Cops Corner

DEC. 16 THE SOD THIEF

9:30 p.m. Peppercorn Drive. Larceny. A man admitted he’d stolen sod from a construction site and placed some of it in his yard. He said he’d been drinking and had a “lapse in judgment.” He’d used his child’s wheelbarrow to make several trips to pick up the sod before he used his car for the rest. Deputies arrested him.

DEC. 17 ‘BAD SERVICE’ BLOWUP

4 p.m. Palm Coast Parkway. False report of a bomb. A 68-year-old man called a television service provider and said he was going to bomb the store location because he was upset about his service, a company representative told Sheriff’s Office deputies. When a deputy spoke to the suspect, he denied making a bomb threat but said he’d been upset because he’d already called five days in a row about missing channels.

DEC. 19 UN-NEIGHBORLY CONDUCT

10:53 p.m. Breylin Pass Physical disturbance. When a man pulled into his driveway, his neighbor walked over, complained about his driving, then began yelling and banging on the car’s window. The neighbor then opened the car door and started punching the victim. A security camera captured the incident, and deputies arrested the assailant for battery.

AdventHealth marks ‘milestone week’ of COVID-19 vaccinations

Awaiting FDA approval of Moderna vaccine as Pfizer vaccinations continue; plans for distribution in Volusia County announced.

CENTRAL FLORIDA DIVISION OF ADVENTHEALTH

Capping a fast-moving and historic week in medical history, AdventHealth leaders shared optimism, celebrated triumphs, and continued their focus on administering vaccines to help conquer COVID-19.

“This has been a historic week for all of us,” said Dr. Vincent Hsu, epidemiologist and AdventHealth’s infection control officer. “We look forward to a time when our lives can return to as normal as possible.”

After receiving its first shipment of Pfizer vaccines earlier in the week, AdventHealth began an organized process of inoculating frontline health workers at its AdventHealth Orlando and Celebration locations. That effort will now expand to other parts of Central Florida.

“On Monday [Dec. 21] we will be opening a third distribution site at AdventHealth Daytona Beach to make it easier for our people in Volusia and Flagler counties to receive the vaccine,” said Dr.

Dr. Vincent Hsu

Steven R. Smith, AdventHealth’s chief scientific officer. “We’ll have plenty of vaccine for people who have signed up already.”

A second potential vaccine by Moderna awaits FDA authorization, which could come soon. The Moderna vaccine, said Smith, seems to be efficacious among diverse populations, including race and ethnicity.

“Having two vaccines will give us a lot of confidence about boosting the number of vaccines we can give. I feel pretty good about where we are with safety, efficacy and the integrity of the process,” said Smith.

None of the vaccines are available to the general public yet, but both physicians are encouraged by what they have seen so far. “This vaccine is safe, and it is our way out of the pandemic,” said Hsu. “We want to make sure there is ample opportunity for the public to get vaccinated and help us achieve herd immunity… We can work together to end this pandemic.”

For updates on the vaccine distribution, visit www.palmcoastobserver.com.

Source: The Florida Department of Health

Flagler County cases per day

Flagler positivity rate

Florida positivity rate

CDC recommends face coverings

“Cloth face coverings may ... help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.”

Flagler County patients in the hospital for COVID-19 13

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346399-1

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McDonald, repeating statistics at odds with those accepted by medical experts, said she’d like to see ‘a little backing off of this fear.’

JONATHAN SIMMONS

NEWS EDITOR

At a Dec. 15 School Board workshop that opened with a moment of silence for Flagler Palm Coast High School Principal Tom Russell, who died of COVID-19-related complications on Dec. 9, board member Janet McDonald questioned the severity of the virus and referred to masks as unhealthy.

McDonald said she understood concerns about children bringing the virus home to people who were at greater risk, but worried about how people have been impacted by COVID-19-related restrictions.

The board was discussing COVID-19 because the district is changing is messaging procedure about positive cases at schools, preparing a webbased COVID-19 dashboard that will, in many cases, replace the letters the district has been sending to families and staff to notify them of a positive case at their school. (Letters will still be sent out to people who may have been in close contact with the infected person.)

