Plantation Bay Observer 12-2-21

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SWEET TOOTH PAGE 9 DECEMBER 2021

VOLUME 8, NO. 5

New site for Club de Bonmont Plantation Bay plans to build a new clubhouse, then demolish the existing Club de Bonmont. PAGE 8

School Board cuts the word ‘equity’ in draft plan

Palm Coast Tree Lighting festival at Town Center

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Goal No. 2 in the plan will now be retitled as ‘Student Support’ instead.

BRENT WORONOFF STAFF WRITER

“Equity” had been the title for Goal No. 2 of the new Strategic Plan that the Flagler County school district has been drafting.

The goal won’t change. But the title will.

The School Board agreed to change the goal’s title from “Equity” to “Student Support.”

At an Oct. 19 workshop, School Board member Jill Woolbright said a “large constituency group” objected to the word equity, primarily as it is used among the “guiding principles” in the district’s rezoning process. Woolbright also noted that it was a goal title in the draft for the Strategic Plan.

At the School Board’s Nov. 2 workshop, Superintendent Cathy Mittlestadt offered the alternative title for Goal No. 2, based on previous discussion and public comments during School Board meetings.

“What it means is to be deliberate with our resources to be sure that every student has an opportunity to be successful,” Mittelstadt said.

“I heard some dialogue among the board, and we had it in public comments. I want to make sure we’re landing where we need to land. It does not change where we need to go and what we need to do by amending the title. But the intent by district staff … is because we feel Flagler Schools has certain subgroups within our demographic where our gaps have just not closed, and we wanted to be so intentional on how we move our work forward.”

Woolbright said that because of the perception of the word, “whether misunderstood or not,” there’s still a concern, and she was in favor of changing the title.

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Santa visited the city of Palm Coast’s tree-lighting event on Nov. 27.

Q + A CHARLES SILANO, OF GRACE COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY

‘It’s about being there’ W hen he arrived for an interview with the Palm Coast Observer, Charles Silano was wearing a red polo shirt with a “Big Johns Appliances” logo. It’s not what Silano is most known for in Flagler County (he’s also a pastor and the leader of Grace Community Food Pantry, which is one of the biggest in the state), but it’s indicative of the depth of his commitment to this community. Big Johns Appliances is a store in Bunnell that sells discount appliances and, more importantly, hires people who are working on addiction recovery. For Silano, everything has a higher purpose.

What are you thankful for?

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In light of everything we do for the community, I’m really grateful for the community in which we live.

During the year of COVID, last year, we saw our food pantry increase, in volume of visitors, 40%. We didn’t really know what we were going to do; we trusted God through it. It was amazing.

The community started to

show up. They saw the lines, and they reacted. We had people drive up and drop off checks, drop off food, people on bicycles — because they saw the line. Businesses started doing fundraisers for us. The community jumped in. We had up to about 6,000 visitors every month, and we were able to supply them. We made extra dates for the school district so

they wouldn’t have to stand in line. We do a backpack program, and the parents of those children were families who needed some help, so we were glad to do it. I’m so proud of our volunteers.

If someone said, “I have a lot of problems in my life, and I don’t feel thankful for anything,” how would you respond?

1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In all things be thankful.” It’s kind of a decree. He doesn’t say, “Be thankful for all things.”

He says, “Be thankful in all things.”

Situations change. We all experience that growth process in Christianity as we find ourselves in circumstances that are not to our liking. I’m not grateful if I’m sick; I’m not grateful if my house burns down; I’m not

grateful for that. But I’m going to remember who my God is, and that he’s still up there, and he’s got a plan for me, and I’m going to come out of this. He saw this coming. We try to keep our focus on what he’s doing, regardless of our circumstances.

You are the leader of the Grace Community Food Pantry, one of the biggest in the state. What has the pantry taught you about people, and what principles have you learned about managing a large operation?

If you’re there helping on a consistent basis, I find that people begin to trust you with other things in their life, whether they’re in a bad situation at home,

SEE Q+A PAGE 4

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School Board cuts the word ‘equity’ in draft plan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“We are here to represent all our constituents,” she said.

“It’s always the context,” board member Janet McDonald said, noting that equity “has become such an inflammatory word.”

Board member Cheryl Massaro said she did not have a problem changing the title, giving the new title a majority of support from the board.

