The Hammock Observer 10-02-25

County projects to address flooding on First Avenue

Flagler County held an open house for residents of The Hammock to review three major projects planned for the area.

WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Resurfacing for Jungle Hut Road. The expansion of the Mala Compra Canal. Fixing drainage issues on First Avenue. Residents who live in The Hammock near Mala Compra Road got a chance to talk to county engineers about these three and other projects planned for the area, on Sept. 30, at an open house event at the Mala Compra Community Center. The project to fix the drainage issues on First Avenue was especially important to residents.

County engineer Hamid Tabassian said the county did a previous project to regrade First Avenue, but had to design the project around the budget that was available in 2020, when the county was initially working on it. The budget at the time, he said, did not provide enough to do what is being proposed now.

The county is at 30% completion for design, and representatives from the design teams for all three projects were at the open house

to answer questions and receive comments from residents who live around the project areas.

“So we are tweaking this and finalizing it,” Tabassian said. “We’re going to make sure that the job, what is being designed and what will be constructed, is going to work.”

Robby Schoonmaker, a project engineer with design firm CMT, said the First Avenue project is still in its conceptual phase. The plan so far is to place a deeper swale to hold back more water and then address the grading. As it is, the swales are not holding enough water, which is then going onto people’s properties and staying.

First Avenue resident Joyce Dobbs said the county should have “done it right to begin with.” Her home is in the center of First Avenue, so it receives flooding from both ends of the roadway.

“So when it rains, it’s like a waterfall coming down my driveway,” Dobbs said.

Dobbs said “it depends on who’s doing the designing as to whether it’s going to work or not,” but that she appreciated the open house and the ability to see what is being planned.

“I feel like they listened,” she said.

Resident Dennis Wilson said he was not convinced the design plans will fix the problem. The road was raised on First Avenue two years ago with the initial project, and he said he would like to see the road lowered. He doesn’t understand how no one saw the problems in the first project design two years ago.

“To see it went through permitting, planning and everything, and nobody realized that water — water doesn’t flow uphill,” he said.

Project manager Richard Zion said it could be another year and a half to two years before construction is completed.

Flagler County Commissioner Greg Hansen, The Hammock’s county representative, attended

the open house to talk to residents. The three projects are ones he said he has personally pushed for with the county.

He said the outcome of the original First Avenue project is “painful.”

“We got it all funded, and we paid for it, and we built it, and it didn’t work,” Hansen said. Now, though, the county has the funding to redesign it. “We scraped the money together, and we’re redesigning it, and that’s what’s going on now. Now my next project is to get enough money to, whatever the fix is, to pay for it.”

Zion said the community has provided a lot of good information for the county to address all the issues.

“We have a lot of support from the residents,” he said. “These folks are good neighbors and they’ve been honestly wonderful to work with and to meet and get to know.” Email sierra@observerlocalnews. com.

CMT engineer Robby Schoonmaker talking to Hammock residents Janet Sullivan and Peter Wentworth about the flooding on First Avenue. Photos by Sierra Williams

First Avenue resident Joyce Dobbs and her friend Joyce Skaff talk to a design firm representative about flooding on First Avenue in The Hammock.

NEWS BRIEFS

Fugitive sex offender arrested in Flagler County

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a fugitive wanted in Lee County who knew he had an active warrant and fled across the state in an attempt to avoid arrest, according to an FCSO press release.

12-year-old arrested for threatening to stab another child

A 12-year-old boy was arrested on Sept. 25 for threatening to stab another child during an argument in a group chat.

On Sept. 19, the FCSO was contacted by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office that they had reason to believe a fugitive from their county was possibly residing in Flagler County, a FCSO press release said. The LCSO Fugitive Unit requested assistance to locate Christopher Connors, 50, who had an active arrest warrant out of Lee County. Connors has been a registered sex offender since 2022, when he was convicted of two counts of lewd or lascivious battery and two counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition, the press release said.

COPS CORNER

SEPT. 9 THE COST OF IMPATIENCE

3:32 p.m. — First block of North Yonge Street, Ormond Beach Vandalism. An employee of a local car repair shop called police after a customer broke two glass awards after becoming upset that his car had yet to be serviced.

According to a police incident report, the customer dropped off his vehicle that morning and returned in the afternoon, appearing “very disgruntled” and expressing frustration at how busy the shop had been all day. The employee and the customer

The FCSO’s Fugitive Unit and K-9 Unit deputies located Connors at a gas station on North Ocean Shore Boulevard in Palm Coast. There, deputies watched Connors get into the passenger seat of a white convertible and followed the convertible to a residence on Shady Lane North in Palm Coast where Connors got out.

When he was arrested, FCSO said, Connors told deputies he had fled to Flagler County because he was scared to go back to prison. He was taken to the Flagler jail, where he is awaiting extradition to Lee County.

got into a verbal argument, which escalated when he swiped the two glass awards off the counter, causing them to break. He also chipped the laminate desk.

The awards were worth about $75 each, the police report states; the damage to the desk was valued at $50.

While this was going on, a bystander was eating lunch on a nearby couch and he discovered a piece of glass in his food. He reported to police that he believed the glass had cracked his tooth, but was not sure.

The car repair shop wished to pursue charges.

SEPT. 11 SHOPLIFTERS

11:02 a.m. — 1500 block of West Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the threat when a concerned parent reported a threat their son received over text, an FCSO press release said. The victim told deputies the suspect was arguing with him when the suspect sent the victim a picture of a box containing 15 knives and a brass knuckle followed by text threatening to stab the victim.

FCSO deputies then went to the suspect’s home and interviewed him and his parents.

The 12-year-old admitted to sending the text messages and said he did so because he was angry, the press release said. Deputies searched his room and found the box of knives that was pictured.

The 12-year-old was arrested on a felony charge of

Petit theft. A 61-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman, both of Daytona Beach, are facing misdemeanor charges after police reported that they attempted to steal $26 worth of merchandise from a local big box store.

The man was seen putting 14 food items into an empty shopping bag in the basket of one of the store’s mobility scooters, which he was using. Then, the couple went to the self check-out area and paid for a candy item before attempting to leave the store, according to a police report.

The couple was stopped by a store employee, and, after a quick argument, they left the items in the mobility scooter and left.

The store wished to pursue charges and the couple was trespassed from the business.

sending a written or electronic threats to kill or commit bodily harm, the press release said. He was taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and later turned over to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Sheriff Rick Staly urged parents to make sure their children know the consequences of threatening someone. It is no joking matter, he said.

“This is an unfortunate situation where we had to arrest a child, but we take threats like this very serious,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “It is important for parents to be aware of what their children are saying to each other on social media and monitor their activity.”

$1,200 and 60g of drugs recovered from Daytona warrants

The Daytona Beach Police Department took eight individuals into custody on Sept. 24 after executing two narcotics

SEPT. 28 ON THE PROWL 1:32 p.m. – Intersection of Grand Landing s Parkway and Seminole Woods Boulevard, Palm Coast Loitering, prowling. A man from Davenport was arrested after attempting to enter people’s homes in a local subdivision.

The Sheriff’s Office received multiple phone calls that a man carrying plastic grocery store bags was going door to door in the development. When a deputy arrived to investigate, he saw a man matching the suspect’s description walking out of the development.