McDonald said she had questions about the testing: Her daughter and a friend, she said, had both tested positive, but one had then been tested again, and found to be negative.

“So are we doing a double test for those that are positive, just to make sure it’s a positive positive?” McDonald asked Florida Department of Health-Flagler Health Office Bob Snyder at the workshop.

Snyder, who was there to discuss the proposed dashboard, explained that different tests have different sensitivity levels.

Rapid tests, he said, are sensitive enough to detect the virus in people when they’re at their most infectious.

“The CDC says that is enough for counties — which includes all counties in the state of Florida, all 67 — that have a positivity rate of greater than 5%,” he said.

File photo School Board member Janet McDonald.

Flagler County has a 10% positivity rate. A positive result on the rapid test, Snyder said, is enough to warrant precautions such as a quarantine. But a negative result from a rapid test, according to CDC guidelines, should be confirmed with a PCR gold standard test, which is 99% specific.

“A positive PCR test just means at that moment in time, you tested positive,” Snyder said. “You could test negative two days before, and then test positive two days after.”

McDonald said she was concerned about “relying on something that’s not 100%.” Snyder countered that it was 99%.

JONATHAN SIMMONS

NEWS EDITOR A total of 908 people responded to Flagler Schools’ annual community survey the year, saying that their top priorities are hiring and retaining quality teachers, addressing students’ social and emotional well-being and providing a safe environment for students.

The top five priorities selected this year (see box at left) were the same as those selected in last year’s survey.

Asked if they were satisfied with the quality of education provided by Flagler Schools, 64.5% said they were satis-

The CDC had counted 299,000 ‘excess deaths’ from January to October 2020, attributing two of every three to COVID-19.

“And I guess my concern is that the illness that we’re talking about is 99.99% recoverable for most people,” McDonald said. “And this is the first time we’ve ever had this kind of global emphasis on so much restriction. ... Is this a pattern that you anticipate having to follow for every virus that comes along?” She said such precautions hadn’t been taken with other viruses, like H1N1.

The recovery number McDonald stated does not accord with mainstream medical authorities, who have been estimating an overall mortality rate between 1% and 2% for COVID-19 in the United States, with the rate being higher among the elderly and people with certain preexisting conditions.

Snyder pointed out that COVID-19 is a new virus.

McDonald said it was related to SARS-CoV, “and so it’s not that really novel, and, as we’ve had history now —”

“I’m sorry,” Snyder interjected, “This virus is novel. It’s called the ‘novel coronavirus.’”

“Yes, Bob, I know, and I don’t mean to — I just want to get some balance here,” McDonald said. “Because I think with the population that we’re dealing with,

Survey respondents prioritize hiring good teachers

Other top priorities were addressing students’ social and emotional wellbeing and providing a safe environment.

THREE MOST IMPORTANT SOURCES FOR INFO ABOUT FLAGLER SCHOOLS

HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THE OVERALL QUALITY OF EDUCATION PROVIDED BY FLAGLER SCHOOLS

SEE BOARD PAGE 6

fied. That’s an increase from 2019, when the percentage who answered “satisfied” was 54.4%. The percentage of respondents that were “extremely satisfied” stayed about the same, at 22.9% in 2020, and 22.6% in 2019.

Asked what they considered the three most important sources of information about Flagler Schools, respondents listed district phone calls, district social media and the district website.

The percentage of respondents who have an account with Skyward — the program used to display student grades — increased from 47.1% in 2019 to 86.5% in 2020.

I AM SATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION I RECEIVE ABOUT FLAGLER SCHOOLS

WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT FOR FLAGLER SCHOOLS?