“Equity is such a misinterpreted phrase. It fits whatever people want it to fit,” Massaro said. “Probably, a change of language will make life much easier and more understandable to our families and that’s our goal.”

But board member Colleen Conklin called the change

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NAACP responds (Editor’s Note: The following letter was presented as a public comment to the Flagler County School Board, by Flagler County NAACP President Shelley Ragsdale.)

The Flagler County School Board discussed earlier this month the removal of the word “equity” from its strategic goals. It was stated that “equity” would be replaced with “student success,” or possibly “student support.” To my knowledge, this stemmed from controversial public statements that were not fact-based.

The National School Board Association defines educational equity as, “the intentional allocation of resources, instruction, and opportunities according to need, requiring that discriminatory practices, prejudices, and beliefs be identified and eradicated.”

Equity in education is the process of reforming practices, policies and

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Flagler Schools’ paraprofessionals and school bus drivers will receive raises, pending School Board approval.

The Flagler Educational Support Professional Association members accepted the raises in a union-wide vote Nov. 4. The school district and union negotiators had agreed to the raises in collective bargaining Nov. 1.

Union members ratified the agreement with 74% of the vote in favor and 24% against, said FESPA president Brun Hudson.

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“shameful.”

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” Conklin said. “We are now going to remove a key term from our Strategic Plan because we have a political group that is not happy with the use of the term ‘equity.’ I think this conversation is ridiculous, and I’m obviously in the minority, but I think it’s a travesty.”

Board Chair Trevor Tucker said he did not care either way whether the goal’s title was Equity or Student Support, but with three board members in favor of the change, there was a consensus.

Mittelstadt explained the goal as “increasing access for all students to a high quality educational experience.”

She added, “The matrix

procedures at the school and district levels to support academic fairness and inclusion and ensure that every child has the resources, teachers, interventions and supports they need to achieve their educational goals. Equity is about ensuring that everyone receives what they need to thrive.

According to American University’s School of Education, “educational equity ensures that the needs of individuals from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, individuals with disabilities, and other disenfranchised minorities are provided with educational tools, resources and support that are individualized to a student’s educational needs. Achievement gaps and disparate outcomes have shown that educational equality (the attempt to treat every student the same) has failed students from certain backgrounds, while the evolution to educational equity (addressing each student’s individual needs) can improve educa-

The School Board is expected to give its final approval at its regular monthly meeting Nov. 16.

According to the agreement, starting bus drivers without previous experience will be paid $15 an hour, a raise of $1.42. Salaries for starting paraprofessionals will increase $2.96 an hour to $15. As a result, each pay step for drivers will also increase by $1.42 and each pay step for paraprofessionals will increase by $2.96 across the board.

“That change in pay affects all 35 steps in each of those lanes,” Hudson said.

Also, all other support staff employees will receive a raise of 66 cents an hour with minimum pay increasing to $11.75.

All of the raises are retroac-

that we’re really targeting are students with disabilities, our free-, reduced-lunch population, the African American population. We’re looking to close those gaps that historically we’ve been flat with.”

McDonald said the descriptor that puts the targeted groups in those categories is their low performance.

“So, if we can keep it to an educational vocabulary, we wouldn’t have an issue, because it’s all about what they need to be successful, no matter what their packaging is, no matter what their orientation is,” McDonald said She added that “every side” takes the term equity in different ways and it is “undermining our focus for our district.”

tion for students who have been neglected. With a growing demand for professional educators, the US education system is recognizing the need for professionals to advance equity in education.”

We strongly recommend that the School Board continue to use the term “equity” in its goals.

Equity in education is necessary for economic mobility. Without it, the economy will suffer from an achievement gap between groups in society. Because some students aren’t prepared to achieve their working potential, it creates income inequality, which, in turn, forms a wealth gap.

If you as board members believe that an educational system should cater to all students through a high-quality educational experience in which each student has the opportunity to receive the support and resources they need to achieve their educational goals, this is support for equity in education.

tive to July 1.

“Those two departments (bus drivers and paraprofessionals) are critical shortage areas that we have defined as three or less applicants for any particular job, and we are close to 30 behind (in those areas),” Paul Peacock, the district’s chief of operational services, told the School Board at an agenda workshop Nov. 2.

