Palm Coast Observer 3-9-23

and Kendall Bibla (back row, center) won an individual championship. Six other Pirates placed.

Photo by Rachel and Abe Mills.

CITY WATCH

Council rejects decorative overpass sidewalks

Palm Coast will not pay $102,465 to replace decorative concrete sidewalks under the State Road 100/ Interstate 95 overpass or $29,500 to paint traffic signal mast arms black, City Council members decided at a March 7 meeting.

Council members balked at the two proposed projects when staff presented them during a discussion of Florida Department of Transportation road work expected to begin later this year on S.R. 100. Altogether, proposed cosmetic changes would have cost $150,000.

Council OKs new community development district

In a 4-0 vote, the Palm Coast City Council on March 7 approved making Colbert Landings the city’s fifth Community Development District. The vote was a second-reading vote.

The proposed Colbert Landing development will have 482 single-family homes spread over 293 acres on the west side of Colbert Lane just north of State Road 100.

Colbert Landings joins the city’s four other CDDs: Grand Haven, Palm Coast Park, Town Center and Seminole Palms, the 653-unit apartment complex in the works at Seminole Woods Boulevard and U.S. 1.

A CDD, City Attorney Neysa Borkert said in a previous meeting, is like a small city, where the district is responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing some of the infrastructure.

For the Colbert Landings CDD, the city would only be responsible for water and wastewater systems and some offsite improvements, Environmental Planner Jordan Myers said at a Feb. 21 meeting.

The council voted 4-0 to reject them. Council member Nick Klufas was absent from the meeting.

Mayor David Aflin said that as the council begins its Strategic Action Planning budget process, he is concerned about balancing the city’s wants and needs.

“I’m not at all interested in setting a precedent that we are a budget that looks for bells and whistles or addons or anything else,” Alfin said.

City traffic engineer Mike Grunewald had told the council that city staff was seeking approval to have FDOT paint six mast arm traffic signals that were being installed black to match the ones already within city limits and replace the existing decorative sidewalks underneath the S.R. 100/I-95 overpass with new ones.

The FDOT initiatives for S.R. 100 were initially proposed as a simple resurfacing project, Grunewald said, but after discussions with city of Palm Coast staff, FDOT had agreed to add several safety items at the city’s request.

The project is set to go from the Flagler County courthouse to the entrance of the Popeye’s on the other side of I-95 — about 4.5 miles. FDOT is now planning to replace wire-held traffic signals with mast arm traffic signals, add in right turn lanes at the Seminole Woods and Town Center intersection, and place a sidewalk along the south side of S.R. 100 for the whole 4.5-mile stretch.

The city, Grunewald said, regularly requests cosmetic additions when work is already being done, to maintain aesthetic cohesion. Carl Cote,

Palm Coast director of stormwater and engineering, pointed out that the traffic signal mast arms city staff had proposed painting would be the only ones in Palm Coast that don’t match the others.

The aesthetic concerns failed to move council members past the associated price tags.

Alfin said that the cosmetic issues are secondary to safety.

“I think that my personal opinion is that if DOT claims it’s safe, [I] would be satisfied without those two additions,” Alfin said.

Council member Theresa Carli Pontieri confirmed with Grunwald that FDOT would replace the sidewalks under the I-95 overpass even if the city doesn’t choose the more expensive “decorative” concrete option.

Vice Mayor Ed Danko asked Grunewald if painting the mast arms extends their life or has any other practical benefit. It does not, Grunewald said: The mast arms are

ALFIN, Palm Coast mayor

made of galvanized steel and have an estimated lifespan of 50 years, with or without paint.

Danko said that if the paint had some use beyond the cosmetic, he would consider it. As it was, he said, he couldn’t justify the cost.

“I think that we really need, at this point in time, to cut back on these nice bells and whistles,” Danko said. “We just simply can’t afford it.”

FCSO Honor Guard presents colors at state Legislature

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly and the Sheriff’s Office’s Honor Guard attended the opening session of the 2023 Florida Legislature in Tallahassee on March 7.

Speaker of the House Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, invited the FCSO Honor Guard to present the state’s and the nation’s colors to the Florida House of Representative ahead of the joint session with Gov. Ron DeSantis and members of the House and Senate, according to a press release from the FCSO.

Staly told the Observer that it was the first time, to his knowledge, that the FCSO Honor Guard has ever been asked to present the colors at the state’s Capitol.

He said the Honor Guard was excited and honored to have been chosen for the opportunity.

“They did a great job. They looked professional, like they always do,” Staly said. “I think they had a great time, and they recognize the honor that it is.”

Staly himself was also recognized during the ceremony for his long service in law enforcement.

He was honored as Law Enforcement Officer of the Day for his service, including for having reduced crime in Flagler County by 54% since he was elected in 2016, the press release said.

Staly told the Observer he appreciated the recognition. “I work probably 6070 hours a week for our community, and it’s nice to be recognized for all that hard work,” he said. “It was a very moving honor.”

Email Sierra Williams at sierra@observerlocalnews. com

Photo by Sierra Williams Mayor David Alfin said cosmetic concerns are secondary to safety.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

“I’m not at all interested in setting a precedent that we are a budget that looks for bells and whistles or add-ons or anything else.”

DAVID

Driving progress

FDOT proposes four new projects for Flagler County.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Florida Department of Transportation is tentatively planning $104 million worth of projects in Flagler County in its next five-year work plan.

Because of labor and material cost increases over the last year, FDOT has only added four new projects to its current work list held over from previous years, opting to focus on maintenance and safety improvements, FDOT Program Management Administrator Katherine Alexander-Corbin told the Flagler County Commission at a March 6 meeting.

The projects on the list were selected to support safety, capacity, preservation, bike and pedestrian, multimodal transport and miscellaneous projects.

The new projects (see details at right) are: pavement reconstruction in Daytona North, the resurfacing of Armand Beach Drive and other roads in the county’s north, the addition of a multi-use trail on southern Old Kings Road and the creation of a new park at the Bulow Creek headwaters.

MAKING A PLAN

The five-year period begins with fiscal year 2024, which starts on July 1 for the state and will go through fiscal year 2028.

Each of FDOT’s seven districts puts together a tentative work program for the five-year period, and those programs are then compiled to create a statewide program that is reviewed by the governor and state legislators for approval by July 1.

The plan for Flagler County comes from a combination of priority projects, including ongoing ones: four from the county’s government, and six from the River-to-Sea Transportation Planning Organization.

The River-to-Sea TPO serves all of Volusia County and the developed east side of Flagler County, including Beverly Beach and Flagler Beach and parts of Palm Coast and Bunnell.

RISING COSTS

Alexander-Corbin said that FDOT has seen an overall 24% increase in project costs due to material shortages and price hikes, labor shortages, supply chain issues and inflation.

“That continues to be an issue as we’re stepping into the new year,”

she said.

FDOT also needed to alter and reissue its notices that it was seeking bids, because of a lack of bidder interest — in some cases, the department would only receive one bid, at an extremely high price, she said.

“Prices were up and down from month to month,” Alexander-Corbin said. “So, it was really hard to kind of project and come up with our forecasting of what prices may be.”

Right-of-way acquisition costs also rose 15% because of the rise in land prices over the last year, she said.

Alexander-Corbin said FDOT did receive funding from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — an extra $3.5 billion.

FDOT also received funding from new resiliency programs and grants, she said.

THE FOUR FDOT PROJECTS

1 EAST DAYTONA NORTH—PAVING

This is the first phase of a pavement reconstruction project in East Daytona North, a county government priority. This project would also be funded in fiscal year 2028, at $4.1 million.

2 ARMAND BEACH DRIVE AND OTHER ROADWAYS— RESURFACING

This project would resurface Armand Beach Drive and a few other roadways in the county’s north. This is a county government priority item. Construction would be funded in fiscal year 2028, at around $560,000, from the tentative work program.

3 OLD KINGS ROAD SOUTH—BIKE PATH/TRAIL

A proposed new multi-use trail would extend from the Flagler-Volusia County line to State Road 100 along Old Kings Road. This is a River-to-Sea TPO priority item. The project would be scheduled for design in fiscal year 2024 and construction in fiscal year 2027, for a total of $2.8 million.

4 BULOW CREEK HEADWATERS REGIONAL PARK — BIKE PATH/TRAIL

One of the county’s alternative priorities, adding bike paths to Bulow Creek Headwaters Regional Park, also made the list. This project is tentatively scheduled for design in fiscal year 2024, for just over $1.5 million.

The State Road A1A Resiliency

Strike Team is proposing to add two sea walls to protect the scenic roadway along Flagler Beach and Ormond-By-the-Sea.

The type of sea wall the team is proposing, known as a secant wall, would be buried within a sand dune.

One such proposed wall would be in Ormond-By-the-Sea from Sunrise Avenue to Marlin Drive, and the other would extend from the Volusia-Flagler County line just north of High Bridge Road to South Central Avenue in Flagler Beach.

The two walls combined will cover just over 2.5 miles of A1A’s shoreline, and early estimates for both walls puts the cost at around $100 million, FDOT Project Manager Ty Garner said. Garner and FDOT’s District 5

Director of Transportation Development Jack Adkins presented the tentative ideas to the Flagler County Commission at its March 6 business meeting.

Garner and Adkins said the team developed its proposal after listening to coastal engineers and community feedback over several months.

Adkins told county commissioners that the Strike Team had asked coastal engineers to look at a 13-mile stretch of vulnerable shoreline to see what potential solutions were available.

“I think they considered everything except moving A1A,” Adkins said.

The strike team is still finalizing the details and proposals, Garner said. There will be two more public meetings on the proposed secant sea walls be-

fore the team begins the design process and search for funding.

For Ormond-By-the-Sea, the meeting was held at the Casements on March 8. In Flagler Beach, it will be held at the Wickline Center on March 21.

The A1A Resiliency Strike Team formed in December in the aftermath of Hurricanes Ian and Nicole’s damage to the counties’ shorelines and has been hosting public meetings in both Volusia County and Flagler County. It is composed of representatives from Flagler County, Volusia County, Flagler Beach, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Army Corps of Engineers, Adkins said.

The two areas in which the team is proposing secant sea

walls are among the more vulnerable ones, Garner said. The team knows from its listening sessions that residents are looking for a more permanent solution that will protect the beaches and tourism while preserving the area’s natural beauty, he said.

“We know from the early engineering ... that a secant wall will work, and it’s constructible,” Garner said.

