit, buys you a little bit of time.”
Officials said Palm Coast is now running out of roads that qualify for micro surfacing because too many streets have deteriorated beyond acceptable thresholds. Staff is also exploring alternatives including cape sealing and a thin structural asphalt mix used in New York.
Councilman Ty Miller described the city’s current approach as unsustainable.
“The moral of the story is that even with the efforts that we’ve done, we’re still losing the battle,” Miller said. “We’re sticking our finger in the dam and more holes are popping up.”
Miller repeatedly stressed that the city is effectively choosing between “two losing solutions” unless a new dedicated funding source is identified.
“Right now we don’t have the money to fix things properly and because of that things are getting worse,” Miller said. “They’re only going to cost us more money in the long run.”
Staff presented multiple five year funding scenarios to council.
Under the city’s current approach, dedicating $2.5 million annually primarily toward arterial roads, residential collector roads would decline from a PCI of 67 to 57 within five years. Residential local roads would fall from 68 to 61.
A second option would split the funding, using $1.5 million annually for arterial roads and $1 million for residential col-
lector roads. While that would slow residential deterioration, arterial roads would also decline significantly.
Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri argued that allowing residential collectors to fall into the 50s was unacceptable and pushed for continued general fund support for neighborhood roads.
“I don’t think that’s acceptable,” Pontieri said. “I don’t know how we function at 57 on collector roads. That’s crazy.”
Pontieri also pointed specifically to Town Center Boulevard as a roadway requiring urgent attention because of its role in the city’s economic development efforts.
“Who’s going to want to invest in the CRA when you can’t drive on the road?” she said.
According to Cote, the city would need just under $3 million for arterial roads and about $9.4 million for residential roads to maintain recommended service levels. He said the actual funding shortfall is about $500,000 for arterials and $9.4 million for residential roads, leaving Palm Coast just under $10 million short overall.
Council members discussed several possible future funding sources, including dedicated millage, gas taxes, reserve funding, franchise fees and a potential countywide sales tax model.
The council ultimately reached consensus directing staff to return with additional funding scenarios and recommendations during upcoming budget workshops in June.
“The
moral of the story is that even with the efforts that we’ve done, we’re still losing the battle. We’re sticking our finger in the dam and more holes are popping up.”
TY MILLER, City Councilman
Palm Coast swale maintenance crew on track to clear backlog of cases
In 2024, there were over 1,000 old swale maintenance work orders. As of May 2026, there are only 341.
SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Palm Coast’s swale crews are maintaining more miles this year than they have in the city’s history, thanks to a new trenching machine.
In two years, the city’s backlog of swale maintenance orders has reduced from over 1,000 to just 341 cases remaining. The swale maintenance crews have historically only cleaned around 40 miles of swales each year, Stormwater & Engineering Deputy Director Lynn Stevens told the Palm Coast City Council on May 12.
“By the end of [Fiscal Year 2025], staff had completed over 55 miles of swales, more than ever in the history of our city,” Stevens said. “Although the rain will slow us down for the next few months, we will exceed our goal of 60 miles this year.”
BY THE NUMBERS
1,058 open work order cases were in the swale maintenance backlog in October 2024, some dating back to 2019.
341 open work order cases remain in the swale maintenance backlog as of May 2026. None of those are older than 2022.
55
miles of swales were cleared out in Fiscal Year 2025. For Fiscal Year 2026, the swale maintenance crews are on track to exceed the goal of 60 miles of swales.
40
miles is the most swales cleared out previous to Fiscal Year 2025 in Palm Coast’s history.
The success was from the implementation of new trenching machines for the swales, which Stevens said have been useful in tapering the swale from the culvert and addressing high spots, but not beneficial for full swale clearing. Because trenching takes fewer crew members, the stormwater department’s
NEWS BRIEFS
Colbert closed through May 29 to improve drainage
The City of Palm Coast will have lane closures on Colbert Lane near Waterfront Park Road through Friday, May 29. The intermittent lane closures will occur as Cline Construction, a contractor hired by the city, moves materials and equipment to the west side of Colbert Lane for the second phase of the project. During this time, traffic will be directed by flaggers to
second ditch crew was broken into two teams at the end of December to increase the amount of trenching work.
According to data Stevens presented to the Palm Coast City Council, the trenching machines were able to more than double the number of linear feet maintained in January, February and March from 2025 and 2026. Around 2,500 linear feet of swale were maintained in January 2025, but over 5,000 linear feet were maintained in January 2026.
“This style of soil maintenance cannot replace the full regrade method, but is used to supplement the program and enable us to cover more ground and open more swales,” she said.
safely manage these temporary lane closures.
The city is advancing work on the Colbert West Addition Project, a major component of the Old B-Section Stormwater Conveyance Improvements. The project replaces aging and undersized drainage pipes with modern, higher-capacity conveyance system that directs stormwa-
Stevens said the program had a backlog of swale complaints, but the crews have managed to clear out the backlog from prior to 2022, and now only have a few remaining from 2022. As of October 2024, the backlog was 1,058 — some dating back to 2019 — and was brought down to 409 as of April 2026.
As of May 12, Stevens said, there were only 341 remaining open work orders in the backlog. Most of the remaining work orders require a full regrade, she said.
A full regrade is required if there is more than six inches of buildup in the swale.
PRAISE FROM COUNCIL Councilman Charles Gam -
ter toward Graham Swamp. These upgrades are designed to improve the management of heavy rainfall, reduce localized flooding, and strengthen the long-term performance of the city’s stormwater network.
FCSO employees and volunteers honored at awards ceremony
An off-duty deputy who saved the life of a choking woman at a restaurant, a volunteer who rescued a woman from drowning while on vacation, and members who contributed to the investigation of a 22-year-old cold case that saw a breakthrough in February are among those who were honored during the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s 2026 First Quarter Awards Ceremony held on April 30 at
baro said the crews have been good about consolidating work orders on residential streets.
Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri said swales were one of the most important issues for the council when she was elected in 2022.
“You all have done amazing work,” Pontieri told Stevens. “I think that you’ve done it in a very fiscally responsible way as well. So I just want to commend you. I cannot thank you and your team enough.”
Councilman Ty Miller agreed.
“Just looking at the backlog reduction tells us everything we need to know about how much work you guys are doing,” Miller said. “We’re gonna get to that point sometime soon in terms of being proactive rather than reactive. And I think that’s all due to the hard work of you and your staff.”
Stevens said staff tried out several other options over recent years, including contracting the work out, though the contractor eventually backed out of the contract. Next, the council added a second vac truck crew, and the department integrated spot regrading and trenching. The department attempted a pilot program with a tractor to dig out the swales, but that method left debris behind and
the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center.
The honorees were:
Sheriff’s Citation Award — Deput Paige Blake
Life-Saving awards — Deputy Ashley Jacques, Deputy Joseph Oliva, Cpl. Joseph Barnett and volunteer Mark Dyberg
Certificate of Commendation: Cpl. Craig Rossi, Detective Hayleigh Prentiss, Civil Clerk Suzanne Gardy and Crime Scene Investigator Gabriella Massa
The FCSO also recognized three units for their response to calls including a Dec. 31, 2025, incident where a sexual offender fled on foot, three commercial burglaries in February, and members who contributed to the cold case breakthrough
The employees of the month were:
January – Detective Hayleigh Prentiss
did not work as well in Palm Coast’s wet swales, Stevens said.
HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
The city’s 1,222 miles of swales collect stormwater in front of homes. Swales then drain into 177 miles of city ditches, which then drain into the 58 miles of canals. A failure in the canals will mean the entire system fails, Stevens said.
“I know everybody thinks the swales are the most important. It’s what we see in our front yards,” Stevens said. “Swales are designed to hold water. So a lot of swales in our city will hold water year round.”
Because swales are designed to hold water, she said, the department does not accept new swale maintenance work orders until five days after a rain event, to allow the system time to “perform as designed.” The city’s roads, Stevens said, are also designed to convey stormwater so homes do not flood.
Right now, she said, the swale maintenance program is reactive to residents’ complaints only, not proactive maintenance, until the backlog is cleared.
“Our goal is to get to that proactive state and be able to take care of issues before they become resident complaints,” Stevens said.
February – Civil Clerk Suzanne Gardy
March – Crime Scene Investigator Gabriella Massa Employees recognized for years of service were:
5 years – Detective Dennis King, Detention Deputy Bobby Peters
10 years – Master Deputies Justine Crego, Marcus Dawson, and Brad Stogdon; Detective Sarah Scalia 15 years – Commander Robert Tarczewski; Detention Commander Brian Sheridan; Detective Sergeant Gabe Fuentes; Deputy John-Jack Castanheira
20 years – Sergeants Paul Kandour and Michael Miller; Corporal Artur Erlandson; Deputy Ralph Lilavois; Classification Specialist Edward Justice
25 years – Master Deputy Greg Nunziato; Deputies Samuel Cooper Jr. and John Landi
Flagler Schools’ tech realignment would provide raises, opportunity
School Board will vote on the plan, which will create three levels of technology support specialists.
BRENT WORONOFF
EDITOR
ASSOCIATE
In an effort to retain Flagler Schools technology employees and provide them with a path to move up the ladder, Ryan Deising, the district’s chief of technology, presented the School Board with a plan to realign several positions. The entry level network service technician position will be upgraded to technology support specialist I. The technology support specialist role will become technology support specialist II. The 13 employees in this position will have an opportunity to move up to technology support specialist III. There will be two level III positions, which will be open only to internal candidates.
“This is trying to make ... an alignment as we move along so that there’s some job progression,” Deising said. “Talking with staff, a lot of them feel like there’s not a good path that’s set up for them, especially when we’re bringing folks in early in their careers.”
Deising said four or five technology staffers left this
Ryan Deising said four or five technology staffers left this year for positions elsewhere because they did not see a clear path for promotion in the school district.
year for positions elsewhere because they did not see a clear path for promotion in the school district.
“They’d say, ‘I’ve got to wait until somebody leaves,’ because we didn’t have these [positions] set up in progression,” he said. “When you get offered jobs that are significant, I cannot blame anyone for taking them.”
Deising said he’d like to build from within by keeping employees engaged and giving them opportunities to move up.
A key part of the plan is raising the pay scales. By eliminating the vacant $52,000 technology support position, the district can pay the three support specialist I employees $1.62 more an hour for a total increase of $10,000. The 13 support specialist II employees will receive 85 cents more an hour for a total increase of $23,000, and the two support specialist III employees will receive $2.66 more an hour for an $11,000 total increase.
Deising presented the board with the plan at an agenda workshop on Tuesday, May 12. The board is expected to approve the realignment at its next business meeting, which has been moved up to May 19.
The realignment also includes changing the role of website content manager to web systems support specialist.
“We’ve had some shifts of how we manage a website,” Deising said. The website content manager position was set up for marketing and content management, Deising said. It required a bachelor’s degree in English, journalism or technical writing or five years of work experience in a related field.
The new position requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology or a related technical field. The pay lane is the same as the previous position.
In creating the three new support specialist levels, Deising and his team researched technology departments in neighboring districts from Nassau County down to Volusia, Lake and Seminole counties. Flagler Schools’ entry-level technicians were getting paid less than all of the other districts except Putnam, Deising said.
The new entry-level specialist I position calls for an associate degree in computer science or information systems or two years of comparable experience in information systems technology.
“This change kind of puts us at the bottom of the midway point [of the pay scale]. We’re not at the bottom, but there’s definitely a lot [of room] towards the top,” Deising said, adding that they also looked at similar positions in municipalities within Flagler County. “We feel like this gets us to be able to stay somewhat competitive if we’re talking about bringing folks in.”
Board member Lauren Ramirez commended Deising but said she would like to see how the entire district can find similar ways to raise salaries without increasing budgets.
“I love this,” she said. “It’s just that, last year, I brought up something similar for the nursing. I’d like to see other roles streamlined. I feel like it would make sense all across the board.”
Email Brent Woronoff at brent@observerlocalnews. com.
NEWS BRIEFS
Flagler School Board candidate Ron Long gets required petitions
Flagler County School Board candidate Ron Long announced on Friday, May 8, that his candidate petitions have been certified by the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections, officially qualifying him for the ballot.
Long is running for the District 4 seat against incumbent Christy Chong and former School Board member Trevor Tucker.
In a press release, Long said the petition process allowed him to connect directly with voters across the community and gather feedback from residents.
Jones qualifies as candidate for Flagler County Commission
Flagler County commission candidate Anna Jones has collected the required number of petition signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot, Jones announced on Friday, May 8.
Jones is running for the District 4 seat against incum-
bent Leann Pennington and Andrew Christian Moss.
Jones announced in a press release that she collected the required 968 signatures, certified by the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections.
Jones said her campaign is focused on:
Smarter spending and immediate property tax relief
Managing growth responsibly while protecting our environment and quality of life
Fixing traffic congestion and improving infrastructure
Prioritizing public safety, veterans, families, and fiscal discipline
Demanding full transparency and accountability from county government
Tony Amaral qualifies for City Council ballot
Antonio “Tony” Amaral Jr. has officially qualified for the Palm Coast City Council District 2 race, securing his place on the ballot through the petition process.
By gathering more than the required number of signatures from local voters, Amaral’s campaign moves into the next phase.
Amaral, 52, a 43-year local resident, says his campaign is centered on the “smart growth” philosophy. His platform emphasizes diversifying the city’s tax base to alleviate the burden on residential property owners
while simultaneously attracting high-quality, better-paying jobs to the area.
Pontieri qualifies for
County Commission
race
Theresa Carli Pontieri has qualified through the petition process to appear on the ballot for the Flagler County Commission District 2 seat. Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Kaiti Lenhart has certified Pontieri’s 970 voter signatures. By going through the petition process, candidates avoid paying the qualifying fee.