Hudson and Peacock both noted that the agreement puts the school district ahead of the curve for Florida’s minimum wage adjustments, which increased to $10 an hour on Sept. 30 and will go up $1 annually until 2026 when it will reach $15 an hour, according to a constitutional amendment passed by voters last year.

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Volunteer Joan Swanson, of All Saints Lutheran Church, hands out pies during the Jewish Federation’s thanksgiving food distribution event.

A Thanksgiving promise

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DECEMBER 2021

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Photos by Jarleene Almenas

Jewish Federation upholds Gloria Max’s legacy with Thanksgiving turkey distribution

JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

As volunteers with the Jewish Federation aided in handing out bags of fruit, vegetables and sweets outside the nonprofit’s Jerry Doliner Food Bank on Tuesday, Nov. 23, they wished families a “Happy Thanksgiving.”

One man, after having placed a bottle of juice into his shopping cart — already full with food — smiled at a volunteer and said, “It’s thanks to you.”

The Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties has annually given away turkeys and groceries to families in need for Thanksgiving, and this year was no exception. A little over two months after the death of the organization’s executive director, Gloria Max, volunteers banded together to make sure her mission to feed the less fortunate in the community lived on.

“We made a promise to her to keep it going,” said Marvin Miller, president of the Jewish Federation. “With Janice taking over and operating the food bank side of it and all the volunteers you see out there, that made it worthwhile, that made it go. They all stepped up, which was wonderful.”

Volunteer John Shelton places a turkey into a shopping cart

Janice Sumner said carrying Glora Max’s legacy on is “just fabulous.”

Janice Sumner is the nonprofit’s executive secretary, and she said it’s “wonderful” to be able to able to carry on Max’s legacy.

Prior to joining the Jewish Federation, Sumner said she had always wanted to do social work in the community. She just never had the chance to do so, and Max gave her that opportunity.

“To be able to carry that on is just fabulous,” Sumner said.

About 25 volunteers helped distribute 260 turkeys at the Jerry Doliner Food Bank, located at 470 Andalusia Ave. People were already lined up outside the food bank well before the giveaway was scheduled to start, and both Miller and Sumner fielded phone calls from people advising they were running late, and to please hold on to their turkey until they could arrive at the food bank.

It was business as usual for a Thanksgiving turkey distribution.

“We’re a small part of the community, the Jewish Federation,” Miller said. “It makes us feel so good to reach out to so many families.”

The Jewish Federation’s Jerry Doliner Food Bank helps feed

All Saints Lutheran Church Pastor Kari Neidermaier helps hand out food during the thanksgiving food distribution event.

Volunteers Davien Sherman, along with Daniel and Thomas Niedermaier, help with the Thanksgiving food distribution event.

about 200 people a week in the community, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. It’s a labor of love, said Miller, as the nonprofit absorbs all of its administration costs to make sure 100% of donations go toward helping the community.

“The public knows what we do, and they support us,” he said. “They know we’re here, and this Jewish Federation is supported by a big part of the Christian community, so it’s wonderful to work together with them, and that’s the rewarding part: helping each other.”

Sumner attributes the Jewish Federation’s success to the community’s support. Every dollar received is put to good use, she said.

“The continuation of that support has been invaluable and will remain invaluable,” Sumner said. “... Gloria used to say that we could not do what we do without you, and it’s true.”

Volunteer Joan Swanson and Marvin Miller, president of the Jewish Federation, speak to families during the thanksgiving food distribution event.

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Q+A CHARLES SILANO, OF GRACE COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

DOWNTOWN

or whether they’re in a bad situation themselves — they trust you more, even, for spiritual matters. It’s about being there. We haven’t had to intrude on anybody’s life; they come to you. So it’s very rewarding.

You also learn to forgive a lot. Not everybody is going to be a forthright person sometimes. People do work the system. There’s a small percentage in the industry across the nation, maybe 10%-12% will work the system. But if they’re willing to do that, they must really need the food, or maybe they’re selling it — I don’t know what they do. If they were honest with us, we’d still be willing to help them.

You run into that, and you have to let that go. I’m not going to invent another program for the 12%; I’m going to focus on the 88, what’s more convenient for them.

I also remember that it’s the goodness of God that leads to repentance, not the judgment of God that leads to repentance.