Given an option to select their top priorities, here’s what respondents chose: 1. Hiring and retaining quality teachers: 56% 2. Addressing students’ social and emotional wellbeing 48% 3. Providing a safe environment for students 47% 4. Ensuring a well-rounded educational experience 44% 5. Preparing students to be socially responsible citizens 41% 6. Providing personalized learning choices for students that match their needs 36% 7. Ensuring there are high standards for positive student behavior 33% 8. Ensuring high academic expectations for student performance 28% 9. Ensuring “Classroom to

Careers” opportunities are 10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16. aligned with community needs to create a pipeline of talent 28% Ensuring facilities are well maintained and can support 21st century learning 27% Hiring and retaining quality administrators 21% Maximizing the effectiveness of technology for teaching and learning 20% Ensuring students are prepared for state testing 16% Offering extracurricular activities for families 14% Addressing the achievement gap 14% Providing consistent programs across the District 13% Ensuring fiscal health 9% Providing relevant communication to stakeholders 4%

District will keep remoteschool option

Also: Students with poor grades can remain in remote option with parent waiver.

JONATHAN SIMMONS

NEWS EDITOR

Parents whose remote-learning children are at risk of failing a required class are getting letters from the school district stating that their children “must” return to in-person classes. But that “must” is negotiable: Parents with an outstanding reason for keeping their children in remote learning can sign a waiver and continue to do so.

The letters from the district use language mirroring that in a state mandate that says students “must transition to another learning modality if they fail to make adequate progress,” district staff members said in a Dec. 15 Flagler County School Board workshop.

But the state edict also allows parents or guardians to keep their child in remote learning by signing a form acknowledging the risks — for instance, that the child may be held back a grade level or not graduate on time.

Earlier this year, Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt said, the district identified about 1,450 remote- or distance-learning students who were making “inadequate progress” — D’s or F’s.

This spring, the district will create a system to identify such students, as well as in-person students who’ve been consistently truant, and will have staff — and, if needed, social workers — makes three attempts to reach their families and link the students to supportive resources.

With the exception of the statemandated letters, Flagler Schools’ spring 2021 semester will look much like its fall 2020 semester: The district will continue to offer in-person, remote-live and distance-learning options.

The district expects some regression in student progress as a result of the pandemic, but it’s not yet clear how severe it will be, a staff member said at the workshop.

As some students with academic issues return to the classroom, the district expects student enrollment in on-campus classes to increase this spring. That will require a reshuffling of teacher and staff responsibilities.

Board member Colleen Conklin asked about how the shift might affect teachers.

“Most of the teachers — actually, all of the teachers that I’ve spoken to — want their kids back in the classroom, but they don’t want to be doing double-duty,” teaching remote-live and inperson at the same time, she said.

Board member Jill Woolbright said a shift in favor of more oncampus students might mean that fewer teachers have to teach both modalities at once.

“As kids come back, that’s going to take care of itself,” she said.

Board member Janet McDonald said she was interested in learning more about successes in remote learning, so that strategies that are working can be used more broadly.

JONATHAN SIMMONS

NEWS EDITOR

BY THE NUMBERS

$540,000

Estimated cost for the first phase of the Waterfront Park Waterfront Access project, which will include a kayak ramp and shore launch, sidewalks, floating boat dock and ramp with two kayak slip docks. Design is 90% complete. The work is partly funded by a $146,000 Florida Inland Navigation District grant.

$1.68 million

Estimated project cost to create a new park at the Lehigh Trailhead, with a restroom, dog park, community gardens, parking lot and pavilions. The city is seeking FDOT grant money to build it.

$650,000

Estimated cost to add new boardwalks and overlooks at the Long Creek Nature Preserve. The project is 50% funded by a $325,000 Department of Environmental Protection grant. Palm Coast’s Parks & Recreation department wants to help residents get out and move more in 2021: The Mayor’s 90/90 Challenge challenges participants to move for the equivalent of one walking-mile per day for the 90 days starting Jan. 4 and ending April 3.

It’s open to all ages and to anyone who lives, works, shops or exercises in Palm Coast, according to a city of Palm Coast news release.

“We can all use some positive reinforcement after a challenging 2020, and this challenge gives everyone the chance to focus on new goals and be committed to leading healthier lifestyles,“ Mayor Milissa Holland said in the news release. “I encourage residents to get active and use this opportunity as motivation to start a fitness routine for a better lifestyle.”

The challenge doesn’t have to involve walking or running, and it doesn’t have to take place outside: Participants can choose their form of exercise and complete it anywhere in Flagler County.