The suspect told the deputy he was a resident, but couldn’t remember which home was his, according to an arrest report. He said his

search warrants. The warrants were served at 1305 S. Ridgewood Ave., the American Inn Motel, and targeted two neighboring rooms occupied by suspected drug dealers, according to a DBPD social media post. The search warrant was executed by the DBPD Crime Suppression Team. The DBPD recovered the following from inside the rooms: one firearm, 4.5 grams of fentanyl, 29.9 grams of cocaine, 22.6 grams of meth, 0.2 grams of heroin, 5.5 grams of marijuana and $1,294 in U.S. currency, the posts read.

Five arrested in Ormond Beach on drug charges

Detectives with the East Volusia Narcotics Task Force arrested five people on drug charges at a home in the 1700 block of Carolina Avenue on Thursday, Sept. 25. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office reported that this

phone was dead also so he could not find his address.

The deputy directed the man to a nearby gas station to charge his phone and let him go for the time being.

After the suspect left, though, the deputy received complaints from several residents that the man had tried to open their front doors without permission, including two residents with video evidence.

The deputy caught up to the suspect to complete a trespass form against him.

After reviewing the video evidence, the suspect was arrested.

is the second time in two years law enforcement has shut down a drug sale operation at the home, which was deemed unsafe for occupancy due to multiple code and inspection violations.

There were nine people at the home when law enforcement executed the search warrant. The five people arrested were:

„ Tyler Adams

„ Daniel Culbreath

„ Rochelle Edick

„ Joseph Meeks

„ Jennifer Meeks

According to an arrest report, two members of the task force conducted a ruse at the front door in order to speak with someone. After two people, one of whom was Edick, came outside, detectives announced themselves. After hearing no response, they entered the home.

Detectives recovered almost 0.19 grams of fentanyl, 0.59 grams grams of heroin, over 8.5 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

The suspect said he attempted to enter the homes to see if, by the layout and furniture, he could tell if the home was his. SEPT. 24 ASH WEDNESDAY 8:16 a.m. –

of Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast Trespass. A Palm Coast man was arrested when he was caught going through the ashtrays near the front doors of a supermarket. The suspect was issued a trespass warning by Sheriff’s Office deputies from the property just seven hours earlier, according to the suspect’s arrest report. Employees called deputies back when the man returned to dig through the ashtrays and garbage cans. Deputies searched the suspect and found a pipe, an unopened can of beer and multiple lighters. The suspect was taken to the county jail.

Lee County fugitive Christopher Connors was arrested on Sept. 19. Courtesy of FCSO

‘IT CAN HAPPEN HERE’

Flagler Schools to discuss installing metal detectors. Volusia has already started.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Thursday, Sept. 4, was already a stressful day for Katherine Cheek. It marked the oneyear anniversary of a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, where two teachers and two students were killed. Apalachee High is Cheek’s alma mater. Winder, Georgia, is her hometown.

Adding to her stress that day was learning that a lockdown was issued at 12:50 p.m. at Flagler Palm Coast High School, where her son is a student. The school was under lockdown for an hour after the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call.

“It was just really terrifying,” Cheek said at a Flagler County School Board workshop on Sept. 23. Cheek spoke during the public comment periods at both the workshop and the board’s business meeting that night, urging the board to approve the installation of metal detectors in the schools.

While the lockdown appeared to be a false alarm, an FPC student later revealed that he had brought a gun to school on Sept. 4. He was charged with pointing the pistol at a fellow student in a nearby McDonald’s restroom after school.

“According to the sheriff department’s report, a student was on our campus with a weapon all day walking the halls with our kids, and nobody knew,” Cheek said during her remarks at the School Board’s evening meeting. “And how could they, because currently we do not have weapons detectors at the entries of our campuses.”

That could change. On the same day that Cheek made her passionate pleas in Flagler County, Volusia County Schools was implementing new metal detectors at Mainland High School. It is the fourth high school Volusia has equipped with detectors utilizing artificial intelligence to recognize contents within students’ backpacks. The district is planning to install detectors in all 10 Volusia high schools.

FCSO RECOMMENDATION

Flagler Schools held an executive session with the School Board on Tuesday, Sept. 30. While the meeting was not open to the public, David Bossardet, the district’s safety specialist, said last week that metal detectors would be part of the discussion.

The district worked with the FCSO developing a risk assessment for each campus using the Florida Safe School Assessment Tool, Bossardet said. The district will submit a priority list with a timeline for implementing the FCSO’s recommendations.

Installing metal detectors was one of the recommendations, Bossardet said.

Colt Gray, then a 14-yearold student at Apalachee High School, was charged with four counts of murder. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Gray brought an AR-15-style rifle to school hidden in his backpack on Sept. 4, 2024.

The Barrow County, Georgia, school district did not install a weapons detection system at Apalachee and the district’s other two high schools until Jan. 13 of this year, more than four months after the shooting.

In fact, the board approved the weapons detectors one day after another Apalachee

Katherine Cheek, the parent of a Flagler Palm Coast High School student, urges the School Board to install weapons detectors. Image from Flagler Schools video

student was caught with a gun at the school.

The Flagler School Board is scheduled to have a workshop — open to the public — later this month to discuss installing metal detectors. The workshop was initiated by board member Janie Ruddy, who wants to explore metal detectors in lieu of a potential guardian program. After her own research, Ruddy said that adding trained, armed security won’t improve outcomes.

“So, I would rather try to explore technology, and there’s been a lot of advances,” she said.

Ruddy said the advantage of a weapons detection system is not just to find a weapon before it is brought into a school, but also to act as a deterrent.

“In the most recent incident of that student at FPC, thank goodness, nothing happened,” Ruddy said. “And in the investigation, the information shared was that the intent was not to cause harm on the campus. But I think about if we had a weapons detection system of some sort, that child, who made a very poor choice that day, could have (thought), ‘OK, I know I have to go through some sort of metal detection. I need to make sure I do not have this item on me when I go to school.’ And his future hopefully would have been much different.”

FACTORING IN LOGISTICS

There is a lot to consider when deciding to install metal detectors, Bossardet said. There is the cost. Every Volusia County high school is receiving at least two at a cost of $110,000 each. Flagler has two high schools.

Logistics can also be a challenge. “FPC has almost 3,000 kids,” he said. “How do you get them all through the metal detectors prior to the first bell? And what do you do if the metal detector goes off? What’s the standard operating procedure? Where do we take that student, and who takes them?”

“What I do like about it,” Bossardet said, “is it’s truly taking a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach. We’ve done school hardening — locking doors, locking gates, adding fences, securing main entrances.”

Also through state statute, Bossardet added, all teachers have a lanyard with a Centegix mobile panic button that when pressed notifies law enforcement and administration simultaneously.

“Now we’re ready for a proactive approach,” he said.

MAINLAND HIGH NOW EQUIPPED WITH AI METAL DETECTORS

Mainland High School is the latest Volusia County school to be equipped with new metal detectors. The new screening process went into effect on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

The metal detectors have been implemented in four high school campuses so far, including Atlantic, Pine Ridge and Taylor. Plans are in the works to equip the district’s six remaining high school, with Seabreeze being next.

The metal detectors utilize artificial intelligence to recognize contents within students’ backpacks, said Capt. Todd Smith, VCS director of safety and security.

“It really makes it where the kids can wear their backpacks, bring in their Stanley cups, bring in all of the devices that they normally use throughout the day to get them through the educational experience, and then from there, they just walk right through,” Smith said. “... So we’re able to get the thousands of kids into the campus within the timeframe allotted so that we don’t disrupt instructional time.”