I’ve had people bring back food, on several occasions: “I don’t need this, pastor. I was here, I took it, I have enough, I’m sorry I did it.”

As far as management goes, you rely on people.

And you serve. We’re a 100% volunteer situation. You lead by service. You don’t just put people in positions and tell them what to do. Show them what you’re going to be entrusting them with, but

ORMOND

work harder than anybody else, and you’ll inspire that volunteer to step forward.

Feed Flagler will help provide Thanksgiving dinner to hundreds of families this year. Why is family mealtime so important?

It’s really about community at the end of the day. Living on the edges, in the margins, people hide. I find that same kind of issue is prevalent with people in recovery: You don’t want people to see you poor, to have people gaze at you while you’re getting a free meal. You want to feel like you’re part of a family.

That does a lot to alleviate that awkwardness. They look down instead of looking at you straight in the eye.

That’s how we get refreshed, right? We go home, we have dinner with family. There’s acceptance there; you talk about things, you get a chance to see what problems they may be having, but you also get a chance to extend a hand up in such a way, not just with food, but, “What other areas of your life? Do you have your GED, for instance, or what’s your skill set like? Can I help you get a job? Can we navigate you to services that might help to alleviate the stress in your life?”

You’re also a pastor of Grace Tabernacle Ministries.

When is that role most frustrating, and when is it most fulfilling?

If we’re honest, it can be frustrating (Laughs). We’re

“It’s the goodness of God that leads to repentance, not the judgment of God that leads to repentance.”

CHARLES SILANO

commanded to love one another, as Jesus loved us, and you grow in that process.

The last fruit of the spirit is self control. While you’re exercising the other ones — love, peace, joy, long suffering — you’re developing self control, until finally you get to a point where you can be somewhat stable in it. Early on, I’ll be honest, I would pull my hair out every once in a while, and I’d say, “How do I handle this?”

I went to someone that called me because of a domestic issue — this was very early on in my pastoring — and I really didn’t know what to do. I was just going to be there for support.

The wife came over to me, and she was looking for help.

And she looked at me, and she said, “You don’t know what you’re doing, do you?”

(Laughs) So at that point in time, I took a course in counseling.

What can churches do to help teenagers and young families?

You’ve got to be relevant.

That doesn’t mean you change the message to make it favorable to them; you don’t have to do a rap song.

Reaching the youth is really a challenge, but they’re no different from you or I; they are attracted to truth. It may be foreign to them immediately when presented to them, but they are looking for answers.

Teenagers who are not well schooled in the home or churches are prone to just drift to all kinds of theories that are not adding to their building blocks. This idea that you can do whatever you want without consequences — it doesn’t play out in real life.

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Charles Silano

has lacked structure. They don’t react to it right away in a great way, but then they catch on, and a few months down the road, they’re loving it.

Young people love truth because they’re being lied to everywhere else. The songs they’re listening to aren’t giving them real-life situations, not building them up in anyway.

The idea that you can coach somebody by talking down to them is not going to work. You need to teach them what positive behavior looks like, and what the results are.

You’re also chairman of the Open Door Re-entry and Recovery Ministry, which provides housing to help people overcome substance addictions. Is the program succeeding?

Yes, it is. We had to close down because of COVID, and we started over again about five months ago. We have five women in the house with a supervisor, and they are loving it. They are completely different women.

The men? Same thing.

Not everyone is successful; if you don’t want it, I can’t help you. If you just want a roof over your head, I can’t help you. If a person goes in, and they’re going to be given a car for completing the program, they’re probably not going to make it, because they’re doing it for some reason other than themselves.

You have to realize that you can’t use, because you have this nature, and you’re going to go on a rip and run, and you are going to overdose and you may even die. You’ll either end up in prison, or you’ll die, or you’ll run out of drugs, and none of that ends well.

We have 100% success rate for those who apply the program. The five-year mark is where recovery truly takes place, and we’re probably running about 65%. We’re careful about who we take in.

If they don’t assimilate into the culture of the house, it’s going to be difficult for them to remain there.

What is your secret to productivity and time management?

A lot of people ask me that.

No. 1, I love what I do.

Most Mondays, I want to quit. You’ve geared up your whole week for church services, and I have to take a day to review. I don’t do much thinking on Monday; I try not to make decisions (Laughs). But I structure my day. I live by a schedule, and then I have to make quick decisions when something happens. The food pantry operates like this: “I have a truck for you, and it’s coming now.” So I have to make adjustments there.