The estimated $100 million cost, which would be separate from FDOT’s tentative five-year work program, will include the

cost of sand and vegetation plantings, Garner said.

“Our listening sessions made it loud and clear that they [residents] want us to take a look at and make sure we preserve the sand and plantings,” Garner said.

In the meantime, Garner said, the Strike Team recommends that current dune restoration projects should continue — including the Army Corps of Engineers’ renourishment project, once the Corps finishes its redesign process.

District committee votes to retain book Mittelstadt’s fate could

The committee recommended that the novel ‘Sold,’ which is about human trafficking, has value and should be kept in school media centers.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

A Flagler School District review committee voted on March 6 to retain the book “Sold” on media center book shelves.

The novel, by Patricia McCormick, was challenged last year by two members of the Flagler County Chapter leadership of Moms for Liberty.

A joint committee of Matanzas and Flagler Palm Coast high schools voted in October to keep the book in the two media centers. The complainants appealed the decision, necessitating the district review.

The district committee, made up of administrators, media specialists, teachers, parents and community members, unanimously voted to retain the book in the high school media centers. Nine of the 11 committee members present voted to also allow the book in middle school media centers with parental consent required for student checkout.

LaShakia Moore, the district’s assistant superintendent for academic services, led the meeting. Moore said the committee’s recommendation to Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt will be to retain the book in the high schools as well as in the middle schools with parents’ consent.

The complainants can

appeal to the superintendent. If the superintendent agrees with the committee’s decision, the complainants can appeal again to the School Board.

During a Feb. 22 School Board meeting, board member Christy Chong said she expects the board will eventually decide all of the challenges.

“Our tax dollars should not be providing pornography in schools,” Chong said.

“Sold” is a fictional story about a girl from Nepal named Lakshmi who is sold into sexual slavery. The story is written from Lakshmi’s point of view.

The two school district challenges, made by different people, used the same exact language: “This book contains explicit aberrant sexual activities including rape of a minor; prostitution; and explicit violence.”

But on the district committee’s review questionnaire, the committee members said the book “brings awareness to the issue of human trafficking and the trauma faced.” A committee member also noted that “Florida has mandated human trafficking education. This novel could serve to work with this education.”

The committee members agreed that the book is suitable for students in grades 9-12 and appropriate for some middle schoolers, with parents’ permission. A committee member noted that Lakshmi is only 13 in the story.

The committee members agreed that the book stimulates growth in factual knowledge because although it is fiction, it is based on research.

“By creating awareness, a reader may be inspired to help stop trafficking,” a committee member said.

As for the book being

COMMITTEE MEMBER

explicit, committee members said the prose is simplistic and even delicate, and that Lakshmi does not have the language to express what is happening to her, so a lot of it is implied.

Answering whether the material could be considered offensive, the committee checked the boxes for profanity, brutality, sexual behavior, violence, portrayal of any societal groups, and cruelty.

The committee noted on the questionnaire that Lakshmi is raped, but the novel is “critical of the societal norms that perpetuate this behavior.”

“There are some difficult things going on that may not be suitable for all readers,” one committee member said.

“Offensive terms bring light to sex trafficking. They have to be there to bring understanding,” the committee wrote.

The committee noted that there are warnings about the material on the book cover.

“To silence books about injustice is to silence the injustice,” a committee member said. “These books need to exist to be a catalyst to conversations. They bring awareness, which is the first step to bringing an end to it.”

The district review was the first this year for an appealed ruling. Another district committee is scheduled to review “Nowhere Girls” on March 13 at the district’s offices at the Government Services Building. The public is welcome, but cannot participate in the discussion.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt’s future with the Flagler County School District could be decided sooner than previously expected.

Mittelstadt’s three-year contract expires at the end of June. At the School Board’s March 7 workshop, four board members agreed to add the superintendent’s contract discussion to the April 4 agenda workshop, with a vote to be scheduled for the April 18 business meeting.

The board could vote to renew her contract for another three years, extend her current contract or decide to search for a new superintendent. The board members could also decide they still need more information.

Board member Sally Hunt brought up the issue during old business. She wanted to add the contract review to the March 28 board meeting or schedule a special meeting. But the other board members said that would be too soon.

Mittelstadt had told board members she would submit a self-evaluation to them by March 17, followed by oneon-one conversations with each board member.

“It’s my understanding that in the month of March, we’re going to get about as much information as we’re going to be able to get before the expiration of the contract,” said Hunt, who also asked to expedite the matter at the Feb.

decided soon

22 information workshop.

Hunt said that because nonrenewal is one of the options, the board would need as much time as possible to resolve the matter before the 2023-24 school year.

“Mid-April, to me, feels very late to have the official vote,” she said.

Board member Colleen Conklin said scheduling the item for the April 4 workshop would give the board members adequate time to do their evaluations.

School Board attorney Kristy Gavin would then compile the evaluations for the April 4 discussion, Conklin said.

Board member Christy Chong said she would like the board to move on the issue. But, she added, “I don’t want anybody to feel rushed.”

Board member Will Furry agreed that a discussion on April 4 and a vote on April 28 gives the board members enough time.

Board Chair Cheryl Massaro reiterated that the three newest board members — Hunt, Chong and Furry — do not have enough data or background yet to make an informed decision on the superintendent’s future.

“I did my first evaluation two years ago. It’s not easy,” she said. “There’s a lot of pieces to the puzzle that need to be completed. I realize you claim you know everything, but I think there’s a lot of things, and that’s not necessarily true. We have to learn how to do this together, and we need to listen to each other.”

Conklin is the only School Board member to indicate how she will vote. At the Feb. 22 workshop she said she had no issues with Mittelstadt’s performance, and she hoped the superintendent would choose to remain in her position.

VOTER’S GUIDE COVER CONTEST

At a March 7 workshop, the School Board picked the winner of Flagler County’s Voter’s Guide cover design contest.

Supervisor of Elections

Kaiti Lenhart presented the board members with 70 submissions from students in graphic design classes at Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high schools.

Each board member had three stickers to put on their favorite designs. The design with the most stickers will become the cover on the upcoming Voter’s Guide. The winning student will be presented at the board’s March 28 meeting.

Lenhart said the teachers do a good job of incorporating the importance of voting into the assignment while teaching design.

Lenhart said FPC students have won the contest five years in a row. “So, it’s time for Matanzas to win,” she said. Lenhart did not reveal the winner’s name or school.

The board plans to discuss the superintendent’s contract on April 4, with the intention of voting on April 18.

Photo by Brent Woronoff Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Kaiti Lenhart holds up the winning Voter’s Guide cover design.

“By creating awareness, a reader may be inspired to help stop trafficking.”

Volusia County to use ECHO dollars for county projects

The majority of the projects — 30 of them — fall into the outdoor recreation category. The plan also proposes 11 environmental projects and two historic projects.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

EDITOR

SENIOR

Over the next five years, Volusia County plans to fund 43 projects at 32 facilities — a request totaling over $15 million — through its voterapproved Volusia ECHO program.

On Tuesday, March 7, the Volusia County Council unanimously approved an ECHO Direct County Expenditure 5-year plan proposal that the county reported would result in general fund savings. Since 2007, the council has approved 22 projects to be funded by direct county expenditure, at $16.1 million. Regular applications for ECHO, which stands for environmental, cultural, historical and outdoor recreational, would still be open annually for community projects that fit the program’s guidelines.

“It’s a strategic investment plan, informed by the grassroots needs of

our community that balances both improvement of current assets, new construction projects and restoration,” said Brad Burbaugh, county director of resource stewardship.

The majority of the projects — 30 of them — fall into the outdoor recreation category. The plan also proposes 11 environmental projects and two historic projects.

“All of these will accomplish the mission of ECHO to improve the quality of life of our residents,” Burbaugh said.

Of the 32 county facilities, five are in unincorporated Volusia County near Ormond Beach and Ormondby-the-Sea, though there are six projects in total. The sites are RivOcean Drive fishing dock, Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park, Briggs Drive fishing dock, San Jose fishing dock and James Ormond Park.

For year one of the proposal, the county has asked to use $110,000 of ECHO funds to replace the fishing dock at Briggs Drive. At Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park, it has proposed using $80,000 to build three pickleball courts.

For the second year of the plan, the county is proposing using $90,000 to replace the San Jose fishing dock.

Then in the third year — no other Ormond projects are proposed for the final two years — the county

seeks to use $200,000 to renovate the playground at James Ormond Park, $150,000 to renovate the fishing dock at Bicentennial Park and $250,000 to replace the Riv-Ocean fishing dock.

All of the fishing docks in the plan are located along John Anderson Drive.

County Councilman Don Dempsey asked why many of the projects are on the east side of the county, with only a couple facilities in the northwest side of the county included in the plan.

Burbaugh said that the proposal was based on the county’s needs and that the projects were taken from the divisional budgets.

“It may be worth to look at finding more needs on the west side,” Councilman David Santiago said.

“Balance it off.”

Ormond Beach resident Jack Surrette, a member of the ECHO Advisory Committee, said the five-year program is a “really proactive development for ECHO.”

“In the past, we have dealt with strictly looking at things that come to us and propose a match, where it may be,” Surrette said. “In this case, as a direct county expenditure it will be a more proactive development for the whole ECHO program.”

The five-year proposal came before the council after it had approved two ECHO grant awards totaling $1.098 million — about $498,000 for the expansion of the African American Museum of the Arts in DeLand, and $600,000 for the Daytona Playhouse, which wants to add a permanent workshop, costume prepara-

PROJECT SITES

tion area, dressing room and more rehearsal space.

While both grants were approved, council members expressed concern about using ECHO funds to expand facilities which may not be sustainable in the long term. They asked staff for ways to examine applications to ensure facilities are being highly utilized and are as close as possible to being able to start projects.

Councilman Jake Johannsson said that he wants to make sure the county is leading by example by having “shovel-ready” programs on the five-year proposal.

“I don’t want to sit here and hold people accountable for their ECHO program (grants) year after year and be part of the problem as well,” he said.

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PUBLIC NOTICES

The Palm Coast Observer meets the legal requirements to publish legal notices in Flagler County, per F.S. 50.011.

1. James Ormond Park

2. San Jose Fishing Dock

3. Briggs Drive Fishing Dock

4. Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park

5. Riv-Ocean Drive Fishing Dock

Volusia County’s Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center

COPS CORNER

FEB. 17 PAIN IN THE GLASS

10:40 p.m. — Woodfalon Place, Palm Coast Shooting into a dwelling. A Palm Coast couple were awoken from sleep when a bullet came through their window.