Pontieri is currently the vice mayor of Palm Coast. She has been a member of the
Ron Long is running for the Flagler County School Board District 4 seat in the August 2026 primary. Courtesy photos
Flagler County commission candidate Anna Jones holds up her petition certification signed by Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Kaiti Lenhart.
Flagler County Commission District 2 candidate Theresa Carli Pontieri. File photo Antonio “Tony” Amaral Jr. is running for the
Ormond Beach to explore proactive restrictions on data center projects
Hoping to avoid another fuel farm debacle, city considers a ban on data centers.
JARLEENE
ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
A bill dictating that local governments have the authority to regulate planning and zoning laws for large-scale data centers was signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday, May 7. Senate Bill 484 specifies that local governments have the responsibility over comprehensive planning and land development regulations
for data centers, which are increasing in demand across the U.S. due to the use of artificial intelligence. The bill also prohibits a water management district or the state’s Department of Environmental Protection from issuing a permit if it goes against local zoning regulations.
Hoping to avoid another fuel farm debacle, Ormond Beach city officials are looking to stay proactive — and consider a ban.
“These data centers are trending everywhere,” Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland said at their meeting on Tuesday, May 5. “There’s a lot of discussion. There is a lot of research on it right now, and what I’ve
done in my limited research is they’re not really appropriate for Ormond Beach, given our aquifer — or much of Florida, due to our geographics and the water supply.”
Tolland said she recognized data centers are useful, just maybe not for Ormond Beach.
“Just like the fuel terminal, they are useful, but just not here,” she said.
Tolland’s remarks came at the end of the City Commission meeting. During public comment, Dream Green Volusia founder Suzanne Scheiber brought the topic of data centers and SB 484 forward, saying that data centers are currently in the planning stages in the state.
According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, a medium-sized data center can consume 110 million gallons of water per year, about the same as 1,000 households. Larger data centers’ water use can rise to up to 5 million gallons per day, about the same as a town with a population of 10,00050,000 people.
“Data centers truly are resource-ravenous projects,” Scheiber said. “We should be pursuing water conservation, not water depletion. We can address this now because we do understand the high stakes. Progress should never threaten our way of life.”
Commissioners Travis
“Progress should never threaten our way of life.” SUZANNE SCHEIBER, Dream Green Volusia founder
Sargent and Kristin Deaton agreed with Tolland: The discussion should take place.
Tolland asked staff to conduct research on data centers and bring back information on what steps the city can take to regulate them.
However, while SB 484 gives local governments control of data centers, there is an executive order from President Donald Trump from last year about accelerating federal permitting of data center infrastructure. The executive order revolves around using
federally owned land and resources for the development of data centers.
Sargent said the city should look at the president’s executive order as well as the impact of Senate Bill 180; this legislation prohibits local governments from enacting more restrictive zoning laws on development through 2027.
“I think it’s a lot of work on staff with between the executive order, the state level and then SB 180, but I’m all for doing it,” Sargent said.
NEWS BRIEFS
Embry-Riddle breaks ground on new ROTC complex in Daytona Beach
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University celebrated the groundbreaking of a new ROTC complex at its Daytona Beach campus on Wednesday, May 6. The facility will serve Embry-Riddle’s ROTC programs, according to a press release. The programs have almost 800 cadets and midshipmen. The new 28,000-square-
foot, two-story building will house leadership-focused education spaces, including a 100-seat auditorium. The facility will also include a computer lab, missionspecific simulators, program support offices and student collaboration spaces, as well as an outdoor plaza for drill training and ceremonies.
“When you see what these
cadets and midshipmen accomplish, you understand that we are shaping the officers who will lead our military for decades to come,” said retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, who serves on Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees.
The complex will also have a memorial site honoring Embry-Riddle alums who have died while in the military. The university expects to open the complex in fall 2027, on the east side of Clyde Morris Boulevard at the Daytona campus. Through Embry-Riddle’s ROTC programs at Daytona, more than 750 graduates have been commissioned as officers in the military over the past five years, according to the university. Embry-Riddle has the second-largest Air Force program in the nation, with about 50 cadets; more than 313 officers have been commissioned over the past five fiscal years. Since 2022, it has ranked among the top 10% of all 145 detachments nationwide. Embry-Riddle’s Army ROTC has more than 150 cadets.
Military, government and university representatives gathered for the groundbreaking of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s new ROTC complex on May 6. Photo courtesy of Embry-Riddle/David Massey
Flagler Beach Fire Chief Cox terminated amid staff turmoil
City manager says confidence in Cox’s leadership eroded following resignations.
RICH CARROLL MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER
Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox has been terminated following weeks of turmoil inside the department that included the resignation of five firefighters citing concerns over leadership. Cox, who had served as fire chief for about a year and spent roughly 16 years with the Flagler Beach Fire Department overall, was informed of his termination in a letter from City Manager Dale Martin dated May 11. The firing was effective immediately.
the attached correspondence signed by the remaining members of the Fire Department,” Martin wrote in the termination letter. “Given those conditions, I do not believe that you can effectively lead the City of Flagler Beach Fire Department.”
The controversy follows reporting published by the Observer on April 30 detailing the resignation of five department members, who cited leadership concerns and declining morale within the agency.
Employees also raised concerns regarding ethical standards, financial oversight and communication within the department, writing that confidence in leadership had eroded.
“For these reasons, we formally express no confidence in the Fire Chief,” the employees wrote in the signed statement attached to the termination letter.
a short-term interim basis to assist the department during the transition.
“Thank you to both Acting Chief Fiveash and LT Rainey for their assistance at this time,” Martin said in the statement. “I have full confidence in the remaining leadership and staff of the Fire Department to continue to provide the public safety support expected by Flagler Beach residents and businesses.”
The firing comes after multiple members of the Flagler Beach Fire Department resigned and remaining employees submitted a signed letter expressing no confidence in Cox’s leadership.
“Your termination is related to the loss of confidence expressed in the resignations of several members of the Fire Department and in
The attached correspondence from remaining department members outlined concerns involving transparency, leadership, accountability and department morale. The letter referenced recent leadership turnover, including the resignation of the deputy fire chief and two senior department members.
In an addendum statement issued Monday, Martin announced that Deputy Chief Fiveash has agreed to pause her previously announced resignation for approximately 45 days during the leadership transition. Martin said Fiveash, who is currently out of town, is expected to return later this week and serve as acting chief on a temporary basis.
Martin also said Lt. Morgan Rainey has agreed to return on
Martin added that the city will begin the process of recruiting new fire department leadership with assistance from the city’s human resources department and current fire personnel.
Martin’s termination letter notes that Cox may request an exit interview and “name clearing hearing” within five business days.
Flagler County ESL makes offer on property in The Hammock
County staff is also looking to purchase another 2,200 acres in west Flagler County for the ESL Program.
SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
The purchase of several properties being eyed for conservation in Marineland and The Hammock may soon be underway.
A 35-acre property in Marineland that was scouted by the Flagler County Environmentally Sensitive Land program is going to be split into two properties, with Flagler County purchasing half and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Forever Program purchasing the other half. At the Flagler County Land Acquisition Committee’s May 11 meeting, Public Lands and Natural Resource manger Erick Revuelta said the 35-acre property under consideration would cost much more than the county could afford.
While appraisals are confidential, he said, they were
expecting the price to be roughly $500,000 per acre.
“It came out to be a lot more than that,” Revuelta said. “I mean, it blew my mind.”
The property is owned by JDI Marineland, a major landowner in The Hammock, and includes a marina and an existing wastewater treatment plant. Flagler County, the FDEP and the University of Florida, on behalf of the Whitney Lab in Marineland, have been in negotiations to purchase property from JDI Marineland for months.
Instead of giving up the purchase, Revuelta and the ESL staff reached out to the FDEP to see if there was interest in purchasing part of the property. The FDEP agreed to purchase the marina portion of the property, while Flagler County purchased the wastewater plant portion, which has forest known as maritime hammock on site.
“We’ve made an offer that was based on the appraisals,” Revuelta said. “That offer has been verbally accepted. Once we have a purchase agreement, we will present that to
the LAC.”
Staff still has to go through several more assessments and the purchasing agreement process. Should the LAC recommend moving forward with the purchase agreement, it will then be reviewed by the Flagler County Commission.
The Flagler County Commission has the final say on all the recommendations from the LAC.
The Marineland 35 property is not the only land Flagler County is eyeing for conservation in The Hammock. The LAC will also recommend the Flagler County Commission acquire the conservation easement for another property known as the Lastinger property — 39 acres of land located between State Road A1A and the Intracoastal — for $3.25 million.
“That’s going to protect roughly 26 acres of coastal strand and coastal soil communities,” Revuelta said.
Another 21 acres, directly adjacent to the Lastinger property along the intracoastal, is also in negotiations for a conservation easement with Flagler County. This Cedar Point property contains one of the last unprotected tracts of high-quality maritime
Flagler County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Program has placed an offer to purchase a property in Marineland for conservation. There are three properties in The Hammock that Flagler County is seeking to include in its ESL Program. Map by Hailey McMillan
hammock. It is owned by the DuPont family and has several imperiled species as well as the family cemetery and a family-owned cabin.
Conservation easements are not open to the public.
Revuelta said the county is still working with the DuPont family to figure out what the family wants to keep and what would be included in the easement.
All three Hammock properties are on the Priority A list for purchasing. Also on the A List are four other properties, including, until recently, 3,800 acres of land near Daytona North and two properties with the Florida Agricultural Museum in northwest Flagler.
The 3,800 acres was purchased in April and will be the site of the future Big Cypress Swamp Nature Preserve in Flagler County. The Agricultural Museum properties,
Revuelta told the LAC, have hit a snag in discussions as the Florida Agricultural Commissioner wants to place an additional conservation easement on top of the easements already on the property.
The LAC voted to remove the Museum properties to the Priority B List until the issue is resolved, leaving two openings on the A List. The LAC moved a 519-acre property in west Flagler County to the A List alongside a new, 2,238acre property near the Haw Creek Preserve.
This property, known as the Orange Hammock property, has a large section of flood plain, Revuelta said and would also be purchased for a conservation easement, pending commission approval. The recommended changes will be reviewed by the Flagler Commission for approval.
State’s immigration enforcement costs climb to $460M for year
The Florida Division of Emergency Management spent another $45.3 million for immigration enforcement-related costs, bringing the total for the year to nearly $460 million. According to Transparency Florida, a government accountability website through the executive office of the governor, FDEM filed a budget amendment May 6 notifying the Legislature it was spending $45.3 million out of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund to pay off
invoices for the 2025-2026 year. In total, FDEM has spent $458.5 million in emergency funds on illegal immigration enforcement in the past year. The division was blocked from spending money from the fund on any new contracts after Feb. 17, when the Legislature failed to renew its authorization, but the state can still use funds to pay off any invoices before the expiration date. The records didn’t detail how the money was spent, other than noting it was for “illegal migration.” FDEM officials did not respond to emails or a phone call requesting comment. The fund was created in 2022 to handle hurricane preparation and response and other natural disasters, allowing Gov. Ron DeSantis to quickly dispense money during states of emergency.
Former Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox. Photo courtesy of the Flagler Beach Fire Department/Facebook
Ashley Lugo says her son continues showing encouraging signs following emergency brain surgery.
RICH CARROLL
MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER
The Palm Coast and Flagler County community is rallying around 10-year-old Nolan Estepp and his family after the Old Kings Elementary student suffered a devastating brain AVM rupture while at school late last month.
Nolan remains hospitalized in Orlando as he continues fighting through what his mother, Ashley Lugo,
GoFundMe
Support Nolan’s family through the GoFundMe campaign. Visit gofundme.com/f/ prayers-and-supportfor-nolans-fight-for-life.
described as a long and uncertain recovery process following emergency brain surgery and weeks in intensive care. Meanwhile, friends, family members and complete strangers have stepped forward with donations, prayer vigils and a growing fundraiser effort to support the family during the crisis. A “Benefit for Nolan” fund-
raiser is now planned for noon on Saturday, May 30, at 1405 Saloon in Bunnell. The event will include raffles, live music, food, snow cones, bounce houses, face painting and activities for children, with all proceeds benefiting Nolan and his family.
According to Lugo, Nolan suffered the rupture during PE class at Old Kings Elementary on April 27.
“He grabbed his head and screamed on the top of his lungs, and then he vomited on himself,” Lugo said. “He aspirated, and then he passed out.”
Doctors later determined Nolan suffered a ruptured arteriovenous malformation, commonly known as an AVM, deep within the thalamus portion of his brain. An AVM
is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain. When an AVM ruptures, it causes bleeding in the brain and can quickly become life threatening.
Lugo said Nolan underwent emergency surgery after being airlifted to Orlando.
“He is currently in the ICU on life support, fighting for his life,” Lugo said in an online fundraiser message shared with the community.
The first days after the rupture were especially difficult.
“Nolan spent from April 27 to May 1 very touch-and-go, fighting for his life every day,” Lugo said. “They didn’t think he was going to survive.”
At one point, doctors feared Nolan may have been brain dead after scans showed no brain activity following heavy sedation used to reduce dangerous swelling in his brain.
But days later, Nolan began responding.
“Three days later, he started reacting,” Lugo said. “His eyes are reacting to light. And that’s when it was confirmed that he was not brain dead. It was honestly the best news I could have ever heard in my life at that point.”
Since then, Lugo said Nolan has shown additional encouraging signs, including opening his eyes and squeezing her hand.
“It was the best Mother’s Day present I could have ever asked for,” Lugo said after describing the emotional moment Nolan grabbed her hand from his hospital bed.
Doctors are now attempting to remove Nolan from the ventilator and begin the next phase of recovery, though Lugo said there are still many unknowns about long-term effects from the brain injury.
“They don’t know. There is no answer,” Lugo said regarding Nolan’s recovery outlook.
“He is the most empathetic, give-theshirt-off-your-back type of kid.”
ASHLEY LUGO
“There’s no way to tell what parts of his brain was damaged.”