VCS piloted two systems with different companies for about nine weeks last school year to see which one was more effective and efficient, said Mike Micallef, VCS executive director of graduation assurance and student services. In the end, the district chose the Xtract One system, and the implementation of the metal detectors has made Volusia the first school district in the state with plans to implement this in all of its high schools.

“Everybody has their eyes on Volusia County right now to see if it’s possible and if the devices can do what they’re supposed to do,” Micallef said. “So far, everything is matching up. It’s going really well.”

Last year, the Volusia County School Board added a new randomized screenings policy where a district team used a random generator to select a school, and then a specific classroom, to be screened with a portable metal detector.

But the addition of these AI-assisted metal detectors at every high school means every student is screened.

“I think this is something that’s needed with what goes on in today’s society, and it’s our job to keep these kids safe and put them in a good mind frame to where their learning can take place and they can focus all their time and attention on learning.” Micallef said. “This is just another layer of security and support that we are adding.”

VCS hopes to add metal detectors to middle schools next year, provided it can generate enough funding; each metal detector costs about $110,000, and every high school is receiving at least two.

The metal detectors aren’t the only way VCS is using AI to increase campus safety. Cameras have been embedded with ZeroEyes, a firearms detection software which notifies Smith, local law enforcement and the school in realtime if a firearm is brought on campus.

So far this school year, there have not been any firearms recovered, Smith said. There weren’t any last year, either. That shows, he added, that the safety improvements are working.

The new metal detectors are just the latest measures.

“There’s questions throughout the country on whether or not it can be done, and we’re showing that it can be done,” Smith said. “We are getting the kids in. They’re not losing their instruction time, and we’re making our campuses safer.”

— JARLEENE ALMENAS

In her public comments to the School Board, Cheek said Winder, Georgia, is very similar to Palm Coast. It’s a small town growing faster than it can keep up with, she said. If a mass shooting can happen at a school in Winder, it can happen here, she said. Weapons detectors are not a fix-all, Cheek said. But they are a start.

“It’s not going to be easy,” she told the Observer. “Nothing worthwhile is. But I’ll take an inconvenience to make sure our children are safe.”

Four yes on city budget, Gambaro no

Pontieri called the request ‘hollow’ without offering any solutions.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Palm Coast City Council has adopted its budget for the 2026 fiscal year, but not before Councilman Charles Gambaro asked the city to make last-minute cuts to the general fund.

The Sept. 24 meeting was the City Council’s final budget meeting of the year. The 2026 budget is set as $696 million, a 65% increase from the 2025 budget. The bulk of that increase is dedicated to addressing the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure needs.

That section of the budget is the water and wastewater capital projects fund, which is typically funded by fees and interest revenue, according to budget documents. In 2025, that fund was $83.8 million, while in 2026, the fund is at $326 million. The city is using bonds to pay for the projects budgeted in 2026.

“The bulk of our increase is only in the water and wastewater utility capital fund,” Pontieri said. “The rest of our budget has largely stayed flat, if not gone down.”

The general fund, which is supported by ad valorem taxes, is $67 million, just 9.7% of the 2026 budget. The council adopted a millage rate of 4.0893, which was reduced from 4.1893 in an effort to save taxpayers money. Gambaro, who voted for the 4.0893 rate before the Sept. 24 meeting, said he would now only support the rolled-back millage rate of 4.0035. He said he had thought

about this over the last several weeks and after speaking to residents, seeing unemployment numbers in Flagler increase and jobs and home sales in the county decline recently, changed his mind.

“Given the difficult decisions that we have made to invest in our infrastructure projects,” he said, “and the current economic trends of the last 60 days, I think that our residents deserve a little bit of a financial break.”

Adopting the rolled-back rate would have required losing another $1 million from the general fund.

Pontieri asked Gambaro where his proposed cuts would come from, but Gambaro did not have specific areas to suggest. Instead, he said he had proposed “all sorts of opportunities for savings” over the budgeting season, including selling the golf course.

But Pontieri pointed out selling the course would not have happened until the next year regardless, and asked Gambaro what specific other areas he had for suggested savings.

“You don’t get to just throw out a proposed rollback without coming to this council with the actual solution,” Pontieri said. “That’s a tagline. That’s not a solution.”

“That’s my position, thank you,” Gambaro said.

“It’s a hollow position, councilman,” Pontieri replied.

The council did discuss areas where another $1 million could be saved: a 2% cost of living adjustment, the 3% cap on the city’s merit-based pay raises or removing funding from the $1.3 million set aside for economic incentive funding.

The 3% cap was already a lower amount than was initially proposed. Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston said instead of removing $1 million, it should be all or nothing for the raise program, or it wouldn’t be fair.

“We either give our merit program or we don’t,” Johnston said.

Pontieri said calling for a rolled-back millage rate “because that is a good political position to take” is easy. The hard part is on the city employees and the department heads.

“Looking at the directors,” she said, “and telling them, ‘Go back to your folks and tell them you’re not getting your performance-based raise,’ that’s the hard part.”

Pontieri and Councilman Ty Miller said the budget was already lean, with funding designated for targeted areas, like the economic incentives, that would have a return on investments. Miller said cutting from the raise program creates an atmosphere in which employees are not incentivized to work hard.

“So what are we going to be left with, employees that don’t feel like working hard anymore because they’re not going to get a pay raise for it?” Miller asked. “I think that’s, in economic terms, that’s bad.”

The council adopted the 4.0893 rate 4-1, with Gambaro dissenting. The 2026 fiscal year budget was adopted unanimously.

Animated, thoughtful discourse at first workshop on City Charter

Mediator: ‘This is so we get a broad view of what people want.’

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Over a dozen people, including several committee members, attended the first community workshop to review the Palm Coast City Charter, on Sept. 29, at the Southern Recreation Center.

The Palm Coast City Council has appointed a five-person Charter Review Committee to submit suggestions for changes. Any changes made to the charter will have to be approved by a referendum on the November 2026 ballot, and the city is hoping to ensure public participation in the process through a series of town hall meetings and workshops.

The city hired Georgette Dumont to help facilitate the process. Dumont is a University of North Florida associate professor in political science public administration with experience in charter reviews.

Dumont said the workshops, more so than the committee meetings, are for citizens to provide their input.

“This is so we get a broad view of what people want,” Dumont said.

This was the first workshop open to public discussion. The next will be held on Oct. 23 at City Hall while the next charter committee meeting will be on Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Attendees started with the basics like, what are the powers of the City Council? What can be changed?

“This is an opportunity to

identify some of those pinch points that citizens are having,” Dumont said.

The following discussion was engaged and thoughtful, with none of the political discord that occasionally comes out in the City Council meetings, both during public comments and from the dais.

The attendees spent two hours discussing the pros and cons of a variety of topics including expanding the number of council members, strengthening restrictions for absences from the dais, requiring council members be Palm Coast residents for a minimum of a year before being eligible and expanding the residency restriction for city managers.

Two major topics have plagued Palm Coast for the last year: clarifying in the charter when council seats are filled from unexpected vacancies through appointment or election, and adding repercussions for charter violations by council members.

Another topic was the city’s setup as a city manager-based system, in which the city manager runs the administrative and day-to-day work of the city, and the council members and mayor, comparatively, have a more limited role. The current charter forbids interference from City Council in staff duties.

One person suggested the city should move to a strongmayoral format, but others felt that was not a good idea.

Resident Barry Moore pointed out that the current setup means the mayor and council “have absolutely no political power outside of their council room.”