The homeowner, a woman, told deputies she woke up when she heard a loud bang and found the home’s bay window damaged with a small bullet hole. The window shattered moments later.

The bullet had entered through the patio screen and ultimately lodged in a wall in the home, according to an incident report. Deputies also found a bullet hole in the home’s fence and another in a neighboring home’s fence and patio screen.

Woodfalon runs partially parallel to U.S. 1, where deputies found four 40-caliber shell casings in the woods along the northbound lanes.

No one was injured, and there were no suspects at the time of the report.

FEB. 21

CLEANING CATASTROPHE

4:30 p.m. — 1300 block of North Beach Street, Bunnell Gunshot wound. A Sheriff’s Office deputy was called to the emergency room because someone had been admitted with a gunshot wound — in this case, a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the hand, according to an incident report.

The victim told the deputy he’d decided to practice shooting his 9 mm handgun after work.

After shooting a few rounds, he said, he took the gun apart to clean it in his kitchen. He took out the magazine, but forgot to remove the bullet in the chamber before trying to release the slide from the frame.

The gun fired, striking the man’s right hand, the report said. No charges were filed.

MARCH 2

PLAYING GAMES

8:30 p.m. — 1000 block of North U.S. 1, Ormond Beach Dealing in stolen property.

A 28-year-old Ormond Beach man is facing felony charges after he swindled a Palm Coast resident out of a gaming console, according to a police report.

The Palm Coast resident was selling his Xbox and a video game on Facebook Marketplace when he was contacted by the Ormond Beach man, according to the report. The two agreed to meet up at a local gas station for the purchase, and after the exchange, the Ormond man drove away. The Palm Coast resident then noticed that the dollar bills he had received read, “For motion picture use only.”

A day prior, according to the report, another police officer had responded to a similar scenario at another local gas station, where a person was paid in counterfeit bills for a Playstation. The description of the suspect was similar, and police soon determined the man’s identity.

Officers responded to the man’s home, and the man claimed at first not to know the money had been counterfeit, but later admitted that he’d bought it online. He said he would return the gaming consoles to their owners. However, he had already sold them to a friend, who said he would work to get them back.

The man was taken to jail.

MARCH 3

DRINKING AND DRIVING

7:36 p.m. — Intersection of Mcalister Drive and Sylvania Place, Ormond Beach DUI. Residents called police after a sedan drove through their neighborhood and ended up partially in someone’s yard.

When the reporting officer arrived, the car was still running, according to a police report.

The officer spoke with its driver, a 52-year-old Ormond Beach man who “had a very slow reactionary time and delayed responses” and struggled to lower the window on his car, according to the report. The man smelled of alcohol.

The officer asked for his driver’s license, and the man gave him his debit card. As the officer asked him questions, the man said he wanted to go to sleep and asked for a break: He thought he was at home, the report notes. He refused to perform field sobriety exercises and was taken to jail.

MARCH 4

WRONG HOUSE

3:30 a.m. — First block of Harvard Drive, Ormond Beach Trespassing. Imagine having a random person try to barge into your home. That’s precisely what one Ormond Beach woman encountered. The 74-year-old woman told police that she had run out of her home after someone began banging on her front door and windows in an attempt to enter her home. She fled to her neighbor’s house and asked them to call 911.

When police arrived, an officer entered her home and found a 27-year-old Canadian man passed out in the woman’s bed. The officer tried to wake him up several times before he was successful. The man was highly intoxicated, according to a police report.

Police discovered that the man was in the area for Bike Week and was staying at an AirBnB. He had been out drinking and took a taxi back to where he believed his vacation rental was located, and didn’t realize he had entered the wrong house.

The woman wanted to pursue charges, and the man was taken to jail.

BRIEFS

Firefighters put out car fire on I-95

A truck towing a boat was engulfed in flames on Interstate 95 southbound in the early afternoon on Feb. 28.

The truck’s driver was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, but no one else was injured. A Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputy on patrol had noticed the pickup truck from the westbound lanes on the Palm Coast Parkway overpass.

The pickup was pulled over near Mile Marker 296, its engine flaming and smoking, according to an FCSO incident report.

The deputy called in the fire and drove to the scene. The truck was fully engulfed by the time he arrived, though a boat was not.

The driver was standing next to the driver’s side door. He told the deputy he was handicapped and had inhaled a lot of the smoke.

The man then collapsed, and the deputy dragged him away from the fire and called for an ambulance.

Palm Coast Fire Department Engine 23 and a Florida Highway Patrol trooper responded. While PCFD put out the flames, the FHP trooper pulled his vehicle between the deputy and truck driver and the fire to protect them from the flames, the report said.

Fire rescue took the owner to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is unknown, PCFD Lt. Patrick Luciano said.

CRIME REPORT

Man attacks brother who had damaged his car

A man called police on Feb. 24 to report that his brother had bashed in his car window, but the caller himself was arrested after police arrived and found that he’d beaten his brother bloody.

The incident happened in the 500 block of East Drain Street, according to the suspect’s arrest report.

BPD officers arrived at the home to speak to the alleged car-basher, but the man was so injured that he couldn’t give a written statement and asked police to take him to the hospital.

While he was being treated, an officer checked area surveillance cameras.

The footage showed the beating victim throw something at the caller’s BMW.

The caller got out of the car, grabbed a large stick and chased his brother to an empty lot at East Drain Street and South Cherry Street, tackling him and beating him with the stick, causing “serious injury,” the report said.

The caller walked home. The injured brother followed shortly after, and smashed the BMW’s window.

The beating victim said he wanted to pursue charges.

The attacker has been charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

He was taken to jail and released the next day on $35,000 bond.

Palm Coast man charged in death of his dog

A Palm Coast man was arrested on Feb. 27 and charged with shooting his dog in the head.

The man — Robert Williams, of the 200 block of

Westhampton Drive, in Palm Coast — has been charged with animal cruelty and firing a gun inside a residence.

FCSO deputies had been called to the scene at around 9 p.m. when Williams reported a break-in at his home, saying his German shepherd had been shot in the head.

FCSO cleared the home, finding the dog in the master bedroom and no one else in the home beside Williams, according to his arrest report.

Williams told deputies that he thought he had been drugged.

He said that after he had returned home for the day, a friend who lived down the street came to visit and left after nightfall. But Williams could not provide a name or address for the friend, according to the report.

Shortly after, Williams told deputies, he’d started to feel “delusional,” and only remembered waking up to find his dog dead, with Williams’ two rifles nearby.

Deputies noted in the report that Williams kept going off-topic during their interview and trying to reenter the home.

Neighbors told deputies that a loud sound came from Williams’ home at around 8 p.m., though one neighbor reported hearing the dog barking at around 8:30 p.m., according to the report.

Deputies got a search warrant for the home and found multiple firearms there, including a .35 lever-action rifle with a spent casing inside.

Deputies then arrested Williams.

“This man tried to cover up his crime by claiming that an intruder killed his dog,” Sheriff Rick Staly said, according to a press release. “Violence is never the answer, especially violence against animals who cannot protect themselves. I hope he will never be able to

have a pet again, and be held accountable for the death of his dog.”

Williams is being held in jail on no bond, according to the press release.

Detective uses Facebook Messenger in investigation

An undercover operation that began on Facebook Messenger led to a Palm Coast man’s arrest on drug-related charges.

The man, 48, was arrested March 3 at an apartment in the 1100 block of Beach Village Circle.

An undercover Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputy had been using an undercover Facebook account to speak to the suspect and arranged for the two to meet up, according to the suspect’s arrest report.

The suspect had messaged the female detective several days prior to his arrest, asking if she wanted to party. He sent her several pictures of drugs, including a video clip of him smoking cocaine out of a glass pipe, the report said.

The detective arranged to meet with him at an apartment complex on Beach Village Circle for cocaine just before 11 a.m. on March 3. When he arrived, FCSO Special Investigations Unit detectives intercepted him.

The detectives found a gram of a white rock substance that tested presumptive positive for cocaine in an empty cigarette box the suspect had with him. In his backpack, deputies also found a glass pipe with burnt residue, syringes and a copper Chore Boy scrubbing pad.

The suspect admitted to bringing cocaine for the detective and was arrested. He was taken to the county jail on charges of cocaine possession with intent to distribute and drug paraphernalia possession.

BIZ BUZZ

DSC SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH BETHUNECOOKMAN

Daytona State College and Bethune-Cookman University signed an agreement March 1 providing admissions, transfer credit and scholarship support for DSC students pursuing an advanced degree in criminal justice at B-CU.

The agreement is effective immediately.

“Our partnership with Bethune-Cookman University greatly streamlines the process for students looking to continue their education in criminal justice,” said Tom LoBasso, president of Daytona State College.

DSC students who have earned an associate of arts degree will be eligible to receive full credit for general education requirements at B-CU and are eligible for up to 60 transferable credits.

DSC students who have earned an associate of science degree in criminal justice and who are part of DSC’s Law Enforcement Academy plan are eligible to receive up to 42 transfer credits, including at least 15 general education classes. Those not part of the Law Enforcement Academy plan may receive up to 54 credits, including at least 15 general education classes.

“Daytona State has an incredible reputation for preparing its students to continue their education and enter the workforce,” said Lawrence M. Drake, interim president of Bethune-Cookman University. “We share a mission to serve our communities and look forward to helping students achieve their goals at B-CU.”

Mental examination ordered for student who attacked staff member

The student, 17-yearold Brendan Depa, has been charged as an adult and faces up to 30 years in prison.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A Flagler County judge has ordered the Matanzas High School special education student charged in a Feb. 21 attack on a school paraprofessional to undergo a mental examination to determine if he is fit to stand trial.

Brendan Depa, 17, is being charged as an adult and has pleaded not guilty. His public defender filed on March 3 for the court to order

the examination.

Judge Terence Perkins issued the order on the same day, according to court documents.

A document submitted on March 2 by Depa’s lawyer said Depa does not appear to understand the nature of his charges or the legal process, and has previously been evaluated, undergone treatment and been prescribed medication for psychological issues. He had been arrested after severely injuring Matanzas High School paraprofessional Joan Naydich on Feb. 21.

Matanzas High School surveillance footage showed Depa — 6 foot, 6 inches and weighing about 270 pounds, according to his arrest report — shove Naydich across a hallway, knocking her uncon-

scious, then repeatedly stomp on her and punch her in the head.

