Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
Online martial arts 6 MAY 2020
VOLUME 6, NO. 10
BRIEFS Daytona International Speedway to host Flagler Schools’ 2020 graduation ceremonies When students begins their education journey, the finish line comes at graduation when they are able to walk across the stage of the Ocean Center and receive their high school diplomas. For the Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas High School students in Flagler County, that is not possible at this time due to the restrictions in place as the entire world fights the spread of COVID-19. However, these graduates will see the finish line when they are handed their diplomas as they ride across the iconic black-andwhite checkered start/finish line inside Daytona International Speedway on May 31. Thanks to the generosity of the France family, Daytona International Speedway, and NASCAR, the “World Center of Racing” will play host to both Flagler County high schools. Matanzas High School’s ceremony begins at 11 a.m. while Flagler-Palm Coast High School’s ceremony starts at 4 p.m. May 31. “We had a committee made up of students, school administrators, district staff, and a member of the School Board,” Superintendent James Tager said. “All of the members on this committee were determined to find a way for our graduates to have their ceremony as close to the original May 28 date as possible. Without the wonderful team at Daytona International Speedway, we probably would not have been able to do that.” The ad-hoc Graduation Committee met several times throughout the month of April and discussed a number of scenarios and solutions. The students on the committee were determined to keep graduation in late May.
Neighbors set up chairs on the Deweeses’ driveway to watch Justice’s performance.
MUSIC THERAPY Justice Dewees loves to sing, and she loves musical theater. On April 25, she showcased her talent for both.
JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
For Seabreeze High School sophomore Justice Dewees, music is a creative outlet. “When I’m upset, I listen to music,” she said. “When I’m happy, I listen to music. Every occasion, I’ll be listening to music.” That hasn’t changed under the governor’s stay-at-home order,
too close, per social distancing guidelines — or watched from their own open garages. Justice said she hoped her concert provided a fun pause from everyone’s usual routine. “I’m sure having a little bit of a local change is a nice break,” Justice said. SEE MUSIC PAGE 7
Halifax Humane Society is now showing animals to prospective adopters using Zoom and FaceTime. ASSOCIATE EDITOR
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and on Saturday, April 25, she decided to share her talents with her neighbors by hosting a concert on her driveway. Justice’s heart lies with musical theater, and as the sun set in her Plantation Bay home, the 16-year-old performed classic Broadway songs like “I’m not Alone,” from “Carrie” and “Nothing,” from “A Chorus Line.” Neighbors set up chairs on the edge of her driveway — not
New virtual adoption process for pets JARLEENE ALMENAS
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Photo by Jarleene Almenas
These days, the halls of the Halifax Humane Society’s main campus are quiet. That is, until you pass by the large dog kennels. Then you’re greeted by Cora, Panda, Tito, Goofy and 19 other dogs still housed at the animal shelter. The Halifax Humane Society has been closed to the public since the governor issued a stay-at-home order on April 3, but with animals still coming, the shelter staff had to come up with a solution for adoptions. How could they find homes for the animals still at the shelter, and those in foster homes, without people being able to come see
them? A virtual adoption process was born. Halifax Humane Society is now showing animals to prospective adopters using Zoom and FaceTime. The remaining shelter staff and volunteers — many cannot come by the shelter in person because their age or underlying illness makes them more susceptible to contract COVID-19 — will take the animal out of their kennel and set up a meet and greet over video. The goal is to show the adopter what the animal is really like. “We never want people to make a decision, whether it’s on video Courtesy photo
SEE ADOPTION PAGE 7
A total of 202 animals went to foster homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.