“The only political power they have is if two other

council people vote the way they want to,” Moore said. “They don’t have the power to make edicts. They can’t do proclamations. They have no political power to hire or fire beyond that which the council has – and that’s a good thing.” One thing the public will have to remember is this is a republic, not a democracy, he said. The city is electing people to lead on residents’ behalf, he said, because no one has time to do the “old New England Town Hall” pure democracy format.

On a more practical note, Mike Langello, a Palm Coast resident who serves on the Flagler County planning board, said the city manager position requires “a certain type of person,” with the right qualifications to run everything from the garbage system to personal relations.

“Anybody can be elected mayor,” Langello said. “I think paying for a good quality person [to be city manager] makes more sense. Again, you get elected by standing on a corner with an A-frame sign.” Email sierra@observer localnews.com.

Palm Coast City Councilman Charles Gambaro. File photo

Georgette Dumont, a UNF professor, was hired as the mediator for the the Palm Coast Charter review process. Photo by Sierra Williams

SMALL SIZE , BIG DEAL

Born out of need: Baby Steps gets endowment through United Way

The nonprofit clinic, led by Dr. Pamela Carbiener to provide early prenatal care, begins with $50,000 endowment.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Dr. Pamela Carbiener has organized a new nonprofit to provide prenatal care in Volusia and Flagler counties, serving expectant mothers who otherwise might not see a doctor until they arrive at the hospital for delivery.

Since April, Baby Steps has served almost 250 women in its clinic, and Carbiener, an obstetrician-gynecologist with Halifax OBGYN, realized the need was greater than anticipated.

Is she bridging the gap?

“Six months later, it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, no.’ We’re going to be able to put a dent in the gap, and we have to focus also on educating our community about what’s going on,” said Carbiener, who serves as the chairman of the Baby Steps board and its medical director.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, Baby Steps, which operates out of the Volusia County Department of Health at 421 S. Keech St., received a significant boost of support: the launch of an endowment in partnership with the Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties.

The endowment begins with a $50,000 seed fund, according to a press release, and has a long-term goal to reach $6 million by 2030. Once it reaches that goal, United Way reports that the fund would generate $250,000 a year to support Baby Steps.

“An endowment is a pow-

erful tool for nonprofits,” said Courtney Edgcomb, president and CEO of CF/UWVFC, in the press release. “It sends a message of stability and vision, reassuring donors that Baby Steps is planning for the future. We’re proud to partner in building this resource and supporting an organization making such a critical difference in the lives of families.”

CARE

IMPORTANCE OF

Florida is experiencing a shortage of OBGYNs that are currently practicing obstetrics, and Volusia and Flagler are not an exception. When she started practicing in the area in 1992, Carbiener, an Ormond Beach resident, said there were about 30 OBGYNs east of the St. Johns River that practiced obstetrics. Now, that number is closer to 12.

While prenatal care is available at local hospitals, the clinics only accept patients

with Medicaid or who can self-pay. Conversely, many OBGYNs in private practice who offer prenatal care don’t take Medicaid, Carbiener said.

“So you have upwards of 40% to 50% of the women who are pregnant in our county, who cannot identify early prenatal care,” she said.

These women are often waiting to receive Medicaid, which can take weeks or months after they apply. Then, there are insured patients who recently moved into the community and may be turned down in private practice if they’re in their second or third trimester because they’re considered “high-risk.” Another group impacted is undocumented immigrants, who don’t have access to Medicaid at all.

This, Carbiener said, results in a large population of women who can’t receive prenatal care, and they often end up going to hospitals for deliv-

ery or during early pregnancy when complications arise. That translates to babies being born without adequate care that reduces risks such as preterm labor, diabetes and hypertension.

As a result, doctors are seeing more C-sections, more babies admitted in the NICU and more social services involvement.

Since the Volusia County Health Department shut down its prenatal care clinics in 2013, Carbiener and other OBGYNs have been searching for an alternative.

But about three years ago, DOH in Daytona Beach was willing to offer space once again for prenatal care.

Carbiener partnered with AdventHealth, which pledged $250,000 a year to start the clinic. Next came Baby Steps.

A SAFE PLACE

Earlier this year, one woman called 911 after recognizing

“You have upwards of 40% to 50% of the women who are pregnant in our county, who cannot identify early prenatal care.”

she was experiencing symptoms of preeclampsia.

She had been educated on the complication two days earlier during her visit to the Baby Steps clinic, and because she noticed the signs early, she and her baby were both saved. Baby Steps also helps expectant and new mothers who need help finding housing, and help with mental health and substance use.

“We connect them to all the services that can make them successful moms and families and reduce the incidence of sheltering babies, basically dissolving families when our foster care system is so overburdened at the moment to

begin with,” Carbiener said.

When people find out about how big the need is for prenatal care, Carbiener has found that they are shocked. They’re also, she said, willing to help. The endowment with United Way will lead to sustainability for Baby Steps.

When Carbiener planned the nonprofit’s initial budget, it was dependent upon Medicaid dollars and state and federal support. But there is a push to reduce that and rely more on local support.

In addition to partnering with AdventHealth and Halifax Health, Baby Steps collaborates with organizations such as the Healthy Start Coalition of Flagler & Volusia Counties, Volusia Recovery Alliance and Halifax Urban Ministries. They also collaborate with Bethune-Cookman University and Daytona State College. The important thing, she said, is that patients feel safe in their clinic.

“They’re supposed to feel respected, safe and empowered to take the best care they can of themselves and their babies,” Carbiener said. Visit https://babysteps daytona.com.

Baby Steps staff members Camryn Ryland, Jackie Butler, Shameika Favors-Stalling, Deb Marz and Chloe Singleton

Helena Girouard, Baby Steps Daytona administrator; Kim Brown-Crawford, Baby Steps Daytona board member from Intracoastal Bank; Dr. Pamela Carbiener, Baby Steps Daytona medical director; and Jennie Joseph, midwife and founder of Common Sense Childbirth. Photos by Brian McMillan

PAM CARBIENER

Flagler County, Palm Coast want to know why Boston Whaler is leaving

County, city and the president of the Chamber of Commerce sent letters asking for ‘exit interview.’

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Flagler County, Palm Coast and the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of commerce have all sent letters to Boston Whaler inviting the company to sit down and discuss its decision to leave the area.

The Brunswick Corporation, which owns Boston Whaler, announced the closure of its Flagler County manufacturing plant on Sept. 17 in a press release on the company’s website. The models made at the Roberts Road facility will be consolidated to its Edgewater facility, the press release said.

The employees at the Flagler location will be offered the opportunity to transfer the Edgewater location. By summer 2026, the transition is expected to be completed, the press release said.

With around 300 workers employed at the Flagler facility, Boston Whaler is one of the county’s larger employers.

The letters, written by Chamber President John Phillips, Deputy County Administrator Jorje Salinas and Palm Coast Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston all sent the letters hoping to discuss other solutions with the company.

“We are committed to engaging in open and constructive dialogue to explore options that could mitigate these impacts,” Salinas wrote.

“Flagler County offers a range of economic incentives and resources, and we are eager to discuss whether these, or other creative solutions, could support continued operations or alternative opportunities for Brunswick in our commu-

nity.”

In a Sept. 29 interview with the Observer, Phillips said the Chamber has not yet heard from Boston Whaler about its decision to leave.

