9 minute read
Your Town
from PCO 12 24 20
...So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear. And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. It started in low. Then it started to grow. But the sound wasn’t sad! Why, this sound sounded merry! It couldn’t be so! But it WAS merry! VERY! He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes! Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise! Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all! He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same! And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?” “It came with out ribbons! It came without tags!” “It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.” “Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”...
& Happy Holidays to you and yours, Megan, Brady & Elijah
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Joe Golan, founder of the Bike Men of Flagler County, with Sheriff Staly.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE TEAMS UP WITH THE BIKE MEN OF FLAGLER COUNTY TO PROVIDE BIKES FOR KIDS
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office donated 13 bicycles on Dec. 17 from the abandoned property section of the FCSO Evidence Unit. These bicycles are in need of repair but have the potential to become a beloved form of recreation for a child.
The bicycles were donated to the Bike Men of Flagler County who take bicycles or bicycle parts in any condition and recondition them for a new chance to bring joy to a child. Each year, the Bike Men of Flagler County receive bicycle donations in an effort to make children’s dreams come true by receiving a bicycle. Some bicycles are then passed on to the annual Christmas Come True program, a nonprofit organization.
“I believe that the Bike Men of Flagler County and Christmas Come True are worthy causes that bring happiness to families across our community and we’re excited to be a part of it,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Giving a child a bike is like giving them an opportunity to stay on the right path and stay out of trouble. Studies have shown that children who are involved in positive activities are less likely to become offenders. It is our hope that these bicycles not only provide the children who receive them with a positive physical activity but that it will also benefit their mental health and keep them on the right path for the future.”
The Bike Men of Flagler County consists of a group of volunteers who have been repairing and rebuilding bicycles for adults and children in need since 2014. You can learn more by visiting http:// thebikemenofflaglercounty.com
Christmas Come True was founded in 2009 as a result of the economic crash. They provide food, clothing, hygiene items, and gifts to families in need during the holiday season and throughout the year. You can learn more by visiting https:// www.christmascometrue.org
FCSO PARTNERS WITH GRANNY NANNIES TO SAFELY BRING SANTA TO LOCAL SENIORS
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office partnered with Granny Nannies of Palm Coast for the second year in a row to bring Christmas to the residents of Grand Oaks Health and Rehabilitation Center in Palm Coast and Flagler Pines Health and Rehabilitation Center in Bunnell.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, special restrictions were in place this year to ensure the safety of all residents and employees. However, while the means of delivery may have changed, the joy remained the same.
“This has been a tough year for all of us but it has been especially hard on the residents living in these facilities because of COVID-19 and not being able to receive visitors,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “The FCSO was honored to participate in such a wonderful event and being able to bring joy to the residents of both facilities. We look forward to doing it again and we thank Granny Nannies for their partnership.”
The gift bags included adult coloring book and colored pencils, FCSO hand sanitizer and jar openers, festive Christmas socks, light-up neckless, personal items, snacks and goodies, and crafts made by the Parkview Youth Group.
In addition to the FCSO and Granny Nannies, the following organizations also made donations to the gift bags: Tuscan Gardens, Pinnacle Homecare, Confidant Care, Halifax Health, Yellowstone Landscape, and Parkview Church.
The holiday season looks a little different this year, but the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is continuing the tradition of participating in the Christmas with a Deputy event. The event focuses on providing gifts for Flagler County children who otherwise might not receive any.
This year, 165 Flagler children were selected to participate in the event. Due to COVID-19, the participants will not be able to shop with deputies and instead were given instructions on how to set up an online “wish list” via Walmart’s website. After setting up this “wish list,” all of the items will be shipped directly to Walmart for pick up and delivered to the child personally by a deputy or other law enforcement officer.
In addition to FCSO deputies, officers from the Florida Highway Patrol, the Bunnell Police Department, the Flagler Beach Police Department, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will participate and ensure that all gifts arrive before Christmas.
“It is true that the holidays look a little different this year, but we are a strong community, and holiday programs like this showcase just how much we can accomplish when we all work together,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “I am proud of our employees who donate their time and money to make this event possible for the children of Flagler County.”
Children are selected to participate in the event by nominations from FCSO employees and Flagler Schools’ staff.