He had previously been charged with first-degree misdemeanor battery three times over the course of 2019 in Hillsborough County, and had completed a juvenile diversion alternative program, according to court records.

Depa is being held at a Jacksonville detention facility on $1 million bond and has a pretrial court date scheduled for 2:30 p.m. April 5 at the Flagler County courthouse.

A felony charge of aggravated battery on an educational employee is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

Email Sierra Williams at sierra@observerlocalnews. com.

Spradley, Belhumeur join the Flagler Beach City Commission

Scott Spradley won 38% of the vote while Rick Belhumeur defeated Deborah Phillips in a close second-place win.

SIERRA WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

Flagler Beach residents Scott Spradley and Rick Belhumeur have won the two open Flagler Beach City Commission seats. The polls closed at 7 p.m. on March 7 with a 2,600 vot-

er turnout for the commission seats. Spradley — a bankruptcy lawyer who recently represented the county in the dune easement hold-out case — won by a landslide 38.55%, with 1,034 votes.

It was a closer race between Belhumeur and the incumbent, Vice Chair Deborah Phillips. Belhumeur won 546 votes to Phillips’ 474, a difference of 72 votes.

Belhumeur is a returning city commissioner: He served on the commission for six years until he lost in 2022 to Commissioner James Sherman.

FDOT held an open house on Tuesday, Feb. 28, where it presented proposed improvements to a 6.2-mile corridor of LPGA Boulevard.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

SENIOR EDITOR

The Florida Department of Transportation is hoping to address safety and traffic issues at one of the busiest corridors on the east side of Volusia County: LPGA Boulevard from U.S. 92 to Williamson Boulevard.

FDOT held an open house on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the LPGA International Clubhouse, presenting proposed improvements to the 6.2 -mile corridor — including a possible redesign of the LPGA Boulevard and I-95 interchange — as part of an ongoing $3.7 million Project Development and Environment study.

The project — which aims to address existing and future

travel demand as well as the needs for bicyclists and pedestrians — also includes the Tomoka River Bridge.

“The project area is experiencing unprecedented growth in recent years,” FDOT stated in its presentation. “What used to be a rural area back in the 1980s is now home to numerous major residential communities and commercial developments.”

More developments, the presentation noted, are underway, and will worsen congestion if no improvements are completed.

Just east of the I-95 interchange, FDOT projects volume to reach 78,000 vehicles per day by 2050. West of the interchange, the volume is expected to reach 56,000 vehicles per day. Between 2015 and 2019, there were 927 crashes in the project area, 44% of which were rear-end crashes. Of the total crashes, 11 were fatal and six involved a pedestrian or bicyclist.

To improve the corridor, FDOT is proposing that LPGA Boulevard be widened to four lanes between U.S. 92 and Tymber Creek Road and to six

The commission had two seats up for election: former Commission Chair Ken Bryan’s seat, and Phillips’ seat. Bryan announced in early January that he would not be running for reelection, but Phillips was one of five candidates vying for the seats. Spradley and Belhumeur will be sworn in at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, ahead of the 5:30 p.m. City Commission meeting.

The commission will need to immediately elect a new chair- and vice-chairperson.

lanes between Tymber Creek Road and Williamson Boulevard, and that bicycle and pedestrian facilities be added.

It’s also exploring replacing and widening the Tomoka River bridge to three 11-foot lanes in each direction, with left turn lanes. Currently, the bridge spans two lanes, and there are no paths for bicyclists and pedestrians.

FDOT is evaluating adding roundabouts at WelshingerButler Circle South and Pomona Drive near the Daytona Stadium, International Golf Drive and International Tennis Drive.

The I-95 interchange could be redesigned as a signalized turbine interchange. It is now a partial cloverleaf design, according to the presentation.

“This concept offers substantial benefits over other solutions that were considered by spreading the traffic across LPGA Boulevard to improve traffic flow by splitting the corridor into separate one-way pairs and providing longer storage for left turn lanes, without interfering with oncoming traffic, and reducing the number of conflict points where the ramps intersect LPGA Boulevard to enhance safety,” the presentation stated. “Additionally, the signalized to turbine interchange is easier to expand in the future, since traffic will continue to grow especially west of the I-95 interchange, where undeveloped lands are rezoned to residential and mixed uses.”

FDOT aims to complete its PD&E study by the fall. While the project’s $7.4 million design phase has been funded, construction remains unfunded.

Visit cflroads.com/project/448456-1 to view the presentation.

Courtesy of FDOT

The I-95 interchange could be redesigned as a signalized turbine interchange. It is currently a partial cloverleaf design, according to the presentation.

Ormond residents spearhead effort to add sign at Hammock Trace

Jennifer and Paul Tarus, who moved to the Hammock Trace neighborhood in 2021, commissioned a handmade sign for their community.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

SENIOR EDITOR

After moving into their new house in the Hammock Trace neighborhood in Ormond Beach, Jennifer and Paul Tarus heard all sorts of stories from their neighbors about what the community was like decades prior.

Block parties. Neighbors who were more than just neighbors. Signs at each end of the small subdivision.

One of those signs used to stand at the corner of Roble Lane and Hammock Lane, in the property across from the Taruses. But it had been taken down a long time ago, possibly due to storm damage. The Taruses purchased their home in March 2021, and put a lot of time and effort into upgrading their landscaping.

“Since we opened up our corner, we figured, ‘Hey, let’s put a sign on this side, just to get the neighborhood going again,” Jennifer Tarus said.

And when Hurricane Ian damaged the sign at the other side of the community, at S. Center Street and Sandy Oaks Boulevard, they figured that allowed for a little bit more creativity.

That’s where Morris Wiener, of Wiener’s Wooden Signs, entered the picture.

A HANDMADE SIGN

Wiener has been painting for 80 years. Woodworking? Almost just as long, having begun when he was in the fourth grade.

“I just loved it,” Wiener said. “It was something I wanted to do, so I kept on doing it, and mostly, I taught myself.”

His shop is at the Daytona Flea Market. That’s where Jennifer Tarus

found him. She had commissioned a sign from him before, for her home after she and her husband moved in. Impressed with his skill, they wondered if he could do a bigger sign.

“So we figured we’d go down there, find out how much it costs, get one started and let other people decide whether or not they wanted to be involved, donate, whatever — several people had already shown interest,” Tarus said.

Without a homeowners association, they were free to explore the idea on their own.

She and her husband gave Wiener an idea of what they were looking for. They described the neighborhood, its location near Central Park, and the many squirrels seen every day.

The sign was a hit with the neighbors, Tarus said.

“They absolutely loved it, and they were really impressed,” she said. “We

were joking around, like ‘Breakaway Trails is going to be jealous. Ours is handmade.’”

Hearing that a customer loved the sign he made for them is “the highest form of gratification,” Wiener said.

“Sometimes I have customers that become emotional when they see the work that I’ve done for them,” Wiener said. “The samples that I show in my shop are very old, and they’re not really representative of the work that I do now, but when they see their sign, that’s part of why I don’t really want to change my samples, because they’re so elated when they see the final product. It’s really an emotional experience.”

His woodworking also brings joy to his wife, he added.

“She’s so pleased that we can make these people feel really happy with the work that I did,” Wiener said.

BE NEIGHBORLY

On Feb. 25, the Taruses invited all in the Hammock Trace neighborhood to come to their home to help place the new sign. They cooked hotdogs and hamburgers, played some music and met others in their community.

The sign cost the Taruses about $550. They let their neighbors know that, while donations were appreciated, they weren’t required — they just wanted people to come and have fun.

The Taruses received $382 in donations. The goal wasn’t to make up what they had spent, but rather to raise funds to place a new sign at Sandy Oaks Boulevard to replace the one removed after Hurricane Ian.

Neighbor Patricia Potts said around 25 people came by, and that everybody has been commenting on how nice the sign is. Having lived in the neighborhood for about 21 years, she remembers what the old signs

used to look like.

“It was a green rectangle with a little white carved out area that said Hammock Trace on it, and that was it,” Potts said. “It served its purpose for a lot of years, but this I think is outstanding. It looks really super.”

Potts played a role, perhaps unknowingly, in the Taruses’ sign initiative. When the Taruses moved in, she brought them a fruit basket to welcome them to the neighborhood. Then, when the Taruses got a puppy, Potts brought over a basket for the puppy, too.

“The way she was made us feel like we’ve got to do cute stuff like that for our neighbors,” Tarus said. Potts said the Taruses are very friendly and have been eager to lend a hand to her and her husband. She thanked them for their help.

“And thank you for what you mean for the neighborhood,” Potts said.

Hammock Trace neighbors show off their new sign.

Photo courtesy of Kristen Shae Photography

To-Do Dudes provides service to community, jumpstarts students’ careers

instructor and DECA advisor. “It kept them interested, for sure. It became more doable. He had quite a few ask if he was hiring.”

EDITOR

Erik Libby, founder and CEO of The To-Do Dudes, returned to Matanzas High School last month to speak to students in Julie Davis’ marketing classes and Cambridge AICE travel and tourism class.

The students were enthralled by his remarks, Davis said, because the young entrepreneur is practically one of their peers. He graduated from Matanzas, himself, just three years ago. Now he runs a successful business with a mission of helping students like themselves get started in their own entrepreneurial careers.

“The fact that he was only a few years older was a big shock to them,” said Davis, Matanzas’ marketing

The To-Do Dudes helps people with their to-do lists, performing household chores such as moving and lifting, raking and weeding, cleaning gutters, planting, mulching and rock placement, bush removal, window washing, picture and mirror hanging and just about anything else that’s in the realm of high school and college students’ abilities, Libby said.

The To-Do Dudes’ clients are mostly senior citizens and busy business professionals.

“We’re there to be the smiling, energetic helping hand for your projects,” Libby said.

The To-Do Dudes has 17 active field workers and an eight-person administration team. They are all high school or college students or recent graduates.

The members of the administrative team are getting business expe-

rience while they are still going to school. Dylan Long, a 2022 Flagler Palm Coast High School grad and University of Florida student, is the lead tech developer. Cameron Coates, a 2020 FPC grad, is the general manager.

Operations Advisor Bailey Russell graduated from Matanzas last year and is currently on the baseball team at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Caris Pless, a senior at Matanzas, is the director of marketing. There are also several team leaders who recently graduated from high school.

“We wanted to set up our company as a vessel to jumpstart the careers of high school and college students,” Libby said. “We really clung to that mission, teaching teamwork and accountability and providing opportunities. Even our field workers are learning about leadership and communication with the customers. Sometimes, the customers provide mentorship.”