“Sometimes there’s economic decisions that are beyond our control, and that may be the case here,” Phillips said. “But I think most important is just to have an open dialogue and conversation with them, to see if there’s anything we could do.”

Boston Whaler opened its Roberts Road, Flagler Beach facility in 2021. Brunswick also announced in the press release that it will close its Reynosa, Mexico facility fiberglass boat manufacturing facility, transitioning production to its Merritt Island and Vonore, Tennessee, plants.

One of the biggest concerns is the rippling effect the future closure could have on surrounding jobs in the area.

All three letters reference the potential loss of jobs for the employees at the plant who choose not to, or can’t, commute to Edgewater, as well as negative impacts on local suppliers and service providers who work with Boston Whaler.

Salinas wrote in his letter to Boston Whaler that the losses will have an impact on even the “broader business ecosystem.”

“This development is a matter of great concern to or residents and local government,” Salinas wrote. There is a worry that Boston Whaler’s exit will impact future economic growth, as well.

“It’s a PR hit, at minimum,” Phillips said, “to have a brand name and a well-recognized name in the boating industry, to potentially close up their facility here in our town.”

The news came on the heels of Palm Coast adopting a budget that included over $1 million in economic incentives, the most money Palm Coast has ever dedicated for

this purpose. Phillips said the city’s decision to invest more in economic incentives adds another “tool to the tool box” to help draw in more industry.

In a phone interview with the Observer , Johnston said she did not think the news would have a negative impact on the city gaining interest from other businesses.

“We know through the national side that there’s a huge momentum of bringing more manufacturing jobs back here to the U.S.,” she said. “So we’re still hopeful that we will have the opportunity to help a business come to Palm Coast and provide those manufacturing jobs.”

Phillips said it would be most important for Flagler County, its cities and other stakeholders to work together to draw other companies and businesses. That’s why he, Salinas and Johnston invited Brunswick to sit down with them for “an exit interview.”

“If we can work together to try to attract more industries, whether it’s in the marine industry like Boston Whaler, or in a different industry, we just want to work together to try to improve the quality of life, bring more jobs here to our area,” Phillips said.

Johnston agreed and said the city of Palm Coast and the county are working together on initiatives for economic development for the area “because it affects us all.”

“It’s important that the community know how much the city of Palm Coast and the county are working together to either keep businesses here or attract new businesses,” she said.

Salinas wrote that the county’s goal was to better understand the factors driving this decision and identify pathways to sustain economic vitality for all stakeholders.

Johnston wrote in her letter that the potential loss of the jobs, and the broader economic ripple effect, is “deeply concerning to our community.” She told the Observer that, though business ebbs and flows, the city wants to focus on the future. The exit interview would be an opportunity to sit down with Brunswick and discuss what plans the company has for the site, and what the cities and county could have done better.

“So in the way that business goes,” Johnston said, “we’re wanting to see, ‘Hey, you have a site here. What are your intentions, and how can we help?’”

Most important, Phillips said, is having open dialogue.

“If it’s something that can be salvaged, fantastic, and if it’s not something that can be salvaged, then at least make it as good as possible for the employees and for the residents here,” he said.

Dance to serve on regional council

Flagler County Chair Andy Dance is also serving as the chair for the Institute of County Government.

JULIE MURPHY FLAGLER COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

The Northeast Florida Regional Council selected Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance to serve as its first vice president for a one-year term beginning October 1. In a complementary leadership role, Dance will also serve as chair of the Institute for County Government, beginning Sept. 19 for a one-year term.

“These roles are about advancing regional collaboration – on growth management, resilience, transportation, and economic opportunity,” Dance said. “Flagler County’s voice at the NEFRC table will remain focused on practical solutions that strengthen our communities while protecting the natural assets that define Northeast Florida.”

NEFRC is a multicounty (Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Putnam, Nassau, and St. Johns counties) regional

planning organization that convenes local governments and partners to address cross-jurisdictional priorities – such as emergency preparedness, coastal resilience, transportation, and economic development – through datainformed planning, technical assistance, and regional coordination.

As ICG Chair, Dance will help guide nonpartisan training and professional development for county commissioners across Florida—supporting good gover-

nance, fiscal stewardship, and effective public engagement.

“This is such a welldeserved recognition of your leadership and the respect you’ve earned across the region,” County Administrator Heidi Petito said. “It reflects well on Flagler County to see you representing it in this role. I know you’ll bring the same dedication and passion to the Council that you bring to serving our community every day.”

Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance. File photo by Brent Woronoff

The ‘Welcome’ sign at the Boston Whaler location in Flagler County. Photo by Sierra Williams

Flagler Schools’ balance tops $11M

Chief Financial Officer

Patty Wormeck paints a healthier financial picture for the district.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Schools has a general fund balance of $11.2 million, according to updated numbers from the end of the 20242025 fiscal year.

Patty Wormeck, the district’s chief financial officer, delivered the annual financial report and cost report to the School Board at a special meeting on Sept. 23. At the adoption of the 2025-2026 final budget, approved two weeks earlier, Wormeck estimated a general fund balance of $9 million.

“We had estimated conservatively,” she said at the special meeting.

Wormeck said the district was able to start planning over a year ago with the knowledge that ESSER funds for COVID relief were ending. At the time the district began a workforce

BIZBUZZ

Hounds Town is

thriving

Launching a franchise can be a daunting challenge, even for a successful and retired corporate executive.

Jackie Rector, now owner of Hounds Town Palm Coast – Bunnell, experienced this for herself and knew that she needed support to make her new dream a reality. That’s when she turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Cen-

reduction by not refilling certain positions vacated by departing employees.

“The biggest thing we did was holding strong on positions, making sure we didn’t hold onto unnecessary positions, and we did not use ESSER funds heavily for positions,” Wormeck said, unlike other districts.

Salaries and benefits make up about 83% of general fund expenditures, she said, so using overages through attrition is the most effective way to pare down the budget.

The district also reduced department budgets by 4%, she said.

Board Chair Will Furry noted that with twice-monthly district payrolls of $5 million, the $11.2 million fund balance, is a bridge for two payrolls.

Keeping the fund balance healthy is important to avoid adding to debt service in paying for unanticipated costs, such as when an HVAC chiller went down at Flagler Palm Coast High School at a cost of $6 million, Wormeck said.

The district’s annual debt service is $5 million. It was refinanced in 2024, saving

tral Florida in Palm Coast. As she looks forward to celebrating her new business’ one-year anniversary, she is glad she did.

Hounds Town is a fully interactive doggy daycare, boarding, and pet spa facility. Designed like a town for dogs, it features expansive play areas, luxury overnight suites, and a pampering doggie day spa.

Rector said when the dogs come in, they make sure they can play interactively “in a natural pack environment with dogs of the same size, temperament, and play style.” It helps socialize the dogs and make them happy, she said. Rector’s

$100,000, Wormeck said. Five years ago, the district was also able to stop taking out sixmonth $10 million short term notes each summer to cover payroll until property taxes were received. That saved $100,000 a year in interest, she said.

Board member Janie Ruddy asked about future funding for free school breakfast and lunch for all district students. The program, funded for three years through the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision, is scheduled to expire at the end of the school year.

Superintendent LaShakia Moore agreed that funding may be cut and the School Board may have to consider different models.

“We’ll begin talking about that as we close out the school year,” she said. The board unanimously approved the financial and cost report, with Derek Barrs voting remotely in his final meeting before his resignation took effect on Sept. 30.