People who want to use the city’s trails can find one at the city’s Trek-It-Out guide at https://www.palmcoastgov. com/trek-it-out, according to the news release.

To log daily miles, go to www.palmcoastconnect.com.

Palm Coast Connect also has a 90-day calendar with a different suggested activity for each day.

You can share your

Courtesy photo Mayor Holland plays pickleball with 2020 challenge participants.

progress on social media using #Mayors9090 and #ConnectToFitness.

All participants will receive a prize, according to the news release.

A kickoff event for the challenge will be hosted by the city’s Parks & Rec department on Monday, Jan. 4.

To participate, meet at the Palm Coast Community Center at noon for a walk down St. Joe Walkway to Linear Park and back. Register for the walk at www. parksandrec.fun.

Holland and a city department director will also hold walks every Wednesday afternoon starting in January, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Waterfront Park, and the city has invited residents to attend.

The city has asked that all attendees follow the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

To learn more, visit CDC.gov or contact Palm Coast Parks & Recreation at 986-2323.

Email Jonathan Simmons at jonathan@palmcoastobserver. com A developer has proposed a 30-acre commercial development on a 35-acre plot of land near Matanzas Woods Parkway’s intersection with Old Kings Road.

The nature of the business that would be located in the proposed Matanzas Woods Retail Center has not been specified in documents submitted to the city.

Further south, Gioia Sails is seeking to expand with a new 35,124-square-foot storage building at its facility on Commerce Boulevard.

Proposals have also been submitted for RV storage locations in several spots around the city, including the southwest corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Pine Lakes Parkway, and Old Kings Road south of Palm Coast Parkway.

Palm Coast wins reporting award

Palm Coast has been awarded the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2019.

This is the 19th win for the city.

A panel judged reports on whether they demonstrated a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate a financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read it.

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Flagler’s training center renamed for firefighter John Keppler, after 18 years

JONATHAN SIMMONS

NEWS EDITOR

The Flagler County government will for the first time publicly honor John R. Keppler Jr., a Flagler County volunteer firefighter captain who died after responding to an emergency call in 2002.

The County Commission voted unanimously at its Dec. 14 meeting to rename the county’s fire training center on Justice Lane as the John R. Keppler Jr. Training Center.

“It has been a long road,” Monica Keppler, Keppler’s daughter, said at the meeting. “He was 54 years old when he died. I’m lucky that I got to have him for almost 32 years. On behalf of my family, my mom, my brothers, the rest of our family and our friends who came to share this with us, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Keppler’s sons, Andrew and John Keppler, are also firefighters.

Firefighter Patrick Del Sordo, who’d served with Keppler and

John Keppler Jr.

his sons, thanked the county for the renaming, and presented to Andrew and John Keppler a photo of himself and the three Kepplers fighting a fire together at the Bridge Tender Inn.

The Flagler County Commission had, on Oct. 5,e instructed county staff to look into why Keppler hadn’t been formally recognized. Staff met with Keppler’s family members and came up with the proposal for the renaming of the training center, as Keppler had been passionate about

Photo courtesy of the Flagler County government A firefighter ascends the training tower. training. Signage will display the new name at the entrance to the training facility and on the tower.

Keppler became a volunteer firefighter in Flagler County in 1993, serving at the St. Johns Park Volunteer Fire District after retiring from Pennsylvania.

After responding to an attempted suicide on Mango Street in Daytona North on March 21, 2002, he complained of heartburn and went home, Flagler County Interim Chief of Staff Heidi Petito said in a presentation at the commission meeting. Later that night, his wife drove him the hospital, where he died.

Had his death been a year later, it would have been recognized as a line-of-duty death: The Florida Legislature passed a bill in 2003 establishing that when firefighters develop cardiovascular disease, it would be considered a result of their employment.

But because Keppler died before the law went into effect, the county did not recognize his death as a line-of-duty death and did not award benefits to his family, even though both the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial include Keppler’s name in their lists of fallen firefighters.

“Thank you to the family and everyone for your bringing this out so we can get it done,” Flagler County Commission Chairman Donald O’Brien said.