Libby came up with the idea for

the business in May of 2020, shortly before he graduated from high school during the COVID year. He was helping his grandmother do yard work and before he knew it a stream of neighbors at the Hammock Dunes Club asked if he would do work around their homes.

“Five people came up to me in one day,” Libby said. “I thought, there’s a business here.” He started his business while he attended Stetson University. Once he found his passion, he said, he shifted from a business administration major to a double major in entrepreneurship and professional sales.

Libby graduated from Stetson last December and has been working on the business full-time ever since.

The To-Do Dudes charges $29 per worker per hour. The dudes have completed over 2,750 projects for over 750 customers in the Flagler County area. Libby said they plan to form a new team in Ormond Beach

TO LEARN MORE

To find out more about the ToDo Dudes, go to thetododudes. com.

“We wanted to set up our company as a vessel to jumpstart the careers of high school and college students. We really clung to that mission, teaching teamwork and accountability and providing opportunities.”

mid-year.

When he spoke to Davis’ classes about marketing and teamwork, he told them that just three years ago when he was sitting in one of their seats, he was not ready to start a business.

“When I was in their shoes, I didn’t have too much self-confidence. I didn’t have the ability to speak to people, to get them aligned. It seemed so far-fetched to start a business,” he said. “In a lot of ways, I’m still uncertain about myself. I’m still learning every day.”

“It’s always exciting for alumni to come in and tell their success story,” Davis said. “Erik was helping out his grandma, and an idea sparked. It shows you can be anywhere when a big idea hits you.”

Stetson graduate Erik Libby started the business shortly after he graduated from Matanzas High School.

Courtesy photos

Erik Libby poses with Matanzas students. From left: Casey Schagen, Natalie Plambeck, Libby, Naya Guillen, Maya Kulesza and Christa Koehler

ERIK LIBBY

To-Do Dudes Caris Pless, Dylan Long, Erik Libby Cameron Coates and Bailey Russell

LETTERS

Christy Chong is 100% correct on two issues

Dear Editor:

I agree, wholeheartedly, with School Board member Christy Chong that the School Board needs to look into an alternative school for the emotionally disturbed children prone to violence.

Having just retired after 23 years in the Flagler County school district, I have heard and seen paraprofessionals getting injured quite a few times. I don’t think it’s fair to anyone to have to deal with this. What happened to this paraprofessional at Matanzas is beyond belief!

In the past, Devereaux, Everest and Pathway, to me, were more behavioral schools, but we need one, as Christy says, for the emotionally disturbed children prone to violence.

Also, she is 100% correct that we do not need certain signs hanging in classrooms. Once one group starts hanging signs, who’s to stop other groups from hanging their signs. How about we get reading, writing and arithmetic instead of what’s happening now with all these groups!

PAT BARILE Palm Coast

YOUR TOWN

Registration is open for Temple Beth Shalom’s innovative Judaica through the Arts summer art camp for children ages 6-12.

The program will focus on Jewish traditions and values through art, crafts and preparation of holiday treats.

There will be two different 4-day sessions with separate programs, so campers can do one or both without repetition.

The first session is planned for

BIZ BUZZ

NORTH FLORIDA GIRL SCOUTS COUNCIL HIRES NEW CEO

Make yourself at home

Handing over the saw

Ellie makes the cut.

BRIAN MCMILLAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“I need a board for my art class,” said my 13-year-old daughter, Ellie.

“It should be about this big.” With her hands, she mimed a shape that looked like a paperback book.

For the third time, I mumbled something like, “Yeah.” My eyes remained on my phone.

Worried that I wasn’t taking her emergency seriously enough, she added: “We’re making our sculptures in class — tomorrow.”

I trudged to the corner of the garage known as the Museum of Unfinished Projects, and I found the perfect artifact: a white half-shelf.

Like a humble subject hoping for

June 19-22, and the second is scheduled for July 10-13. Both will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Each session is $50 per child, including craft materials and snacks.

To register, contact Temple Beth Shalom Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 9 a.m. and noon. Space is limited, and registration will close May 15.

Temple Beth Shalom is located at 40 Wellington Drive in Palm Coast.

FLAGLER BEACH RESIDENT CELEBRATES 102ND BIRTHDAY

Flagler Beach resident Christiane

Pruvost celebrated her 102nd birthday on Friday, March 3.

Pruvost was born in Asnieres, France, in 1921. Her father came to the U.S. to

the princess’s approval, I entered the family room and held up my offering, knowing that rejection would mean death, or worse — a late-night trip to Lowe’s.

“It’s a little big,” she said.

“Perfect for a big sculpture.”

She was motionless, in regal silence.

“Or,” I relented, “we could cut it.” I retrieved a handsaw and two clamps from the garage and set them up on a table in the kitchen. I knew I could saw the board in about 60 seconds, and I was about to do it, but then I looked at Ellie on the couch, and suddenly I saw her not as a princess but as a young girl who had never used a handsaw, a girl who would one day be a woman, likely a mother, someone who was capable of all I could ever do and more.

If I were to cut this board, it would be done quickly, and I could move on with my life, but would I be robbing her of the small satisfaction that would come from cutting her own board for her own project? I knew the difference I had felt in the past when I knew my parents had helped me with a middle-

school project, and how I felt when I accomplished it on my own, no matter how jagged the edges.

To my surprise, Ellie didn’t protest when I handed her the saw. I demonstrated briefly, and then she took over.

The teeth caught as she scraped the saw against the wood. She tried again, concentrating. Minutes passed.

From the other room, my wife, Hailey, said, “Looks like it’s Ellie’s turn to be in your column.”

Ellie looked at me and said, “Seriously?”

“Maybe,” I said. “Never know.”

Again, the teeth caught. But she eventually got the hang of it. The motion became smoother, and she learned to hunch over the board for better leverage. Finally: success. She held up the fruits of her labor and said, in her teenagerly ironic monotone: “Ta da. A board.”

It wasn’t a landmark accomplishment in her life; maybe she’ll forget all about it. But despite her attempts to stay cool, I could see a smile creep across her face as she then sanded the edges of the board and envisioned her sculpture resting on top of it.

As a way to confirm her permission for me to write about this episode for my column, she added: “Probably the most notable thing I’ll do all week.”

She spent some time Washington, then moved to New York and worked for American Express in 1953 before working as a French translator in the oil industry. She became a U.S. citizen and married a French gentleman before moving to St. Augustine.

After her husband passed away in 2007, she moved to Palm Coast, then Flagler Beach.

PalmCoastObserver.com

PALM COAST

“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.”

Publisher John Walsh, jwalsh@observerlocalnews.com

Managing Editor Jonathan Simmons, jonathan@observerlocalnews.com

Senior Editor Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@observerlocalnews.com

Associate Editor Brent Woronoff, brent@observerlocalnews.com

Staff Writer Sierra Williams, sierra@observerlocalnews.com

Design Editor Hailey McMillan, hailey@observerlocalnews.com

Media Director Holly Oliveri, holly@observerlocalnews.com

Senior Media Specialist Susan Moore, susan@observerlocalnews.com

Advertising Coordinator Jessica Boone, jessica@observerlocalnews.com Office Coordinator Bonnie Hamilton, bonnie@observerlocalnews.com

SUBSCRIBE

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Locally Owned / Publishers of The Palm Coast Observer Palm Coast Observer, LLC P.O. Box 353850 Palm Coast, 32135

VETERAN OF THE WEEK

Courtesy photo Christiane Pruvost

work with the Army, and sent her to England to learn English when she was 9. She also studied Spanish and German, and worked in embassies before coming to the United States.

The Flagler Beach Police Department and Fire Department and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office serenaded her with a parade on her 100th birthday.

This event was a high moment in her life, and she kept saying, “Americans are so generous.”

Her friends wish her many more celebrations.

Ernest Morris

 Branch of military: U.S. Navy

 Dates of service: 1974-1998

 Rank/occupation: Lieutenant / Limited Duty Officer – Surface ordnance

Wendy Dordel

The Girls Scouts of Gateway Council has named Wendy Dordel as its next CEO.

Dordel started at the Gateway Council on Feb. 27, according to a press release from the council.

She has over 20 years of experience in advocating for women and girls’ issues in nonprofits, including her previous appointment as a the vice president of council consulting at Girl Scouts of the USA.

Board Chair April Harrell-Devine said in the press release Dordel has a proven record of engaging volunteers and driving membership success.

“The committee was impressed with her dedication to connecting people to the right work, through coaching and education as well as her commitment to being a transparent and authentic leader,” Harrell-Devine said.

The Gateway Council serves almost 11,000 members — over 6,100 K-12 girls and 4,600 adults — in more than 35 counties in North Florida, including Flagler County.

“Girl Scouts has provided me with life-long friends, mentors, and opportunities,” Dordel said. “I am delighted to join the amazing staff and volunteers of Girl Scouts of Gateway Council in delivering the same lasting impact experience to the girls of North Florida.”

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAUNCHES HISPANIC BUSINESS ALLIANCE

The Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce has launched

OVER $1 MILLION RAISED FOR NEW HOSPITAL ON PALM COAST PARKWAY

The AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation celebrated the end of its 12-year expansion campaign on March 2. The Foundation’s 20/20 Society members have, alongside community support, raised $1,075,895 for the new hospital on Palm Coast Parkway.

In 2011, the group pledged to raise $1 million by 2020, commit-

the Hispanic Business Alliance to support the county’s growing Hispanic business community.

Chamber President and CEO Greg Blosé said the Hispanic community is set to be the fastest-growing minority community in Flagler County by 2040.

The alliance’s mission will be to support the community’s economic growth, according to the chamber’s press release.

Maria Dowling, a Hispanic business owner in Flagler Beach, said she hopes the alliance will help bring community members together to learn from each other.

“We know that there is a need within the … Hispanic businesses for support, advocacy and education,” Dowling said. “We wanted to create an alliance

ting $10,000 per member over the course of 10 years. The money raised will pay for the cost of equipment like baby and blanket warmers, additional wheelchairs, patient lifts and more. It will also pay for comfort furniture like sleeper sofas in patient rooms and kneeling chairs for the chapel.

Tony Papandrea, chairman for the

that builds a community.”

One area the alliance will help the Hispanic business community with is education on available resources, Dowling said.