“We have significantly put Flagler Schools in a healthier financial position,” Furry said after the vote.

professional background as a retired corporate executive from a Fortune 200 company brought an advantage to her new venture. She said it gave her the foundation to be a business owner, but she also knew she needed support to develop a business plan and get funding. That is when she found the Small Business Development Center in Palm Coast.

“I was fortunate enough to get the support I needed and that’s why I am sitting here today,” she said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without someone by my side coaching me.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

City tax dollars used inappropriately for campaigning

Dear Editor:

I am writing as a concerned resident of Palm Coast regarding what I believe to be a serious misuse of public resources. Recently, City of Palm Coast taxpayer dollars were used to host and promote a city-funded “town hall” event that Congressional candidate Charles Gambaro then leveraged for his campaign. Mr. Gambaro himself even posted pictures of this taxpayer-subsidized event on his campaign social media pages, effectively turning a public forum into campaign advertising.

I believe this is not only inappropriate — it may also be a violation of Florida law and federal election regulations. Under Florida Statute §106.15, no person or entity may use public funds to directly or indirectly support or oppose a candidate for office. Additionally, the Federal Election Campaign Act (52 U.S.C. § 30118) strictly prohibits the use of government resources for the purpose of influencing a federal election. Furthermore, the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-7326), while primarily covering federal employees, reflects the longstand-

ing principle that taxpayer resources should never be diverted to partisan political purposes.

City-funded town halls are meant to inform and engage residents of the city, not to serve as free campaign platforms. Palm Coast citizens should not have to see their hard-earned tax dollars subsidize the political ambitions of any individual — Republican, Democrat, or Independent. This sets a dangerous precedent of blurring the lines between governing and campaigning.

I urge our city officials to immediately review this matter, clarify their policies, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are never again used to advance the candidacy of Mr. Gambaro — or any candidate for public office. Residents deserve transparency, accountability, and confidence that their city is not being used as a campaign tool.

BRIAN SINGER

Palm Coast

Editor’s note: Palm Coast hosts Town Hall events that have featured all of the Palm Coast City Council members, including Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri, who is running for the Flagler County Commission. During

Councilman Gambaro’s Sept. 18 Town Hall event, Communications Director Brittany Kershaw said a couple of the questions during the Q&A portion referenced Gambaro’s campaign, but Gambaro stayed on topic of city business. The photos posted on Gambaro’s campaign Facebook page were not taken by city staff.

Troublesome and hypocritical eye-foran-eye mentality

Dear Editor: The Observer regularly publishes “Letters to the Editor” on a variety of topics and historically has been very good at publishing balanced perspectives. Recently, when the heated controversy arose as a result of the death of right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk, the Observer thankfully continued that tradition by publishing letters in glowing praise of Kirk, as well as those in very adamant opposition to his views.

Knowing it was a “hot” topic full of visceral reactions by both pro- and anti-Charlie sides, and in the face of the emerging brazen attack on the First Amendment by the current administration, with its threats and actual retribution to stifle

free expression, the Observer thankfully didn’t shy away from the constitutional freedom of speech and of the press.

A sitting U.S. president has called the news media “the enemy of the people”, berates reporters and seeks vengeance when anybody isn’t nice to him … or now to Charlie Kirk. The president actually suggested negative press coverage of him was “illegal” and he has repeatedly sued newspapers for coverage critical of him. Further, and reminiscent of 1950s McCarthyism, our vice president recommended “tattling” on others to their employers to get them fired for voicing an opinion relating to Charlie Kirk’s death deemed uncivil or inappropriate. And apparently that message is working. People are getting fired for expressing their personal, usually online, opinions of Kirk and his views.

For many faithful to Charlie Kirk, there is a troublesome and hypocritical “eye-for-an-eye” mentality in play, i.e., Charlie is killed for his freedom of speech, so in retaliation, they want to take that same freedom away from others.

Should the Observer ever have to be worried about getting sued if it chose, for

example, to publish this letter, or any commentary critical of Charlie Kirk, or be concerned about retribution for continuing to print a diversity of viewpoints? Should I also be worried about some form of reprisal by our government for writing this letter? Actually, not me, but only because I’m retired.

BOB GORDON Palm Coast

Endorsing William Sanchez for Ormond City Commission

Dear Editor: Conservative Citizens of Ormond Beach is glad to announce that it has endorsed William Sanchez for Zone 3 commissioner. William’s credentials are lengthy. He brings to the table a level headed approach to city government, he will do all he can to stem the continuing tide of raising taxes, and most of all, William will be a team player, something badly needed at this time on the commission in our City.

AL STEWART, FOUNDER OF CCOB Ormond Beach

Send letters up to 400 words to jarleene@observerlocalnews.com.

10 students get nursing scholarship from AdventHealth

A recent Coke Zero Sugar 400 race weekend at Daytona International Speedway turned the victory spotlight onto local students. Ten high school students were awarded AdventHealth’s Racing to Excellence Nursing Scholarship at the race, a AdventHealth press release said. The high school graduates, from Volusia, Flagler, and Lake counties, were given full scholarships to pursue nursing degrees at AdventHealth University. AdventHealth University

is headquartered in Orlando with additional sites in Denver and Tampa.

“This goes far beyond covering tuition,” said Michele Goeb-Burkett, chief nursing officer for AdventHealth’s East Florida Division. “It’s about opening doors for students who feel called to care for others and, in turn, ensuring our neighbors have more skilled nurses right here in our community.”

Daytona resident collects and donates 21,460 pounds of food

James Roper, of Margaritaville in Daytona Beach, has collected and donated 21,460 pounds of food to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida over the last two years. His most recent donation on Sept. 3 continues his

An article in the Sept. 25 edition on page 6A titled “Palm Coast man finds mini casket with white Navy caps on beach north of Marineland” incorrectly stated the tradi-

Let the gourd times roll

Saturday marked another centennial celebration for the city of Flagler Beach — with an autumnal twist. The Fall Family Day, presented by Flagler Beach Creates, on Sept. 27, was held at Veterans Park. Attendees had an opportunity to partake in games such as pumpkin bowling, cornhole, a corn maze and hopscotch as well as participate in interactive presentations including scarecrow building, learning about Turtle Patrol and native plants.

YOUR TOWN

Garden Club at Palm Coast selects Yacuzzis as Yard of the Month

The garden of Angela and Vinny Yacuzzi of Feling Lane is the Garden Club at Palm Coast’s Selection of the Month for October.

The Yacuzzis moved to Palm Coast seven years ago from Worcester, Massachusetts.

Their front island features a pygmy date palm, prickly pear cactus, succulents, bromeliads, pink, red, and yellow crown of thorns, three dracaena trees, and yellow

The event also featured local celebrities experiencing the “splash bucket” — Mike Crave, owner of Craves; Scott Fox, owner of Tortugas’ Florida Kitchen and Bar; Motti Amsalem, owner of Sharky’s Swimwear & Custom Tee Shirts; Jessica Fries, principal at Old Kings Elementary School; Andy Dance, Flagler County Commission Chair; Trey King, husband of Flagler Beach mayor Patti King; and Jordan Farrell, of F.B. Real Estate.

–OBSERVER STAFF

and red roses. The Garden Club meets on the second Monday of the month from September to May, at Club 51, 51 Old Kings Road N., Palm Coast. The plant sale is open to the public from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club reinstalls officers

Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club held its 48th annual meeting and luncheon on Sept. 24. President Ed Pruitt was reinstalled, along with the current officers and board members, to serve the club for another year.