Nolan, who Lugo described as “the smartest kid I’ve ever met in my life,” is known for his love of history, video games and helping other children who are bullied at school. Lugo said Nolan hopes to become either a YouTuber or a computer programmer when he grows up.
“He is the most empathetic, give-the-shirt-off-yourback type of kid,” Lugo said.
The family’s financial challenges have also mounted, as Lugo remains by Nolan’s side in Orlando and is unable to
continue operating her cleaning business.
“I’ve had no income since April 27,” Lugo said. Support for Nolan has spread well beyond Flagler County. Lugo said people from around the world have reached out with prayers, donations and messages of encouragement.
“We have people in Africa and China praying for Nolan,” Lugo said. “There’s people all over the world praying for my son.” Lugo said the outpouring of support has been overwhelming.
“I just want to thank everybody for their support and their love,” she said. “Those messages and those prayers are definitely what got me through.”
Community members can also support Nolan’s family through the GoFundMe campaign, “Prayers and Support for Nolan’s Fight for Life,” which has already raised more than $28,000.
Nolan Estepp before suffering a ruptured brain AVM during PE class at Old Kings Elementary in late April. Photos courtesy of Ashley Lugo
Nolan Estepp remains hospitalized in Orlando following a ruptured brain AVM suffered during PE class at Old Kings Elementary on April 27.
LOCAL EVENTS
THURSDAY, MAY 14
COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP
When: 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Where: Flagler County Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Building 3, Bunnell
Details: Attend this monthly presentation on general preparedness. Learn practical tips and strategies to help you stay safe and ready for emergencies.
VOICE AND GUITAR
CONCERT
When: 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: St. James Episcopal Church sanctuary, 44 S. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach
Details: St. James Episcopal Church invites the community to a Voice and Guitar Program featuring Stetson University music students Colin James and Natalie Reese. The program includes original songs and favorites from the 1960s, the Beatles, and jazz. Free admission; donations accepted. Refreshments will be served at the end of the program.
SWING INTO SPRING — MINI CONCERT SERIES
When: 6:30-8 p.m.
Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach
Details: See The Cat 4 Band perform live. Bring a chair or blanket. Free event presented by the City of Ormond Beach.
FRIDAY, MAY 15
SECOND ANNUAL FLAGLER
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
BREAKFAST AND EXPO
When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE Palm Coast
Details: Join Flagler Volunteer Services, Inc. and partners for information about the upcoming hurricane season. Take part in hands on demonstrations, talk with subject matter expert vendors and exhibitors and leave with a free disaster preparedness kit. Free.
GOPHER TORTOISE: SUPERHERO OF THE SCRUB
When: 10-11 a.m.
Where: Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreational Area, 3100 S. Oceanshore Blvd. Flagler Beach
Details: Discover the world of gopher tortoises. After the talk, stroll through the park to spot active burrows. Program open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Park entry fee applies.
VETERANS LUNCH & LEARN
When: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond
Beach
Details: Veterans and current service members are invited to join glass artists LC &
Tommy Tobey for a discussion on glass art. A complimentary boxed lunch will be provided. Free program. Registration is required. Register at www. ormondartmuseum.org/ classes-programs.
PADDLE INTO ADVENTURE!
When: 12-2 p.m. Friday, May 15; and 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 20
Where: Gamble Rogers
Memorial State Recreational Area, 3100 S. Oceanshore Blvd. Flagler Beach
Details: Take this two-hour guided kayak tour, presented by the Friends of Gamble Rogers State Park. All skill levels over the age of 12 welcome. Registration is a donation of $50 per person; $25 if bringing your own kayak. Space is limited. Call 3866-517-2086.
FLAGLER SPRING OUTREACH
When: 12:30-3 p.m.
Where: Cattleman’s Hall, Flagler County Fairgrounds, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell
Details: Hosted by Flagler County Health and Human Services Department, this event provides free information of social services, and immediate assistance with things like free food and haircuts.
DEDICATION OF WICKLINE PARK PLAYGROUND
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Wickline Park, 800 S. Daytona Ave., Flagler Beach
Details: Join the City of Flagler Beach to celebrate the official dedication of the new Wickline Park Playground. Following the dedication, stay for Flagler Flicks, a free, family-fun movie night beginning at 8:30 p.m.
CMTW PRESENTS “THE WIZARD OF OZ: YOUTH EDITION”
When: 7 p.m. Friday, May 15; 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 16; and 1 p.m. Sunday, May 17 Where: Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach
Details: Children’s Musical Theatre Workshop, celebrating their 44th year, presents their Spring 2026 show. This stage adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” features the characters and celebrated songs from the film. Tickets cost $15. Visit https://ormond beachperformingartscenter. csstix.com.
Details: Join the Seaside Herb Society for its presentation, titled “Edible Weeds” by Janell Taylor of Littlefield Farms, DeLand. The herb of the month is cardamom. Learn about the uses. Samplings will be offered. First meeting attendance is free; visitors welcome. The Society meets on the third Saturday of the month September through May. Visit seaside herbsociety.com.
PALM COAST’S SIXTH
ANNUAL TOUCH-A-TRUCK
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast
Details: Get up close with the vehicles and equipment that keep Palm Coast running, meet Public Works staff and learn how everyday services come to life. A horn-free hour will take place from 10-11 a.m.
GOD’S FAMILY BIBLE
CHURCH PANTRY FOOD
DISTRIBUTION
When: 10-11 a.m.
Where: Parking lot across Gods Family Bible Church, 256 Old Brick Road, Bunnell
Details: God’s Family Bible Church distributes food every first and third Saturday in this drive-thru event.
Details: Put your knowledge to the test. Come solo or bring a team. Light refreshments and fresh coffee will be available. Visit http:// flaglerlibrary.org/event/ adult-general-knowledgetrivia-2/2026-05-16/.
ARTWAVE YOUTH
WORKSHOP
When: 2-3 p.m.
Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach
Details: Young artists ages 11 to 14 are invited to join youth curator, Emma Dennison to learn about artist Louise Nevelson and create a shadow box inspired by her work. Tuition for this 90-minute program includes all supplies. Seats are limited. Costs $15 for museum members; $20 for non-members. Register www.ormondartmuseum.org.
Details: Enjoy songs from the big band era to contemporary music with Daytona Jazz Orchestra, an 18-piece big band with a singer. This event is cosponsored by Volusia County Public Library and Friends of the Daytona Beach Regional Library. Registration is not required.
FIESTA DE COLORES — A
MEXICAN THEMED DINNER AND DANCE
When: 5-9 p.m.
Where: St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 5400 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast
Details: Enjoy a night of music, dancing and Mexican cuisine. There will be live music by guitarist Cesar Romero, beginner-friendly salsa, cha cha and merengue dances. Tickets cost $50. Proceeds benefit St. Thomas Episcopal Church ministries. Call 386446-2300.
Details: This luncheon will honor Rev. Gillard S. Glover, founding pastor of the First A.M.E. Church of Palm Coast. Dress code is business attire. Costs $100 per person. Call 386-237-2382.
Details: Speaker is Daralene Jones, four-time Emmy award-winning journalist and investigative leader. Costs $45 for members; $50 for guests. Visit www.flaglertiger bayclub.com/event-6615226.
THURSDAY, MAY 21
EVACUATION SHELTER TRAINING
When: 1-5 p.m.
Where: Flagler County Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell
Details: Flagler County Emergency Management and Flagler Volunteer Services invite residents to learn how to provide support during emergencies or disasters.
Details: Learn about the history of bacon during this cooking demonstration. Free.
CRISIS CLEAN UP
TRAINING
When: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Where: Flagler County Emer-
gency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell
Details: Disaster Volunteers are invited to join for a training on how to be a call taker for Crisis Clean Up. This training will also show you how to make calls to local residents and update their information in the system. Visit flaglervol unteer.org.
ORMOND BEACH AREA
DEMOCRATIC CLUB
MEETING
When: 6:30-8:15 p.m.
Where: 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach
Details: Attend the May meeting of the Ormond Beach Area Democratic Club. The guest speaker will be Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera, candidate for District 6 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Likeminded guests are welcome to attend. Visit ormondbeach dems.org.
Maintenance required
BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER
I got a flat tire the other day, and it wasn’t because of a nail. The tire was bald, which I knew, and the alignment was off, which I didn’t know. The combination resulted in
a gash in the tire, simply from wear. The lesson I learned is that maintenance is not optional. Sometimes, it’s urgent, and we don’t know how urgent until it’s too late.
That can apply to relationships, too. It’s easy to think that friendships will last forever, but they fade unless I choose to maintain them, which usually means proactive communication. What else do I need to maintain in my life?
MONEY ON THE BRAIN
May 8, 2026
In a profile on Marcel Duchamp in the May 4 New Yorker, Hilton Als writes that capital, meaning money, “shapes or encroaches on artistic practice, corrupting the freedom of the mind.”
What would I do differently in my life if I didn’t need to make money?
Another way to look at it: What have I learned and how have I grown because of my quest to fulfill my responsibility to provide for my family?
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Developer rights vs. homeowner rights
Dear Editor:
We’ve all heard the mantra: Property owners’ rights. However, both are property owners.
Regarding Tomoka Oaks — because “the system” favored the developer (it almost always does) those homeowners who bought/own property on the golf course will now see their property value decrease significantly.
NEWS BRIEFS
Volusia advances five proposed amendments
The 2026 Volusia County Charter Review Commission adopted its final report during its April 13 meeting, advanc-
As well, all Tomoka Oaks residents and nearby residents will see their quality of life deteriorate. The system needs more balance where the rights of the incumbent property owners (homeowners) are considered equally. Right now, they are not.
KEN AND JULIE SIPES Ormond Beach
ing five proposed charter amendments to the Volusia County Council. The County Council will now hold a series of three public hearings to provide residents with an opportunity to comment on the proposed amendments and to consider whether to introduce additional amendments before the general election ballot is finalized. The five proposed charter amendments are summarized
Through VPK programs, children’s communication skills accelerate rapidly
Dear Editor:
As a voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) educator for 10 years, I have seen firsthand how the foundation for a child’s success is built through the conversations they have with one another. My recent research into facilitating dialogue between peers shows that when we
below:
Establishes a County Council structure with five district members and two at-large members, requires the chair to be chosen annually from among the council members, and adds stricter term limits.
Removes Charter restrictions requiring County Council members to be reimbursed for out-of-county work-related expenses and prohibiting County Council members
PARTIAL SUCCESSES
May 9, 2026
At a Little League game today, a player hit a grounder to second base and was thrown out to end the inning. Normally, that is a reason to reflect on what went wrong for the batter.
But the coach ran over to him, gave him a high five, and celebrated the fact that the player had made contact for the first time in a long time. What partial successes — mine or others’ — do I neglect to celebrate because I’m too focused on the partial failure? Life is better when I gather up all the little joyful moments I can.
move beyond teacher-led instruction and encourage children to negotiate and problem solve together, their language and social development accelerate rapidly. In our local classrooms, these peer interactions are where “soft skills” like empathy and collaboration are truly formed. To support this growth at home, I have developed a specialized newsletter for parents that provides practical strategies for fostering these same social skills and language habits outside the classroom. It is vital that our commu-
from receiving reimbursement for work-related, incounty expenses.
Updates the County Charter to reflect changes required by Florida’s 2018 Constitutional Amendment 10 affecting various county Constitutional offices.
Removes detailed personnel system requirements from the Charter and instead allows those policies to be set by the County Council
DO YOUR BEST TOMORROW
May 10, 2026
After legendary Braves manager Bobby Cox died yesterday, one of his greatest players, John Smoltz, said in an interview that Cox helped instill confidence in others.
If a player was in a slump, he would say, “All I need is for you to hit .300 for the week. Can you do that?”
In other words, don’t distress about poor performances of the past. Commit to doing your best going forward.
How can I hit .300 this week at work? In class? At home?
nity understands that quality early childhood education is a complex, research driven field. By supporting our local VPK programs and professional development for educators, we are ensuring that Flagler County’s youngest citizens learn to communicate effectively before they even reach kindergarten.
TENIYAH CHRISTIAN Palm Coast
Send letters up to 400 words to jarleene@observerlocal news.com.
through ordinances.
Creates a registry of protected conservation lands, which protects such lands from sale or transfer, and requires a majority plus-one vote of the entire County Council to add properties to such list or remove properties from that list for sale or transfer, while making exceptions for takings by entities with authority of eminent domain and allowing such properties to be used for County purposes. The hearings will be held during County Council meetings beginning at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 19; 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 2; and 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 16. All meetings will take place in the council chambers on the second floor of the Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand.
YOUR NEIGHBORS
Driving for success
Over 200 scholarships delivered in Flagler County Education Foundation’s Drive-By and Surprise event.
BRENT WORONOFF AND RICH CARROLL
Cars pulled in and out of the driveways of the homes of Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high school seniors on May 6-7 to deliver scholarship money in the Flagler County Education Foundation’s Senior Scholarship Drive-By and Surprise event.
Flagler Schools representatives, community leaders, service organizations and businesses handed out scholarships, planted yard signs and celebrated with the students and their families.
FPC Fire Leadership Academy student Evan Achins got a real surprise when a fire engine from Flagler County Fire Rescue Station 53 pulled in front of his house on May 6.
Lacy Martin, the organizer of the annual 9/11 Memorial
Tribute Stair Climb presented Achins with the first 9/11 Memorial Tribute Scholarship along with Fire Rescue Chief
Michael Tucker, Fire Leadership Academy instructor
Thomas Cope, Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore, Assistant Superintendent Angela O’Brien and School Board member Lauren Ramirez.
Martin distributed three more 9/11 Memorial Tribute Scholarships on May 7, to Matanzas seniors Jordan Sauer, Roberto Reyes Jr. and James Fields. The scholarships were presented to graduating seniors who are planning to become first responders.