I live by the four A’s. You have appointments, assignments, you make adjustments, and then you have an assessment. You have to be very honest with yourself.

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

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Dex Westphal named 2021 Gargiulo Art Foundation Artist of the Year Paintings by Westphal and fellow Artist of the Year nominees Paul Beaulieu and Andy Sovia are on display at the Grand Gallery through Jan. 9.

BRENT WORONOFF STAFF WRITER

Dex Westphal has been ill, and it has been a challenge for her to get into the art studio and paint.

But she has managed to get it done, and she has some new works in the latest Grand Gallery show featuring the Gargiulo Art Foundation’s Artist of the Year nominees.

Westphal, who was also an Artist of the Year nominee in 2018, was named the 2021 GAF Artist of the Year at the show’s reception Nov. 21.

“It’s a thrill,” said Westphal. “A great honor.”

Westphal has a new dowel dot painting, entitled “Paisley,” in the show. She also has a new sumi-e Japanese painting on display in the show at the Grand Gallery at Grand Living Realty, 2298 Colbert Lane.

“People keep saying they hope I do more of the dowel paintings, but they take a long time to do,” she said.

The other Artist of the Year nominees, whose works are in the show, are Paul Beaulieu and Andy Sovia.

“It’s a good show,” said Tom Gargiulo, who founded the Gargiulo Art Foundation 29 years ago with his partner, Arlene Volpe. “Paul is a naturalistic artist, Andy is more surreal and Dex goes from representational to totally abstract.”

Gargiulo said all three nominees are not only exceptional artists but have also contributed a great deal to the Flagler art community.

“It’s not enough that you’re a good artist. All of the nominees are actively involved in the community,” he said.

Westphal, who moved to Palm Coast nine years ago, is the 22nd GAF Artist of the Year. Her abstract and dowel paintings were also featured in a show at the Grand Gallery last spring.

She taught art for 10 years at the Community College at Baltimore County and continued to teach after she moved to Palm Coast.

Sovia has been painting with oils since he was 12 and has studied at numerous art institutions.

His paintings have been featured in Manhattan galleries, and his art has been critiqued by LeRoy Neiman, Peter Max and Andy Warhol, among other notable artists.

“To me, art is drama. I like reac-

GAF’S BEST OF THE BEST What: Works by the Gargiulo 2021 Artist of the Year nominees Dex Westphal, Andy Sovia and Paul Beaulieu.

Where: The Grand Gallery at Grand Living Realty, 2298 Colbert Lane.

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, through Jan. 9.

Admission: Free of charge.

Dex Westphal, sitting in front of her sumi-e piece, is the Gargiulo Art Foundation’s 2021 Artist of the Year.

“It’s not enough that you’re a good artist. All of the nominees are actively involved in the community,” TOM GARGIULO

Above: Dex Westphal’s abstract painting, “Over the River.”

Left: Dex Wesphal’s most recent dowel painting, “Paisley,” is in the show at the Grand Gallery.

Andy Sovia poses next to one of his paintings.

Photo by Brent Woronoff

tions,” he said.

He also writes books, mostly novels that have been self-published, and he says he collects rejection slips from publishers along with those from art galleries.

While many of Westphal’s paintings are intuitive abstracts, and some of Sovia’s are whimsical, Beaulieu’s show entries are landscapes and still lifes.

“I’m a representational painter with little impressionistic nuances,”

he said. “Some people would say I’m a realist.”

Beaulieu founded a design firm in Boston in 1968 after graduating from the Swain School of Design. He sold the firm in 2010 and moved to Palm Coast. Beaulieu, who has been painting since he was 16, furthered his art studies at the Florence (Italy) Academy of Art. Sovia and Beaulieu have painted turtles on the Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s Turtle Trail.

At the show’s reception, Gargiulo also announced that the Gargiulo Art Foundation will be teaming up with J.J. Graham’s Salvo Art Project to host art shows at Watson Realty, 1410 Palm Coast Parkway NW. “It will be another space to give artists more exposure,” Gargiulo said.

The works by the Artist of the Year nominees will be on display at the Grand Gallery through Jan. 9.

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PLANTATION BAY OBSERVER

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7

DECEMBER 2021

Plantation Bay Showcase Homes Coming Soon!