Members of the Keppler family were given a standing ovation.

Flagler County’s Fire Leadership Academy, begun in 2017, has produced 23 graduates; four were hired locally.

JULIE MURPHY

FLAGLER COUNTY PIO

Flagler County Fire Leadership Academy was recognized on Dec. 4 for receiving the Institute for County Government Best Practices Award for 2020 at the Florida Association of Counties’ Legislative Conference in Jacksonville. The award was presented Dec. 14 at the Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Library Director and Legislative Liaison Holly Albanese nominated the program for the award.

“The Fire Leadership Academy saves Flagler County much of the expense of training a new firefighter, it provides a pool of candidates when Fire Rescue needs to hire, and it prepares high school students to enter the workplace upon graduation,” Albanese said.

In the application, she wrote that it is the first of its kind in the nation.

Retired Fire Chief Don Petito developed the program over a number of years. It launched in January 2017.

“No one could have imagined just how successful the Fire Leadership Academy at Flagler Palm Coast High School would be when we joined Flagler County in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting in 2017,” said Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt. “In a short amount of time, we have been able to see the opportunities for our students open up. These are opportunities for education and employment some of these students may have never been able to attain if not for this program.”

Petito fostered partnerships with Flagler Schools, Flagler County Education Foundation, and all local fire departments to maximize resources available for the success of the program.

There are currently 50 students enrolled: six from the class of 2021; 14 from the class of 2022; 13 from the class of 2023; and 17 from the class of 2024.

Ten students graduated from the Fire Academy in 2019 — the first graduating class. Of those, six completed the Florida state exam for Firefighter 2 certification. Three were hired by Flagler County Fire Rescue, and currently enrolled in a program to become paramedics.

The Fire Leadership Academy had 13 graduates in 2020. Six completed Firefighter 2 certification, and a seventh is currently in the exam process. Palm Coast Fire Department hired one of those graduates.

“We’ve also seen how the Fire Leadership Academy has led to additional career pathways in the medical and first responder fields,” Mittelstadt said. “The continued collaboration with Flagler County continues to make this program one which school districts and county governments across Florida hope to emulate.”

For more information, visit shorturl.at/ntBO6.

MY VIEW

City makes history by landing Jacksonville U

Welcoming Jacksonville University to Palm Coast was yet another step in the right direction for our region.

GREG BLOSE

CHAMBER PRESIDENT

In case you missed it, Tuesday, Dec. 15, was a historic day for the citizens of Palm Coast and Flagler County.

With no public opposition to the proposal from Jacksonville University to expand their reach by adding a Palm Coast campus in Town Center, the Palm Coast City Council approved investing a total of $2.5 million to make the vision a reality. Welcoming Jack2021 will be a lean budget year, Rep. Paul Renner warned.

JONATHAN SIMMONS

NEWS EDITOR Flagler County and local municipalities and organizations presented their annual lists of requests of the state government to Florida Rep. Paul Renner and Sen. Travis Hutson Dec. 18, even as Renner warned attendees that this will be an unusually lean budget year.

State support for a mental health care drop-in center, the proposed UNF MedNexus health care education campus in Palm Coast and Jacksonville University’s planned expansion to Palm Coast topped the Flagler County government’s list of priorities.

The city of Palm Coast also sought state support for the widening of Old Kings Road and the addition of a parking lot/trailhead for Lehigh Trail, and for classifying residential areas with peptanks as a priority for post-hurricane power restoration, since the tanks can back sewage into homes if they exceed capacity while the pumps aren’t functioning.

Below is a summary of what

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

we have more fear than we have reality-based calm about things.”

She said that the annual death rate has been 50,000 lower than in recent years. “It’s actually less than a regular year,” she said.