While language is sometimes a barrier to accessing resources, she said, business owners often simply don’t know when or where support resources are available. The alliance’s kickoff event will be held from 4-6 p.m. March 7 at the Latino Market and Bakery in St. Joe’s Plaza at 300 SW Palm Coast Parkway, Suite 1. Dowling said the alliance expects to hold more events to promote a diverse business economy, which will in turn promote innovation. “When we have people from differ-

Palm Coast Foundation’s Board of directors, thanked the 20/20 Society members for their support.

The new hospital will provide critical support to the community, he said, from health care to new jobs.

“This is a big deal,” he said. “That means more nurses, more doctors, more access.”

ent backgrounds, we have different ideas,” Dowling said. “And those ideas will lead to innovation within the community … When we have that, we’re going to have growth. To me, it’s a winwin situation, for the businesses and for the community.”

REALTY OFFICE NAMES TOP AGENTS

The top agents at Coldwell Banker Premier Properties for February 2023 were:

 Dottie Dills, top listing agent

 Dottie Dills and Jack Corbett, top sales agents

 Jack Corbett, top producer

NEED HELP WITH VETERAN SERVICES? For information about benefits available to veterans and other support organizations

386-313-4014.

REGISTRATION BEGINS FOR TEMPLE BETH SHALOM’S ART CAMP

Courtesy photo

The AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation celebrated the end of its expansion campaign on March 2. They foundation raised just over $1 million for the new AdventHealth hospital on Palm Coast Parkway.

Ready. Set. Run.

Ilsa Morris and Heather Hodgkins, both 8, take off at the start of the race.

Jace Perry, 8, and Darren Lamirez, 6, pose with their medals.

Gabriella Hitt, 11, sings the national anthem.

Braelyn Somera, 8 and the overall winner, rounds a corner in the Bobcat 2K.

Tamira Allston and Myla Williams, 7, wait for the run to start.

Photos by Jake Montgomery

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 9

ORMOND BEACH AREA

DEMOCRATIC CLUB MEETING

WHEN: 7 P.M.

Where: 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: The March meeting of the Ormond Beach Democratic Club will be held in person and on Zoom. Social visiting will be from 6:30-7 p.m., after which the meeting will begin. Elections for some of the offices will take place after a slate is presented and nominations are taken from the floor. Pending policies and legislations will be discussed and suggested responses/actions considered. Like-minded nonmembers are welcome to attend as guests. Club information and the Zoom link are available at ormondbeachdems.org.

PALM COAST DEMOCRATIC CLUB

MEETING

When: 7 p.m.

Where: African American Cultural Society, 4422 N. U.S. 1, Palm Coast

Details: The Palm Coast Democratic Club will host a discussion of Florida House Bill 1 on school choice. There will be a social hour beginning at 6 p.m. The meeting is open to all. For more information, call Palm Coast Democratic Club Interim President Donna Harkins at 386-237-7202.

FRIDAY, MARCH 10

TREASURES IN THE ATTIC

When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran Church, 101 Pine Lakes Parkway Details: The Garden Club of Palm Coast will host its annual Treasures in the Attic Rummage Sale.

MOVIES IN THE PARK

When: 6:45-8:45 p.m.

Where: Central Park at Town Center, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast

Details: Bring your blanket, lawn chairs and picnic baskets and watch “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,” rated PG, at Central

Park. This event is presented by Palm Coast Parks and Recreation.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11 HISTORY OF FISHING IN PONCE INLET

When: 9:30 a.m.

Where: Anderson-Price Memorial Building, 42 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Details: Marine Science Center Manager Chad MacFie will discuss the history of fishing in Ponce Inlet, from the Timucuan Indians to the modern fleet and conservation efforts during this event hosted by the Ormond Beach Historical Society. He will also share the stories and pictures from the families, fishermen and locals who created the backbone of Ponce Inlet as we know it today. Free program. There will be coffee and refreshments.

SIXTH ANNUAL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12.

Where: Central Park at Town Center, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast

Details: Eat all things Strawberry during this annual festival. There will be family-friendly activities, arts, crafts, bounce houses, rock painting, pony rides, a pie eating contest and more.

Tickets cost $6; kids 2 and under are free. Visit palmcoastfest.com for a $1 off coupon; you may also bring a canned good for a discount. Festival benefits Flagler Habitat for Humanity.

CRAFT SHOW

When: 2-3 p.m.

Where: VFW Post 3282, 5810 S. Williamson Blvd., Port Orange

Details: Peruse local crafts at VFW Post 3282. Proceeds will go to support local veterans. There will be a bake sale and lunch options available for purchase.

CAIN’S LIVE AND IN COLOR TOUR

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Calvary Christian Church Center, 1687 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: See this concert by Chris-

tian band CAIN, part of its first headlining tour. The concert will also feature Katy Nichole and David Leonard. The band invites the audience to dress in the same color as its members. In Ormond Beach, the designated color will be orange. Tickets cost $25 for general admission. Visit itickets.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 12

TRINITY HANDBELL CHOIR AND FRIENDS IN CONCERT

When: 4 p.m.

Where: Trinity Presbyterian Church, 156 Florida Park Drive, Palm Coast

Details: This concert promises to be a musical journey from Lent to Easter, featuring an organ, piano, vocal and flute solos, as well as narration. A freewill offering is requested to benefit local food banks.

SWINGTIME! THE JIVE ACES

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Flagler Auditorium, 5500 State Road 100, Palm Coast

Details: See these Britain’s Got Talent stars, known for their high-energy music featuring songs by Louis Prima, Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman and more. Tickets $40-$50. Visit flaglerauditorium.org.

by a parent or grandparent. After the tour, there will be a watercolor activity. Most supplies included, but children must bring their own 8-by-10-inch mixed-media sketchbook. Activity costs $15 for museum members; $18 for nonmembers. Visit ormondartmuseum.org.

CIVIL DISCOURSE/COMMON

GROUND

When: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Public Library auditorium, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Details: Attend the next meeting of Civil Discourse/Common Ground. The civic-minded group aims to engage in dialogue about how to best create change in local communities.

TUESDAY, MARCH 14

LEWIS AND CLARK CIRCUS

When: 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, March 14-15; 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16; and 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 17

Where: Florida Agricultural Museum, 7900 Old Kings Road N., Palm Coast

Details: Experience 90 minutes of circus fun. Tickets cost $20 per adult and $5 per child online; $25 per adult and $10 per child at the door. Visit lewisandclarktickets.com.

ONGOING COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY’ AWARDS EXHIBIT

When: Through March 18

MONDAY, MARCH 13

YOUTH GARDEN TOUR AND ART ACTIVITY

When: 1-2:30 p.m.

Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: OMAM is inviting children ages 5-12 for a tour of the memorial gardens, led by Garden Artisan Janett Taylor. Kids must be accompanied

Where: Art League of Daytona Beach, 433 S. Palmetto Ave., Daytona Beach Details: See works by members of the Art League of Daytona Beach, Casements Camera Club, Flagler Beach Photography Club, Port Orange Camera Club and Southeast Volusia Camera Club. Gallery is open 1-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

‘ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S

NEST’

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday March 10-11; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 12

Where: Flagler Playhouse, 301 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell

Details: See this stage adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel by Dale Wasserman. The play explores the brutality of life in a mental institution with humor and unforgettable characters. Tickets cost $25, or $20 for students. Visit flaglerplayhouse.org.

VOLUSIA COUNTY SENIOR

SOFTBALL

When: 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays

Where: Derbyshire Park and Sports Complex, 849 Derbyshire Road, Daytona Beach

Details: This 50-and-older men’s senior softball league is now forming. It’s both recreational and competitive. Call Joe Daly at 954-732-0992 or visit nsbseniorsoftball.com.

EXERCISES FOR THE MATURING

BODY

When: 10:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays

Where: First Baptist Church Of Palm Coast, 6050 Palm Coast Parkway, Palm Coast Details: Attend upbeat classes with Senior Fitness Specialist Artie Gardella, presented by Synergy Senior Fitness. Insurances that cover fitness accepted, or a donation for those with no coverage. Visit Synergyseniorfitness.com.

MOAS EXHIBITIONS

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Museum of Arts and Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach Details: The Museum of Arts and Sciences has the following shows on display: “Minor Masterpieces: Porcelain Painted Scenes from the Collection,” and “Sensations: Florida Artists Group Statewide Exhibition.”

Post 115 monthly meeting will feature a potluck dinner and update of coming events. A Veteran Affairs Service Officer representative will be in attendance.

History makers

Matanzas captures firstever state girls wrestling championship.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Brielle Bibla, her voice hoarse, described her emotions when she watched her sister, Kendall, win her state wrestling championship.

“I was standing up going crazy,” Brielle said. “And then once she put (Katherine Stewart) on her back, I threw a bottle on the concrete floor, and it exploded. I was just going nuts. When I saw her hand get raised, I was just screaming.”

The Bibla sisters yelled some more with their Matanzas teammates when the Pirates clinched the state girls wrestling championship on Saturday, March 4, at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

It is the first team championship in any sport in school history.

“I’m proud to see Matanzas win its first state championship, and I’m very happy it’s in wrestling,” said T.J. Gillin, the Pirates’ boys head wrestling coach, who shares coaching duties for the entire program with girls head coach Mike Fries and assistant Jeremiah Marschka.

Seven Pirate wrestlers won medals

in their weight classes as Matanzas defeated runner-up Orlando Freedom 124-107. Freedom High, the 2022 state champ, had been ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

“Something like this is going to put Matanzas on the map and put our wrestling program on the map nationally,” Gillin said.

For the second year in a row, the Pirates had an individual state champ as sophomore Kendall Bibla won the 145-pound title with a 15-4 major decision over Bartram Trail’s Stewart.

Christina Borgmann (120 pounds) and Brielle Bibla (130 pounds) placed second. Mariah Mills (110 pounds) placed third for the second year in a row.

Tiana Fries — who won the 110-pound championship last year as a freshman — placed fifth in the 125-pound class, while Ani Brown

MATANZAS STATE CHAMPS

INDIVIDUALS „ Tyrone Jones, wrestling, 2018 „ Tiana Fries, wrestling, 2022 „ Alexandra Gazzoli, golf, 2022 „ Kendall Bibla, wrestling, 2023

TEAM „ Girls wrestling, 2023

(235 pounds) placed sixth and Brooklyn Watt (170 pounds) placed seventh.

“Going into the state tournament, you talk to your team about it being a big arena, don’t get nervous, it’s more of a mental game,” Mike Fries said. “But we’ve been everywhere. We’ve seen the top competitors all year. We’ve filled the girls’ toolboxes with every tool they need. They were prepared to beat everybody.”