Al Jennings was awarded the George F. Hixson Fellowship. In his honor, a $1,400 contribution was made to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund. Awards chairman Frank

Consentino provided a review of the club’s accomplishments during the past year. Library of My Own provided books to students in summer reading programs. The club participated in Flagler Schools’ Back to School Jam. Eighteen high school students were recognized in the club’s Student of the Month programs and were provided a total of $2,700 in stipends. The club sponsored K-Kids,

Builders Club or Key Club in each Flagler school; provided $48,000 in scholarships; sponsored a basketball tournament at Matanzas High School; honored law enforcement and firefighters; continued its participation in road cleanup; supported the Flagler County Education Foundation and Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center.

The club also contributed to Boggy Creek Camp, PAL, Carver Center, the STUFF Bus, ACE Summer Camp, Washington Oaks State Park, Whispering Meadows, Friends of the Library, Safe Baby Box and Family Life Center.

Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis is in the top 4% of clubs internationally in amount of money provided to the community.

Send Your Town stories to brent@observerlocalnews.com.

Two Flagler Palm Coast seniors named National Merit semifinalists

Flagler Palm Coast High School seniors Adniel Alonzo and Mitchell Spencer Edelstein have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Alonzo and Edelstein were celebrated during FPC morning announcements on Sept. 11, and with a parade down the upstairs 200 hallway, giving their teachers and classmates a chance to congratulate them. They join 16,000 semifinalists nationwide in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program with an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million to be announced in the spring. About 95% of the

Flagler Palm Coast High School seniors Adniel Alonzo and Mitchell Spencer Edelstein are

Courtesy photos

A boy rolls a pumpkin at the pins at the Centennial Fall Family Day. Photos by Hannah Hodge

The garden of Angela and Vinny Yacuzzi of Feling Lane is the Garden Club at Palm Coast’s October Selection of the Month.

Carolyn Kovacs, with Sea Grant Florida.

Flagler Beach Police Officer Michael Snyder turns on an ATV’s lights for Emerson Davis.

Scott Fox, owner of Tortugas’ Florida Kitchen and Bar is dunked with water.

PJ Crave stuffs a scarecrow at the Centennial Fall Family Day.

Aury Crosby paints a cardboard box at the Centennial Fall Family Day.

Sage Sutton, Thea Sutton, Jovi Sutton, and Denise Calderwood, case manager for Family Matters for Flagler.

Recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, before FPC’s football game on Sept. 26, the high school and the Live Like Cameron organization honored local children who have battled cancer. The “warriors” with their families: Zoee Foster, Essie Bass Gonzalez, Ariel Nolan and Alaya McGriff. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Ed Pruitt was reinstalled as Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club’s president.

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, OCT. 2

RECIPES AND READS

CULINARY LAB: THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF FOOD — AFTERNOON TEA

When: 3 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach

Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Details: Learn how to make spiced tea, presented by library staff. Free program.

PALM COAST

ASTRONOMY CLUB

When: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Where: Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway NW, Palm Coast

Details: The Palm Coast Astronomy Club will hold its next meeting at the library. The meeting’s topic will be “Halloween Special: A look at the scary faces of nebula from space.” Everyone interested in astronomy is welcome. The meeting room is located to the right after entering the library.

FRIDAY, OCT. 3

‘50 SHADES OF PAYNE’S GRAY’ OPENING

RECEPTION

When: 5-7 p.m.

Where: Gallery500, 1870 Victory Circle, Daytona Beach

Details: The Florida Women’s Arts Association is presenting this group exhibition all about the color, Payne’s Gray. Meet the artists and see art in a wide range of mediums. Visit Gallery500.art for more information.

PILGRIMS REST

CEMETERY TOUR

When: 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3 and 4

Where: Pilgrims Rest Cemetery, 791 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: Discover the untold stories of Ormond’s past during the annual Pilgrims Rest Cemetery Tour, which will include a Civil War-era cannon firing. Tickets cost $25; kids under 12 are free. Visit ormondhistory.org.

FREE FAMILY ART NIGHT

When: 5:30-7 p.m.

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

Details: Work with your family to make an art project. All art supplies provided. No art experience needed. All ages welcome.

‘AVENUE Q’

Details: Over 80 vendors, a petting zoo, a kid’s zone with bounce houses, pony rides, face painting, a Sheriff vs. Firefighters chili cook-off and The Soccer Collies. Tickets cost $10 for adults; kids 12 and under are free.

GOD’S FAMILY BIBLE

CHURCH PANTRY FOOD

DISTRIBUTION

When: 10-11 a.m.

Where: Parking lot across Gods Family Bible Church, 256 Old Brick Road, Bunnell

Details: God’s Family Bible Church distributes food every first and third Saturday in this drive-thru event.

ORMOND ART WALK When: 3-7 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach MainStreet Arts District, 128 W. Granada Blvd.

Details: Join Ocean Art Gallery, Frame of Mind, Art Spotlight, The Studio by Artist Angel Lowden, the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and more on the first Saturday of each month for art openings and art events.

ORMOND BEACH ART

GUILD FALL RECEPTION

When: 5-7 p.m.

Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond

Beach

Details: Attend the free fall reception of the Ormond Beach Art Guild There will be hors d’oeuvres and wine, as well as musical entertainment. The exhibit will be on display from Oct. 2-28.

THE LOCALS MIX 2025

MUSIC +ARTS EXPO

When: 5-9 p.m.

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

Beach

Details: This celebration of creativity will feature an original music competition, live painting, food trucks, drinks and artisan vendors. No cover to explore the museum, gardens and vendor village. Rooftop music admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Visit thelocalsmix.com.

SUNDAY, OCT. 5

PINK ARMY 5K

When: 7:45-11 a.m.

Where: AdventHealth Palm Coast, 60 Memorial Medical Parkway, Palm Coast Details: Help raise money for breast cancer awareness, education and screening at this 5K and 1-mile pet-friendly walk. Registration costs $40 for adults, $20 for students 18 and under with code FlaglerParent. Visit https:// runsignup.com/Race/FL/ PalmCoast/pink5k.

TUESDAY, OCT. 7

ORMOND BEACH POLICE

DEPARTMENT’S NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

When: 5-8 p.m.

Where: Rockefeller Gardens, 25 Riverside Drive

Details: Join the Ormond Beach Police Department for this family-friendly event featuring food trucks, bounce houses, a petting zoo, local vendors, police vehicles and music by DJ tremble. Free.

FILM SCREENING:

‘THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU’ When: 6-8 p.m. Where: Madorsky Theater at the Daytona State College campus, Hosseini Center, 1200 W International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach Details: See this documentary-style Wes Anderson movie of a nautical expedition team lead by Bill Murray’s Steve Zissou, a self-absorbed oceanographer in search of revenge for his fallen friend and longtime partner, Esteban, who was eaten by the elusive “Jaguar Shark.” Story is inspired by undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau. Free and open to the public.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8

PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPE PAINTING WORKSHOP When: 9-11 a.m. Where: Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreational Area, 3100 S. Oceanshore Blvd., Flagler Beach Details: Capture the beauty of the outdoors. You’ll learn techniques on location. Preregistration required; group is limited to 10. A material fee of $10 cash is required. Park entry fee applies. To register, call the Ranger Station at 386-517-2086.