Christmas with a Deputy is a private organization that is not run by FCSO. The program is made possible by donations received from the community and the members of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. From July through December, FSCO employees donate to the Christmas with a Deputy fund through payroll deductions. This year the agency raised $10,420, which Staly presented to volunteer president Cmdr. Lou Miceli.
Meet the makers: inside the Florida Workshop
Formerly known as Fortis, the Flagler Beach shop recently celebrated its two-year anniversary.
ANASTASIA PAGELLO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Fortis, a Flagler Beach arts and home decor shop, has officially changed its name to the Florida Workshop.
“The name Fortis meant a lot to us personally as the word means strength, and our maker’s mark focused on the Latin term ‘fortis finere,’ which loosely means strong finish,” explained Sean Palmer, co-owner of the Florida Workshop. “We realized over time through meeting many more local makers and carrying their art and goods that our shop should focus more broadly on the fact that we’re all about this beautiful, crazy place called Florida we all love.”
Although the shop’s name has changed, the location remains the same, at 209 S. Second St., Suite 1, in Flagler Beach.
The shop celebrated its twoyear anniversary on Small Business Saturday.
The owners met when co-owner Brice McPherson was hired by Palmer at Bespoke Group Architecture and Construction, and they immediately hit it off after they discussed their shared passion for woodworking and making things by hand.
Palmer and McPherson make 70% of the products offered, including uniquely designed and printed T-shirts, wooden walldecor, resin decor, hand-poured candles, custom signs, graphics and various other home goods. They also do custom jobs.
For the holidays they are offering a festive range of seasonal candles, wooden and resin ornaments.
Most of the other products in the shop are made by local artisans within a 40-mile radius of Flagler Beach. Items include pottery, wood puzzles/decor, jewelry, leather goods and beer.
Each artist selected is carefully screened for quality.
“We also search out other great companies/producers that share in our same belief that handmade is better,” said Palmer.
Florida Workshop was impacted when COVID-19 shut down all business operations earlier this year. Palmer called it a “punch in the gut,” but, “Thanks to our amazing customers and friends, we were able to weather that storm.”
Palmer and McPherson are
Photo by Anastasia Pagello Co-owner Brice McPherson, at 209 S. Second St., Suite 1, in Flagler Beach.
optimistic about the future. “Our ultimate goal is to create a maker-space in Flagler County,” said Palmer. “We want to give this community a place where they can try their hand at woodworking, pottery, welding, forging, glassblowing, screen-printing, graphics, etc. It will also be a place that can support local makers by providing a storefront to sell their wares and goods. We’ll likely have a food and bar component, too.”
For more information visit thefloridaworkshop.com.
MAKERS AT THE FLORIDA WORKSHOP
Magdalena Piekarz announced the opening of The Elite Ballroom, which will be home to Elite Dance and Travel, an event space and social club, located within Roma Court in Palm Coast.
“Elite Dance and Travel dance programs, coupled with our private club membership option, is the first of its concept in Flagler County,” said Piekarz, founder of the new business. “We are so excited to bring this innovative new approach to the area. We hope this space will become Palm Coast’s premier event venue and elite social club for those who Florida Workshop features about 15 to 20 local artists at any given time: Heather Wales - Down to Earth Pottery Nick Vincent - Nathan’s Forge Matt Kent - Art Sculpture and Wood Art Stewart Maxcy - Surf & Surfboard Art Mac Hugh - Fishbone Decor Miss B. Pearl - Hoop Art and Jewelry What She Said Studio - Body Bars Garret Hunter - Leather Goods Ryan Nichols - Woodworking JR Squared - Woodworking Matt Burkhalter - Wood Decor Bob Moyer - Wood Puzzles Tom Cornell - Wood Toys Very Good Home Brewing - Free
BRIEFS
The Elite Ballroom to open in Roma Court in Palm Coast
(Great!) Beer enjoy group travel and social dancing.”
The ballroom is 2,880 square feet and located on the first floor. There is a courtyard as well as underground parking and elevator access.
Visit https://www.facebook. com/pg/DanceandTravelClub.
Remodeling of the space is almost complete and the grand opening is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, 2021.
Elite Dance and Travel is located at 515 Palm Coast Parkway, in Roma Court. Open by appointment. Call 516-658-5972, email info@elitedanceandtravel. com or visit https://www.elitedanceandtravel.com/.