Flagler Palm Coast’s Ana Vilar lost to Brielle Bibla in the 130-pound semifinals by an 8-7 decision. Vilar finished in sixth place.

Kendall Bibla had lost to Stewart three times this season in close matches. This time, she was ready to flip the script.

“I knew she had something to prove, and I didn’t,” Kendall said of Stewart, who was ranked No. 1 in the state in the 145-pound weight class. “Mentally I just kind of had to tell myself that this is the last chance. This is the last time you’re going to wrestle her your sophomore year, so you have to beat her.”

Mike Fries calls Kendall Bibla “Tank,” because “she’s big, strong aggressive and runs over people like a tank.”

But in this match, she was calm and patient, Gillin and Fries said.

“She came out on fire, but she kept good positioning and didn’t force anything,” Fries said. “She waited for her opportunities to score, and she scored big.”

The Bibla sisters attended Tocoi Creek High in St. Johns County last year. This year, they decided to home-school and wrestle for Matanzas, a 40-minute drive from their home.

Brielle, a state-runner-up last year, was aiming for a title in her final

The Matanzas girls wrestlers raise their hands in celebration after they’re announced as the state champs.

Brielle Bibla, of Matanzas, wrestles Ana Vilar, of FPC, in a close semifinal match. Bibla won 8-7 to advance to the final. Vilar placed sixth.

Coach Michael Fries leads the Pirates as they break it down one last time as state champions.

Celebration erupts as Kendall Bibla, of Matanzas, wins the 145-pound state championship. In the background, sharing the moment (from left), are: Coach T.J. Gillin, head girls coach Michael Fries and Kendall’s sister, Brielle.

“That was

the

proudest I’ve

been of her. Nothing else in the world mattered when she won that. It was just a liberating moment for me to

see. I could see that all the work that her and I put in together has really paid off.”

BRIELLE

BIBLA on her sister Kendall Bibla

Christina Borgmann, of Matanzas, dominates her semifinal match at 120 pounds. Borgmann placed second.

Photos by Rachel and Abe Mills

Four Flagler County boys wrestlers place at state

Matanzas’

T.J. McLean and

Dylan Parkinson

and FPC’s

Kole Hannant and Dalton Schell all reached the podium in Kissimmee.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Four Flagler County wrestlers placed at the boys state wrestling championships March 2-4 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

Matanzas sophomore T.J. McLean placed fifth in the 106-pound weight class in the Class 2A tournament.

McLean lost in the quarterfinals and won three matches in the consolation bracket to go 4-2 in the tourney.

Matanzas senior Dylan Parkinson placed eighth at 152 pounds.

Parkinson lost his first match but

won two straight matches in wrestle-backs to get into a medals match.

“Dylan had a heart-breaker in the blood round last year at regional,” Matanzas coach T.J. Gillin said. “To end his career with a state medal, I’m real excited for him. He worked his tail off to get it.”

Flagler Palm Coast senior Kole Hannant placed in the Class 3A tournament for the second year in a row.

Hannant placed seventh at 132 pounds, pinning Zach Balma of Riverdale in 5:43 in the seventhplace match.

FPC’s Dalton Schell also ended his high school wrestling career with a state medal. Dalton placed eighth at 195 pounds.

Matanzas wins state

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3B

high school season. Instead, she fell to undefeated Aireaana Gavere of Milton by a 6-3 decision in the final to finish second again. Gavere had been a state champion in Minnesota before moving to Florida.

“I wasn’t disappointed in my performance,” Brielle said. “I left it all out there, and there’s nothing more I could have asked for.”

It was a roller coaster of a weekend for the senior, who cheered for her teammates and won the $1,000 Next Level Scholarship, given out by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame to one male wrestler and one female wrestler at the state tournament.

Brielle will wrestle for Presbyterian College in South Carolina next year. She had to write an essay, perform community service hours and provide references to be eligible for the Next Level Scholarship.

“Brielle wrestled a great tourney. Knowing how competitive she is, how she wants to be the best, she took the loss better than I ever saw anyone take it,” Mike Fries said.

“She’s ready for the next level.”

Brielle didn’t have much time to dwell on the loss. Three matches later, her sister was on the mat for her final.

“That was the proudest I’ve been of her. Nothing else in the world mattered when she won that,” Brielle said. “It was just a liberating moment for me to see. I could see that all the

work that her and I put in together has really paid off.”

Borgmann, who finished eighth at state last year, has a little notebook where she jots down wrestling questions and things needs to learn, Mike Fries said.

“She’s really worked herself to the bone, putting in extra work,” Fries said. “Nina’s a perfect example of why I love this sport.”

Borgmann won a major decision and notched two first-period pins before getting pinned at 5:17 by Lake Nona’s Milana Borrelli in the final.

Mills lost a 4-0 decision to eventual champ I-Cart Galumette of North Miami in the semifinals but came back to win a 13-2 major decision over Apopka’s Shelby Sherman in the consolation final.

Matanzas coach Michael Fries hugs Mariah Mills after her 3rd-place victory.

Ana Vilar, of FPC, gains the upper hand in her match. Vilar placed sixth at 130 pounds.

Dalton Schell, right, of FPC, placed eighth at 195 pounds at the Class 3A state championships at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

The referee raises Kole Hannant’s hand after the 132-pound seventh-place match at the Class 3A State Championships.

Photos by Rachel and Abe Mills

NSB’s Meeks strikes out 11 in baseball win over FPC

The Bulldogs lost their second game in a row before bouncing back with a comeback victory against Seabreeze.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Palm Coast baseball coach

Kyle Marsh is familiar with New Smyrna Beach righthander Mattox Meeks from the Orlando Scorpions Baseball Club’s summer program.

So, Marsh, who coaches with the Scorpions in the summer, knew what to expect when Meeks faced the Bulldogs on Friday, March 3, at FPC. A lot of curveballs.

Meeks kept the Bulldogs off-bal-

ance all night, striking out 11 batters in six innings on the way to an 8-0 New Smyrna Beach victory.

“I was able to control the zone with my curveball,” Meeks said. “My curveball is always my best pitch. I get a lot of strikeouts with it.”

The junior allowed five hits and one walk to lower his earned run average to 0.95.

“He had good tempo on the mound,” Marsh said. “All of his pitches were working.”

But FPC’s first-year head coach thought his team was too complacent for the second game in a row. After beating University 6-5 in nine innings on Feb. 28, the Bulldogs lost home games on consecutive nights to DeLand (10-2 on March 2) and New Smyrna.

“Little things matter,” Marsh said. “We’ve got to attack. We’ve got to be aggressive at the plate. We’ve got to compete. Every game is big for us.”

Marsh said FPC starter Brayden Stuart threw the ball well. The senior did not allow a hit through the first two innings. After the first batter of the game reached first base on an error, Stuart fired a pickoff throw to first and the Bulldogs got the runner out in a rundown play.

Stuart had a 1-2-3 second inning with the help of a diving catch by

left fielder Connor May. But the Barracudas scored two runs each in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

FPC freshman Caysen Nobles pitched the final two innings for his first varsity appearance on the mound. Nobles struck out four batters and allowed two runs, including a leadoff home run in the seventh by Landyn Abernethy.

The Bulldogs were missing first baseman/designated hitter Dalton Schell, who was competing at the

state wrestling tournament.

FPC got back in the win column on Monday, March 6, with an 8-3 win at Seabreeze to improve to 4-3. After trailing the Sandcrabs 3-2, the Bulldogs scored six runs in the top of the seventh to put the game away.

FPC was scheduled to face the Sandcrabs at home on March 8 and then host city rival Matanzas on Friday, March 10.

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

Tristen Miller rounds second base before getting thrown out at third.

FPC first baseman Tristen Miller attempts to tag out Nate Savolis.

Photos by Jake Montgomery

“Little things matter. We’ve got to attack. We’ve got to be aggressive at the plate. We’ve got to compete. Every game is big for us.”

KYLE MARSH, FPC baseball coach

FPC pitcher Brayden Stuart allowed six runs on eight hits.

TWO-WAY SWITCHES by Pam Amick Klawitter, edited by Jeff Chen

By Luis Campos

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

LINES

Four FPC lifters win titles in four-way meet

In its final match before the Five Star Conference championships, Flagler Palm Coast’s boys weightlifting team hosted Winter Springs, Bartram Trail and Deltona on March 1.

The Bulldogs finished second in both the traditional and Olympic competition. Winter Springs edged FPC 57-50 in traditional, with Deltona (28) third and Bartram Trail (3) fourth. In the Olympic competition, Winter Springs was first with 59 points, followed by FPC (39), Bartram Trail (37) and Deltona (17).

MAINLAND WRESTLERS PLACE

Mainland’s Cheyenne Wigley (235 pounds) and Mya Hill (155 pounds) each placed seventh at the girls state weightlifting championships March 1-4 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. Both wrestlers placed at state for the second year in a row.

SANDCRABS

TENNIS TEAM UNDEFEATED

Seabreeze’s boys and girls tennis teams were both 6-0 entering the Five Star Conference tournament, which will conclude Thursday, March 9, at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.

FPC’s girls tennis team was 3-2, while its young boys team was 1-6 entering the tournament.

FPC’s Nick Lilavois, (129 pounds) and Nick Groth (183) won their weight classes in both competitions. Charley Perry (238) and Kobe Murphy (unlimited) won in traditional.

Lilavois hoisted 445 pounds (225 clean and jerk, 220 bench press) in the traditional competition and 415 (190 snatch) in Olympic. Lilavois, who won both competitions handily, missed his third clean and jerk attempt of 235 pounds.

Last year, 445 pounds was the

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second-best traditional total by 129-pounders at the Class 3A state championships. Lilavois moved up a weight class this year after finishing second at 119 pounds in traditional lifts and winning the snatch title at state last year.

Groth had the best clean and jerk lift of 295 pounds at the March 1 meet. He totaled 560 in traditional and 515 in Olympic.

Perry won the 235-pound traditional competition by 150 pounds, with a 600-pound total. He tied Bartram Trail’s Marcos Ramos for the highest Olympic total (420 pounds), but Ramos won the competition by body weight, weighing one pound lighter than Perry.

Murphy did not miss a traditional lift. He completed a 280-pound clean and jerk and benched 360 pounds for a 640-pound total.

The Five Star meet is scheduled for Wednesday, March 8, at FPC.