Her numbers were out of step with those cited by the CDC, which has been tracking “excess deaths” — the number beyond the expected baseline — and had counted 299,000 excess deaths from January to October sonville University to Palm Coast was yet another step in the right direction for our region. Here’s why:

1. CEMENTING MEDNEX’S FUTURE AND SUPPORTING TOWN CENTER

Under Mayor Milissa Holland’s leadership, with the support of Sen. Travis Hutson and Rep. Paul Renner, Palm Coast has effectively created a higher education trifecta in Flagler County. Along with Daytona State College, we will soon enjoy the benefits of a physical presence by the University of North Florida and now Jacksonville University in Palm Coast. This is a game changer and will make a lasting difference in this community for years to come. Furthermore, JU is working with Douglas Property and Development to locate their facility in the heart of Town Center, achieving a long sought-after vision for the future of our region. The exciting part is this is just the beginning.

2. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Palm Coast/Flagler County resiFlagler County and Palm Coast are seeking from the state.

FLAGLER COUNTY

POLICY PRIORITIES: priation funding for the Public Library Construction Grant Program. high-speed internet throughout Florida.  Increase the Small County Consolidated Solid Waste Grant population cap. and SCOP grant programs to assist small counties in paving farm-to-market roads.  Protect and increase funding for the State of Florida Transportation Disadvantaged Program.  Maintain short term vacation rental legislation status quo.  Continue support for funding of the state university system presence in the city of Palm Coast by the University of North Florida known as MedNex. FUNDING PRIORITIES:  Collaborative project to create a mental health drop-in center in Flagler County. Requested fund2020, attributing two of every three excess deaths to COVID-19.

McDonald said she knew people who are keeping their children home “because they don’t want their kids in masks all the time, because it’s unhealthy.”

On the contrary, the CDC recommends masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“I’d like to see a little backing off of this fear about what a virus can do to you,” she said, “if we take precautions to be healthy — and we have so many good predents now have a pathway to educate a young person from pre-K to masters-level health care professional without them having to leave Flagler County. This directly addresses the community’s concern about our young, talented future leaders leaving our community. We will also supply existing healthcare organizations with high-quality talent and attract new businesses and investors solely because the talent is already located here.

3. FUTURE GROWTH OF FLAGLER COUNTY

The University of Florida’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research predicts Flagler County will grow by 23,000 residents by the year 2030, and approximately 10,000 of those residents will be 65 and older (and those are conservative figures). The JU proposal gives us an answer to the question “will we have enough health care professionals to care for the future growth in our senior citizen population?” With this approval, the answer is “yes.” ing: $245,000  West Flagler County Stormwater Management Planning Project. Requested funding: $500,000  Sanitary sewer collection system for the barrier island North Marineland to Hammock Dunes Bridge. Requested funding: $2,000,000  Willow Woods Potable Water and Coastline Resiliency Project. Requested funding: $1,600,000  Plantation Bay water and wastewater utility subsidy relief. Requested funding: $550,000 cautions and practices that are happening in our schools right now.”

She added that she’d like to see “some balance” in the district’s message, “for wellness practices or health practices.”

Board member Colleen Conklin opposed McDonald’s downplaying of the virus’ severity.

“With all due respect, though, I would have to say I don’t know anybody that died from H1N1,” Conklin said. “No one. I probably don’t really know anybody that

4. SHORTAGE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

There is a huge demand for healthcare professionals, not only in our region, but statewide. That demand exists because we don’t have enough nurses and other qualified healthcare talent to keep up with population growth. Our community is now an answer to that problem. Because of the City Council’s support, we will put the state on notice that we are up to the task of solving problems of statewide significance, and we’re capable of even more.

In closing, Mayor Milissa Holland and City Council members Eddie Branquinho and Nick Klufas made the best decision for the future of our region by investing in the JU proposal. Please take a moment to thank them. We are now building strategic partnerships with multiple reputable higher education institutions with the goal of significantly improving our community for years to come.

Greg Blosé is president and CEO of the Palm Coast-Flagler Region-

State support sought for mental health

 Support the Legislature appro Support affordable and reliable  Continue support of the SCRAP  Restore and protect Florida’s  Housing Trust Funds.  Continue to support home rule.