“Hearing each student’s story, their passion and their aspirations in law enforcement and first responding truly filled my heart,” Martin wrote in a social media post.
According to the Flagler County Education Foundation, over 209 scholarships were awarded during the two-day event. A fleet of 20 vehicles and 60 drivers covered over 100 routes across the county. Seventy local organizations, 200 commu -
Eva Luis, Matanzas
nity members and 100 Flagler Schools employees delivered scholarships to help over 150 students begin their college and career paths. The Flagler Palm Coast
Ella Sheffield, FPC
Ella Sheffield received the Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club’s largest scholarship of $8,000. She will attend the University of Richmond where she plans to major in psychology and minor in history and religious study.
Career plans: “I hope to become a pediatric psychologist one day, so I have many more years of schooling ahead of me, but I hope to start that journey [at] Richmond.”
High school experience: “I do the IB program, so I’ve been surrounded by many of the same teachers for the past four years. They’ve all been so supportive and incredible. They’re all amazing. I really don’t think I could have done it without them.”
Advice to younger students: “Don’t procrastinate. Take all of the opportunities you can get and just get involved. Don’t be afraid to get involved, because I’d rather be overwhelmed than regret not doing more.”
Kiwanis Club sponsored the 200-plus yards signs. The Ed Foundation’s Madison Asbill led the event, which began at the high schools each night as the drivers received the routes for all of their stops. The Observer followed a few vehicles around and spoke to some of the scholarship recipients. We asked them about their career plans, their high school experience over the past four years and their advice to incoming freshmen: To view Observer videos of the event, visit youtube. com/@PalmCoastObserver/ shorts.
SEE SCHOLARSHIPS PAGE 2B
Lillian Ames, FPC
Eva Luis will attend the University of South Florida to major in biomedical sciences. In her final high school activity, she will be competing in scenario writing at the Future Problem Solvers International Conference next month at Indiana University.
Career plans: “What I want to do when I’m older is to be a nurse practitioner that specializes in aesthetics. They perform nonsurgical procedures to enhance cosmetic outlook like Botox and laser and filler.”
High school experience: ”I was in Future Problem Solvers
Career plans: Lillian Ames said she will attend Florida State University in its honors program, where she will major in accounting.
High school experience: “At FPC I was part of of the varsity weightlifting and swimming teams, as well as a few clubs like National Honor Society and Future Problem Solvers. Being in the IB program really helped me to excel. And that was a big part of my success.”
Advice to younger students: Don’t procrastinate. Manage your time wisely.
since eighth grade, so I’ve been doing this program for quite a while, and the friendships that I fostered within that club kind of guided me through high school. It’s just a bunch of fun doing SGA, National Honor Society with my best friends.”
Advice to younger students: ”One advice I would give for incoming freshmen would be to start getting your AICE classes or DSC [dual enrollment] and your community service hours a lot earlier, and especially be more involved with a lot of clubs, because it will definitely help when you apply for colleges and scholarships.”
Ava Muldoon received her associates degree from Daytona State College on May 12. In the fall, she’ll attend the University of Florida where she plans to major in architecture. Career plans: “After my bachelor’s I’ll probably work a little and then start on getting my master’s so I can become a licensed architect. I am interning at an architecture firm this summer. I chose architecture because I love the balance between the analytical and logical side of it and the
creative side. I feel like in my life, I do a lot of both of those things, and it kind of brings all those things together.”
High school experience: “I think Matanzas has had so much to offer to me, and I’ve taken advantage of so much of it, and that’s why I’ve achieved my goals. If you asked me four years ago, where I’d like to be, I’m kind of standing in that place now, which is so amazing.”
Advice to younger students: “I tell the freshmen to take the risk. If you want to do it, go ahead and do it. Take the risk and it will pay off.”
Eva Luis of Matanzas with mom Olga, receives the Olga Kozminski Memorial Scholarship from Superintendent LaShakia Moore, School Board member Lauren Ramirez and Assistant Superintendent Angela O’Brien. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Scholarship winner Ella Sheffield of FPC poses with family members and representatives of the Kiwanis Club during a scholarship presentation. Photo by Rich Carroll
Matanzas’ Ava Muldoon (center). Photo by Brent Woronoff
Lina Makhmutova of Matanzas with two scholarships. Courtesy photo
Matanzas’ Kenneth Roberts II (right) with his football coach, Matt Forrest, receives the Joe Rizzo Memorial Scholarship from Flagler County Education Foundation Executive Director Teresa Rizzo (center). Courtesy photo
Ava Muldoon, Matanzas
SCAN FOR VIDEOS
Scholarship winner Lillian Ames of FPC poses with family members and representatives of the Kiwanis Club during a scholarship presentation.
Photo by Rich Carroll
Grayson Blanchard, FPC
Career plans: Grayson Blanchard plans to major in materials science engineering at the University of Central Florida.
High school experience:Everybody in the FPC IB program is just so supportive and encouraging. Going through that rigorous coursework and all these doings, getting into college, I really would be nowhere where I am now without any of them.”
Advice to younger students: “Even if you think you can’t do it, you got to do it anyway.”
Scholarships
Aurora Simmons, Matanzas
Aurora Simmons will enroll in Daytona State College’s radiology program to become a registered technologist in radiography.
Career plans: “I’m hoping to become an X-ray technician and help people. After my two years at DSC, I may transfer [to complete my bachelor’s degree]. We’ll see.”
High school experience: “What made Matanzas so amazing was all the support I got from everyone, from teachers, admin, coaches. I’m really thankful for that. I think if you want support and need it, Matanzas will be a great place for you.”
Advice to younger students: “It goes by really quick, so don’t waste it.”
Achins, FPC Evans Achins received the first 9/11 Memorial Tribute Scholarship. He also received the Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club’s First Responder Scholarship. He is a graduate of FPC’s Fire Leadership Academy. Career plans: “[These scholarships] will help me with my future in becoming a paramedic. I want to get enrolled in the fire service with Flagler County and hopefully get my paramedic certification.”
High school experience: “My teachers, particularly in the Fire Academy, have been very supportive of me. They’ve encouraged me to build out my skills and my skill horizons.”
Advice to younger students: “If you don’t want to do it, you should still try it, just to see.”
Aasi Bharucha, FPC
Career plans: Aasi Bharucha will attend the University of Florida and hopes to pursue a career in the medical field. “I just want to make a difference in the community in the future, and this will really help me,” she said after receiving a Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club scholarship.
High school experience: “I did the IB program for four years, and that definitely helped me get into the University of Florida. And I’ve done multiple clubs. The teachers, they’re absolutely amazing. Everyone really played a big part in this scholarship.”
Advice to younger students: “Just never give up. I’ve had many feelings of giving up, but I just didn’t. So that’s how I’m here today.”
Aurora Simmons of Matanzas, with her mom Jennifer, received the Shannon & Mackenzie Grein Memorial Scholarship from Flagler County Superintendent LaShakia Moore (second from left) with School Board member Lauren Ramirez (left) and Assistant Superintendent Angela O’Brien. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Scholarship winner Grayson Blanchard of FPC poses with family members, representatives of the Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club and the Flagler County Education Foundation’s Stephanie Ellis during a scholarship presentation. Photo by Rich Carroll
Scholarship winner Aasi Bharucha of FPC poses with family members and representatives of the Kiwanis Club during a scholarship presentation. Photo by Rich Carroll
Evan
Evan Achins of FPC received a 9/11 Memorial Tribute Scholarship with a special delivery from Flagler County Fire Rescue and Chief Michael Tucker. Courtesy photo
Jordan Sauer of Matanzas receives a 9/11 Memorial Tribute Stair Climb Scholarship from Lacy Martin (right). Courtesy photo
Matanzas assistant principals Sara Novak and Savannah Brock present Nolan Schmidt with a scholarship. Courtesy photo
YOUR SCHOOLS
One year after associate degree, Ormond 15-year-old earns bachelor’s
Imronbek Kadirbek is a sophomore in high school, a business owner and volunteer at a local clinic.
ABBIE PACE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
One year after graduating with his associate degree, 15-yearold Ormond Beach resident Imronbek Kadirbek obtained his bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration from Daytona State College on May 12.
“I’ve been studying way more now, the classes are becoming harder, but I am keeping on track with it,” Kadirbek said.
He is currently a sophomore in high school, and has a year and a half of high school remaining. Within the approximate gap year, Kadirbek’s adviser at Daytona State College, Mark Nabors, suggested Kadirbek add another minor to his degree — or perhaps, work towards a second degree.
“Mark (Nabors) mentioned that not everybody is able to graduate with their bachelor’s
CLASS NOTES
Flagler Schools is a Guy Harvey Conservation District
Flagler Schools has been
YOUR TOWN
Marine Corps League celebrates Nemo Farmer’s 101st birthday
degree, while still completing high school,” said Imronbek’s mother, Nargiza Ayupova.
“It’s very rare, yet now he has room to maybe do an additional minor or even a second bachelor’s degree. That’s amazing.”
When Kadirbek isn’t study-
named a Guy Harvey Conservation District for the 2025-26 school year, signifying the school district’s commitment to environmental education through teacher professional development, experiential learning and environmental leadership.
A presentation honoring the recognition will take place at the May 19 School Board meet-
World War II and Korean War Navy veteran Linwood “Nemo” Farmer celebrated his 101st birthday at Las Palmas Sky Active Living senior community in Palm Coast. The Flagler County 1st Sgt. Burdett W. Loucks, Jr. Detachment 876 Marine Corps League presented colors. Jeff Kingdon, chairman of the Flagler County Veterans Advisory Council, presented Farmer with a handmade wooden 101st Birthday plaque and a WWII “Thank You For Your Service” plaque.
Flagler’s Guerin graduates from Leadership Institute
Flagler County Fire Rescue Captain Tony Guerin has graduated from the Emergency Services Leadership Institute, hosted by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association. The two-year program was de-
ing, he is often working on his own business, Blue’s Cleaning Services. The business provides services, such as window cleaning, landscaping and general neighborhood services. He has hired two other young boys as employees, since the demand became
ing at the Government Services Building.
“We are inspired by the work and commitment of the educators and schools in Flagler Schools that, through the Guy Harvey Conservation Education Program, promote marine science and strengthen conservation education,” said Jessica Harvey, CEO of the Guy Harvey Foundation.
signed to address leadership issues that affect mid-level through chief fire officers.
“I had a fantastic experience learning from experts in this targeted program,” Guerin said. “It has equipped me with new skills that I’m excited to bring to the table.”
“The commitment of Captain Guerin to professional growth and servant leadership strengthens our organization,” Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker said.
too much for Kadirbek to navigate alone. He is saving up for medical school.
“I’ve always believed that time is something you can’t get back, so I didn’t want to waste it,” Kadirbek said. “That mindset pushed me to start early with my education, gain real clinical experience and stay focused on my goal of becoming a physician.”
Kadirbek volunteers and shadows at his mom’s clinic, Kalon Primary Care and Wellness, located at 598 Sterthaus Drive, in Ormond. He observes care, assists with patient intake and interacts with patients from ages 18 to 100. In addition to his mother, Kadirbek is also shadowing a couple other doctors in primary care.
While working on his capsule project for his bachelor’s degree capstone course, which is the last required course, Kadirbek spent his time at the Conklin Center for the Blind in Daytona Beach. The project is completed once the student identifies a problem within the establishment/ organization, comes up with a solution and then presents it to staff, which in this case, will be the Conklin Center.
Through the Guy Harvey Conservation Education Program, educators can participate in regional professional development STEAM opportunities. Following their training in the program, participants become Guy Harvey Conservation Educators. The program offers supplies, educational content and grants for field trips.
Matanzas High School and
“I’ve always believed that time is something you can’t get back, so I didn’t want to waste it.”
IMRONBECK KADIRBEK
“As parents, the greatest pride isn’t in the accomplishments themselves, but in seeing your children grow into grounded, focused and determined individuals,” Ayupova said.
Imronbek’s older sister, Aziza Kadirbek, graduated high school at 14, and received her associate degree from DSC at 16. Aziza has been a big help in assisting her younger brother in organizational skills and preparing him for some of the classes he has taken thus far. Aziza referred to herself as Imronbek’s “Uber,” since she often drives him to and from classes.
Imronbek and Aziza’s younger sister, Jasmina, 11, is following in her sibling’s footsteps. She began college classes this past fall at DSC,
Wadsworth Elementary School are currently recognized as Guy Harvey Conservation Schools. Additionally, 15 district educators are currently recognized as Guy Harvey Conservation Educators.
as well. Jasmina has been taking two classes each semester through Florida’s dual enrollment program. She is currently finishing up the sixth grade, where she does half days, and then spends time working on her college classes. In addition, Jasmina is a competitive figure skater under U.S. Figure Skating. She trains several hours per week and regularly competes in regional events. Jasmina plans to follow in her father’s career path: Jasurbek Kadirbekov, is a neurosurgeon from Uzbekistan, and is from a family of neurosurgeons.
“When something is hard, I don’t stop; I keep practicing until I get better, whether it’s a jump on the ice or my academic coursework,” Jasmina said.
Imronbek is still like any other young teenage boy: He enjoys fishing, working out at the gym, practicing Muay Thai and spending time with his family. He says now more than ever, he feels more accomplished and “on top of the world.”
To learn about his business, visit bluesservice.org.
“The Guy Harvey curriculum has tremendously impacted Flagler Schools by equipping teachers with engaging training and meaningful marine science resources they can immediately bring back to their classrooms,” said Heidi Alves, Flagler Schools K-12 science curriculum specialist. “Our students are developing a deeper understanding of ocean ecosystems and becoming responsible stewards of our marine environment. We are incredibly proud to be recognized as a Guy Harvey Conservation District.”
The scholary sibling duo of Imronbek and Jasmina Kadirbek. Photo courtesy of Nargiza Ayupova
Navy veteran Linwood “Nemo” Farmer, sitting, is presented with a handmade wooden plaque in celebration of his 101st birthday.