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Contact us for more information — 386.437.4164

8

PLANTATION BAY OBSERVER

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PalmCoastObserver.com

DECEMBER 2021

BUSINESS OBSERVER Development, real estate + business news

Plantation Bay prepares to replace its clubhouse

BIZ BUZZ

The community has been talking about building a new one since 2004.

UNEMPLOYMENT IN FLAGLER: 4.4%

JONATHAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR

Plantation Bay’s clubhouse, the Club de Bonmont, is in Volusia County. But it won’t be for much longer.

The community plans to build a new clubhouse just north of the Flagler-Volusia County line, then demolish the existing Club de Bon Mont.

Flagler County’s Planning and Land Development Board voted unanimously at a Nov. 9 meeting in favor of a site plan for the new clubhouse building.

The new clubhouse will be approximately 28,314 square feet under roof, and three levels, including a golf cart storage area beneath the main level.

It will be constructed on a parcel of land at the intersection of Bay Drive and Plantation Bay Drive overlooking a lake, southwest of the current Club de Bonmont property.

“The aesthetic that they’re providing here is consistent with the overall theme of Plantation Bay,” Flagler County Growth Management Director Adam Mengel said of the building’s architecture.

It will have a golf cart storage and loading dock on the lowest level, amenities on the main floor and

staff areas on the top floor, Mengel said. The land is currently part of the golf course’s putting green.

Project engineer Jerry Finley said that the proposal to replace Plantation Bay’s clubhouse isn’t new: Discussion of replacing the club building began around 2004 and was moving forward in 2006.

“Then things crashed, and it got put on hold,” Finley said. “It’s back again, but it certainly is not a new thing. It was going to happen a long time ago and is moving forward now.”

Replacing the clubhouse building will benefit the community in a variety of ways, Finley said.

“It gets rid of a very outdated facility over there that has several accessibility challenges,” he said. “It’s a long walk from a shelled parking lot, now, up the hill to get to the clubhouse, that has a lot of stairs and difficulties.”

Resident Tim Crawford told the planning board that the current building is challenging for people who use a wheelchair.

“It’s very, very difficult for anyone who is challenged,” Crawford said. “My father came to dinner one night — he’s in a wheelchair — and at the old clubhouse, you have to come up a ramp, go to a lift that takes you down three steps, then you go to another lift that takes you down three more steps to get to the main dining room, and it’s just — it’s just too challenging. And the new clubhouse is desperately needed.”

The new clubhouse’s parking will

“It’s back again, but it certainly is not a new thing. It was going to happen a long time ago and is moving forward now.”

JERRY FINLEY, engineer

BOARD APPROVES REZONING FOR PROPERTY ON STATE ROAD 100 The owners of a 40-acre rectangle of land made up of two properties south of State Road 100 and north of the Flagler County Executive Airport have received the planning board’s support to have the land rezoned from agricultural to industrial. The property is currently vacant. The city of Palm Coast would provide water and sewer service.

also be much closer to the building, Finley said.

The county’s planning staff had urged the designers to add additional parking within walking distance of the clubhouse as overflow parking for large events, and they did so, Mengel said.

“This would likely be in a very rare instance, but we wanted to make sure that there was some provision for that so we don’t have parking, effectively, overflowing the site,” Mengel said.

Russ Reinke, the community representative for Kingsley Circle, said the planned clubhouse will affect Kinglsey residents’ views, and suggested adding a barrier wall or a vegetated buffer of mature landscaping.

Finley said there are plans to add vegetation.

The proposal will ultimately go before the Flagler County Commission for final approval.

The parking and access area will be in Volusia County, and will be reviewed by the Volusia County government.

Email jonathan@palmcoastobserver.com.

Flagler County’s unemployment rate remained at 4.4% in October, according to the latest data release from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. This is the second consecutive month that Flagler’s unemployment rate remained below the pre-pandemic low of 4.5% in February 2020.

“Flagler County continues to grow jobs, with 250 more residents finding work last month,” said Greg Blosé, President and CEO of the Palm CoastFlagler Regional Chamber of Commerce. “It’s also an encouraging sign to see the unemployment rate remain at a low 4.4%.”