Email brent@observerlocalnews. com.

LIONS CLUB HONORS SENIOR

The Ormond Beach Lions Club honored Seabreeze High School senior Dominic Marinaccio as its student athlete of the month for February. Marinaccio plays soccer for the Sandcrabs and was also on the cross country team.

He was awarded SuperCrab of Athletics for the first quarter this year and was named best newcomer for cross country. He also assists soccer coach Jon Kinsler in refereeing and coaching 3 vs. 3 tournaments and practices for the Under 10 and Under 8 soccer club divisions.

Marinaccio has a 4.53 GPA and is secretary of Seabreeze’s National Honor Society. He has been drum captain of the drum line for the last two years and has been chosen to be in the Tomorrow’s Leaders program. He has recorded over 400 hours of community service.

PRO PICKLEBALL AT PICTONA

A pro pickleball tournament is scheduled March 9-12 at Pictona at Holly Hill. The Carvana PPA Tour will host the Red Clay Florida Open. This event will be the PPA Tour’s first-ever tournament held in the Volusia-Flagler area.

The event is a professional and amateur tournament that will feature 1,100 pickleball players in multiple divisions. This will be the fifth event on the pro tour’s calendar of 25 events during the 2023 season.

The competitors include the world’s top male and female pros, including Anna Leigh Waters (women’s No. 1), Ben Johns (men’s No. 1), Riley Newman (men’s No. 2) and Catherine Parenteau (women’s No. 2). The professional purse is $238,314 in prize money.

Photos by Brent Woronoff

Nick Lilavois won at 129 pounds at the March 1 meet with a 445-pound traditional total and a 415-pound Olympic total.

FPC 139-pound lifter Richard Beltrami completed a 190-pound clean and jerk on his second lift at a March 1 meet.

Photo by Rachel Mills

Mainland's Cheyenne Wigley checks the clock during a match at the state tourney.

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Palm Coast Plantation house tops sales list

Ahouse in Palm Coast Plantation was the top real estate transaction for Jan. 26-Feb. 1 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. Robert and Deborah Deal, of Fernandina Beach, sold 95 South Riverwalk Drive to Joe and Inara Blackburn, of Palm Coast, for $1,335,000. Built in 2018, the house is a 4/4 with an inground pool, electric fireplace, gas fireplace, spa and 3,584 square feet of living space.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

PALM COAST

Belle Terre

INB Fund 1 LLC, of Orlando, sold 132 Plain View Drive to David and Dorothy Hollowell, of Palm Coast, for $320,000. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,500 square feet of living space.

Matanzas Woods

Virginia Steiger and Kimberly McQuaig, of St. Augustine, sold 1 Linda Place to Patrick Callahan, of Daytona Beach, for $282,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 3/2 with an inground pool and has 1,560 square feet.

Not in subdivision

Dolores Donlan, of Gibbsboro, New Jersey, sold 221 Wellington Drive to Jonathan and Deborah Spiegel, of Young Harris, Georgia, for $315,000. Built in 1994, the house is a 3/2 with an inground pool and 1,979 square feet. It sold in 1994 for $161,900.

Ocean Hammock Jason and Brittany Urband, of Plantation, sold 36 Cinnamon Beach Way to Thomas Sullivan, of Bradford, Connecticut, for $1,330,000. Built in 2018, the house is a 5/5 with an inground pool, a spa, an outdoor shower, and 3,167 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $1,067,000.

Palm Harbor

D.R. Horton, Inc, of St. Johns, sold 16 Fillmore Lane to Michael and Kelly Strickland, of Palm Coast, for $402,990. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/3 with 2,363 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $57,000.

Paul Krueger and Maria Freire, of Palm Coast, sold 34 Cooper Lane to Antonio Vargas, of Palm Coast, for $318,500. Built in 1973, the house is a 2/2 with an inground pool and 1,397 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $179,900.

Pine Grove

D.R. Horton, Inc, of St. Johns, sold 26 Point of

Plantation Bay home is top sale in Ormond

Woods Drive to Mark and Cheryl Taylor, of Palm Coast, for $374,990. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/3 with 2,363 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $224,000.

Quail Hollow

D.R. Horton, Inc, of St. Johns, sold 66 Zaun Trail to Laura and Kenneth Jones, of Palm Coast, for $397,990. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/3 with 2,363 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $59,000.

Sanctuary

Clarence and Darlene Smith, of Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina, sold 61 Old Oak Drive to Wendy Bowlin, of Rensselaer, Indiana, for $550,000. Built in 2007, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,553 square feet. It sold in 2011 for $247,800.

Seminole Woods

D.R. Horton, Inc, of St. Johns, sold 2 Selene Place to Ruxanne Baines, of Palm Coast, for $319,990. Built in 2022, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,862 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $59,000.

Woodlands

Rachel Jennings, of Palm Coast, sold 7 Blakefield Court to Stanley and Marilyn Hariton, of Palm Coast, for $365,000. Built in 1980, the house is a 4/2 with an inground pool, a fireplace and 1,966 square feet of living space. It sold last in 2016 for $207,000.

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

Ahouse in Plantation Bay was the top real estate transaction for Jan. 22-28 in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea. George and Helen Gabriel, of Ormond Beach, sold 1348 Dovercourt Lane to Mark and Lytha Murton, of Ormond Beach, for $810,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 4/4, and has two fireplaces and 3,125 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $760,000.

ALEXIS MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER ORMOND BEACH

Brookwood

Paul Upchurch, of Ormond Beach, sold 62 Mayfield Terrace to Lee LaMendola, of Ormond Beach, for $285,000. Built in 1989, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,715 square feet. It sold in 1989 for $93,000.

Halifax Plantation

Barry and Heather Rishel, of Ormond Beach, sold 1443 Carlow Circle to John Battenfield and Judith Conte, of Ormond Beach, for $340,000. Built in 2004, the townhome is a 3/2 and has 1,684 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $205,000.

Gary and Carol Stafford, of Ormond Beach, sold 3100 Acoma Drive to Diana Bragg, of Cumming, Georgia, for $438,000. Built in 2014, the house is a 3/2.5 and has 2,241 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $395,000.

Oak Forest

Marie Tustin, of Somerdale, New Jersey, sold 36 Rockefeller Drive to Gina Dennison, of Ormond Beach, for

$340,000. Built in 1957, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,366 square feet. It sold in 2012 for $136,000.

Ormond Lakes

Alice Wells, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, sold 34 Lakebluff Drive to Carolyn and Glen Andrews, of Hamilton New Jersey, for $455,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,289 square feet. It sold in 2005 for $385,000.

Ormond Terrace

Barbie Coon, of Richmond, Texas, sold 417 Mcintosh road to Robert Harrison,

of Ormond Beach, for $300,000. Built in 1959, the house is a 3/1 and has 1,225 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $189,000.

Gilley Gilreath and Crystal Broccolo, of Ormond Beach, sold 376 North Ridgewood Ave. to NNTA Corporation, of Daytona Beach, for $240,000. Built in 1960, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,430 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $149,000.

Tomoka Oaks

John Crockenberg and Paulette Boyer, of Saint Marys, Georgia, sold 86 N St. Andrews Drive to David and Faye Dutcher, of Ormond Beach, for $690,000. Built in 1970, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,988 square feet. It sold in 2008 for $340,000.

Tropical Mobile Home Village

Lucille Soldano, of Crystal River, sold 1813 Woodcrest Drive to Selective Property Services, LLC, of Daytona Beach, for $149,900. Built in 1982, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,152 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $88,900.

Wellworth Village

Christine Pageau, of Barryville, New York, sold 679 Wellington Station Blvd 35 to Randy and Diana Eder, of Daytona Beach, for $200,000. Built in 1988, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,090 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $115,000.

John Adams, of Adams, Cameron & Co. Realtors, contributed to this report.

S.R. A1A Resiliency Plan, Flagler County

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a public meeting regarding the State Road (S.R.) A1A Resiliency Plan recommendations from Roberta Road in Ormond-by-the-Sea to Osprey Drive in Flagler County on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The purpose of the plan is to develop recommendations for strengthening the S.R. A1A corridor. Virtual: Join from a computer, tablet, or mobile device for free and listen to the live presentation over the internet. Advance registration at http://bit.ly/3YGs39B is required. Participants will receive an email with information about joining the meeting online. Please note, Internet Explorer cannot be used to register or attend this webinar. If joining online, please allow adequate log-in time to view the presentation in its entirety.

Phone (Listen Only): Join the meeting in listen-only mode by dialing 1-877-309-2074 entering the passcode 470-739-553 when prompted.

In-Person: Attend in person at the Wickline Center, 800 S. Daytona Avenue, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 anytime between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to view a presentation and project exhibits, and to speak with project team staff. If you are feeling unwell, please consider attending the meeting virtually or by phone. All meeting materials and the presentation will be available on the project website at www. cflroads.com/project/452443-1 before the meeting.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or persons who require translation services (free of charge), should contact Carolyn Fitzwilliam by phone at 386-943-5215, or via email at Carolyn.Fitzwilliam@dot. state.fl.us at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-9558770 (Voice).

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Melissa McKinney, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator at Melissa.McKinney@dot.state.fl.us.

For more information, please contact FDOT Project Manager Ty Garner at 386-943-5299, email at Ty.Garner@dot.state.fl.us,

Jr., deceased, whose date of death was January 25, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 East Moody Blvd. Building 1, Bunnell, Florida 32110. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NO -

having claims or demands against Decedent’s Estate must file their claims with this Court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S

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Announcements

EFFECTIVE MARCH 7, 2023

John Bolla, MD will no longer see patients at AdventHealth Medical Group Family Practice at Palm Coast located at 61 Memorial Medical Parkway, Ste 3803, Palm Coast, FL 32164. Patients should have received communication regarding transition of care. If you are a patient and did not receive communication or have additional questions, please call the of ce at 386-586-1760.

Garage/ Moving/ Estate Sales 33 COLUMBIA Lane, 3/10 & 3/11, 8am-1pm Multi-family, fur niture, housewares,

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GENUINE NEVER used carpet oor mats for Prius, grey color $100 561-445-0839

MAPLE WOOD table 39”x 66”, 6 large chairs, 18” x 39” leaf $199 386-206-9006

SELL YOUR STUFF HERE!

MOEN KITCHEN Faucet $30

OBO, rubber oor mat for small SUV $65 OBO 386-627-6562

QUEEN SIZE box spring, excellent condition, can be used as a twin $15 386-283-9782