Courtesy photos
Flagler County Fire Rescue Capt. Tony Guerin.
REAL ESTATE
Riverfront estate on Tomoka River: $2.9M
An estate on the Tomoka River spanning almost six acres at 427 Pine Bluff Trail was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach for April 18-24. The house sold on April 21, for $2,895,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 5/4 with four half baths, three fireplaces, a pool, three boat lifts, a boat dock and house, and 6,510 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $2.75 million. It was listed by Jonathan B. Owens, of Keller Williams Realty Florida Partners.
JARLEENE ALMENAS
EDITOR
MANAGING
Condos
The condo at 3370 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 404, sold on April 22, for $280,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 1986, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,275 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $345,000.
The condo at 200 Lemon Tree Lane, Unit 4, sold on April 23, for $210,000. Built in 1984, the condo is a 2/2.5 and has 1,316 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $160,000.
ORMOND BEACH
Archers Mill
The house at 329 Rover Road sold on April 21, for $359,990. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,034 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $387,000.
Cupola at Oceanside
The townhome at 114 N. Halifax Drive sold on April 21, for $825,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 3/3.5 and has 2,473 square feet.
Forest Hills
The house at 366 Thackery Road sold on April 20, for $100,000. Built in 1960, the house is a 2/1 and has 1,020 square feet. It last sold in 1991 for $38,000.
Hunter’s Ridge
The house at 14 Abacus Ave. sold on April 22, for $405,000. Built in 2013, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,983 square feet. It last sold in 2017 for $240,000.
Northbrook
The house at 21 Brookside Circle sold on April 23, for $360,000. Built in 1979, the house is a 2/2 and has a fireplace, a pool and 1,287 square feet. It last sold in 2010 for $143,000.
Not in subdivision
The house at 4 Ocean Shore Drive sold on April 24, for $315,000. Built in 1954, the house is a 3/1 and has 1,036 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $280,000.
Plantation Bay
The house at 1234 Hampstead Lane sold on April 23, for $600,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 4/2 and has a pool and 2,417 square feet. It last sold in 2017 for $277,000.
The house at 902 Brookridge Lane sold on April 21, for $575,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, a pool, a spa and 2,202 square feet. It last sold in 2016 for $120,500.
Ridgehaven
The house at 441 Brookhaven Trail sold on April 20, for $510,000. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,791 square feet.
WEST DAYTONA BEACH
A house at 100 Hang Loose Way in Latitude Margaritaville the top real estate transaction in Daytona Beach’s 32124 zip code for the week of April 18-24.
The house sold on April 23, for $820,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 3/3.5 and has a pool, a spa and 2,550 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $603,900. The house was listed by Adrienne Smith, of Fathom Realty FL LLC.
Latitude Margaritaville
The house at 443 Landshark Blvd. sold on April 20, for $379,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,308 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $462,900.
The house at 253 Compass Rose Drive sold on April 23, for $585,000. Built in
Tomoka Oaks
The house at 112 N. St. Andrews Drive sold on April 23, for $589,000. Built in 1976, the house is a 3/3 and has a fireplace, a pool, a spa and 3,249 square feet. It last sold in 2016 for $315,000.
Tymber Creek
The house at 152 Inglewood Court sold on April 22, for $110,000. Built in 2004, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,298 square feet. It last sold in 2012 for $32,000.
Willis The house at 39 Willis Drive sold on April 21, for $425,000. Built in 1957, the house is a 2/1.5 and has a fireplace and 1,320 square feet. It last sold in 2025 for $301,000.
Woodlands
The house at 22 Red Maple Circle sold on April 21, for
2020, the house is a 2/2.5 and has 2,067 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $381,800.
The townhome at 850 Margaritaville Ave. sold on April 24, for $560,000. Built in 2024, the townhome is a 2/2 and has a pool and 1,563 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $462,500.
Mosaic The house at 140 Azure Mist Way sold on April 24, for $495,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 2,173 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $445,700.
Not in subdivision The house at 1580 Roosevelt Blvd. sold on April 24, for $660,000. Built in 2014, the house is a 3/2 and has a detached garage and 1,860 square feet.
$215,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,475 square feet. It last sold in 1997 for $64,000.
Woodmere
The house at 712 Lucerne Circle sold on April 21, for $275,000. Built in 1973, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,713 square feet. It last sold in 1973 for $39,200.
ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA
Ormond Ocean Gardens
The house at 59 Margaret Road sold on April 24, for $275,000. Built in 1959, the house is a 2/1 and has 744 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $175,000.
John Adams, of Adams, Cameron & Co. Realtors, contributed to this report.
ORMOND BEACH
Waterfront house in The Hammock: $2M
Awaterfront house at 5584 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., in The Hammock, was the top real estate transaction for April 25 to May 1, in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The house sold on May 1 for $2 million. Built in 1998, the house is a 4/4 and has a dock and 2,791 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $1,150,000. The house was listed by Samantha Rosenbaum, of Real Broker LLC.
ALEXIS MILLER
Condos
A condo at 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Unit 707, sold on April 30, for $725,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/3 and has 1,676 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $506,000.
A condo at 21 Viscaya Lane, Unit 21, sold on April 28, for $560,000. Built in 1999, the condo is a 2/2.5 and has 2,186 square feet. It sold in 2024 for $526,000.
A condo at 3510 S. Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 406, sold on April 30, for $615,000. Built in 1988, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,107 square feet. It sold in 2023 for $550,000.
A condo at 300 Cinnamon Beach Way, Unit 251, sold on April 30, for $612,500. Built in 2005, the condo is a 3/3 and has 2,003 square feet. It sold in 2010 for $388,000.
A condo at 75 Veranda Way, Unit 75, sold on April 28, for $285,000. Built in 2004, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,369 square feet. It sold in 2004 for $141,800.
A condo at 7 Avenue De La Mer, Unit 706, sold on April 27, for $1,300,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 4/3 and has 2,840 square feet. It sold in 2003 for $1,000,000.
A condo at 80 Surfview Drive, Unit 718, sold on April
27, for $628,325. Built in 2003, the condo is a 3/2.5 and has 1,640 square feet. It sold in 2003 for $303,000.
A condo at 80 Surfview Drive, Unit 401, sold on April 27, for $570,000. Built in 2003, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,425 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $354,000.
FLAGLER BEACH
Barretts Bay
A house at 3431 N. Ocean Shore Blvd. sold on April 30, for $1,325,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 5/3 and has a fireplace, a dunewalk and 2,687 square feet. It sold in 2024 for $266,000.
Ocean City
A house at 500 Lambert Ave. sold on May 1, for $1,695,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 6/4 and has 2 half bathrooms, a dock, a fireplace, a pool, a hot tub, a boat house, a boat lift and 5,208 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $1,499,000.
PALM COAST
Beach Haven
A house at 35 Smiling Fish Lane sold on April 30, for $725,000. Built in 2015, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a fireplace and 2,024 square feet.
Harbor Village Marina
A house at 355 Harbor Village Point N. sold on April 30, for $1,825,000. Built in 2013, the house is a 3/3.5 and has a pool, a hot tub, an outdoor kitchen, a fireplace, an elevator and 3,389 square feet.
Palm Coast Plantation
A house at 65 N. Riverwalk Drive sold on April 28, for $665,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool, a hot tub and 2,772 square feet.
Toby Tobin, of gotoby.com, contributed to this report.
SHORT SALE, 3rd party approval required. Updated 2BR/2BA home in gated Tymber Creek. 2-car garage with epoxy floor. Open layout, cathedral ceilings, wood-look tile, fireplace, and chef’s kitchen with granite and stainless appliances. Primary suite with spa bath and private deck. Fenced yard, recent A/C and system updates. #1216575. $249,000. Pam Harvey 386-846-5051.
3BR/2BA pool home with 2-car garage. Open floor plan with dining area, spacious living room, and eat-in kitchen with stainless appliances. Primary suite with soaking tub and walk-in shower. Flex space for office or playroom. Covered patio and saltwater pool. 2023 roof. Community amenities and minutes to beach. #1226004 $465,000. Jonathan Gildon 386-451-2412.
5BR/6BA estate on 1 acre in Ormond Beach with 4+ car garage, saltwater pool, and spa. Nearly 10,500 total sq ft with soaring ceilings, chef’s kitchen, game room, office, and multiple living areas. Primary suite on main level, all bedrooms en-suite. Balcony, summer kitchen, generator. Option for additional acre. #1225121 $2,200,000. Amy Beals 386-852-1400.
TYMBER
4BR/2BA Johnson-built home in Tymber Crossings. 2-car garage with long driveway. Built-in safe room plus electronic safe. 2019 roof, Trane A/C, and Generac whole-house generator. Storm shutters, surge protection, and termite bond. Well maintained with numerous updates throughout. #1218190. $489,900. Patti McKinley 386-235-0462.
3BR/2BA block home on 5 acres zoned agricultural or commercial near Avalon Park. New roof, A/C, and water heater. 1,666 sqft living with well-maintained systems. Paved road location near Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Minutes to hospitals, shopping, I-95, and about 10 minutes to the beach. #1218444 $950,000. Christina Davis 386-316-1025.
4BR/2.5BA split-level home in Ormond by the Sea, 2-minute walk to beach. Saltwater pool, hot tub, screened lanai, outdoor shower, and lowmaintenance yard. Updated interior with LVP floors and newer appliances. Lower level ideal for in-law suite. Shed and workshop. 2022 septic. Move-in ready coastal living. #1216638 $599,000. Todd Hammond 386-233-5957.
FLAGLER
Photo courtesy of Samantha Rosenbaum/ Real Broker, LLC
Prayer
FOCUS ON FAITH
YOUR TOWN
Volunteers
help Palm Coast Historical Society restore garden
The Jr. Garden Club of the Garden Club at Palm Coast helped the Palm Coast Historical Society refurbish its museum garden bed on April 25. The garden in front of the museum building in Holland Park surrounds Garfield, the No. 7 turtle sculpture on the Palm Coast Turtle Trail. The refurbishment was necessary due to winter damage to the plants.
Margie Brady, chair of the Jr. Garden Club, said that when she talked to Historical Society President Peter Johnson, he said he preferred plants that needed little main-
tenance.
“I suggested Florida native plants due to their easy care [and that they] are more likely to survive a winter [like] we had this year,” Brady said. “He embraced the idea, and we met with Celena at Kraken Ventures (native garden plants) to get her suggestions. She drew up a wonderful plan using such plants like stokes aster and Black-Eyed Susan.”
Volunteers planted the garden and then had doughnuts and lemonade.
“It was such a joy to help bring this project together. Thanks to all the volunteers for their energy, good conversation and fun,” Brady said.
Highwaymenthemed painting events coming to The Casements
Florida native and artist Gina Bickish is bringing Highway-
some go through the neighborhoods to pray in front of people’s houses,” Vance said. The prayer walk is an event
where praying participants can go out into the community to pray for others. There were also several prayer stations outside of the church for those seeking prayer, but who opted to not walk.
“If there is anyone in the community who feels lost, feels unconnected, there is a place at our church for you. God does love you, and this
might be the time to come home, and find a church home,” Vance said.
men-style paint parties to The Casements this month.
Bickish, who studied for several years with two original Highwaymen artists — the late R. L. Lewis, Jr. and Curtis Arnett — will lead three painting events at The Casements: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22
Students will paint a view
FARMER’S MARKET
of the Loop with overhanging Spanish moss on May 15, a local beach scene on May 16, and a Tomoka River painting on May 22.
The original Highwaymen artists were a group of 26 Black artists from Central and South Florida who largely bypassed the art gallery system during the Jim Crow years and afterward. Several were taught by well-known white artist “Bean” Backus, and they, in turn, taught or influenced others. Their work usually depicts natural Florida themes. The paintings are highly collectible now, and the original 26 artists were inducted into the Florida Artists’ Hall of Fame.
The classes are $40, which includes all supplies. It will be held in The Casements’ upstairs art room at 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach. Students should bring a smock or apron and a light lunch. Call or text 386-9566891 to register.
—ABBIE PACE
Students will paint a local beach scene on May 16.
Volunteers who helped refurbish the Palm Coast Historic Society’s museum garden bed. Courtesy photos
State champs!
Father Lopez’s Joseph Abrantes and Maverick Grimm win state weightlifting championships.
PAGE 8B
Bulldog champions
FPC’s Karina Marcelus, boys 4x400 relay win state track championships
Marcelus won the triple jump, placed second in the 100 hurdles; Jordan Haymon took home two medals.
BRENT WORONOFF
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Because of a rain delay, Karina Marcelus’ state track and field events were condensed into a 60-minute time frame.
During that hour, the Flagler Palm Coast senior won the girls triple jump title and finished second in the 100-meter hurdles — breaking her own school records in both events.
In all, FPC athletes won two events and placed second
in two others, and FPC’s boys placed sixth as a team at the Class 4A state championships on Saturday, May 9, at the University of North Florida.
“I don’t think it has hit me yet that I’m a state champion,” Marcelus said on Monday, “but I know it’s coming soon.”
FPC also won the boys 4x400 relay in the last — and most exciting — race of the evening. The relay team of Logan Jacobelli, Will Roberts, Mikey Najpaver and Jordan Haymon won in a photo finish by eight-thousandths of a second over Miami Columbus. Haymon crossed the finish line in 3 minutes, 14.342 seconds, with Columbus’ Alexander Lopez crossing in 3:14.350.
“I had to lean over the line,” Haymon said. Haymon said he had aggravated his quad injury while finishing second in the 400-meter dash earlier in the meet. He said, in the relay he didn’t look to see Lopez closing the gap on the Bulldogs’ lead until the final meter.