The Flagler County Government Services Building.

al Chamber. File photo by Brian McMillan

CITY OF PALM COAST

 PEP system power restoration prioritization: Deem that the restoration of power for PEP Tank Service Areas are a lifeline function and power restoration is prioritized.  Lehigh Trailhead at Belle Terre Parkway construction: Provide legislative support for District 5 FDOT to include Lehigh Trailhead at Belle Terre Parkway construction in 5-year Work Plan.  Old Kings Road Phase 2 snd 3 construction: Provide legislative support for District 5 FDOT to include Old Kings Road Phase 2 and 3 construction in 5-year

“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

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Board member asks for ‘balance’ in COVID messaging

Work Plan. died from the flu. I think we have a responsibility to put things, I agree, in perspective — and there are people that are afraid because we all now know someone who has died. And I think it’s not fair to pretend like we have a pretend virus we’re dealing with. We have a virus that has impacted directly.”

McDonald said that wasn’t her comment. Conklin said that was how she took it. Board Chairman Trevor Tucker intervened.

“All right, before we get into an argument here —” he said.

McDonald and Conklin said it wasn’t an argument.

“But that’s what we’re going down the road of,” Tucker said. “So before we do that, does anyone have a problem with this dashboard? That’s what we’re really here to talk about.”

No one did. After some brief discussion of whether the dashboard would display a running total of cases, or a daily total — the board decided on a daily one — the board adjourned.

Coming Soon to Palm Coast

Your Doctor

Your Neighborhood

At Flagler Health+, our board-certified physicians are here to treat you when you’re sick, and most importantly we are here to keep you and your family well. We are pleased to introduce Leopold Kretsch, M.D., to the Palm Coast community. Dr. Kretsch’s practice offers personalized care, convenient online scheduling and virtual visit options to support your unique needs.

Opening soon at 33 Old Kings Road North, Suite 3, Palm Coast, FL 32137 Learn more at www.PalmCoastPrimaryCare.com

Janet Sullivan elected as Democrat chair

Janet Sullivan has become the new chair of the Flagler County Democratic Executive Committee following the election and installation of officers for the upcoming four years.

Joining Sullivan in the Executive Committee leadership are Ralph Lightfoot, vice-chair; Ellen Teller, state committeewoman; John Caruso, state committeeman; Kathy Logan, secretary; and Mark Fleet, treasurer. They, in turn, lead a network of precinct leaders arrayed across the Flagler County and tasked with representing the Democratic Party on a neighborhood level.

Holly Durrance, earns two certifications

Flagler County Purchasing Manager Holly Durrance earned two professional certifications within a week of one another: first with a Professional Procurement Certification issued by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, and the second was to become a Certified Professional Public Buyer.

“With her achievements, she has joined a prestigious group of mid- to executive-level leaders,” said Finance Director John Brower. “These recognitions further her credibility and the sustained impact she has, and will continue to have, in the vitally important public procurement function.”

Durrance joins a group of about 250 professionals to be certified by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing since it launched the program in 2019.

“I’m just so over the moon,” Durrance said. “This has really given me the confidence I needed to continue to grow myself.”

Durrance’s next professional goal is to become a Certified Public Procurement Officer.

“I have been working towards this since I joined the Purchasing Department in 2017,” Durrance said. “I am just so thankful to be here and that the family I have here sees my potential and allows me to build on it.”

Axe threat leads to new charges after road rage

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested a man they say illegally entered an RSection home in May, threatening its residents with an axe. Once deputies determined who he was, finding the suspect was easy: He was already at the county jail on other charges.

The investigation revealed that at about noon on May 25, 20-year-old Robert Cameron Wilson brandished an axe as he approached a resident.

One resident of the home got a firearm and fired two or three rounds outside the front door as Wilson and another subject were outside.

Wilson and the other subject left, and no one was injured.

When the warrant was signed on Dec. 17, Wilson was already at jail for a charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon for a Dec. 9 road rage incident in which he’s accused of pointing a realistic-looking BB gun at another driver.

He was arrested again in the jail facility on Dec. 18 on the warrant for Armed Burglary. He remains in jail with no bond allowed.

Wilson has a prior arrest history in Flagler County for charges including Domestic Battery.

“Our deputies, CSI and investigators did a great job building this case,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Fortunately no one was injured, and hopefully this violent offender will be held in jail for the holidays so he can’t continue committing crimes.”