Flagler County employment grew from 46,500 in September 2021 to 46,745 in October 2021, an increase of 245 jobs. Meanwhile, the labor force increased with 48,648 in September 2021 to 48,911 in October 2021, an increase of 263 Flagler County residents. The number of unemployed residents in Flagler County rose slightly from 2,148 in September 2021 to 2,166 in October 2021, an increase of 18 residents.

RENNER: FLORIDA STRUCK A BALANCE IN PANDEMIC RESPONSE Florida is a leader among the states seeking to prevent workers from being fired for refusing vaccination and protect parents’ ability to send their children to school without masks, Florida State Rep. Paul Renner, a Republican from Palm Coast, said on Flagler Broadcasting’s “Free For All Friday” program Nov. 19.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has challenged the federal government’s requirement that health care workers receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the OSHA rule that large employers require employees to receive a vaccine or undertake regular COVID-19 tests.

COLDWELL’S TOP AGENTS

The following agents with Coldwell Banker Premier Properties have been named top agents for October 2021: Ana Medeiros, Top Listing/Sales Agent; Rose Scharer, Top Producers.

WEICHERT HIRES NEW AGENTS Weichert’s affiliated offices in the Palm Coast area have recently added the following individuals to their team at 9 Harbor Center Drive, Suite 15: Ashley Fowler, Carley Neis, Cathy Sayes, Paul Thurston and Maria Teresa Reyes.

EXIT NAMES TOP AGENTS Two Palm Coast sales representatives were recognized recently by Exit Realty Corp. International: Jadwiga Waloch earned a Silver Award in recognition of closing 50 or more transaction sides during the production year July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

Mary Jane Holland earned a Bronze Award for closing 25 or more.

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PLANTATION BAY OBSERVER

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9

DECEMBER 2021

Sweet!

Ormond Beach’s Rose Villa turns into a ‘Gingerbread Fantasy’ JARLEENE ALMENAS

in 2021. Let’s try something different,’” Sullivan said.

To celebrate the first “Gingerbread Fantasy” display, artist Perago also created a painting of the decorated Rose Villa onsite.

Alejandra Galan

Local pastry chef to appear on Disney+ ‘Foodtastic’ series

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

T

his holiday season, Ormond Beach has its very own gingerbread house.

Rose Villa Southern Table and Bar, located at 43 W. Granada Blvd., has transformed into a “Gingerbread Fantasy” by way of a decorative light display, and from now through Jan. 9, it will offer locals the chance to decorate their own gingerbread houses.

It’s a unique experience the restaurant is excited to offer, said Pat Sullivan, Rose Villa operating manager, as there aren’t many opportunities to decorate a gingerbread house while inside a house decorated like a gingerbread house.

Sullivan thought of the idea shortly after last year’s holiday season when he saw Rose Villa from across the street.

He thought to himself, “The restaurant looks like a gingerbread house.” With COVID-19 having impacted how people celebrated in 2020, he knew he wanted to innovate and implement new ideas for this Christmas season.

“I was thinking to myself, ‘Christmas is going to be big

A FAMILY ACTIVITY

On Friday, Nov. 19, the first day of the Gingerbread Fantasy display, one Ormond Beach family got to be the first to decorate a gingerbread house.

Katie and Matt Hoffman and their 7-year-old son, Carter, have decorated gingerbread houses at home in the past, and when Katie Hoffman saw on Facebook that Rose Villa was looking for families to participate, she contacted the restaurant. She informed Carter of what they would do, and he worried that the gingerbread house would fall apart. They always do, Carter told his mom.

“I’m like, ‘No, they’re already going to have the house together. So you just decorate it,’” Katie Hoffman said. “Because that’s the fun part.”

As Carter focused on piping icing onto the house, laughing as it slid off before he could place candies, his father Matt Hoffman said it’s always enjoyable to see him unleash his inner artist.

“He’s such a creative kid, and it’s so much fun to see where he takes things,” he said.

Decorating a gingerbread house is available daily from 10 a.m. to noon by reservation only. It costs $99 and groups of up to 16 people will be accommodated. Rose Villa has 800 gingerbread houses ready to be assembled and decorated.

TRANSFORMING THE DOWNTOWN

Rose Villa Southern Table and Bar is decorated as a “Gingerbread Fantasy”.

The holiday display was installed in two days by B Morrow Productions, a design production company that does displays for resorts, museums and theme parks.