“It was pretty crazy,” FPC coach David Halliday said. “Jordan’s leg is not 100%, and the kid from Columbus is really, really good. It was very exciting for the whole state, and a little bit of a heart attack for me. But I’m excited for the kids. They sealed the deal on
teams in past years, finishing second at state in 2013, 2019 and 2023, but Jacobelli, Roberts, Najpaver and Haymon are the first in school history to win the state championship.
“They set the school record at the Florida relays, so they definitely solidified themselves as the best ever 4x4 here by having the record and winning the state title,” Halliday said.
what they wanted to do, which was to be state champions in the 4x4.”
The Bulldogs have had some exceptional 4x400 relay
Roberts said they had to wait for what seemed like an eternity but was probably only 30 seconds before the FHSAA announced that the Bulldogs were the winners.
Haymon finished the 400-meter dash in 47.82 seconds in the slow heat with
only Devin Matthews of Ocoee topping that in the fast heat with a time of 47.24. Haymon missed state last year with the injury. In his final high school meet, the senior took home gold and senior.
“Jordan has not been 100% for weeks, and he almost stole the 400 title out of the slow heat,” Halliday said. “I was happy for him after battling that injury.”
CERASI TAKES HOME
TWO MEDALS
Matanzas sophomore Peyton Cerasi collected two medals at the Class 3A state championships on May 8, at UNF.
She broke her own school record in the 1,600-meter run to place fourth with a time of
4:55.78. She also placed seventh in the 3,200 with a time of 11:03.41.
Cerasi has now won three medals at state. As a freshman last year, she placed second in the 3,200.
Mainland’s Michael London placed seventh in discus with a personal-record throw of 49.47 meters.
Seabreeze senior Drayton Brackett missed a medal by 16-hundredths of a second, finishing ninth in the 110 hurdles with a personal record time of 14.75 seconds.
‘AMAZING 60 MINUTES’ For FPC, Marcelus was the star of the day, or at least the
Bulldogs’ Matt McFall and Cody Strawser win titles, break state records
McFall and Strawser won Olympic titles at the Class 3A meet as the Bulldogs placed third as a team.
BRENT WORONOFF
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Flagler Palm Coast’s Matt McFall and Cody Strawser celebrated their state weightlifting championships on May 7 with some apple cider at the hotel.
“We acted like it was champagne,” said Strawser who won the 129-pound Olympic title and was runner-up for the traditional title at the Class 3A boys championships at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
McFall won the Olympic championship in the unlimited weight class and placed third in the traditional competition. They both set state records.
“It felt pretty good. There’s no better feeling,” Strawser said. “I would say that I did expect it, but knowing that it really did happen is pretty crazy.”
A day later, McFall said it had not really sunk in.
“It just feels like a normal meet,” he said. “But then it’s like, ‘Oh, I’m a state champ.’” FPC placed third in the Olympic team standings
“It was a really good play by coach, just to hit a number that I knew I could hit. ... I knew right when I got to the top of the pull that I was going to get under that bar and I was going to stand up with it, because I’ve hit it before.”
CODY STRAWSER
STRAWSER SETS TWO STATE MARKS
Strawser, a junior, broke two state records with a 260-pound clean and jerk and a 460-pound Olympic total. His snatch lift of 200 pounds was five pound short of tying a third state record.
then I’ll have the confidence going up to the bar,” Strawser said. “I knew right when I got to the top of the pull that I was going to get under that bar and I was going to stand up with it, because I’ve hit it before.”
Strawser hit a 225-pound bench press on his second lift to give him a 485-pound traditional total. Ethan Martin of Punta Gorda won traditional with a 500-pound total.
“I feel like I’ve come really far,” said Strawser, who placed third in Olympic and fourth in traditional at state last year. “My first attempts
in snatch and clean and jerk were five pounds over my third attempts last year. So, that shows the progress I’ve made. It’s a great feeling knowing that, even though I stayed the same body weight, my numbers were going up.”
MCFALL WINS BY 70 POUNDS
McFall won the unlimited Olympic title with a 660-pound total, breaking the state record by 15 pounds.
behind Pace and Spruce Creek. The Bulldogs were sixth in traditional. Pace swept both titles for the third straight year.
“The team did well,” McFall said. “We went into the season thinking we were going to be up there, and we were.
“We fell just short, and it’s bittersweet, but even getting third in 3A, I take that as an accomplishment, because the 3A was absolutely insane this year.”
In addition to McFall and Strawser, three other FPC lifters placed in Olympic competition: Anthony Giacobbe was fourth at 119 pounds, Jackson Fedun was fifth at 169 pounds and Joe Casanova was fifth at
238 pounds.
Mainland’s Ray Tatro placed fourth in traditional in the 129-pound weight class.
At the Class 2A meet, Seabreeze’s Vincent Pedersen placed sixth in Olympic at 129 pounds.
At the Class 1A championships, Father Lopez’s Joseph Abrantes (154-pound weight class) and Maverick Grimm (169-pound class) each won championships in the Olympic competition to lead the Green Wave to the runner-up spot behind Olympic team champ Keystone Heights. Abrantes also placed second in traditional, while Grimm placed third.
“I originally did want the snatch state record, but honestly, the state championship wasn’t really won by numbers, it was really won by consistency,” said Strawser, who went 6-for-6 on his Olympic lifts (snatch and clean-andjerk). “If I made that jump to 210 [in snatch], and I missed it, I [might] have gotten second.”
Coach Duane Hagstrom had Strawser go up from 190 on his second snatch to 200, a mark he was comfortable with. With the lift secure, Strawser won the title by 20 pounds.
“It was a really good play by coach, just to hit a number that I knew I could hit, because
FPC’s Karina Marcelus won the triple jump and was runner-up in the 100 hurdles. Courtesy photos
FPC’s Matt McFall dominated the unlimited weight class to win the Olympic title with a state-record 660-pound total at the Class 3A weightlifting championships. Courtesy photos
FPC’s state champion 4x400 relay team: Jordan Haymon, Will Roberts, coach David Halliday, Mikey Najpaver and Logan Jacobelli.
Matanzas’ Peyton Cerasi placed fourth in the 1,600 and seventh in the 3,200.
Cody Strawser won the 129-pound Olympic title and set two state records at the Class 3A state boys weightlifting championships.
Father Lopez’s Abrantes, Grimm win state weightlifting championships
With the two titles, the Green Wave won the Olympic runner-up trophy at the Class 1A state meet.
BRENT WORONOFF
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
When Mark Gabbard took over Father Lopez’s boys weightlifting program before last season, he immediately went about changing the team’s culture. But there were two lifters he didn’t have to worry about.
Joseph Abrantes and Maverick Grimm each won a Class 1A state championship on Friday, May 8, at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. The two titles in the Olympic competition propelled the Green Wave to a runner-up Olympic finish behind state champ Keystone Heights.
“I inherited a couple of kids that are pretty phenomenal,” Gabbard said.
Abrantes won the 154-pound Olympic title with a 480-pound total in snatch
State track
star of the hour.
“She had an amazing 60 minutes,” Halliday said. “She got pushed back, so we really wanted to get all of her triple jump done before she got to the hurdles. And we got it with about 12 minutes to spare. She did a great job by going out and putting her best jump on the first jump and put all the pressure on the rest of the girls. It was over after that first jump.”
Her 12.41-meter leap broke
and clean-and-jerk lifts. Grimm won the 169-pound Olympic title by 60 pounds with a 525-pound total. They both also placed in the traditional competition with Abrantes placing second and Grimm placing third.
Abrantes had a chance to win both titles, coming up five pounds short to Fort White’s Jonathan Ulsch in traditional with a 550-pound total.
“Joe had a chance going into the last bench press,” Gabbard said. “He went after it (with a 295-pound attempt), but couldn’t complete it.”
In Olympic, Abrantes won by 10 pounds over Ulsch and Lake Highland Prep’s Zach Kirson. He hit a 265-pound clean and jerk on his last lift and Ulsch and Kirson both missed at 280.
“Both of Joe’s competitions were incredible,” Gabbard said. “[In Olympic], the two other kids weren’t prepared to get those lifts. He put pressure on them to go higher than they were comfortable with.”
Grimm dominated the Olympic lifts despite hitting only his first snatch of 225 pounds. He jumped up to
240 but couldn’t hit it in two attempts. Still, his 225 was the top snatch among all the 169-pound competitors, and his 300-pound clean and jerk was 25 pounds more than the next best lifter. In traditional, Grimm had a 540-pound total in traditional. Jackson Jones of First Academy won the 169-pound traditional title with a 605-pound total. Last year, Abrantes was the runner-up in both competi -
tions in the 139-pound class, and Grimm was second in Olympic and third in traditional at 169. They are both juniors, so they will be back next year with a chance to repeat.
The Green Wave qualified eight lifters to the state championships, a year after qualifying three. Only one of the eight qualifiers in a senior. Gabbard came to Father Lopez from Arizona two years ago
because of football. He was the Green Wave’s offensive coordinator his first year and became the head coach last season.
But when he was named weightlifting coach in December of 2025, he wanted to make it clear that the team was not an extension of the football program.
“One thing we did immediately was change the culture and expectations,” he said.
“We introduced a competitive mentality, and the kids bought into that. The result was kids wanted to come in and compete. This year, for the first time in a long time here, we had to make cuts.
“I wanted to make sure this wouldn’t be just a bunch of football players wanting to get more weightlifting in,” Gabbard said. “We wanted to make sure the two programs were separate.”
the school mark of 12.29 meters that she set a week earlier at regional. Marcelus then hopped over to the track and ran her fastest 100 hurdles in 13.69 seconds, finishing second behind Nia Armstrong of Tampa Sickles, who crossed the finish in 13.41 seconds. Marcelus broke her own school record of 14.11 seconds.
”With rain nonstop and the delay, it was a little hectic, but I made sure I stayed
positive,” Marcelus said. “I did the [first] jump and I was obviously proud. I did want to reach further. But I wasn’t stressing it, because I knew I
had a safe spot. When I completely finished [the triple jump], my mind shifted, ‘Now I have another event I have to focus on.’”
Marcelus who has received a full track scholarship at Florida A&M; University, dedicated her meet to her brother, Malique Joseph, who died unexpectedly last November.
“It was definitely bittersweet. It was emotional for me, losing my brother [last] year,” she said. “We talked about [dedicating the state meet to Malique]. I’m definitely satisfied I ended the season the way I wanted to with two PRs.”
THREE MEDALS FOR JACOBELLI
Jacobelli came home with three medals. In addition to running the first leg of the winning 4x400 relay, the junior broke the 15-year-old school record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.53 seconds to place seventh. He also placed fifth in the 200 with a time of 21.27 seconds.
With a 10.91 time in the 100 at regional, Jacobelli was seeded last out of 18 runners at state and was in the slow heat. He was also in the slow
heat in the 200.
“I knew I was last in, but I wasn’t the slowest person there,” he said. “I knew I belonged [on the podium].”
FPC’s La’Darius Simmons placed fourth in javelin with a throw of 54.18 meters.
Several other FPC athletes had a record-breaking day but could not place in a highly competitive Class 4A meet. The girls 4x800 relay broke the school record by three seconds with a time of 9:32.05 but finished ninth, less than a second from gaining an eighth-place medal.
“They ran 10 seconds faster than they did last year when they placed seventh,” Halliday said.
FPC’s boys 4x800 relay finished 10th in 8:00.58, its best time of the season. Arianna Slaughter nearly tied her best time in the 1,600 with a 5:06.94 and finished 14th. She was also 14th in the 800 in 2:18.04, the second fastest time in school history.
“It’s just crazy, the amazing performances. But the kids fought hard,” Halliday said. “I understand the kids were really gunning for medals, but it just shows how dominant 4A is.”
State wrestling
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7B
He won the title by 70 pounds over runner-up Luis Feliz of Lake Howell.
McFall snatched 290 pounds and hoisted 370 in the clean and jerk, breaking his own school record. With a 360-pound bench press, he put up a 730-pound traditional total, five pounds behind runner-up Kyvon Love of Sarasota Riverview.
“I had fun in traditional for once,” McFall said. “That was a good battle. I’m really happy I got third.”
McFall has already turned his sights to the USA Weightlifting National Championships on June 20-28 in Colorado Springs. Strawser and other FPC lifters will be joining him.
“I’m really excited about that,” McFall said. “I’m really happy I won states, but I won by 70 pounds. It’s going to be so much more fun when I get competition at nationals. I’m super excited for it.” McFall plans to continue weightlifting in college next year. The senior is considering scholarship offers from several small schools. He joined FPC’s weightlifting team as a sophomore after only lifting previously for football. He quit football a year later.
“I realized I probably have a better chance to go to college with weightlifting,” he said.
State champs Joseph Abrantes and Maverick Grimm hold up Father Lopez’s runner-up trophy for the Class 1A Olympic competition and their classification’s results. The Green Wave had eight lifters qualify for state. Courtesy photo
FPC’s boys medal winners, including Logan Jacobelli (fourth from right) who earned three medals, at the Class 4A state track championships.
Flagler Palm Coast brings football practice to Carver Center
The Bulldogs will host Seabreeze on May 22; Matanzas and Mainland will play in jamborees on the road.
Instead of the community coming out to Flagler Palm Coast High School to watch spring football practice, the Bulldogs took their first spring practice in full pads to the community on Tuesday, May 5. FPC practiced on the field at the George Washington Carver Community Center in Bunnell.
“A lot of people came out to
first full-pad practice this spring at the Carver Center field. Courtesy photo
watch us,” FPC football coach Patrick Turner said. “There was a lot of energy. And the kids were excited.”
SIDELINES
community in our thoughts and prayers,” the social media messages read.
Mainland High School, on its Facebook page, posted: “Mainland sends its heartfelt sympathies to the Spruce Creek High School family as they grieve the loss of a dear friend, faculty member, and coach.”
Smith coached catchers at Spruce Creek for the past three years. He played baseball at New Smyrna Beach High School and before joining Spruce Creek’s program he coached at New Smyrna and DeLand.