COVID-19 testing schedule through the end of 2020

The Florida Department of Health in Flagler County still requires appointments for Cattleman’s Hall, and testing across from 120 Airport Road is on a first come first served basis, limited to the first 75 people. These are PCR tests, not rapid tests, and results will be available in three to five days.

There will no DOH-Flagler testing Dec 24 through 27, and Dec. 31 through Jan. 2. Here is the schedule:

DEC. 28-30

9 to 11:45 a.m. Cattleman’s Hall, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell. Free flu shot with COVID test. By appointment. 2:30 to 4 p.m. Flagler County Health Department Annex. Lot across from 120 Airport Road (look for tent on way to High Jackers Restaurant). Free flu shot with COVID test. Drive-thru.

DEC. 31 TO JAN 3

No DOH testing

There are other locations in Flagler County that provide COVID-19 testing, including two Mediquick locations, CentraCare and CVS Pharmacies. Please confirm with each site in advance as most require appointments.

Appointments are required for the Cattlemna’s Hall site. Please call 386-437-7350 ext./option 0 for scheduling. The call center is open weekdays between 8 a.m.and 4:30 p.m. except for Christmas and New Year’s Day.

COVID-19 health-related questions should be directed to a healthcare provider or the Florida Health hotline at 866779-6121. Additional information can be found at floridahealthcovid19.gov/.

Send news tips and press releases to editor@palmcoastobserver.com.

The Oak Hammock Zone at Holland Park.

Courtesy photo

Holland Park partially reopens

The Palm Coast park will close again for a few days on Dec. 28 for turf improvements.

KIMBERLY NORMAN CITY PUBLIC RELATIONS

Holland Park will partially reopen on Friday, Dec. 18. A limited section of the playground will be open for families to enjoy which includes the zip line, rock climbing wall, slides, tunnel, a rocker that accommodates wheelchairs and walkers, and more. The hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

This partial reopening does not include the splash pad, which is still under construction along with areas of the park. Those areas are roped or fenced off. So, please be prepared for construction vehicles, partial road closures and parking blockages when necessary.

The playground will completely close again temporarily for a few days on Dec. 28 for turf improvements. Those areas are also fenced off and the City will update again once that’s finished. Then, in the coming weeks, look for more updates on Holland Park’s phase two construction which is nearing completion in early 2021.

Other areas of the park that are open include courts for tennis, pickleball, shuffleboard, basketball, bocce, horseshoes, volleyball, baseball/softball, and multi-use fields where you can play soccer, football, etc. Visitors can also walk the three-quarter mile trail or bring their pup to the dog park.

Please follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for safety and cleanliness, as well as maintaining social distancing. You can read more on the CDC’s web site here.

Located at 18 Florida Park Drive, the park offers 26 acres of diverse recreational amenities. This park is also the home to the Palm Coast Historical Society headquarters, which is celebrating 50 years this year.

Merry Christmas

EMERGENCY: 9-1-1 NON-EMERGENCY: 386-313-4911

FLAGLERSHERIFF.COM

Sheriff Rick Staly

Happy Holidays

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DECEMBER 24, 2020 Classifieds 17 Real Estate 16 YOUR NEIGHBORS

Santa, Aurora Fajardo, and Matti Dale the Dalmatian at the Santa Stop.

HEROES & HELPERS

Santa, Firefighter Patrick Juliano and union secretary Julie Rivera

Photos by Paola Ohlson

Gifts were handed through the windows of cars.

Palm Coast firefighters host Christmas drive-thru

The Palm Coast Professional Firefighters Local 4807, in alliance with Palm Coast Super Target, prepared a safe space to host the second-annual Heroes and Helpers event, which brought cheer to over 500 kids on Thursday, Dec. 17, via drive-thru. Holiday lights and music were the intro, followed by a gift bag stop, followed by Santa and the final candy cane stop. Firefighters Patrick Juliano and Julie Rivera helped organize the event, and the Grinch, and Matti Dale the Dalmatian were also present to add to the joy.

— PAOLA OHLSON