Producer Erin Pyne said the team installed over 10,000 lights.

“It’s just a great opportunity for us at B Morrow Productions to come and transform the beautiful Rose Villa into a gingerbread house,” she said.

Beyond the lights decorat-

JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Carter Hoffman, 7, decorates a gingerbread house

Photos by Jarleene Almenas

Colin Doane, Erin Pyne, Pat Sullivan, artist Perego and Jame Liska.

ing the historic home, which served as a bed and breakfast for rich and famous visitors of Ormond Beach starting in 1901, the Gingerbread Fantasy display consists of topiary snowmen, themed glass windows, lollipops and gingerbread men — one of which sports a handlebar mustache in homage to local developer Bill Jones, who restored the house in 2007.

Jones stopped by the restaurant on the first day of the display and praised the idea.

“It brings out the kid in me,” he said.

Beside his own gingerbread man is a gingerbread version of his own French Bulldog, Winston. The other gingerbread dogs featured in the display represent Sullivan’s husky, and managing partner Kirk Roberts’ poodle.

Jones, who has restored and built many of the buildings in Ormond Beach’s downtown — including 31 Supper Club, the Ormond Garage and the Pumphouse, which is under

“I was thinking to myself, ‘Christmas is going to be big in 2021. Let’s try something different.’”

PAT SULLIVAN, Rose Villa operating manager

construction — said restoring Rose Villa was a project that took almost three years. He and his team restored original fixtures and doors and brought the house back to its former glory.

Jones said he fell in love with Ormond Beach in 1986 when he moved from the state of New York. “Slowly but surely,” he said he’s been working to transform the downtown into a place where mom-and-pop businesses thrive.

“I figured, let’s build something,” Jones said. “Let’s make a downtown out of it. I’ve been trying to do that with the help of all these guys.”

For gingerbread house reservations, call 386-615-7673.

Visit rosevillarestaurant.com

Alejandra Galan is no stranger to baking TV shows.

A past contestant on shows like the Food Network’s “Chocolate Meltdown: Hershey’s After Dark” and “El desafío de Buddy: Latinoamérica,” the Latin American version of the “Next Great Baker,” Galan is familiar with the standard premises of these type of shows. But when an opportunity with Disney arose, the Ormond Beach resident was in for a unique experience.

Galan, who is a pastry chef, will be competing in the Disney+ original series “Foodtastic,” which will premiere on the streaming service on Dec. 15. The show is hosted by actress Keke Palmer, and features global food artists creating sculptures and scenes using only food.

But it’s not your average cooking show. Galan said viewers should expect a lot of surprises along the way.

“I was very grateful to have the opportunity to be chosen as a person from Latin America, and to have the experience to live like a theme park in a baking environment, because that’s what it was,” Galan said. “It was magical.”

A native of Colombia, Galan’s love of pastry began when she was young.

Her parents own a cheesecake factory in the country, and she knew early on that she wanted to follow in their footsteps. In 2010, she opened her own bakery in Bogota, Colombia, and nine years later moved to the U.S. Galan will appear in the Avengersthemed episode, in which teams were tasked with coming up with a creative idea to showcase two Avengers saving a city from an attack.

The only problem was that Galan had never seen any of the movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. So her first order of business was making sure she knew everything she could about the Avengers by watching all of the movies. Her favorite Avenger? Iron Man. See Galan’s pastry creations on Instagram, @cakefactoryale, or YouTube, at https://www.youtube.com/ user/alejagalan.

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PalmCoastObserver.com

DECEMBER 2021

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Contact us for more info. 386.437.6840 / VDRInc.com Commission Credit Program - Seller must list an existing home with Venture Development Realty, Inc. (an affiliate of ICI Homes) and enter into a purchase agreement to purchase a new home from ICI Homes without the participation of an outside broker. The new home cannot be an inventory home or a model. ICI Homes will reimburse seller an amount equal to the real estate commission paid on seller’s existing home, up to, but not to exceed 6% of the purchase of the new ICI Home. This reimbursement will be paid at time of closing on the new ICI Home and may be used for closing costs, options, upgrades or a discount on the base price of the new ICI home but will not be paid out in cash. Not valid with any other discounts. ICI Homes reserves the right to change or discontinue this promotion at any time without notice. Additional restrictions may apply.

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