Pirates’ Dormevil signs with Glenville State
Matanzas defensive back
Jaden Dormevil has signed a scholarship with Glenville State to play football next season at the NCAA Division II school in West Virginia. Dormevil had four interceptions and scored two touchdowns for the Pirates during his senior season.
Condolences for Spruce Creek baseball coach
Mainland, Seabreeze and Flagler Palm Coast baseball were among the teams that sent messages of sympathy and support to the Spruce Creek baseball program, which lost a beloved assistant coach over the weekend.
Adam Smith, 26, died in a single-car crash in Port Orange during the early morning hours of May 10.
“Our hearts are with the Spruce Creek baseball family during this incredibly difficult time. We are keeping your players, families, coaches and
Spruce Creek baseball parent Blanca Christen set up a Gofundme for Smith’s family to help pay for final arrangements. Go to gofundme.com/f/support-forcoach-adam-smiths-familyfor-final-arrangements
When Turner and his coaches were painting lines on the field in preparation for the practice, FPC grad Kent Cole-
Lopez’s Lancing gets up when chips are down
Father Lopez junior Lauren Lancing didn’t allow what could have been a disastrous turn weaken her resolve at the Class 1A track and field championships on May 6 at the University of North Florida.
Lancing qualified in four events for the state championships. Her best chance of winning a medal was in the 100-meter hurdles, where she was ranked fifth. But Lancing clipped one of the final hurdles, resulting in a disqualification.
“Instead of stopping, she rose, finished the race, and reminded everyone watching what true sportsmanship looks like,” said Father Lopez track coach Sue O’Malley.
“Champions are not only defined by victories, but by how they respond when
man, now the Bulldogs’ head JV coach and varsity defensive line coach, told them a little bit about the history of George Washington Carver High School.
The school, built in the 1949, was Flagler County’s first Black high school. It closed as an all-Black school in 1967 when Flagler County schools were integrated.
“Kent Coleman’s grandmother attended Carver High School,” Turner said. “When we were painting the field he told us that the field was where the school sat. For all the heritage of the players that came out of Bunnell, it [was important] for us to get out there and put ourselves in the community.”
Turner said he did the same thing when he was the head
coach at Menendez High School in St. Augustine, bringing his team to the historic Hastings High School for a practice.
The short trip down the road to the Carver Center also gave the new Bulldogs a taste of what football season will be like, Turner said.
“We put the kids on a bus and treated it like an away game, because every spring you have new kids who haven’t done it before,” he said.
FPC returns seven players on defense who started at least one game last season.
Kicker/punter Garrett Tucker and long snapper Brady Gerling return on special teams. The offense will feature a lot of new faces, Turner said.
things do not go according to plan. Lauren showed the heart of a true champion of character.” Lancing had barely 10 minutes to regroup for the
100-meter dash and placed ninth, with a time of 12.65 seconds, missing eighth place and a spot on the medal stand by just two-thousandth of a second.
Spring Games
The Bulldogs will hold their Green and White intrasquad scrimmage at 6 p.m. Friday, May 15, at FPC’s Sal Campanella Stadium. FPC will host Seabreeze in a spring game at 7 p.m. Friday, May 22.
Matanzas will play in a jamboree with Eustis and Pine Ridge at 6 p.m. May 21 at Pine Ridge. Mainland will travel to Palm Beach Gardens for a six-team jamboree on Thursday, May 14, beginning at 5 p.m. The Bucs held their Blue and Gold scrimmage on May 9. Seabreeze will have its Red and White scrimmage at the school at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 16.
After another quick turnaround, Lancing anchored the Green Wave’s 4x100 relay team to a 12thplace finish with a time of 50.37 seconds. Before the night was over, she also anchored the 4x400 relay, which finished in 4:17.3. Both relay times were just short of the Green Wave’s season best.
Caroline Curtis, who ran on both relays, set a personal record in the 800 with a time of 2:26.
“This state meet was more than times, places and marks. It was a reminder that courage can be found in getting back up after disappointment, in competing for your teammates when exhausted and in giving your very best under the brightest lights,” O’Malley said.
Email sports news to brent@observerlocalnews. com
Flagler Palm Coast holds its
Father Lopez’s Lauren Lancing set a school record to win the 100-meter hurdles title at the Region 2-1A meet on May 1.
Matanzas’ Jaden Dormevil signed a football scholarship with NCAA DII Glenville State.
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Moving Sale! Saturday May 16, 8:00 AM-2:00 PM - , Sunday May 17, 8:00 AM-2:00 PMRain or Shine 5 UNISON COURT Tools, gas generator, large air compressor, yard work tools. Kitchen appliances, refrigerator, dishes, utensils. Home decor. Tons of kids toys! Pop up camper, camping gear, fishing tackle. 4 wheelers. Something for everyone! Rain or shine, we will have many items indoors.
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TRIBUTES
G. Carol Fabbrini
February 17, 1933 - January 31, 2026
G. Carol Fabbrini, devoted mother, gifted musician, and lifelong educator, passed away on January 31, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. She was 92 years old.
Born in 1933 in Royal Oak, Michigan, Carol grew up in a home where curiosity, learning, and music were cherished. Her exceptional musical talent emerged early, and she pursued it with unwavering dedication. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano from the University of Michigan, where her artistry flourished. She later completed her academic journey with a PhD in Music Education from Columbia University, a testament to her deep commitment to teaching and to the transformative power of music.
After meeting her husband, Alfred, Carol settled in northern New Jersey, where they raised their family and built a warm, supportive home. It was there that she discovered her true calling as a music educator in the Newark, New Jersey school system. Carol approached teaching with patience, joy, and a belief that
Kate Mashamesh
every child deserved access to the world of music. She opened doors for countless students, many of whom went on to pursue musical careers shaped by her encouragement and guidance.
One of her proudest professional achievements was preparing her school choir to perform Handel’s Messiah under the direction of renowned American composer William L. Dawson—a remarkable opportunity that left a lasting imprint on her students and community. Carol will be remembered for her kindness, gentleness, and deep concern for others. She was a loving mother who cared profoundly about her children’s welfare and guided them through life’s challenges with wisdom and compassion. Her presence brought comfort; her patience created space for growth; her love shaped the lives around her.
Carol is predeceased by her beloved husband, Alfred, her brother Robert, and her sister Rosemary. She is survived by her two sons, Mark and Chris, and her daughter in law, Bernice, who will carry forward her memory with gratitude and affection.
November 20, 1932 - April 23, 2026
Kate Osborn Bromley Hitchcock Mashamesh, 93, of Palm Coast, FL, passed away peacefully in her home on April 23, 2026. She was surrounded by the love of her family. Her daughters will cherish her memory.
Kate was born and raised in Nyack, NY. Growing up her hobbies were singing in her church choir and performing with choral groups and drama clubs.
She graduated from Plattsburgh State Teachers College and began a career that spanned almost 50 years. She taught in the Islip Public School system in Long Island, NY for 25 years; then after moving to Florida she became a full-time substitute teacher in Flagler County. She loved her students and they loved her back.
In addition to educating children, Kate loved dogs. In NY she owned and showed whippets. Then after moving to FL she became active with the GPA (Greyhound Pets of America) where she volunteered and helped find homes for retired racers.
Kate loved to entertain and throw dinner parties where there was always good food, laughter and singing. She was known for her wit, her spunk and her ability to make people laugh. She will be greatly missed by her friends, neighbors, church family and fellow choir members.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mark’s by the Sea Lutheran Church in Palm Coast, Florida, on May 16, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. The committal of her ashes will take place on May 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vanderbilt University Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, supporting research and care for those affected by memory disorders. Carol’s life was a quiet symphony of dedication, generosity, and grace. Her music lives on in the countless hearts she touched.
She is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth (Betsy) Bromley Jones of Palm Coast and Robyn Bromley Schaper (Timothy D. Schaper) of Concord, NH, four grandsons, one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter.
A Celebration of Life will be held July 18, 2026, at 11am at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Flagler Humane Society.
THE COUNTY COURT, 7TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA SOUTHERN STORM INVESTMENT, INC., PLAINTIFF, VS. GEORGE MATTHEW SORESINO, ANGELA DEMAIS AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE DEFENDANTS. CASENO.: 2024 CC 000581 NOTICE OF ACTION TO: GEORGE MATTHEW SORESINO YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following property in Flagler County, Florida: 4369 Acorn Ave, Bunnell, in Flagler County, Florida with a legal description of: LOT 6, BLOCK 160, DAYTONA NORTH SUBDIVISION ACCORDING TO THE PLAT OR MAP THEREOF DESCRIBED IN PLAT BOOK 10, PAGE 1-15, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Scott W. Spradley, the plaintiff's attorney, whose address is P.O. Box 1, Flagler Beach, Florida 32136, by June 7, 2026, which is within thirty (30) days after the first publication of this Notice in the PALM COAST OBSERVER, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on the plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition. This notice is provided to Administrative Order No. 2065. If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to access court facilities or participate in a court proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. To request such an accommodation, please contact Court Administration in advance of the date the service is needed: Court Administration, 125 E. Orange Avenue, Suite 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6096. Hearing or
voice impaired, please call 711. WITNESS my hand and the seal of this Court this 28th day of April, 2026 TOM BEXLEY CLERK OF COURT BY /s/ Sara Proffitt As Deputy Clerk 4/28/2026 7763-344279 May. 7, 14, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE
2006 Blue Subaru Forester FL Tag: 08FSBZ VIN: JF1 SG63666H752289 was seized for forfeiture by Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on March 31, 2026. The item was seized at or near 1876 Lancewood Street, Bunnell, Florida 32110. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is holding the property for purposes of a current forfeiture action 2026 CA000295 in the 7th Circuit Court. April 29, 2026. 7763-344439 May. 7, 14, 2026
SALE NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that Fraser’s Storage, 1800 Old Moody Blvd, Bunnell, FL 32110 will sell the contents of the following self-storage units by public auction to satisfy their liens against these tenants, in accordance with the Florida Self-Storage Facility Act. The auction will take place at this location at 1:30 PM on Friday, May 22, 2026, or thereafter. Units are believed to contain household goods, unless otherwise listed Unit 1127 Shanley, Laureen Household Goods Unit 1409 Hall, Shalenia Household Goods Fraser’s Storage, 1800 Old Moody Blvd Bunnell, FL 32110. Phone: (386)4372457. 7763-344922 May. 7, 14, 2026
SALE NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that Fraser’s Mini-Storage of Bunnell, 1504 Old Moody Blvd, Bunnell, FL 32110 will sell the contents of the following self-storage units by public auction to satisfy their liens against these tenants, in accordance with the Florida Self-Storage Facility Act. The auction will take place at this location at 2:00 PM on Friday May 22, 2026 or thereafter. Units are believed to contain household goods, unless otherwise listed. Unit 415 Farano, Ida Household Goods Unit 431 Rose, Stephanie
Household Goods Fraser’s Mini-Storage of Bunnell, 1504 Old Moody Blvd Bunnell, FL 32110. Phone: (386)437-2457. 7763-344923
May. 7, 14, 2026
SALE NOTICE Notice is hereby given that Fraser’s Mini-Storage, 2100 Avenue A Flagler Beach, FL 32136 will sell the contents of the following self-storage units by public auction to satisfy their liens against these tenants, in accordance with the Florida Self-Storage Facility Act. The auction will take place at this location at 2:30 PM on Friday May 22, 2026 or thereafter. Units are believed to contain household goods, unless otherwise listed. Unit 406 Coakley, Michael Household Goods Unit 622 Schmitt, Ronald Household Goods Fraser’s Mini-Storage, 2100 Avenue A Flagler Beach, FL 32136. Phone: (386)439-2457. 7763-344925 May. 7, 14, 2026 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CAROL A. FRANCIS, PLAINTIFF, VS. ELEANOR M. FRANCIS, KIM PIGFORD, NOEL L. FRANCIS, DEBORAH TAYLOR ROCKMORE, MARK R. TAYLOR, VICTORIA TAYLOR, DINELTAYLOR, AND VETERANS APPROVED TITLE, LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, DEFENDANTS. CASE NO.: 2023 CA 000731 DIVISION 49 NOTICE OF ACTION TO: DINEL TAYLOR, Defendant, and
DIVISION File No. 2026-CP-000111 IN RE: ESTATE OF SUSAN MARY CHIPPENDALE, Deceased. The ancillary administration of the estate of SUSAN MARY CHIPPENDALE, deceased, whose date of death was January 12, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell, FL 32110. The names and addresses of the Co-Personal Representatives and the personal representatives’ attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s
FIRST INSERTION
NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026 CP 000181 Division 48 IN RE: ESTATE OF CHERYL DEFILIPPO JONES
a/k/a CHERYL CHRISTINE JONES
Deceased. The administration of the estate of Cheryl Defilippo Jones, deceased, whose date of death was January 30, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 East Moody Blvd. Building 1, Bunnell, Florida 32110. The names and addresses of the personal representative and
FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CIRCUIT CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO.: 2025 CA 000254 U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF SALUDA GRADE ALTERNATIVE MORTGAGE TRUST 2022-INV1 Plaintiff(s), vs. SAPPHIRE DRAGON VENTURES LLC; et al Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, pursuant to Plaintiff’s Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered on April 13, 2026 in the above-captioned action, the Clerk of Court, Tom Bexley, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash www.flagler. realforeclose.com in accordance with Chapter 45, Florida Statutes on the 5th day of June, 2026 at 11:00 AM on the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment of Foreclosure or order, to wit: LOT 8, BLOCK 61, PALM COAST, MAP OF ROYAL PALMS, SECTION 29, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 10, PAGE 26, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is May 14, 2026. Personal Representative: Brandon R. Jones 356 Sauvignon Way Groveland, Florida 34736 Attorney for Personal Representative: Thomas J. Upchurch, Esquire Florida Bar No. 0015821 Upchurch Law 1616 Concierge Blvd. Suite 101 Daytona Beach, Florida 32117 Telephone: (386) 492-3871
Primary Email: service@upchurchlaw.com
Secondary Email: clutes@upchurchlaw.com
May 14, 21, 2026 26-00152G
FIRST INSERTION
RE-NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CIRCUIT CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO.: 2024 CA 000180
LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC
Plaintiff(s), vs. DAVID LAIRD; et al.,
Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, pursuant to the Order Granting Motion to Reschedule Foreclosure Sale entered on April 23, 2026 in the above-captioned action, the Clerk of Court, Tom Bexley, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash www.flagler.realforeclose.com in accordance with Chapter 45, Florida Statutes on the 5th day of June, 2026 at 11:00 AM on the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment of Foreclosure or order, to wit: LOT 20, BLOCK 166, BELLE TERRE - SECTION 35 PALM COAST PARK AT PALM COAST, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 11, PAGE 2, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA. Property address: 16 Birchview Place, Palm Coast, FL 32137 Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens, must file a claim before the clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed. Pursuant to the Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.516, the above signed counsel for Plaintiff designates attorney@padgettlawgroup. com as its primary e-mail address for service, in the above styled matter, of all pleadings and documents required to be served on the parties. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS AN ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO ACCESS COURT FACILITIES OR PARTICIPATE IN A COURT PROCEEDING, YOU ARE ENTITLED,
IN
TION, 125 E. ORANGE AVE., STE. 300, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114, (386) 2576096. HEARING OR VOICE IMPAIRED, PLEASE CALL 711. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Steven G.
Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens, must file a claim before the clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed. Pursuant to the Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.516, the above signed counsel for Plaintiff designates attorney@padgettlawgroup. com as its primary e-mail address for service, in the above styled matter, of all pleadings and documents required to be served on the parties. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS AN ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO ACCESS COURT FACILITIES OR PARTICIPATE IN A COURT PROCEEDING, YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, TO THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN ASSISTANCE. TO REQUEST SUCH AN ACCOMMODATION, PLEASE CONTACT COURT ADMINISTRATION IN ADVANCE OF THE DATE THE SERVICE IS NEEDED: COURT ADMINISTRATION, 125 E. ORANGE AVE., STE. 300, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114, (386) 2576096. HEARING OR VOICE IMPAIRED, PLEASE CALL 711. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Steven G. Hurley PADGETT LAW GROUP STEVEN G. HURLEY, ESQ. Florida Bar # 99802 6267 Old Water Oak Road, Suite 203 Tallahassee, FL 32312 (850) 422-2520 (telephone) (850) 422-2567 (facsimile) attorney@padgettlawgroup.com Attorney for Plaintiff TDP File No. 25-000152-2 May 14, 21, 2026 26-00141G
CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO. 2026 CP 000124 DIVISION 48 IN RE: ESTATE OF JAMES JOSEPH RACO, Deceased. The administration of the estate of JAMES JOSEPH RACO, deceased, whose date of death was January 7, 2026 pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Kim C. Hammond Justice Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg. 1, Bunnell, FL 32110. The names and address of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statues. The written demand must be filed with the clerk. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is May 14, 2026. Personal Representative: Susan Raco 10 Seneca Path Palm Coast, FL 32164 Victoria C. Zinn, Esquire Attorney for Personal Representative Email Address: victoria@zinnlegal.com Florida Bar No. 1018293 P.O. Box 10016 Daytona Beach , FL 32120 Telephone: (386)256-9466 May 14, 21, 2026 26-00144G
has provided reasonable assurance that operation of
62-4, 62-204, 62-210, 62-212,
Rule 28-106.205, F.A.C. A petition that disputes the material facts on which the Permitting Authority’s action is based must contain the
and each agency’s file or identification number, if known; (b) The
email address, telephone number, and any facsimile number of the
any, which shall be the address for service purposes during the course of the proceeding; and an explanation of how the petitioner’s substantial interests will be affected by the agency determination; (c) A statement of when and how each petitioner received notice of the agency action or proposed decision; (d) A statement of all disputed issues of material fact. If there are none, the petition must so indicate; (e) A concise statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including the specific facts the petitioner contends warrant reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action; (f) A statement of the specific rules or statutes the petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action including an explanation of how the alleged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes; and, (g) A statement of the relief sought by the petitioner, stating precisely the action the petitioner wishes the agency to take with respect to the agency’s proposed action. A petition that does not dispute the material facts upon which the Permitting Authority’s action is based shall state that no such facts are in dispute and otherwise shall contain the same information as set forth above, as required by Rule 28-106.301, F.A.C.
Because the administrative hearing process is designed to formulate final agency action, the filing of a petition means that the Permitting Authority’s final action may be different from the position taken by it in this written notice of Intent to Issue Air Permit. Persons whose substantial interests will be affected by any such final decision of the Permitting Authority on the application have the right to petition to become a party to the proceeding, in accordance with the requirements set forth above.
Extension of Time: Under Rule 62-110.106(4), F.A.C., a person whose substantial interests are affected by the Department’s action may also request an extension of time to file a petition for an administrative hearing. The Department may, for good cause shown, grant the request for an extension of time. Requests for extension of time must be filed with the Office of General Counsel of the Department at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, or via electronic correspondence at Agency_Clerk@dep.state. fl.us, before the deadline for filing a petition for an administrative hearing. A timely request for extension of time shall toll the running of the time period for filing a petition until the request is acted upon.
Mediation: Mediation is not available for this proceeding.
Objections: Finally, pursuant to 42 United States Code (U.S.C.)
Section 7661d(b)(2), any person may petition the Administrator of the EPA within 60 days of the expiration of the Administrator’s 45-day review period as established at 42 U.S.C. Section 7661d(b)(1), to object to the issuance of any Title V air operation permit. Any petition shall be based only on objections to the permit that were raised with reasonable specificity during the 30-day public comment period provided in the Public Notice, unless the petitioner demonstrates to the Administrator of the EPA that it was impracticable to raise such objections within the comment period or unless the grounds for such objection arose after the comment period. Filing of a petition with the Administrator of the EPA does not stay the effective date of any permit
Administrator of EPA must meet the requirements of 42 U.S.C. Section 7661d(b)(2) and must be filed with
of the Administrator, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mail Code: 1101A, Washington, DC
site at: https://www.epa.gov/caa-permitting/florida-proposed-title-v-permits May 14, 2026
NOTICE OF ACTION/ CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE NOTICE BY PUBLICATION IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO: 2026 CA 000139 VANDERBILT MORTGAGE AND FINANCE, INC., a Tennessee corporation
Plaintiff, vs. JOSHUA LONG, a/k/a JOSHUA AARON LONG; et. al. Defendant(s). TO: JOSHUA LONG, a/k/a JOSHUA AARON LONG Last Known Address: 1355 Peach St., Upper Chichester, PA 19061
Current Address: unknown TO: THE UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JOSHUA LONG a/k/a JOSHUA AARON LONG, if any Last Known Address: 1355 Peach St., Upper Chichester, PA 19061
Current Address: unknown TO: KARIN BLOMGREN, a/k/a KARIN DAWN BLOMGREN
Last Known Address: 1355 Peach St., Upper Chichester, PA 19061
Current Address: unknown TO: THE UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF KARIN BLOMGREN, a/k/a KARIN DAWN BLOMGREN, if any Last Known Address: 1355 Peach St., Upper Chichester, PA 19061
Current Address: unknown YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following property in Flagler County, Florida:
LOT 5, BLOCK 30, DAYTONA NORTH, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 10, PAGE 1 THROUGH 15, INCLUSIVE, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA.
Property address: 1888 Lemon St., Burnell, FL 32110 has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Matthew Leider, Esq., Law Offices of Manganelli, Leider & Savio, P.A., Plaintiff’s attorney, whose address is 1900 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Ste. 200W, Boca Raton, FL 33431 and whose email address is: service@mls-pa.com, within thirty (30) days of the first date of publication on or before 30 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST PUBLICATION and file the original with the Clerk of this Court either before service on the Plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.
WITNESS my hand and the seal of said Court this 5/6/2026. (Court Seal) TOM BEXLEY Clerk of the Court BY: Amy Perez Deputy Clerk Matthew Leider, Esq Law Offices of Manganelli, Leider & Savio, P.A.
FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF QUALIFYING PERIOD FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE TOWN CENTER AT PALM COAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
Notice is hereby given that the qualifying period for candidates for the office of Supervisor of the Town Center at Palm Coast Community Development District will commence at noon on Monday, June 8, 2026, and close at noon on Friday, June 12, 2026. Candidates must qualify for the office of Supervisor with the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections located at 1769 E. Moody Boulevard, Building 2, Suite 101, Bunnell, FL 32110, (386) 313-4170; info@ flaglerelections.gov. All candidates shall qualify for individual seats in accordance with section 99.061, Florida Statutes, and must also be a qualified elector of the District. A qualified elector is any person at least 18 years of age who is a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of the State of Florida and of the District, and who is registered to vote with the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections. Campaigns shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 106, Florida Statutes.
The Town Center at Palm Coast Community Development District has two (2) Seats up for election, specifically Seats 1 and 3. Each Seat carries a four-year term of office. Elections are nonpartisan and will be held at the same time as the General Election on November 3, 2026, in the manner prescribed by law for general elections.
For additional information, please contact the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections.
Samantha Harvey District Manager May 14, 2026 26-00149G
FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2025 CA 000646 SOUTHSTATE BANK, N.A., Plaintiff, v. JULIE L. MONROE, UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JULIE L. MONROE, SERVICE EXPERTS, LLC , and UNKNOWN TENANT(S) Defendants.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Summary Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in this cause on April 29, 2026 scheduling the foreclosure sale in the above-styled cause, the Flagler County Clerk of Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash online at 11:00 AM on June 26, 2026, at www.flagler.realforeclose. com the property situated in Flagler County, Florida, described as: Lot 63, Block 24, Florida Park-Section 10 Palm Coast, according to the Plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 6, Pages 43-53 of the current Public Records of Flagler County, Florida. Commonly known as 90 Felwood Lane, Palm Coast, Florida 32137
Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.
If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. To request such an accommodation, please contact Court Administration at 386-257-6096, 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Sute D-305, DeLand, FL 32724 within two (2) working days of your receipt of this notice. If you are hearing or voice impaired call 711. Dated this 7th day of May 2026.
GREY SQUIRES BINFORD, P.A.
Post Office Box 1209 Winter Park, Florida 32790-1209 (689) 244-0414 (Telephone)
Attorneys for Plaintiff By:/s/ Grey Squires Binford
GREY SQUIRES BINFORD Florida Bar No. 0749151 Grey@Binford-Law.com May 14, 21, 2026 26-00146G
7763-345623 May 14, 2026
FIRST INSERTION
NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026 CP 000279 Division 48 IN RE: ESTATE OF FRANK PHILLIP SHIPMAN Deceased.
The administration of the estate of Frank Phillip Shipman, deceased, whose date of death was August 6, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 East Moody Blvd. Building 1, Bunnell, Florida 32110. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is May 14, 2026. Personal Representative: David Barry Shipman 81 Weymouth Lane Palm Coast, Florida 32164 Attorney for Personal Representative: Thomas J. Upchurch, Esquire Florida Bar No. 0015821 Upchurch Law 1616 Concierge Blvd. Suite 101 Daytona Beach, Florida 32117 Telephone: (386) 492-3871 Primary Email: service@upchurchlaw.com
FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2026 CP 000166 DIVISION NO.: 48 IN RE: ESTATE OF STANLEY S. HUGHES, Deceased.
The administration of the estate of Stanley S. Hughes, deceased, whose date of death was June 25, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Kim C. Hammond Justice Center, 1769 E Moody Blvd., Bldg. 1, Bunnell, FL 32110-0787. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216 732.228 applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211. The date of first publication of this notice is May 14, 2026. Personal Representative: Phyllis J. Hughes 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Unit 752 Palm Coast, FL 32137
Attorney for Personal Representative: /S/ Dawn Ellis, Esq. Attorney for Personal Representative E-mail Address: Dawn@MyFloridaProbate.com
Florida Bar Number: 091979
My Florida Probate, PA Dawn Ellis, Esq., for the firm PO Box 952 Floral City, FL 34436-0952 (352) 726-5444 May 14, 21, 2026 26-00147G
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024 CA 000649 WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR CASCADE FUNDING MORTGAGE TRUST 2024 RM5, Plaintiff, VS. UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, SURVIVING SPOUSE, GRANTEES,; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF THOMAS BERNAL A/K/A TOM BERNAL; UNKNOWN TENANT #1; UNKNOWN TENANT #2; THOMAS MATTHEW BERNAL; SEAN MICHAEL BERNAL; NINA MARIE NAHMIAS F/K/A NINA MARIE BERNAL; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER AND AGAINST THE HEREIN NAMED INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANT(S) WHO ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sale will be made pursuant to an Order or Final Judgment. Final Judgment was awarded on April 29, 2026 in Civil Case No. 2024 CA 000649, of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH Judicial Circuit in and for Flagler County, Florida, wherein, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR CASCADE FUNDING MORTGAGE TRUST 2024 RM5 is the Plaintiff, and UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, SURVIVING SPOUSE, GRANTEES,; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF THOMAS BERNAL A/K/A TOM BERNAL; UNKNOWN TENANT #1; UNKNOWN TENANT #2; THOMAS MATTHEW BERNAL; SEAN MICHAEL BERNAL; NINA MARIE NAHMIAS F/K/A NINA MARIE BERNAL; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER AND AGAINST THE HEREIN NAMED INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANT(S) WHO ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE DEAD OR
OF KATHLEEN FURST Deceased. The administration of the estate of Kathleen Furst, deceased, whose date of death was February 4, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 East Moody Blvd., Bunnell, FL 32110. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF
