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PALM COAST

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 12, NO. 28

FOOTBALL’S BACK PAGE 16 THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

Do pedestrians have enough room?

Homeowners near Cimmaron Drive air their concerns to the city at a neighborhood meeting PAGE 3

COVID surge gains steam More staff will be needed, health department says PAGE 4 INSIDE WHAT TO WEAR? Time to update Flagler Schools’ dress code?

School Board member suggests a revamp PAGE 2

WHERE TO PLAY? Time to add more ballfields? City considers needs, funding options PAGE 5

GOING SOLAR

Renewable energy company proposes 155acre solar panel field in western Flagler PAGE 9

ROAD SURVEY

Funding for resurfacing lags, as city makes plans PAGE 10

MORE HOMES

Roberts Road plans more homes on 142 acres PAGE 18

Back to normal?

Enrollment is up and masks are optional as Flagler County students reunite and fill hallways again PAGE 12

Arrr you ready?

“I think there was an overall sense of excitement,” Matanzas principal Jeff Reaves said.

“The students felt glad to be back on campus, see their friends and eat lunch together again.”

Photo by Brian McMillan

INDEX

Briefs..................... PAGE 8 Business...............PAGE 18 Cops Corner.......... PAGE 2 Letters................... PAGE 6 Real Estate..........PAGE 20 Your Town....... PAGE 13, 15

The Matanzas Pirate wants you to have a great school year. Arrr else!

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PALM COAST OBSERVER

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PalmCoastObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

ExploreConnect Play with Parks & Recreation

Featured

Palm Coast & Flagler Beaches Senior Games is coming! Sept. 10-19 the best athletes over 50 will compete in Golf, Pickleball, and Tennis.

Three to See

Time to update Flagler Schools’ dress code?

Adjusting the dress code may be one way to reduce student referrals, board member Cheryl Massaro said.

“I don’t necessarily think that our parents need to be going out and getting all these clothes and shirts when the kids have clothes that are appropriate.”

CHERYL MASSARO, School Board member

Movies in the Park

Friday, Aug. 13

JONATHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

Flagler Schools implemented a uniform-type dress code policy starting in the 2012-2013 school year. There was an immediate effect on disciplinary referrals: At FPC, for example, the number jumped from 468 the previous year to more than 1,571, with 75% of them dress-code related.

The district has since loosened its dress code, but it can still account for a large number of disciplinary incidents, and School Board member Cheryl Massaro wants the district to rework it so that it’s both more enforceable and less likely to lead to student referrals.

“I was talking to the dean over at FPC: He figures he’s going to have 1,000 referrals the first week of school for dress code, because he’s enforcing it,” Massaro said at an Aug. 3 School Board workshop.

“A thousand referrals, the first week. After five referrals, that sixth referral usually is an outof-school suspension.”

Massaro said she’s been serving on the district’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports team, which is looking for ways to reduce suspensions.

“We’ve got to look at that and figure out how to cut those back, and I think that’s one place to start,” she said. “I would like to see it totally revamped before the next school year, 2022-2023: Give it back to the executive council and let the team work on how to have a proper dress code, but not with all the regulations with colors.”

Students, depending on their grade level, have different sets of color options available for shirts: High schoolers have the most leeway and can wear any solid color, plaid or striped pattern as long as it’s collared and meets fabric requirements, while elementary and middle schoolers must wear solid colors and have more limited palettes to choose from.

Some of the rules seem arbitrary: For instance, “gold” polos are allowed, but yellow ones aren’t. But is it worth giving a student a referral because their polo shirt is more a lemon-yellow than a gold-yellow?

Massaro said she’d asked district staff about the color regulations.

“I said, ‘What do we have against yellow and purple polo shirts?’” she said. “And the explanation made sense after they explained it — that’s because none of our feeders schools have yellow or purple.” The color options are selected from school colors.

“Polo shirts are nice, but I don’t necessarily think that our parents need to be going out and getting all these clothes and shirts when the kids have clothes that are appropriate,” Massaro said. “But there needs to be some type of code enforcement.”

Board member Colleen Conklin said she’d be interested in having that discussion. Board Chairman Trevor Tucker asked district staff to place the topic on an agenda for a future School Board workshop.

What should the policy be?

Email letters to editor@palmcoastobserver.com.

Food Truck Tuesday

Tuesday, Aug. 17

COPS CORNER JULY 25

BREAKING IN FOR BOOZE 6:14 p.m. 200 block of Parkview Drive Residential burglary. A woman arrived home at about 6 p.m. and notice two local kids running down the road as she approached.

The kids came back and told her that they’d been walking by her home when they saw five kids about 10 or 11 years old running out of her home.

The woman checked her house: The liquor cabinet above her fridge was open. She keeps it closed. She wasn’t sure if the kids got any of the alcohol.

Deputies are investigating.

JULY 26

SOUPED UP 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. 5400 block of North Oceanshore Boulevard Larceny. A woman was shopping in the soup aisle of a local grocery store when an unfamiliar woman walked up and started talking to her about different types of soup.

The shopper found the conversation odd, but didn’t think much of it until she got to the register, reached for her wallet, and realized it was gone. She’d had her purse sitting in her cart when the suspicious soup enthusiast had approached her.

Deputies checked surveillance footage. It showed that while the soup enthusiast distracted the shopper, a man who’d entered the store with the soup woman snuck up behind the shopper and grabbed her wallet from her purse.

The shopper was able to cancel her cards before the thieves tried, unsuccessfully, to charge $1,100 on one of them at a Walmart.

AUG. 4

FOR A FRIEND 3:03 a.m. Palm Coast Parkway at Colbert Lane.

Narcotics. A deputy stopped a car for an inoperable tail light.

The driver was on probation for drug crimes, so the deputy asked to search her purse. She said no, but then started dumping everything out of it.

The deputy noticed that she removed a glasses case and kept it with her the whole time.

The deputy asked her what was in it. She said nothing, but then refused to let the deputy search it. Once the deputy did, he found a pipe and a baggy of methamphetamines inside. The woman said the drugs belonged to a friend. The deputy arrested her.

Munchkin ABC’s & 123’s

Tuesday, Sept. 7 For more information and to register, visit palmcoastgov.com/recreation

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Fall programs are here!

Check out all we have to offer.

PALM COAST OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

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Street smarts Cimmaron residents: ‘It’s a residential street, and it’s not safe’ BRENT WORONOFF STAFF WRITER

F “Personally I’ve had to leap into a swale six to eight times to avoid getting hit by a car.”

JOHN SLATTERY, Cimmaron Drive walker

Photo by Brent Woronoff

John Slattery has walked on Cimmaron Drive every day for the past 12 years.

CITY STAFF RECOMMENDS COMPREHENSIVE STUDY TO PROVIDE PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE Palm Coast could be moving closer to developing a plan to make its busy residential roads safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

At a City Council workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 10, Senior Planner Jose Papa and Carl Cote, director of stormwater and engineering, recommended a study to determine a comprehensive plan to make the 50 miles of residential collector roads in the city safer for cyclists and walkeers.

The staff presentation followed a Cimmaron Drive neighborhood meeting held a week earlier.

The collector roads are typically 20 feet wide and pose many challenges including the open swale systems which occupy space in the right of ways.

Papa said Palm Coast was originally designed as a car-centric community.

“Everything leads out to residential collectors like Cimmaron,” he said. “It’s a system we inherited from ITT, a system we have to retrofit.”

Cote said options include advisory shoulders, which are in a pilot phase; adding crosswalks; converting some streets into one-way roads, which would provide room for sidewalks or bike and walking

paths; and replacing swale systems with another stormwater option.

Advisory shoulders share the road with cars so when one car is on the road it yields the shoulder to pedestrians, but when two cars are on the road while pedestrians or cyclists are using the shoulder, one car would have to stop to allow the other car to proceed.

Cote said the goal is to include funds for the study in the upcoming budget with a final report presented to the Council by next June. Papa and Cote said staff will look into finding outside funding sources such as community development block grants to assist in carrying out a master plan.

Mayor David Alfin asked what can be done in advance of the study to embrace pedestrian safety on the residential roads.

Cote said the city can add signage and speed trailers, both of which have been done for Cimmaron Drive. He said city staff has also reached out to the Sheriff’s Office to request additional enforcement and staff is looking into how to provide a safer path from Cimmaron Drive to Palm Harbor Parkway’s sidewalks.

“We’ll start implementing what we can,” Cote said.

or the past 12 years, John Slattery has been walking five miles a day on a route that includes Cimmaron Drive.

Slattery, 76, begins his walk at 5:30 a.m. in the dark. He carries an LED bicycle light in his right hand and holds it up to cars coming toward him, most of which drift toward the center of the two-lane, shoulderless road to give him room.

But he’s had plenty of close calls.

“Personally I’ve had to leap into a swale six to eight times, in daylight and darkness, to avoid getting hit by a car,” he said during an interview at his Cedarwood Court home the day after the city held a Cimmaron Drive neighborhood meeting on Aug. 4 at the Palm Coast Community Center.

Before he and his wife moved into their Cedarwood home they lived on nearby Cottonwood Court for seven years and while riding his bicycle during that time he said he was hit twice by cars.

“I was OK. The bike was OK the first time. I had a bent wheel the second time and it forced me into a swale,” he said. “(The car) just kept going.”

Slattery was one of the first residents to speak at the meeting, which was held the week before a City Council workshop that included a staff presentation on options for expanding bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the city.

Staffers used the neighborhood meeting to gather residents’ concerns in advance of the workshop.

Cimmaron Drive is not unique, Carl Cote, the city’s stormwater and engineering director, told residents. It is among 50 miles of residential collector roads in the city that connect to arterials.

“Each section in the city has a similar street,” city planner Jose Papa said.

More than 80 residents attended the meeting, which began with a presentation by the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization that focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety and community outreach.

After about 35 minutes grumbles could be heard in the audience. When residents were finally called on to speak, they expressed their frustrations.

One resident said children wait at a bus stop in what is essentially a ditch.

“It’s a residential street, a busy one with lots of streets feeding into it, and it’s not safe,” she said amid applause.

Cote told the group the city needs to analyze what’s feasible considering costs and funding.

A bike lane would likely be more feasible than a sidewalk on the narrow street with not much room between swales and pavement, but it would still need to be

MAYOR ALFIN ATTENDS MEETING Newly elected Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin attended the Cimmaron Drive neighborhood meeting on Aug. 4 and said afterward, “I’m not happy if residents are unhappy.”

He said the issue needs to be addressed and he hopes “a solution can become a template for the rest of the 50 miles” of similar roadways in the city.

“We know this is something that needs to be talked about,” he said. “People are doing the right thing. They’re exercising their voice persistently and consistently. That’s how great government can work.”

ADA compliant, he said.

He gave a timeline for a months-long study that would begin after Oct. 1 in the 2022 fiscal year with findings presented to the City Council by next spring.

Actual construction, if approved, would not begin before the 2023 fiscal year. Temporary fixes such as relocating a radar speed sign would be considered, he said.

The city has already installed “Share the Road” signs on the street. Some said they have not made a difference.

Residents spoke about the curve in the road, which some call “dead man’s curve,” that has a speed limit of 20 mph, but cars often race around it at much higher speeds. They noted that Cimmaron is unique in that it links to one arterial – Palm Harbor Parkway – and ends 1.3 miles later at The Sanctuary at Palm Coast, a gated community.

Walking across busy Palm Harbor to the sidewalk on the other side is nearly impossible, residents said.

Slattery believes more studies are a waste of time. He sees children walking to bus stops with earbuds in their ears and their eyes fixated on their phones. In the winter they wa l k in darkness, he said. Cyclists often ride on the left when they legally should be riding with traffic, and pedestrians often walk on the right, when they should be walking on the left where they can see cars coming, he said.

Slattery said he was told most of the drivers on the road are his neighbors.

“But there are an increasing number of Airbnb’s (in the section), and they’re not my neighbors,” he said. “The service people aren’t my neighbors. You can’t get any place on this part of the C Section without driving on Cimmaron. The kids out there in the morning?

I fear for them.”

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PALM COAST OBSERVER

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PalmCoastObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

CITY WATC H

Time to add more ballfields? City considers options

JONATHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

BY THE NUMBERS

$22

current morning peak season 9-holes rate for Palm Coast residents at Palm Harbor Golf Course

$25

proposed morning peak season 9-holes rate for Palm Coast residents

Does Palm Coast need more ballfields and parks? And should it raise user fees to cover costs at its existing ones? The City Council is preparing to make decisions that will affect how the city pays for its amenities, including a proposed fee schedule revision.

City staff members told the council in a workshop Aug. 10 that there are sometimes conflicts between local teams and the tournaments that rent out facilities like the Indian Trails Sports Complex.

“If we do more tournaments, we need more fields,” said Lauren Johnston, the city’s chief of staff of citizen engagement and formerly its Parks and Recreation director.

“The big issue is field conditions; there’s countless parks in this community that look beautiful until you

Mayor David Alfin asked if the city has turned away tournaments for lack of space.

Staff members said that it has.

Jarrod Maxwell, president of Mad Dogs Flag Football, said some of the city’s existing facilities aren’t really playable.

“The big issue is field conditions; there’s countless parks in this community that look beautiful until you start playing them,” he said.

Some of the parks that are safest for the kids, he said, have limited parking.

Vice Mayor Eddie Branquinho supported adding more playing space.

“Our kids need more fields; let’s get them more fields,” Branquinho said.

Although Palm Coast

start playing them.”

JARROD MAXWELL, president, Mad Dogs Flag Football

uses impact fee money — money paid by developers to offset the effects of their developments on local government expenses — to create new parks, impact fee money comes with legal restrictions and can’t be used to maintain existing facilities.

Those ongoing costs must be funded from other sources, like taxes, grants and user fees.

The city administration proposed a new fee schedule that would raise fees by an average of a few dollars a month at the city’s Tennis Center, Palm Harbor Golf Course and Aquatics Center while rental rates for rooms in the city’s Community Center or pavilions at Holland Park could see more noticeable increases — in some cases, by about double.

The council will vote on the proposal at a future business meeting.

$30

current after-hours hourly rate for the Community Center’s Room 116, plus a $37.50 or $50 fee depending on number of guests

$75

proposed flat after-hours nonprofit hourly rental rate for the Community Center’s Room 116 Email Jonathan Simmons at jonathan@palmcoastobserver.com.

Mayor David Alfin

Palm Coast is preparing its annual legislative priorities list — a set of three requests it will send to the state Legislature later this year in coordination with the county government and the Northeast Florida Regional Council.

The Palm Coast city administration’s proposed priorities list this year would ask the state to do the following:  Deem as an essential, “lifeline function” during and after emergencies the restoration of power for areas that are served by PEP tanks.

PEP tanks stop working when power is shut off, so extended shutoffs — for instance, after hurricanes — can cause sewage backups into homes in PEP tank areas. If restoration of power to PEP tank areas is deemed a lifeline function, power companies would have to prioritize those areas during outages.  Support the second and third phases of the Old Kings Road widening project.  Support transportation projects that would help link Matanzas Woods Parkway, Palm Coast Parkway and Whiteview Parkway to large land tracts on the city’s western side to promote economic development.

The City Council will vote on the proposed legislative priorities during a future meeting.

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Photo by Jonathan Simmons

Palm Coast may ask state for PEP tank help

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PALM COAST OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

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Health department will hire to handle COVID surge The department is also preparing to offer rapid COVID-19 tests to school students and staff.

COVID PROTOCOLS IN SCHOOLS: ‘TEST TO RETURN’ GRETCHEN SMITH

JONATHAN SIMMONS

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN FLAGLER COUNTY

NEWS EDITOR

The Florida Department of Health in Flagler County is planning to hire more staff to deal with the current COVID-19 surge and the reopening of local schools.

“We’re gearing up; we’re going to have to hire a whole lot more nurses,” health department Communications Manager Gretchen Smith said on Flagler Broadcasting’s “Free For All Friday” on Aug. 6.

The department may also add paramedics as it prepares to offer more COVID-19 testing options.

Flagler Schools students and staff will be able to receive rapid COVID-19 tests through the health department at sites at 120 Airport Road or at the health department and 301 Dr. Carter Blvd. People with symptoms will need to set an appointment and use the drive-thru option at the health department’s location on Dr. Carter Boulevard (see the box at right for details).

The district’s current policy — not requiring masks and distancing, but contact tracing and requiring students who’ve been exposed to stay home until a test clears them — “is pretty likely to result in a lot of cases and a lot of kids out of school,” FDOH-Flagler Medical Director Dr. Stephen

Based on an emergency rule issued by Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees on Aug. 6, the Florida Department of Health in Flagler County has developed protocols to address cases of COVID-19 in public schools.

The health department will apply the same protocols for both public and private schools.

The emergency rule states, “Students may wear masks or facial coverings as a mitigation measure; however, the school

must allow for a parent or legal guardian of the student to optout the student from wearing a face covering or mask.” The health department, following CDC recommendations, continues to encourage mask-wearing.

hours and the student’s other symptoms have resolved.

2. Students who have been identified as a direct contact to an individual who received a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 should not attend school, school-sponsored activities, or be on school property until:  The student is asymptomatic and receives a negative diagnostic COVID-19 test after four days from the date of last exposure to the COVID-19 positive individual, or:  The student is asymptomatic, and seven days have passed since the date of last exposure to the COVID-19 positive individual.

In anticipation of higher demand as the school year begins, the health department offers two testing locations: 120 Airport Road, second floor; and 301 Dr. Carter Blvd., Bunnell. Both are

THE RULES Two highlights outlined in the emergency rule follow for school students, staff and faculty: 1. Students experiencing any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or who have received a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 should not attend school, school-sponsored activities, or be on school property until:  The student receives a negative diagnostic COVID-19 test and is asymptomatic, or:  Ten days have passed since the onset of symptoms, the student has had no fever for 24

open 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. People with COVID-19 symptoms should use the drivethru at 301 Dr. Carter Blvd. and must schedule an appointment by calling 386-437-7350, Ext. 0.

Appointments are not necessary for vaccinations, which are offered at 301 Dr. Carter Blvd.

TEST TO RETURN The new emergency rule requires all close contacts of positive cases to quarantine at least four days after exposure.

However, DOH-Flagler is offering a “test to return” option for staff, students and faculty that brings them to either of the department’s testing sites for a rapid test on the fourth day of quarantine. For more information about COVID-19 vaccination and testing efforts, please visit https:// flhealthcovid19.gov/.

The district’s current policy — not requiring masks and distancing, but contact tracing and requiring students who’ve been exposed to stay home until a test clears them — “is pretty likely to result in a lot of cases and a lot of kids out of school,” FDOH-Flagler Medical Director Dr. Stephen Bickel said.

Bickel said.

If that’s the case, Bickel said, “What we’re hoping is that we adapt to that. ... The school staff, administrators, have shown a readiness to be open-minded as the facts change.”

The virus’ numbers continue to increase, while new vaccinations have slowed to a trickle.

The health department recorded 150 positive cases of COVID-19

on Aug. 5 and has been averaging about 100 a day, said Smith.

“The numbers are really going through the roof in terms of cases — and that’s just diagnosed cases,” Bickel said. “There are probably at least two or three times as many actual cases.”

Meanwhile, said Smith, the numbers of people coming to the department’s vaccination events is often under 10.

“We’d like to be doing more vaccinations than tests, and that’s not the case right now,” Smith said.

Infections that lead to hospitalization have overwhelmingly been in the unvaccinated population.

Patients in the current surge are trending younger: AdventHealth’s Central Florida division has had a number of cases of preg-

nant women getting ill enough from COVID-19 that they’ve required ventilators, Bickel said.

“Youngish patients, pregnant, on ventilators — that is very scary stuff,” he said.

Nationally, hospitals have been reporting that between 92% and 98% of their COVID patients are unvaccinated, Bickel said.

“People should take home the message that they are extremely well protected if they have been vaccinated, unless they’re in this small group of people with immune conditions ... and those people should know that already,” Bickel said.

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Send your letter to editor@ palmcoastobserver.com.

LET T ERS

PalmCoastObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

Why mandates are necessary in our society Dear Editor: Making the case for controversial mask and vaccine mandates is not difficult. We have long been aware that individuals don’t always act in a responsible way, with the welfare of others, society or even themselves in mind.

And because of this, there has always been the need for the passage of laws, regulations and rules in any civilized nation that recognizes the importance of the greater societal good and consequences for those who don’t comply.

And, in the context of those who believe there is some fundamental freedom or right to choose whether to wear masks or get vaccinated, it should be recognized that no freedom is absolute and that freedom to choose would come to an abrupt halt when the exercise of that choice can adversely affect the health or safety of others.

But so many anti-mask, anti-vaccination folks continue to expound the misguided notion of “my body, my choice” when that really translates into an unwelcome, and fallacious, “your body, my choice,” perversely shifting risk to others and is the antithesis of recognizing the greater good. And that kicks in and drives home the need for mask and vaccination mandates — one of those rules necessary to address less than responsible behavior.

As for extreme punitive sanctions or a government command backed by coercion for mandate noncompliance, none need be applied. With businesses and good corporate citizens in the lead, the freedom to choose would remain intact, but with a couple of caveats: Employers may not hire you and businesses may deny you access. “No jab, no job” and “no mask, no entry.”

And we can just call these conditions applied to voluntary activities rather than more oppressive sounding mandates.

MAGGIE MINUTAGLIO Palm Coast

Follow science, stay on the right side of history Dear Editor: School started Aug. 10, and in the midst of meeting teachers, getting school supplies and making sure uniforms fit, many of us parents were also making sure we had masks, sanitizer and reminder conversations with our kids about the importance of each.

For many parents who utilized remote learning last year, this is the first time our children are going back to campus for face-to-face learning in over a year and a half. My kids are beyond excited.

My husband and I have an 11- and an 8-year-old. The youngest has seasonal asthma.

While we were grateful for the option of remote learning last year (our teachers were phenomenal), it was a struggle to keep our children engaged and motivated. My advanced student, as well as

my all-A’s student, thrive with interaction from instructors.

Unfortunately, iFlagler is not a viable option for my family at this time.

While I know that in-person instruction is the best for my children, I have many emotions and I can’t say that excitement is one of them. We are putting a smile on our face when we talk about school with our children and stressing how important it is for them to do the safe and right thing (wear a mask in indoor areas).

Many adults in this state are failing them by not doing the right thing and instead making a public health issue one about rights and freedoms.

We all know about the executive order issued by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. I don’t think the state should ban decisions that the school district should make, especially when situations can vary by county and district.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Florida Department of Health-Flagler Health Officer Bob Snyder have recommended everyone in K-12 wear face masks: n Because this age group is largely unvaccinated due to ineligibility; n The delta variant is more contagious than the original strain; n Universal masking is the best way to stop the virus from spreading on campuses. n These counties have issued mask requirements for their schools: Alachua, Broward, Orange and Seminole.

Meanwhile: n AdventHealth Palm Coast has over 80 hospitalizations from COVID, as of Aug. 1, higher than any other time during the pandemic; n Flagler County has had 900 COVID-19 infections in the week ending Aug. 1, which equals the total infections during the first seven months of the pandemic; n Florida is one of the hardest hit states in regards to COVID; n Florida hospitals are limiting visitors and deterring non-emergency surgeries, adding ICU beds; n Hospitalizations are primarily occurring in the unvaccinated (our children fall into this category); n Baptist Hospital currently has 18 children admitted to their hospitals for COVID, five of which are in ICU; n A 16-year-old recently died from COVID Due to studies that prove universal masking can help reduce the spread of COVID, I am in favor of this temporary solution for our schools.

(See the study “An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19,” published in January, by the National Academy of Sciences, which concluded, “The preponderance of evidence indicates that mask wearing reduces transmissibility per contact by reducing transmission of infected respiratory particles in both laboratory and clinical contexts. Public mask wearing is most effective at reducing spread of the virus when

compliance is high.”)

No one wants to mask forever. This is not about control or fear, but about facts and parenting to the best of our ability. I think that we in Flagler County are setting ourselves up for detrimental outcomes if we ignore the current health crisis that is right in our own county.

Ten years from now, we will all look back at this pandemic and evaluate how we handled ourselves in light of the health crisis that we were all faced with. Our children will look back and draw conclusions based on how we taught them to handle themselves while also being mindful of others. They will draw conclusions as to whether they thought we did enough to fight for their right for an in-person and safe education. They will draw conclusions as to whether we as parents and those leaders in charge thought they were important enough to stand up and fight against leaders who are not making their health and safety a priority.

I don’t want to be on the wrong side of that.

I want to be able to hold my head high and say that I made a stand for my children’s health and safety. I want to be able to say that we did our best and followed what scientific studies, the CDC, AAP and local health officials have all told us to do in regards to keeping our children as safe as possible.

I recently sent a letter to the Flagler County School Board stating the above and urging them to take a stand for our children’s health and safety and to implement temporary mask mandates in our schools.

I urged them to take a stand for what is right for our children based on evidence and facts, not politics, and I urge other parents to do the same.

JOY MAHON Palm Coast

Flagler Schools shouldn’t cater to those who want mandates Dear Editor: I truly wish “Free for All Friday” (on WNZF radio) and Brian McMillan (Palm Coast Observer editor) would do more homework before they speak about Flagler Schools and COVID. To try and make this about politics is a weak argument in my opinion, but to follow it up with incorrect information is even worse.

The majority of individuals in Flagler want masks to be voluntary; there are only a noisy few who are “antimaskers.” To say that Flagler Schools is afraid of a noisy few is quite disingenuous.

Flagler Schools is still doing social distancing where possible. The overcrowding of our schools makes quite a significant challenge. The bigger question really should be, why did our School Board allow our schools to become overcrowded to begin with? Now there’s

where they could have actually prepared for the expected.

There is always a “remote option”; it’s called iFlagler.

There is also Florida Virtual School. So to say there aren’t any other options or that Flagler Schools doesn’t offer remote learning, is again disingenuous. The truth is, the vast majority of parents actually want in-person learning.

The fact that Flagler Schools didn’t upset the apple cart to cater to the minority is a refreshing change.

When has any student been set back from missing four or five days of school? The answer is never. As a matter of fact, it’s even less of a factor now because we are about 95% one-to-one with technology devices of some kind. All missed work is sent to the student so they don’t skip a beat; any tests missed have designated retakes. To say otherwise shows one’s ignorance.

As for water fountains? We already know that COVID doesn’t survive on surfaces and the majority of water fountains now have bottle fillers.

I don’t quite understand why some continue the fear mongering when even Dr. Stephen Bickel states there are more unknowns than there is known. It isn’t about politics, it’s about freedom and choice.

Life is all about choices, and some want it to remain that way.

PAUL ANDERSON Palm Coast

Note: As far as I know, no Flagler-specific polls have been taken to determine whether parents want masks to be mandatory in schools.

A nationwide poll, however, found that “two-thirds of U.S. adults and 60% of K-12 parents support mask mandates for unvaccinated teachers and staff members,” according to news.gallup.com.

Yes, iFlagler is an option, as always, but the option that Flagler Schools called Remote Live last year has been eliminated.

The American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents not to underestimate the harm of missing two days of school per month: “Children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are less likely to read on grade level by the third grade. For older students, being chronically absent is strongly associated with failing at school — even more than low grades or test scores.” Students could miss four to five days each time a friend tests positive for COVID-19.

— Brian McMillan, editor

Offensive flags don’t represent Flagler’s Trump supporters Dear Editor: There has been some criticism in the press concerning the flag-waving support for former President Trump in Flagler.

In Flagler County, there are eight or more conservative organizations that support former President Trump: the Republican Executive Committee, the Trump Club, Flagler County Grand Order of Pachyderms, Flagler County Teenage Republicans, Flagler Liberty Coalition, Republican

PALM COAST

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

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

Publisher / John Walsh, jwalsh@palmcoastobserver.com Executive Editor / Brian McMillan, bmcmillan@palmcoastobserver.com News Editor / Jonathan Simmons, jonathan@palmcoastobserver.com Staff Writer / Brent Woronoff, brent@palmcoastobserver.com Page Designers / Hailey McMillan, Jennifer Edwards Advertising Manager / Jaclyn Centofanti, jaclyn@palmcoastobserver.com Senior Account Manager / Susan Moore, susan@ palmcoastobserver.com Senior Account Manager / Hallie Hydrick, hallie@ palmcoastobserver.com Front Desk Associate / Bonnie Hamilton, bonnie@ palmcoastobserver.com Operations Manager / Maureen Walsh, maureen@ palmcoastobserver.com Circulation Manager / David Brooks, david@horizonroad.com SUBSCRIBE The Palm Coast Observer is published every Thursday. To subscribe for driveway delivery, call David Brooks, at 386-338-5080 or email david@horizonroad.com.

TO ADVERTISE: Call 386-447-9723. For Classifieds or Business Directory, call 386492-2784 or email pcoclassifieds@ palmcoastobserver.com.

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Liberty Caucus, Adorable Deplorables, to name a few. All support former President Trump.

In order to witness firsthand the written criticisms of Flagler County Republicans, I, as the elected Flagler County state committeewoman, attended last week’s flag wave at Flagler Beach. There, I found American flags and a few Trump 2024 flags. Most of the faces were familiar; however, two were not.

I learned from the conversation from the ones I did not recognize that they were not Flagler County residents. They are the ones who are flying the flags with foul language and thought it to be their first amendment right to do so. After explaining to these out-of-towners that you will not win hearts and minds with foul language, I and others were not able to convince them.

President Donald J. Trump has supporters of all political persuasions. It wasn’t clear to us which party they were from.

On behalf of the conservative Republicans of Flagler County, I offer my sincerest apology to those who may have witnessed the inappropriate behavior of those individuals. This is not representative of the majority of Flagler County Republicans.

Flagler Republicans believe that our rights were given to us

by God. Our priorities are God, family and country, and we pray that those individuals and those with that mindset do not return in the future. We love America believe in the Constitution. God Bless America.

SHARON DEMERS Palm Coast

PALM COAST OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

Man, 21, arrested for sexual abuse of 14-year-old girl Justin Wallace, 21, was arrested Aug. 5 for statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl.

“This brave victim came forward, reported what happened and if not for that, we would not have been able to help,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “If you prey and take advantage of our children, we will work swiftly to put you in the Green Roof Inn where you belong. Let this be a warning that it doesn’t matter if you flee to the next city, across the state, or across the country: We will find you and arrest you.

Justice has no boundaries!”

On Aug. 4, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a juvenile being sexually involved with a 21-year-old male. The suspect, who claimed he was 16 years old to the victim’s family members, was later identified as Justin Wallace.

Wallace had just relocated to the area from Massachusetts.

When the victim met Wallace, she stated that she felt pressured into the first sexual encounter, but advised the other encounters were consensual.

After Wallace admitted to the victim’s parents that he was 21, they told him to stay away from their daughter. But he made multiple attempts to visit her and communicate with her after he was advised she did not want to communicate with him.

During the course of the investigation, Wallace made multiple homicidal and suicidal statements towards himself, his family, the victim, and the victim’s family, leading to a Baker

RENTAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE Flagler County officials are urging renters to use the rental assistance money available through OURFlorida.com. Renters could be eligible for up to 15 months of assistance, paid directly to the landlord. Some utilities assistance is also available.

“This money is there for eligible renters who are behind in their rent,” said Health and Human Services Director Joyce Bishop. “It’s there for them to avoid eviction, so they should use it.”

The program focuses on low-income renters whose household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income, which varies by county, and prioritizes renters and/or families who have experienced unemployment within the past 90 days.

To learn more about eligibility and how to apply, visit OURFlorida. com or call 833-493-0594 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. seven days a week.w

Act upon arrest.

He’s being charged with Three Counts of Lewd or Lascivious Battery on a Victim 12-16 Years of Age. Wallace is being held on a $450,000 bond.

Therapist arrested for molesting juvenile patient The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit has arrested Robert Neal Batie, who is suspected of sexually abusing a juvenile for whom he’s been providing therapy services or the last five months.

On June 29, the FCSO received a report from a juvenile who disclosed that she had been sexually molested the previous day while attending a counseling session. The MCU responded to the location of the incident at Palm Coast Counseling LLC, located at 1 Hargrove Grade.

After gathering a significant amount of corroborating evidence and subsequently receiving a biological report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, MCU Detectives secured a warrant for the arrest of Batie.

FCSO MCU Detectives LaVerne and Crosbee tracked down Batie at his new place of employment, AZA Health, located at 1455 Dunn Ave., Daytona Beach. With the assistance of the Daytona Beach Police Department, Batie was taken into custody.

“This was a remarkable joint effort between our Major Case Unit Detectives and DBPD to get this guy off the street,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I want to thank the detectives for their tireless efforts to bring justice to this victim and her family.

This disgusting pervert is now in jail where he belongs and can no longer prey on children. I applaud the victim for speaking out and hope she gains some

closure with his arrest.”

Robert Batie was arrested and is being temporarily held at the Volusia County Branch Jail, At this time, no evidence has been uncovered suggesting that there are any additional victims, however, any and all victims of sexual abuse are encouraged to come forward so that justice can be sought.

FCSO K-9 unit named Trailing Team of the Year two years in a row For the second year in a row, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has selected a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit to receive the K-9 Trailing Team of the Year award.

Cmdr.

Fred Gimbel and K-9 Holmes will receive the award from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and FDLE Commissioner Richard Swearingen at the Florida Capitol on Monday, Sept. 13.

“This is a tremendous level of recognition for the second year in a row for such a young Bloodhound Team,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Commander Gimbel and K-9 Holmes make a great team

and Commander Gimbel has put in so much effort to train Holmes in search and rescue.”

Fugitive arrested after fleeing in stolen vehicle A fugitive was arrested Aug. 7 in western Flagler County after he fled deputies in a stolen car and was caught with 25 grams of narcotics.

“Another fugitive tries to come with his illegal drugs to Flagler County and is unsuccessful,” said Sheriff Rick Staly.

“This guy was wanted in Putnam County for Grand Theft Auto, thinks he can hide here and then puts multiple lives in jeopardy trying to flee from our deputies.

I’m thankful that our deputies arrested him, recovered the stolen vehicle, and that no one was hurt from his reckless behavior.

This car thief and poison peddler came to the wrong county and I hope he enjoys his stay at the Green Roof Inn.” Deputies used stop sticks to stop the car, and found two bags of methamphetamine and ecstasy inside. The man was also driving on a suspended license.

FIRE RESCUE LT. ANDREW KEPPLER RETIRES AFTER 28-YEAR CAREER Fire Rescue Lt. Andrew Keppler recently retired after a 28-year career that began in 1993 with the St. John’s Park Volunteer Fire Department, which is now Station 71.

“Lt. Keppler’s leadership has impacted the lives of people positively, and that legacy will last for decades,” Fire Rescue Chief Mike Tucker said. “His investment of himself into the Fire Rescue family has left its mark, and he will be missed.”

Keppler was hired in 2000 and was among the firefighters who battled the 1998 wildfires that led to the only countywide evacuation.

CELEBRATING 11 YEARS

Andrew Keppler

He was also a member of the Wildland Team and the Technical Rescue Team that in 2017 helped rescue a worker trapped at the top of the water tower in Palm Coast, and was a founding instructor for the Fire Leadership Academy at Flagler Palm Coast High School.

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FPL’s sister company hopes to set its panels on agricultural land near the convergence of three counties, including Flagler.

“The solar site’s operation will be quiet, environmentally friendly and unobtrusive. ... We stand strongly in support of it.”

GREG BLOSÉ, president and CEO, Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce

JONATHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

The sunny fields of western Flagler have been used for generations to grow potatoes, pine and other crops. But soon, they may sprout rows of something new: Hundreds of thousands of solar panels.

Florida Renewable Partners wants to transform 155 acres of agricultural land just east of the Flagler County/Putnam County line north of State Road 100 and just south of St. Johns County into a solar energy panel field.

FRP, like Florida Power and Light, is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy.

“Solar energy facilities are one of the most sustainable energy sources in Florida,” FRP stated in its application to the county government for the special use permit needed to build the solar facility. “The development of this site into a solar energy facility will help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by adding clean energy back into Florida’s electric grid.”

The site would be known as FRP Tupelo Solar.

The proposal is expected to go before the county’s planning board in September and has the support of the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Com-

Image courtesy of NASA/Jim Grossmann

FPL photovoltaic panel fields at the Kennedy Space Station.

merce.

“We strongly support Florida Renewable Partners’ (FRP) latest solar project — FRP Tupelo Solar,” chamber President and CEO Greg Blosé wrote in a June 28 letter addressed to the county administrator and County Commission. “... During construction, the project is expected to generate an estimated 200 jobs for the area. ... Once the site is complete, the county will continue to enjoy the benefits of increased tax revenue.”

Blosé noted that the site is expected to run with few staff members and therefore have no real impact on traffic, and won’t be visible to passersby on public roads: The property is surrounded by farmland and accessible only by private roads, and panels will only be about 9 feet high.

“This use is one of the least intrusive uses that is allowable within the agriculture zoning dis-

Image courtesy of Flagler County government

The proposed project site is near the convergence of three counties.

trict,” FRP stated in its application materials.

The county government’s Comprehensive Plan explicitly encourages green development, a fact FRP Tupelo noted in its application package.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

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Commissioners look to cut property tax rate, trim $1 million from budget JONATHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

County commissioners want to reduce the property tax rate from its current $8.2547 per $1,000 in taxable value and hope to cut $1 million to $2 million from the county budget to do it.

Commissioners voted unanimously during a special meeting after a budget workshop Aug. 9 to ask county staff to rework the coming year’s budget to cut the rate by at least a 10th of a mill.

A mill is equal to $1 dollar per $1,000 of taxable value.

Property values have risen about 9% in Flagler County, so the $8.2547 per $1,000 rate is expected to bring in about $6.9 million more tax revenue in the coming fiscal year than it did in the current fiscal year.

Commissioners made their decision after hearing from two constitutional officers — Clerk of Courts Tom Bexley and Sheriff Rick Staly, who’s asking for funding to hire 15 more deputies — who were both requesting budget increases. Supervisor of Elections Kaiti Lenhart has also requested a budget increase.

Commissioner David Sullivan proposed the reduction, saying taxpayers need a break. He made a motion to ask staff to come back with a proposed budget that would account for a tenth-of-a mill reduction.

“The citizens of this county ... have had a very difficult year,” he said.

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Company proposes 155-acre solar panel field

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That would also mean not giving the constitutional officers everything they’d requested, he said.

The suggestion — both the specific amount and the stated reason for it — echoed one made at a July 12 meeting by Commissioner Andy Dance.

Commission Chairman Donald O’Brien said he was willing to support a 10th-of-a-mill reduction, but also wants to fully fund the constitutional officers’ request, potentially using American Rescue Plan money.

“My philosophy is to keep the constitutionals funded the way they’ve requested, fully, and figure out other ways to fill the gap,” he said.

He said he believed the county is in a good position, financially.

County administrator Heidi Petito warned that county government offices like fire rescue are, like the constitutional officers, dealing with cost increases.

“We all are experiencing a need for increasing personnel,” she said. “I agree that we shouldn’t place the burden of balancing the budget on the backs of the constitutionals, but I also feel that it shouldn’t be placed wholly on the County Commission.”

Petito suggested that if the county wants to trim its budget, it do so across the board. Commissioners will vote on a final tax rate in September.

Email Jonathan Simmons at jonathan@palmcoastobserver. com.

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PALM COAST OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

Experience DOWNTOWN

With street resurfacing lagging, city may reassess its roads Laser-based pavement assessments help determine which roads urgently need fixing and which can wait.

ORMOND

JONATHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

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From 2002 to 2011, Palm Coast resurfaced 50 miles worth of its roadways each year. Starting in 2012, that number dropped to 10.

Is that enough? The city government may pay a consulting company $160,450 to shoot lasers at city streets to find out.

The company, called Transmap, assessed the city’s roads in 2017, using pickup truck-mounted panoramic cameras and laser remote sensing equipment to measure the pavement and assign scores along a range from 0 (for a road that’s functionally nonexistent) to 100 (newly paved).

The city’s roads averaged a 79: a solid “satisfactory” rating, one rank below the top rating of “good.”

“We fall in line, above the middle of the pack ... with a lot of other entities that they were working with,” city Stormwater and Engineering Director Carl Cote told City Council members at an Aug. 10 workshop.

But it’s time to reassess, he suggested. Palm Coast has 540 centerlane miles of roadway.

Of those, 74 are arterial and collector roads.

Before Transmap, Cote said, the city had evaluated its roads with “drive-by” inspections — a work-intensive approach.

City Councilman Nick Klufas praised the tech-based system.

“It’s a far superior way to measure data because of the consistency that you get,” Klufas said.

With the manual survey method, he said, “If you don’t have the same person, you’re going to have different playing fields.”

Cote said the Transmap system can determine, based on the types and sizes of cracks in the roadway, whether the roads have road base failures or pavement failures, and how quickly they’re likely to deteriorate. That makes it easier for staff to prioritize which streets to repair.

But since the city’s 10-year halfcent sales tax program for street resurfacing ended in 2012, the city has started falling behind.

“We’ve really had no dollars to resurface our roads,” aside from very limited street maintenance money, he said. “... With our current funding, we’re short.”

A new Transmap survey, he said, would help the city determine how much money it needs to dedicate to keeping its roads in acceptable condition.

The City Council will make a decision on the Transmap proposal at a future business meeting.

“It is really the best program to scientifically go around and identify which roads need to be resurfaced, and in what order.”

CARL COTE, Palm Coast Stormwater and Engineering director

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PalmCoastObserver.com

Sports 16 Business 18

AUGUST 12, 2021

YOUR NEIGHBORS First day of school: Students excited as sense of normalcy returns

Courtesy photo

Adrian Piotrowicz is all set for his first day of sixth grade in the STEM Academy at Wadsworth Elementary

Matanzas Cheerleaders Tralyn Johnson, Madeline Gautreau, Aliana Hulse and Madison Roland.

Ready to E LEARN

BRENT WORONOFF STAFF WRITER

Courtesy photo

Christopher and Eleanor Snedeker get ready for the first day of school at First Baptist Christian Academy.

ducation in Flagler County is on a roll. A drum roll.

On the first day of school at Buddy Taylor Middle School, the Flagler Palm Coast High School band’s drumline welcomed back students and families.

Not to be outdone, the Matanzas High band’s drumline welcomed back students at Indian Trails Middle School.

Enrollment is up at Flagler Schools, Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt said, and an excitement permeated the air as students and teachers were eager for a return to normalcy.

“I think there was an overall sense of excitement,” Matanzas principal Jeff Reaves said. “The students felt glad to be back on campus, see their friends and eat lunch together again.”

Mittelstadt had a busy first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 10, visiting all nine public schools plus the district’s charter school — Imagine School at Town Center — and the central location for iFlagler Virtual School at Building 10 on the Matanzas campus.

At the end of the school day, she said, the district had a total student enrollment of 13,572 and more than 11,000 students showed up for class. Enrollment is also slowly increasing at the virtual school, she said.

The Matanzas High School Rhythm N Blue Step Team: Jenia Lynch McQueen, Leilonnie McGriff, Angel Louis Charles, Khadijah Jones, Alanna Chi, Owen Roberts and Lyla White

Photos by Brian McMillan

“Walking through our buildings seeing smiling faces and excited kids was very refreshing.”

CATHY MITTELSTADT, Flagler Schools superintendent

“Eighty-two percent attendance on the first day is a testimony to our families,” Mittelstadt said. “They are ready to get re-engaged in school, and we are excited to have them back to this degree.”

At every stop, Mittelstadt said, she could feel the energy.

“Walking through our buildings seeing smiling faces and excited kids was very refreshing,” she said. “Last year with all the COVID protocols, it was a different environment.”

Reaves said about 1,780 students are enrolled at Matanzas, about 120 more than last year’s remote learning and in-person student populations combined.

Matanzas has a freshman class of 540, which he said is the largest class ever at the school.

“We’ve had people from Colorado and California, literally all across the country, moving in,” he said.

“We are definitely seeing that we are a growth district from previous years,” Mittelstadt said.

Mittelstadt published a “Welcome Back to School” message on the Flagler Schools website. Her theme was “Flagler Together.”

She said in her message that the district remains diligent in creating a safe environment as COVID-19 continues to impact the community. Students, staff and visitors may wear masks, she said, and she urged everyone to make healthy choices and remain home if they are not feeling well.

Reaves said he saw “a good number of students” wearing masks on the first day. He said he wore a mask in large settings.

“We tell them it’s based on your level of comfort. Either is

Courtesy photo

Peyton Snyder is a freshman at Flagler Palm Coast High School.

WHAT’S NEW IN THE DISTRICT  Enrollment is up. A total of 13,572 students were enrolled in Flagler Schools as of the Aug. 10 and more than 11,000 were in attendance on the first day.  Masks are optional. Remote Live is not currently an option, but enrollment in iFlagler Virtual School is slowly increasing.  Free breakfast and lunch are not new. They will be offered for the second year in a row at Flagler’s nine public schools thanks to a waiver extension from the USDA. But several menu items are new, according to Café EDU. Those include a new breakfast smoothie, and Cheesy Pull-Aparts for lunch. Quesadilla Points, a favorite from last year’s National School Lunch Week, are being brought back.  Ahead of the first day, the Flagler County Education Foundation handed out over 500 bags of school supplies.

OK. Students and staff are feeling accepted, masked or unmasked,” Reaves said.

Also in her message, Mittelstadt said a $1.2 million mental health grant “will allow us to better serve our students in need of mental health services and telehealth options that were not previously available in Flagler County.” She noted that the district is in the process of creating a new strategic plan and linked a survey for teachers, staff, students and parents to provide feedback.

Email Brent Woronoff at brent@ palmcoastobserver.com.

PALM COAST OBSERVER

PalmCoastObserver.com

The African American Cultural Society Inc. held jazz concert in recognition of African American Music Appreciation Month with live jazz by Rob’s Jazz Express, on Wednesday June 30. This was the center’s first publicly held event since its doors closed, due to the pandemic, in March 2020.

Located at 4422 N. U.S. 1, one block north of White View, the AACS will provide a schedule of recurring programs starting in September 2021. The center will be closed in August for renovations in preparation for its 30-year anniversary celebration, Oct. 22-24.

WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY EVENT PLANNED Join American Association of University Women Flagler County Branch in celebrating Women’s Equality Day 2021, 101 Years of Women Voting.

Featured speakers will be Catherine Robinson, mayor of Bunnell; Andrea Totten, Flagler County judge; Suzie Johnston, mayor of Flagler Beach; Maruchi Azorin and Rita Barreto, commissioners, Florida Commission on the Status of Women. AAUW Florida President Pat DeWitt is expected to attend.

This year’s event will be noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Bunnell, located at 205 N. Pine Street, Bunnell, with social distancing and/or masks. RSVP

by Aug. 15 to aauwflagler1984@ gmail.com.

NEW GATHERING PLACE FOR SENIORS Seniors celebrated Christmas in July on July 26, at Church on the Rock, the new gathering place for the Flagler County Senior Center Program.

“We are able to do this thanks to the Halifoxes of Halifax Plantation, Home Instead Senior Care, and our local Walgreens stores, which have drop off locations for seniors’ gifts,” said Case Manager Winnie Costello who organizes the five-days-aweek hot meal program, and the activities designed to build companionship among its other benefits. “This fun event gives everyone a boost and something to look forward to.”

Also typical of the holiday season was a law enforcement warning about fraud and scams perpetrated against seniors.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Commander Mike Lutz gave some advice for seniors to follow.

“You will never win the lottery via mail. No one will knock on

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

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When memory care matters

FLAGLER BEACH HISTORICAL MUSEUM TO CELEBRATE 20TH ANNIVERSARY The Flagler Beach Historical Museum’s Board of Directors invite the public to help celebrate the museum’s 20th anniversary at their Moondance fundraiser 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Sept. 16, at Beachfront Grill, at 2444 S. Ocean Shore Blvd., Flagler Beach.

“We are also offering attendees the opportunity to own a piece of Flagler Beach history by participating in our live auction of the F-L-A-G-L-E-R B-EA-C-H letters recently replaced at the Flagler Beach Historical Pier’s A-frame,” said Museum Director Kathy Wilcox.

Tickets are $40 per person or two for $75 and can be purchased online at https:// flaglerbeachmuseum.org/, or by calling the Museum at 386517-2025, or by stopping by the Museum at 207 S Central Ave., Flagler Beach.

Ask about our Specials!

LIBRARY OFFERS E-CARD FOR E-RESOURCES There is an option for those who only wish to access electronic assets through the Flagler County Public Library – keep it virtual and get an e-card.

Patrons will begin the registration process using the online catalog at http://polaris. flaglercounty.org/polaris/. Then send a contact phone number, an image of a current picture ID, and proof of residency to cardrenewals@flaglercounty. org. Please allow 48 hours for a response that will include ecard information.

Once registered, patrons will have access to online resources including Overdrive, Cloud Library, Hoopla, Mometrix, Gale Legal Forms (eBooks and eAudiobooks), PressReader (magazines/newspapers), as well as online databases such as Udemy.

FLAGLER STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN FIRST FAME COHORT Daytona State College has officially launched Florida’s first chapter of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, a collaborative effort between DSC and local manufacturers designed to match students in the AS Engineering Technology program with job opportunities in the community. Among the nine students who make up the first cohort are Palm Coast’s James M. Brady Jr. and Justin Murray.

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AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY HOSTS EVENTS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE PANDEMIC BEGAN

YOUR TOWN

Sybil Dodson-Lucas, communications and outreach associate; Blanche Valentine, African American Cultural Center administrator; Meshella E. Woods, director of curatorial affairs/grant Writer.

your door to ask you if you have received a COVID vaccination,” he said. “If you ever have any questions about who is knocking on your door in regard to COVID-19, you are encouraged to call 9-1-1 in order for the Sheriff’s Office to prove the validity of the visitor.”

Anyone over the age of 60 can apply to participate in the Senior Center Program, which meets from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday through Friday at Church on the Rock. A hot meal is always provided at noon.

Drop in at Church on the Rock weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. for a firsthand look, or call Costello at 386586-2324 ext. 3623.

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Photo by Brent Woronoff

Former math teacher Mike Gleason uses retirement to become an artist LOCAL NEWS

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Gleason’s paintings and pen and ink drawings were shown at the Grand Gallery at Grand Living Realty last month.

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BRENT WORONOFF STAFF WRITER

Mike Gleason never had his own art show before. But then again, he’s never had an art lesson, either.

Gleason’s paintings and pen and ink drawings were shown at the Grand Gallery at Grand Living Realty last month.

Gleason, who is from Michigan, taught math for 38 years. He retired 15 years ago and decided he wanted to paint. He had no art

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training. He picked up supplies without asking for any advice and began experimenting.

“I did a small amount of oil,” he said. “I gave up on that. Then I started doing pen and ink drawings. Then I picked up some acrylic and I said, ‘this is kind of fun.’ And then I picked up a little bit of oil pastels and I kind of liked them. Whatever and whenever I’m in the mood, I just do it.”

The show at Grand Gallery contained a wide selection of his work including acrylic paintings of various abstract styles and about 130 pen and ink drawings.

He does his pen and ink drawings while watching television.

“And they just happen,” Gleason said.

Email Brent Woronoff at brent@ palmcoastobserver.com.

Beth Jacobson Multi-Media Account Executive 8 Years with The Observer

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Courtesy photo

Sons of the American Revolution awarded Flagler County FirefighterParamedic Jason Feldman with the Emergency Medical Services Award.

FLAGLER FIREFIGHTER HONORED BY SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Members of the Sons of the American Revolution on Monday, Aug 2, awarded Flagler County Firefighter-Paramedic Jason Feldman with the Emergency Medical Services Award.

Flagler Chapter Awards Committee member David Kelsey spoke of the tradition of presenting the award as “descendants of our great nation’s very first public servants.”

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, which was organized on April 30, 1889, the 100th anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington as our nation’s first president.

Flagler County Fire Chief Mike Tucker introduced Feldman, who was nominated for the Emergency Medical Services Award by Steve Ripley, who alongside Tucker presented him with a medal. The award was established in 2005 to honor community service above what is required for work.

“He is an outstanding Firefighter-Paramedic,” Tucker said.

“I have every reason to believe he will be receiving a number of promotions under me in the future.”

“Jason Feldman really stood out because of all of his involvement surrounding COVID-19,” Ripley said before the awards ceremony. “He was overwhelmingly accepted by the Sons of the American Revolution for this award, because of his willingness to go above and beyond.”

Feldman was part of a core COVID-19 team initiative led by Community Paramedic Caryn Prather that started with testing and evolved to vaccinating homebound residents. Rob Errett and Nealon Joseph were also on the team.

“I am extremely proud of Jason,” Prather said.

Feldman was recently promoted to Field Training Officer for Emergency Medical Services. He is a CERT team lead. He has worked for Flagler County since June 2018.

Feldman’s family attended the ceremony including his wife Pamela and his 3-month-old son Ralph.

American Association of University Women Flagler County Branch joined Move to Improve Inc., a local nonprofit organization, in hosting the third-annual Back2School Bash July 31, at the George Washington Carver Community Center, in Bunnell.

The Supplying Things U Find Fundamental Bus is a program by the Flagler County Education Foundation and one which AAUW Flagler has supported for many years. Its mission is to provide essential supplies and clothing to students of families experiencing economic difficulties. Saturday’s event did not disappoint.

In short hours, AAUW Flagler’s S.T.U.F.F. Bus delivered school supplies, clothing, tennis shoes, 65 hand soaps and hand sanitizers, 42 laundry detergents, nearly 280 toiletry items, over 900 feminine products

and many other items in time for school, which began Aug. 10.

Email AAUWFlagler1984@ gmail.com or visit https://aauwflagler-branch.square.site.

FCSO EMPLOYEES DONATE TO THE FLORIDA SHERIFF’S YOUTH RANCHES

Sheriff Staly presenting the employee donation to the FSYR Executive VP Maria Knapp.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office employees donated $13,763 this year to the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches making FCSO employee’s total donations to the FSYR over $113,000 since 2017.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly presented the latest employee donation check to FSYR Executive Vice President Maria Knapp on July 23 at the Florida Sheriff’s Association semi-annual meeting of Florida Sheriff’s.

The FSYR was founded in 1957 to improve the lives of at-risk children. Visit www. youthranches.org.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

YOUR TOWN

AAUW FLAGLER JOINS ‘MOVE TO IMPROVE’ AT BACK2SCHOOL BASH

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FIREFIGHTER HELPS IN CALIFORNIA

Photo Courtesy of Haydee Bernal

Haydee Bernal, AAUW Flagler S.T.U.F.F. Bus chair; Patti Paukovich and Martha Butler, AAUW Flagler co-presidents; Susan Baird, AAUW Flagler Tech Trek chair, and Terri Smith, AAUW member.

Flagler County Prescribed Fire Program Supervisor Michael Orlando is headed to Northern California where several wildfires are raging. He will be deployed for about three weeks.

Orlando’s assignment will begin at the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Big Bar, California, well north of Sacramento.

“I won’t know which fire I will be working until I get there and get my order,” said Orlando, who regularly deploys to help fight wildland fires elsewhere in the country. “I’m excited to deploy again to assist our brothers and sisters out west, as well as the residents affected by these fires. It’s an honor to serve.”

Last year he served as “dozer boss” at California’s “North Complex Fire,” a fire that was referred to then as “historic and unprecedented” as 215,000 acres burned in 24 hours.

“Last year was ... a great reminder that safety procedures that have been created over the years are for a reason,” Orlando said.

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AUGUST 12, 2021

SPORTS

Matanzas super sophs Jordan Mills, Dakwon Evans and Cole Hash.

Photos by Brent Woronoff

BETWEEN THE LINES

Youthful leaders: Matanzas sophomores will be key to football team’s prospects this season BRENT WORONOFF STAFF WRITER

W

Coach Paxia got here, we talked with friends, we talked with former teammates, and they were talking about how great it is here, so I decided to come back.”

Roberts is battling with sophomore D.J. Murray for the starting quarterback spot. Both QBs like what they’ve seen so far in fall practice.

“It’s built like a new program, a new bond with everybody, a new everything,” Roberts said.

“I like the way the offense runs; it’s very smooth,” Murray said.

“I feel like it gives us more of an opportunity to make plays, keep the defense guessing.”

The players say the RPO scheme is nothing new, but two days into practice they were already feeling more confident than ever running the plays.

“It’s all the same concepts that

hile the pandemic affected all high school sports teams last year, first-year Matanzas High football coach Matt Forrest felt like his program was behind from the start.

With no spring practice and an abbreviated fall practice, Forrest and his staff barely had time to install their system, let alone establish a culture. This past offseason gave them that chance.

“We were able to teach our culture this summer, who we are, what our identity is off the field,” Forrest said. “The culture starts in the weight room, and three-quarters of our kids came to (summer workouts) four days a week. They didn’t miss a day.”

After losing 26 seniors from last year’s 6-4 team, the Pirates will have to find leadership in some nontraditional places. A few sophomores who started as freshmen last season are ready to do their part.

“Me assuming a leadership role is just a big part of how we do things at Matanzas,” rising sophomore Cole Hash said during a break on the first day of practice Monday, Aug. 1. “It’s just who wants to step up, and who wants to be a leader, and who wants to be a captain on this team and really make a difference.”

Hash started at wide receiver last year and is slated to play linebacker this season. He is one of four freshmen starters for the Pirates in 2020 who could have

SEE BULLDOGS PAGE 17

SEE PIRATES PAGE 17

From left, FPC quarterback Preston Roberts, running back Dakoda Wagner and quarterback D.J. Murray.

FPC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Hair apparents: Seniors anticipate big football season at Flagler Palm Coast

n Kickoff Classic:

BRENT WORONOFF

Aug. 20, at Nease n Week 1: Aug. 27, at Pine Ridge n Week 2: Sept. 3, home vs. Mainland n Week 3: Sept. 10, home vs. Atlantic n Week 4: Sept. 17, home vs. Sanford Seminole n Week 5: Sept. 24, at Spruce Creek n Week 6: Oct. 1, at Oviedo n Week 7: Oct. 8, at Orange City University n Week 8: Oct. 15, home vs. Lake Mary n Week 9: Oct. 22, at DeLand n Week 10: Nov. 5, at Matanzas All games scheduled for 7 p.m.

STAFF WRITER

F

lagler Palm Coast quarterback Preston Roberts may not have plans to cut his long blond locks, but running back Dakoda Wagner will have to chop his off. He wants to incorporate his crewcut into a signing day celebration.

Wagner has committed to play football next year at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, so his long hair will no longer be an option.

“I was kind of figuring it would be a signing day kind of thing, have my teammates shave it off,” Wagner said. “I think that would be interesting.”

“I like that,” Roberts said.

The two seniors could play major roles for the Bulldogs this season in new head coach Robert Paxia’s run-pass option scheme.

Paxia is not new to the Bulldogs. He graduated from FPC in 2008. He was an offensive lineman on the football team and won a state weightlifting championship along the way. He also began his coaching career as an assistant with the Bulldogs.

His return has brought an excitement to the team.

“I think it’s a phenomenal hire,” said Roberts, who is making a return of his own.

FPC’s starting quarterback last year, Roberts transferred to Matanzas after the season and participated in spring practice with the Pirates. Now he is back with the Bulldogs.

“After the spring game, (my parents and I) were trying to figure out what we should do, because my senior year has to be a big year for me. Going into senior year I really wasn’t where I wanted to be,” he said. “Once

PALM COAST OBSERVER

PalmCoastObserver.com

Pirates expanded roles this season.

“We’re going to have a ton of youth,” Forrest said. “A key for us is, how quickly will those kids grow up? Do they become elite this year and bring the young guys with them?”

The Pirates have about 25 juniors and seniors on the roster. The rest of the team will be underclassmen, Forrest said.

Matanzas does return wide receiver Noah Cundiff, who has several Division I college offers on the table. Cundiff caught 61 passes for 574 yards last season.

But he’ll be catching passes from a first-year starter this year.

Sophomore Dakwon Evans is one of four players competing to replace graduated quarterback Ethan Dattilio, who set Matanzas’ single-season passing record

last year with 1,771 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Evans will play wide receiver and cornerback if he doesn’t start at QB. At quarterback, the athlete would give Forrest’s air raid scheme a different look.

“He’s a lot more mobile,” said fellow sophomore Jordan Mills. “... He’s good with decision making, and he’s very versatile.”

Evans said wide receiver may be his favorite position, but he’ll play anywhere the team needs him.

“I played quarterback in Pop Warner. I know high school football is totally different, but I feel that with hard work and help from my teammates with the plays, I can get it done,” he said.

Mills will be a second-year starter at cornerback, while the fourth freshman starter from last season, Sho’Marion Gaines, will likely play at running back and safety.

“We had a lot of seniors last year that brought the energy and got everybody motivated,” Mills

Bulldogs

“We have a script every day, how things start and how things finish.

That consistency is what’s making (the offense) so smooth.”

FROM PAGE 16

PRESTON ROBERTS

we did before, but a lot faster tempo,” senior offensive lineman Nick Blumengarten said. “Coach Paxia coming in is just bringing a fresh light to everything.”

Wagner said the offense is feeling more fluid.

“Everything is opening up a lot better,” he said. “And Coach makes sure we refine all of our plays before we move on to other plays.”

Said Roberts: “It’s almost like we’re running through a script.

We have a script every day, how

things start and how things finish. That consistency is what’s making (the offense) so smooth.”

While Roberts is trying to regain his job, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Wagner is heading into the 2021 season as the starting running back for the first time in his high school career. He became the starter late last season after an injury.

“This year he’s going to show who he is,” Blumengarten said.

Army coaches have seen enough

FROM PAGE 16

MATANZAS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE n Kickoff Classic:

Aug. 20, home vs.

Wolfson n Week 1: Aug. 27, at Menendez n Week 2: Sept.

3, at Atlantic n Week 3: Sept.

10, at Deltona n Week 4: Sept.

17, home vs.

Gainesville n Week 5: Sept.

24, home vs.

Orange Park n Week 6: Oct. 1, at Middleburg n Week 7: Oct. 8, home vs. Lake Howell n Week 8: Oct. 15, home vs.

Ridgeview n Week 9: Oct. 22, at St. Augustine n Week 10: Nov. 5, home vs. Flagler Palm Coast All games scheduled for 7 p.m.

“We’re going to have a ton of youth. A key for us is, how quickly will those kids grow up?

MATT FORREST, Matanzas football coach

said. “That just means we have to replace them.”

But they do have an advantage they didn’t have heading into last season — spring and summer workouts.

“The spring really taught me the defense,” said senior linebacker Zeke Flores. “(COVID-19) really messed it up last year. We didn’t have a spring game, so we didn’t know what to work on. It really tested us a lot. It showed us who really wanted it. We feel like we’re going to be better this year.”

of Wagner already to recruit him.

“I definitely feel very blessed to have the opportunity to go to West Point because not too many people actually get to do that,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve talked about the bonds I’ll form with a lot of my (future) teammates there. It’s really going to be like no other place.”

But first Wagner and his teammates want to get their new coach’s tenure off on the right foot.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

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SIDELINES Mad Dogs Flag Football adds board members, Founded in 2018, Mad Dogs Flag Football of Palm Coast is expanding its Executive Board, including the head coaches of both local high schools: Flagler Palm Coast’s Robert Paxia and Matanzas High School’s Matt Forrest. In addition, Chris Parks (a volunteer coach at FPC and a personal trainer who has coached with Mad Dogs) and Anthony Robinson (dean of students at Matanzas) are also joining the board this season.

Mad Dogs co-founders Jarrod Maxwell and Michael Schottey have both recently joined the Matanzas football coaching staff.

Three others have been added to the board for the upcoming season: Mark Ramirez, Will Buckmaster and George Holloway. Ramirez serves as the head of officiating. Buckmaster will be the director in charge of gameday operations, and Holloway will assist him.

Mad Dogs offers competitive play for boys and girls ages 5-15. Registration is open for the upcoming fall season which will run Sept. 25 to Nov. 13. Visit MadDogsFootball.net or call 386-597-0215.

would like to thank all of our partners for the Flagler Schools’ Back to School Breakfast and the Back to School Jam

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BUSINESS OBSERVER

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Development, real estate + business news

Homes to be built on 142 acres near SR 100 Water leaks again force Bunnell city government to move offices JONATHAN SIMMONS

Subject property

NEWS EDITOR

PALM COAST ADDS PROPERTY RIGHTS CLAUSE TO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Palm Coast will update its Comprehensive Plan to add a property rights clause required by a new state law passed in the last legislative session.

The amendment states that the city, in its decision making, will respect the following rights: “The right of a property owner to physically possess and control his or her interests

A1A

request and a rezoning request, Livingston said.

The parcels are currently listed on the Flagler County Property Appraiser’s Office website as vacant commercial land.

nue Ave

Road Roberts

e an 100

The city is planning to relocate to a parcel near the Wendy’s on SR 100.

JONATHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

bert

tL

Lam

er lb Co

Palm Coast is getting a bit bigger: A developer is planning to build single-family homes on a 141.7acre property on Roberts Road, and the city is annexing the land.

The vacant property along Roberts Road, known as Grand Reserve East, comprises the very last parcels within the Palm Coast Utility Service Area — the region of parcels that, if they annex into the city, can receive city water and wastewater service.

The property owner, M.L. Carter Services Inc., requested the annexation in preparation for the development process.

“This is a necessary step before, really, we can do anything with the property,” said attorney Jay Livingston, representing the owners.

The service area and the annexation policy were created more than a decade ago during what were known as the “water wars” between the county and its cities as the municipalities fought over who should provide water service in which areas and at what cost, Palm Coast Senior Planner Jose Papa told City Council members at an Aug. 3 council meeting.

The City Council approved the annexation 4-0.

The owners will next submit a Future Land Use Map amendment

100

in the property, including easements, leases, or mineral rights. ​The right of a property owner to use, maintain, develop, and improve his or her property for personal use or for the use of any other person, subject to state law and local ordinances.

The right of the property owner to privacy and to exclude others from the property to protect the owner’s possessions and property.

The right of a property owner to dispose of his or her property through sale or gift.”

The language in the city’s Comprehensive Plan amendment mirrors the language of the state law.

The Palm Coast City Council voted 4-0 to approve the amendment.

Once again, water leaks are forcing the Bunnell city government out of its home: The city will sell off its current city government complex at 201 W. Moody Blvd. and is hoping to buy a vacant plot just south of the Wendy’s on State Road 100, near the planned site of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office headquarters.

The move recalls a similar one in 2009, when the city abandoned Coquina City Hall because of water intrusion there and spent five years using the county government’s building on S.R. 100 before buying its current home in 2014 for $600,000.

As in 2009, the city is hoping that the county will provide space to tide the city over until it finds a new home — hopefully more efficiently this time than last.

The City Commission voted 3-0 on July 26 to sell off the current city administration complex.

It voted 2-1, with Commissioner Tonya Gordon dissenting, to make

an offer on a parcel at 2400 Commerce Parkway.

It’s listed for $249,500, and the city is offering $228,000.

The city discovered serious water problems in its current building in March after leaks forced it to relocate its utility billing and community development staff to a strip mall near the Chicken Pantry.

The city hired a construction and engineering firm — Yapi Group, based in Miami — to evaluate the current building, the site at 2400 Commerce Parkway, and another potential property behind the Bunnell water tower.

The firm wrote that the current city administration building needs a new roof, and that leaks on the inside of its walls and ceilings make mold likely.

The firm recommended the 2.9-acre vacant land at 2400 Commerce Parkway.

If the city buys it, that parcel, across from the First Baptist Church of Bunnell, would house the City Commission and administrative functions and also the Bunnell Police Department. Yapi estimated that construction costs would be $5.77 million for 20,000 square feet and that construction would take up to 27 months, not including the design phase.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

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Law shields businesses from COVID-19 suits UNF president stepping down Businesses are largely protected from employees or customers who may want to sue them for COVID-19 claims, but businesses still should review the law and must take precautions to stop the spread of the virus, experts said in a, Aug. 4 Zoom meeting conducted by the Palm Coast-Flagler County Chamber of Commerce.

“We’re really encouraging folks to make sure they’re protecting themselves, their employees and their businesses,” said Greg Blose, president of the chamber.

Attorney Josh Woolsey, Flagler County Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord and Flagler County Health Administrator Bob Snyder joined Blose in the discussion.

The chamber supported the passage of Senate Bill 72, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March and implemented on July 1, Blose said.

The bill specifies requirements for civil suits based on COVID-19

Senate Bill 72 specifies requirements for civil suits based on COVID-19 claims, putting the burden of proof on the plaintiffs making the claims. claims, putting the burden of proof on the plaintiffs making the claims.

“It’s a great piece of legislation that shields businesses from being sued for COVID liability,” Blose said.

Snyder noted that 20% of all new cases are stemming from Florida, making it a high-transmission state.

Lord said the county is doing “tens of times worse” than it was doing a year ago despite vaccines being readily available “because we got comfortable and because of the new delta variant,” he said.

Woolsey, a plaintiff’s lawyer, said that he’s been talking to circuit judges and none of them have

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NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

David Szymanski, who was hired by the University of North Florida in 2018, announced Aug. 5, that he will leave the presidential post effective Sept. 17 to become CEO and executive director of UNF MedNexus, in Palm Coast.

The MedNexus initiative is aimed at fostering partnerships between the university’s Brooks College of Health and “health care providers, thought leaders, educational institutions and researchers” to “address the state’s growing and evolving health care needs,” according to UNF’s website. State lawmakers appropriated $6 million in initial funding for the program last year.

“Approaching the final year of my presidency and shortly after receiving state support for UNF MedNexus, I initiated discussions with the leadership of the (university system) Board of Governors and (UNF) Board of Trust-

David Szymanski

ees and the chancellor on the best timing for a transition to lead UNF MedNexus on a full-time basis,” Szymanski said in a statement published by the university.

Szymanski has earned a base salary of $405,000 during his time as president.

Szymanski became the second state university president to step down in recent weeks. Former University of South Florida President Steven Currall’s departure from the job he held for two years took effect this week. Currall said he made the decision to step down based on stress from leading the university through the pandemic.

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seen a suit filed yet since the new Bill 72 has been enacted.

“There’s a couple of reasons for that,” he said. “There’s been four months that we’ve been live with the statute (since the governor signed it), and there’s some things that lawyers have to do that slows the process down. With a case like this, I have to gather their medical records; I have to have a licensed physician look at them and give an opinion under oath that there’s a valid claim.”

Once a lawsuit is filed, the plaintiffs have additional hurdles, Woolsey said. The judges are required to evaluate whether the business has made a good faith effort to follow COVID protocols — even if the protocols may not be legal mandates.

Woolsey said all businesses should comply with mandatory requirements, but as for recommendations, businesses should think about their own risk tolerances and talk to their insurance agents and see what would happen if they do get sued.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

Five-bedroom pool home tops sales list

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

JULY 1 - JULY 7

A

house in Palm Coast Plantation was the top real estate transaction for the week of July 1-7 in Flagler County in the Multiple Listing Service. Ryan and Ashley Seifert, and Dennis and Diane Lanigan, of Palm Coast, sold 280 Riverwalk Drive S. to Vincent and Cynthia Iocona, of Palm Coast, for $805,000.

Built in 2019, the house is a 5/3.5 and has a swimming pool and 3,365 square feet.

Following is a partial list of other transactions for the week.

WAYNE GRANT REAL ESTATE EDITOR

Belle Terre Thomas and Erica Neel, of Palm Coast, sold 205 Pritchard Drive to Catherine Hand and Cynthia Smart, of Palm Coast, for $330,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 3/2 and has a swimming pool and 1,473 square feet. It sold in 2000 for $92,900.

Cypress Knoll Holiday Builders Inc., of Melbourne, sold 31 Ethan Allen Drive to John and Yadira Monsanto, of Palm Coast, for $351,153. Built in 2020, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,604 square feet.

George Moody Teri Fortney, of Flagler Beach, sold 212 S. Fourth St. to Frank Grover, of Statesboro, Georgia, for $350,000. Built in 1960,

CROSSWORD

the house is a 2/1 and has 816 square feet. It sold in 2001 for $125,000.

Grand Reserve and Golf Club Raul and Dora Soto, and William Rodriguez, of Bunnell, sold 3 Sand Wedge Lane to Oskar Kontorskiy and Marianna Culeanu, of Ontario, Canada, for $275,000. Built in 2019, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,858 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $210,000.

Hidden Lakes Jose Iorio and Maria Coto, of Palm Coast, sold 170 Arena Lake Drive to William and Karla Hager, of Palm Coast, for $450,000. Built in 2012, the house is a 4/3.5 and has a swimming pool and 3,066 square feet.

Indian Trails Sean and Tamara Meyer, of Palatka, sold 132 Birchwood

to Richard and Joanne Degennaro, as trustees, for $304,060.

Built in 2021, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,779 square feet.

Courtesy photo

The top real estate transaction features a swimming pool and has three and a half bathrooms.

Drive to Yvonne Thorne, of Palm Coast, for $315,000. Built in 1989, the house is a 4/2 and has a swimming pool and 2,086 square feet. It sold in 2008 for $150,000.

Lehigh Woods LGI Homes Florida LLC, of The Woodlands, Texas, sold 8 Riverview Drive to Doris Chastain and Pamela Turner, of Palm Coast, for $269,900. Built in 2021, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,680 square feet.

Blanca Gutierrez, of Palm Coast, sold 48 Rollins Lane to Kereno Stanbury-Jones and Kamoy Smith, of Palm Coast, for $255,000. Built in 2008, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,591 square feet. It sold in 2013 for $145,000.

Matanzas Woods Michele and Peter Pappargeris, of Jacksonville, sold 34 Lamoyne Lane to Elias Valencia, of

SUGGESTED TRACK by Drew Schmenner; Edited by David Steinberg

©2021 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 Quick snooze 7 Forbid 10 Bread with a pocket 14 Month when St. Patrick is honored 19 "Positions" singer Grande 20 Santa ___ winds 21 Not as planned 22 Home to Prada and Gucci 23 Streaming music?

26 Dealt (with) 27 Ink on the body 28 Copenhagen native 29 "All the President's ___" 30 Smoothing power tool 31 Zoo enclosure

32 Country single?

35 Necktie with a cord and clasp 38 Type of exam 40 Home to most of the world's population 41 Bambi's mother, for one 42 Partner of "oohing" 44 Alteration, informally 46 Singer Del Rey 48 Auto tune?

53 Rachel Maddow's network 58 In the past 59 News service org.

60 "NYPD Blue" actor Jimmy

61 Isolated to block all communication 62 Disorder 64 Chunk of drifting ice 66 Peace activist Yoko 67 Movie theaters, to a Brit 68 Closing number?

72 Hollywood up-and-comer 74 Title for a baronet 75 Made a rip in 76 Aching 79 Like many a film with lots of profanity 80 Prerelease software versions 82 Attention for a sick child, briefly

83 Janitor's implement 84 Blue ___ shoes 85 Power chords?

89 Sushi order 92 Over there, poetically 93 Often-misplaced TV accessory 94 Wrath 97 ___-Hoop 99 Reaction to poison ivy 102 Elementary addition problems 103 Bird song?

107 All tidied up 109 Like an enthusiastic fan 110 (Not my error) 111 Close, as an envelope

112 Microbe 116 Rarely attainable standard 117 Haunting melody?

121 Where one steps into the spotlight 122 Challenge in a sleepover game 123 Candy with colorful dispensers 124 Oscars and Nobels 125 Carries 126 Poetic tributes 127 Astound 128 Most recent DOWN 1 Broadway ensemble 2 Diva's delivery 3 Hue 4 Pesters incessantly 5 Name that anagrams to "Ina" 6 Bamboo-eating bear 7 Eye-catching online ad 8 Poker payment 9 "I'll pass" 10 Knife for peeling 11 Eager child's cry 12 Prefix with "pod" 13 Author Rand 14 Book after Jonah 15 Made up (for) 16 Pair that may have good flow 17 John of "Monty Python" films 18 Many-headed serpent 24 "Othello" villain 25 Angsty music genre 30 ___ the Man (baseball legend's rhyming nickname) 31 Soft serve holder 32 Politically aligned groups 33 Tropical vacation spots 34 Name that anagrams to "Ina" 35 Flat-bottomed freight carrier 36 Buckeyes' university 37 Actress Tyler 39 Friend, in Paris 42 Man made from dust 43 More brusque 45 Major Greek export?

Palm Coast, for $255,000. Built in 1998, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,840 square feet. It sold in 2012 for $120,000.

Not in Subdivision Jerry Wetherby, of Bunnell, sold 1331 County Road 140 to Marshall Wolfe Jr. and Margaret Edmiston, as trustees, for $799,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, barn and 2,189 square feet.

Palm Harbor Richard and Tricia Smith, of Palm Coast, sold 10 Chestnut Court to Clarence Redmon and Julie Pyburn, of Palm Coast, for $530,000. Built in 1981, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, boat dock, boat house and 2,115 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $267,000.

Pine Grove Seagate Homes LLC, of Palm Coast, sold 35 Pine Croft Lane 47 ___ acid (protein part) 49 Leave in a hurry 50 Beast such as Mufasa 51 Madre's boy 52 Heavyset 54 Boatloads 55 Cutesy chewing sounds 56 Actress Arthur 57 Best Buy stopped selling them in 2018 61 Motorcycle attachment 63 Cut into tiny pieces 65 Painter's stand 67 PC shortcut often used before pasting text 69 One to respect 70 Miller ___ 71 Response to the Little Red Hen 72 Graduating group (Abbr.)

73 Letter after sigma 77 Major defeats 78 Sword wielded at the Olympics 80 "Beauty and the Beast" heroine 81 Tale 86 Cellular messenger 87 Three-piece suit component 88 Flightless bird Down Under 90 "Pick me, pick me!"

91 Verb stamped on candy hearts 94 "There was no alternative" 95 Warm up again 96 Make really mad 98 Promise 100 Go "Achoo!"

101 Be on the mend 103 Body part you can flick 104 Broad valleys 105 Quotes as evidence 106 TV brand 108 Edgar ___ Poe 111 Gush, as lava 112 Nibble like a gopher 113 Bronte's "Jane ___" 114 They hold up curtains 115 Need to 117 Short phrase with lasting meaning 118 Home, slangily 119 Place for a peel 120 Need to settle up

Pine Lakes Anita Foley, of Palm Coast, sold 16 Woodglen Place to Alicia Souza and Rohit Gaikwad, of Palm Coast, for $340,000.

Built in 1990, the house is a 3/2 and has a swimming pool and 2,271 square feet.

Michael and Diane Kehl, of Bagley, Wisconsin, sold 3 Wingate Place to Mark and Pamela Velten, of Hilliard, Ohio, for $291,000. Built in 1993, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,151 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $230,000.

Quail Hollow Alfred and Desiree Mascolo, of Palm Coast, sold 27 Zoeller Court to Troy and Tracey Clymer, of Palm Coast, for $220,000. Built in 1997, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,120 square feet.

Seminole Woods Adams Homes of Northwest Florida Inc., of Gulf Breeze, sold 9 Underwick Path to Arthur Cooper Jr., of Palm Coast, for $272,650. Built in 2021, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,169 square feet.

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

CELEBRITY CIPHER

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

"RS RFWPY WBU WPIU P TVM 31 NUVGM CYX, PF MSVPF, P MWPYY XPXF'W OFCT BCT P TVM KCPFK WC SVN WBU GUFW." VFWCFPC JVFXUGVM "O YHC IZU SOGP TK DTTA YZUAU O SGUY AOMZI HYHF O ZHP VUCC IZHG UJUAFTGU HATBGP XU." JOTVH PHJOC Puzzle Two Clue M equals G

REAL ESTATE

PALM COAST OBSERVER

Puzzle One Clues I equals M

20

© 2021 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2021 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

8-12-21

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 386-447-9723

Tutoring

25 LLAMA TRAIL, 8/13 & 8/14, 9AM-2PM multi-family yard sale, too much to list!

home services

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SELL YOUR STUFF FOR FREE!

Carpet/Tile

Beth Hall Education Consultant

DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at Noon Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card The Palm Coast Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Palm Coast Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

ELITE T8 Tablet, brand new, never used, in original box first $70 takes it! 386-586-7074

Dated at Palm Coast, Florida, this 4th day of August, 2021 Suds N Suds IX, LLC

GE MICROWAVE oven, 30” above stove, excellent condition $65 386-445-1817

NOTICE UNDER Fictitious Name Law Pursuant to Section 865.09, Florida Statutes NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of A1A Alternative Solutions, LLC., located at 11 16th Road West, in the County of Flagler, in the City of Palm Coast, Florida 32137 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.

BEIGE RECLINER, swivel rocker chair $50, Brother typewriter #3810 $30 386-747-6484

HP DESKJET printer 2540 all in one series $70 386-447-2784 LEATHER EXECUTIVE office chair, new, $65 386-672-2021 METAL LIGHTING fixtures for outside garage walls, good condition $50 386-437-7058 NORDICTRACK ACT Series, elliptical machine $200 386-206-9181 OSTER WALL Hair Dryer w/Mount: 12/1500watt, 2 settings, auto shutoff, $25 (386) 316-9990

Dated at Palm Coast, Florida, this 9th day of August, 2021 Aaron Abel

SPECIAL FOR your kitchenGas stove from Grand Banks luxury motor yacht $100 (386) 615-0800

REAL LOCAL STUFF HERE!

SWIMMING POOL pump 1.5 HP, 110-220 volt $95, Hayward C900 pool filter housing with cartridge $100 386-302-2922 TWO LAWNMOWERS, electric and gas $50 ea. Gas weed wacker $30, lawn seed spreader $10 386-864-1381 UTILITY TRAILER Tilt, plywood bed, 4'x7' plus misc hitch parts $200 (937) 470-2631 WEIGHT LIFTING weights, 120 lbs. in discs and bars, 90 lbs. in dumbells $160 OBO 203-560-6066 WERNER 12’ fiberglass step ladder, new condition $129 Port Orange 386-682-9609

PalmCoastObserver.com/RedPages PHYSICIAN TERMINATING PRACTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to § 456.058, Fla. Stat. and Rule 64B8-10.002, F.A.C., that Awais Khan, MD will no longer be seeing patients with Florida Cancer Specialists, P.L., d/b/a Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, effective as of August 2, 2021, and that Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute has been designated as records owner; thus, any requests by patients for copies of medical records can be made directly to Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute at 61 Memorial Medical Parkway, Suite 2818, Palm Coast, FL 32164.

jobs

CHROMCRAFT KITCHEN table 42”x42” & 4 captains chairs, neutral colors $144 386-503-3219

BUY STUFF HERE!

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Dated at Palm Coast, Florida, this 4th day of August, 2021 Sonya McMillan NOTICE UNDER Fictitious Name Law Pursuant to Section 865.09, Florida Statutes NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Ace Coin Laundry, located at 4601 East Moody Boulevard, Suites A-5 and A-6 in the County of Flagler, in the City of Bunnell, Florida 32110 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.

52” MAGNAVOX TV w/remote, works well $50, 2 brand new potty chairs $10 each, 2 walkers $10 each 386-437-3441

Call us at 770-284-0843 or hello@bethhallconsulting.com

Items Up to $200

Homes for Sale YOUR HOME SOLD FOR 100% OF ASKING PRICE GUARANTEED OR WE’LL PAY THE DIFFERENCE CALL 206-806-SOLD

Help Wanted

Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty *Seller/Broker must agree on terms

HOME HEALTH Assistant $22/hour Tuesday & Thursday Handyman 9-10am Sea Colony 401-309-3408 INSTRUCTOR NEEDED Flagler Technical College is looking for a part-time CDL Instructor with a high school diploma and 5 years experience. Valid Florida Driver’s License and CDL License required.

Contact 386-447-4345 PALM HARBOR Golf looking for maintenance workers, full or part-time. Call for appointment 386-986-2580

You’re only cheating yourself.

Items Under $200

NOTICE UNDER Fictitious Name Law Pursuant to Section 865.09, Florida Statutes NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Acti-Kare Responsive In-Home Care, located at 389 Palm Coast Parkway SW, Suite 3-J, in the County of Flagler, in the City of Palm Coast, Florida 32137 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.

peekers’ place

stuff

Announcements

We offer 1:1 Advising or Group Advising sessions.

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Pools THE RELIABLES POOL SERVICE

Cleaning MARYANN’S HOME Cleaning Personalized Service Monthly Appointments Available Free Estimates Upon Request 386-276-1899

Home Services

FIIR R EP PLA ACE ES SP PE ECIIA AL LIIS ST T F FIRE EPL LA&C CM EO SR PEC C ! IALIST & M O R E ! & MORE! -New Fireplaces Fireplaces and and Re-facing Re-facing -New -New Fireplaces and Re-facing -Chimney cleaning -Chimney cleaning -Chimney cleaning -Replacement screens -Replacement screens -Replacement screens -Rain caps -Rain caps -Rain caps -Damper and Firebox Firebox repairs repairs -Damper and -Damper and Firebox repairs -Inspections -Inspections -Inspections -Custom stone stone and brick brick -Custom -Custom stone and and brick -Mailboxes -Mailboxes -Mailboxes -Firepits -Firepits -Firepits -Walkways -Walkways -Walkways -Waterfalls -Waterfalls -Waterfalls -Patios -Patios -Patios -BBQ’s -BBQ’s -BBQ’s Bo ona ann no M Ma asso on nrryy B Bo3n n8a6n n.n5o o03M .8 8a4 4s6 6o0 0nry 3 8 6 .

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ELIZABETH JONES TIRED OF COMING HOME TO A MESSY HOUSE? NEED YOUR ROOMS/CLOSETS ORGANIZED?

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This week’s Crossword answers

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Puzzle One Solution: “Up until the time I was 31 years old, in Spain, I still didn’t know how I was going to pay the rent.”

Antonio Banderas

Puzzle Two Solution: “I was the kind of poor where I knew right away I had less than everyone around me.”

Viola Davis

This week’s Sudoku answers

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WHIRLPOOL REFRIGERATOR filtered water & crushed ice $70. TECTRICS Bike MAX $130 386-283-9782

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CALL BRIAN 386-385-8504

fivestar386@gmail.com • www.fivestarroofingSVC.com CGC049971, CCC330417, CPC048249

KASTLE K EEPERS HANDYMAN SERVICES

361832

SHINGLES TILE METAL

386.677.9265 State Licensed | Insured CCC1328252 | CBC1254280

CBC ROOFING COMPANY

362512

Licensed & Insured

PF-0000987082-01

MAKING YOUR ROOF, WEATHERPROOF!

Shingle | Tile | Metal | Flat | Re-Roof Structural Repair | Skylights

362219

TOILET REPAIRS SCREENS DRYER VENT CLEANING REPAIR CLOGGED DRAIN

712 South Oceanshore Blvd.

Flagler Beach, Florida 32136

“Specialist In Hard to Find Leaks”

846-4580

PRESSURE CLEANING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR PAINTING CEILING FANS LIGHT & SINK FIXTURES

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ROOFING

Locally Owned and Operated 20+ years

Roof Leaking?

THE TO DO LIST EXPERT

(386)

386.931.4614

info@sckroofing.com • SCKRoofing.com

386-328-5359

Residential Roofing Specialist • New Roofs • Replacements • Repairs • FREE Estimates • FREE Roof Inspections & Minor Repairs LIC#CCC1331086

386-517-3768

Trees

EZ Roofing Inc. Of Flagler County

NEW ROOF WE OFFER RE-ROOF FINANCING REPAIRS

OFFICE@SKYLINED-ROOFING.COM

LICENSED & INSURED LIC# CCC1331325

Building Customers For Life!

Retail

362221

361834

Licensed & Insured #CBC1257382

A1

ee Experts LL r T A C

Proper pruning and removal of trees Safely working over houses is our specialty

Insurance Inspections Available Reliable Prompt Service

27 years experience

362220

Rick Crouse, owner Licensed and Insured

Arborist Office: 386-264-6281 Cell: 904-669-7743

State Certified License CCC1325974

WITH THE RED PAGES

Call to reserve your ad space: 386-447-9723 PalmCoastObserver.com/RedPages

• 10-YEAR LABOR WARRANTY • NO DEPOSIT • NO PRE-PAYMENTS • 5 STAR BBB-RATING

Made for where you live. Here.

361617

GROW YOUR BUSINESS

• TILE • SHINGLE • METAL • FLAT ROOFS • RE-ROOFS • NEW ROOFS • ROOF REPAIRS

We guarantee Quality *Best Quality* 100% Guaranteed

FloridasBestRoofing@gmail.com | www.FloridasBestRoofing.us

(386) 263-7906 FREE ESTIMATES O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY:________________________

2-01 (100%) PROOF CREATED AT: 3/26/2020 4:30:29 PM NEXT RUN DATE: 04/01/20

TREASURES PROOF DUE: 03/31/20 07:59:55

found here.

Looking for something? Your lucky discovery is closer than you think.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

Call 386-447-9723 or visit Classifieds.PalmCoastObserver.com

362513

386-225-9384

• State Certified Roofing & State Certified General Contracting.

• Pres. Brian Mullen building locally in Flagler County since 1976 • Licensed, Bonded & Insured

RED PAGES PalmCoastObserver.com/RedPages

361620

• Roof Replacement and Insurance Experts • Estimates and Inspections • High Wind shingles / All types of roofing

361578

HOME REPAIRS • HANDYMAN SERVICES TRIM CARPENTRY • REMODELING

SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE

AVER

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

LICENSED & INSURED

________________________

S

|

PALM COAST OBSERVER

|

PalmCoastObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE IMMEDIATE DISPOSAL SALE OF 500 BANK VEHICLES

PAY ONLY ONE DOLLAR DOWN And Take Over Payments From

THE BANK!

2 DAYS ONLY

THIS FRIDAY & SA TURDAY

Palm Coast Ford has over 500 vehicles on their lot to dispose of immediately! All you have to do is pay one dollar down (to make it legal) and take over the payments directly from the bank. These are Brand New Ford vehicles plus over 300 Pre-Owned vehicles, brought here courtesy of the bank that Palm Coast Ford has been contracted with to sell immediately.

ONE DOLLAR DOWN IS ALL YOU PAY TO TAKE OVER THE PAYMENTS FROM THE BANK! Do you want a $129 payment with $1 down? Do you want a $150 payment with $1 down? Do you want a $199 payment with $1 down?

Pick the vehicle that fits your budget!

The bank owns these cars, trucks and vans - Palm Coast Ford is the site that have selected to sell them. Remember, THESE ARE NOT BANK REPOS! These are brand new and preowned vehicles shipped here from around the country, made possible by the bank, to dispose of immediately! Bring ONE DOLLAR for the bank and bring your trade to our store!

All prices on new or pre-owned vehicles are plus tax, tag and $899 dealer fee.

Palm Coast Ford 1150 Palm Coast Pkwy, SW Palm Coast, FL 32137 - (386) 447-3380

Visit Us Online at: PalmCoastFord.com

331450-1

IS THE EXCLUSIVE DEALER IN THE COUNTY FOR THIS EVENT! 361468-1

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