AARP MEETING When: 10 a.m. to noon Where: Ormond Beach Unitarian Universalist Church, 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: This month’s guest speaker is Mel Stack, an elder law attorney and humane society board member. The public invited. An optional $5 light lunch will follow. For more information, call Jeff Boyle at 386-341-9013.

THURSDAY, OCT. 9

HALIFAX GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY When: 1:30 p.m. Where: Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach

When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3-4; and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5

Where: City Repertory Theatre, 160 Cypress Point Parkway, B-207, Palm Coast Details: See this Tony Award winning laugh-out-loud musical. Not appropriate for children. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $15 for students. Visit crtpalmcoast.com.

SATURDAY, OCT. 4

FLORIDA

TRUCKTOBERFEST

When: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: Flagler County Fairgrounds, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell

Details: Enjoy truck competitions, vendors, food and activities. Tickets cost $7; kids under 12 are free. Presented by the Palm Coast Fire Department. To register for the competition, visit https://trucktoberfest2025.rsvpify.com.

VFW AUXILIARY’S ANNUAL

ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR

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

Where: VFW Post Auxiliary, 47 Old Kings Road N., Palm Coast

Details: This is a free community event featuring arts, crafts, food and fun. There will be a marketplace with over 30 artists and crafters, local food trucks and raffles.

20TH ANNUAL

CREEKSIDE FESTIVAL

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-5

Where: Princess Place, 2500 Princess Place Road, Palm Coast

FLORIDA

BOHEMIAN FEST 2025

When: 12-8 p.m.

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

Details: This festival is a one-day wellness experience featuring yoga, sound healing, crystals, tarot, herbal remedies and more. Admission costs $20; children 10 and under are free. Visit floridabohemianfestival.com.

MONDAY, OCT. 6

TAKE A SWING AT HUNGER

When: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Hammock Dunes Golf Club, 5070 N. Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast

Details: Take part in this golf tournament where proceeds will benefit Cornerstone 386, a nonprofit. Tournament is set in a four person scramble format, at $200 per player. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. with a 10 a.m. shotgun start, and a lunch reception to follow. Visit /www. takeaswingathunger.com.

HALIFAX HEALTH

EDUCATIONAL SERIES: FLU IS NO JOKE

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Details: Halifax Health educator Annette Tracy, a registered nurse, will discuss flu symptoms, treatment and best practices to reduce risk of exposure. Free program.

Details: This is the monthly meeting of the Halifax Genealogical Society. All are welcome. This month’s topic is “Coming to America: Immigration Prior to the 20th Century,” presented by Bernice Gleason. Free.

PUBLIC WORKS

TOWN HALL

When: 6-7 p.m.

Where: Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE, Palm Coast Details: City of Palm Coast invites residents to a town hall where they’ll hear from the Public Works team on infrastructure, current projects and future plans. Register: www.parksandrec.fun.

DSC MUSIC PRESENTS: AUTUMN ECHOES SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT

When: 7-9 p.m.

Where: News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach

Details: See the Daytona State College Symphonic Band perform. Autumn Echoes brings together rich, vibrant symphonic sounds that capture the colors, moods and spirit of fall.

SATURDAY, OCT. 11

SIXTH ANNUAL VMA

ROBOT BRAWL

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

BUSINESS

Stan Lee’s United Martial Arts to celebrate 30 years in business

Since 1995, Stan Lee has taught about 4,000 students. An alumni reunion and a free bully proof class, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Thirty years ago, Stan Lee ran into a former student at a grocery store.

A couple years before, Lee had taught the adult student at a martial arts school in Daytona Beach and he told Lee that he had saved his life, referencing an instance when the student had come to class with alcohol on his breath. Lee had pulled him aside, gave him a talk on how that was unacceptable and was setting a bad example for his children and his family.

The student told Lee that changed his life. He stopped drinking, got himself in shape and earned his black belt.

That’s when Lee — who was working odd jobs ranging from construction work and bouncer to a loss prevention officer and running a telemarketing room — realized he needed to get back into the martial arts world.

“At that moment is when I realized that I needed to open my own school and get back into teaching,” Lee said.

“Because when I was a bouncer or running a telemarketing room, no one was thanking me for saving their life. That was like the pivotal moment when I decided, obviously this is what I have a talent for. This

is what I should be doing.”

So in 1995, Lee started teaching martial arts out of the Ormond Beach YMCA.

Within three months, he had 35 students, and that was enough for him to rent his first commercial space for Stan Lee’s United Martial Arts at the former Ormond Tech Center on the beachside.

A few years later, he relocated to the Renaissance plaza on South Nova Road, and following the 2008 real estate crash, he moved to his current location in Ormond Beach downtown district, at 11 S. Washington St.

Now, Stan Lee’s United Martial Arts will celebrate its 30th anniversary from 4-9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4. The event will feature live music, food trucks, a free bully proof class for kids 4-12 years old, an alumni reunion and black belt tests.

Since opening his school, Lee said he’s taught about 4,000 people in his programs for children, adults, afterschool students and summer camps. It’s not unusual for him to pop in as his staff teaches an introductory class and have a parent greet him,

letting him know he or she is a former student of Lee’s.

That’s a significant takeaway of his three decades of teaching, Lee said.

“Five-star Google reviews are great, but what is a more powerful testimonial to your life’s work is when an adult says, ‘I want my child to have the same skills you taught me. It helped me to be successful in life, and I want them to be just as successful,’” Lee said. “That to me is, at this 30-year point, what stands out — how incredible that is that we built this family environment where I’m like a grandfather.”

All of his instructors are former students too.

Chief instructor Tyler Whitby started taking classes with Lee when he was 7. As a kid, he enjoyed martial arts but never envisioned becoming an instructor until after he came back to the school following his high school graduation.

“I decided to take a drive up here and reconnect with my old instructor, and he had said, ‘We’ve been looking to hire somebody to help teach around here,’” Whitby said. “That was the first time I real-

IF YOU GO...

STAN LEE’S UNITED MARTIAL ARTS 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

When: 4-9 p.m.

Where: Stan Lee’s United Martial Arts, 11 S. Washington St., Ormond Beach

ly considered teaching martial arts and that was, we’re talking almost 12 years ago now that I decided I was going to teach here and train to try and get my black belt.”

Two years after that, he did get his black belt, and teaching has become a passion.

Knowing that United Martial Arts is celebrating 30 years is surreal, Whitby said. The school has been around for as long as Whitby has been alive, he added, and he hopes that the school continues to help instill confidence and discipline in students.

“We want to make sure everybody is who they’re meant to be and has the means to protect themselves as much

Schedule: 4-5:30 p.m. — free open house and alumni reunion

4:45-5:30 p.m. — free bully proof class for kids 4-12

5:30-7 p.m. — First degree black belt test

7-8 p.m. — second degree black belt test

8-9 p.m. — social hour

as they possibly can,” Whitby said.

Self-defense has always been at the core of United Martial Art’s classes. That’s where Lee’s passion lies, and has ever since he was a Pennsylvania kid who turned to martial arts to protect himself from bullies who didn’t like his sarcastic wit.

The martial arts industry saw a rise in popularity with the “Karate Kid” movies in the 1980s, and Lee said that’s when people realized the character development aspect of martial arts was equally as important as the physical moves.

“I felt it was important to have a balance between the two,” Lee said. “I can’t make

somebody good at all these martial arts moves and not teach them philosophy alongside it. If you’re not teaching people to be honest and to be leaders and to be good people, you can’t make them more dangerous — that’s a recipe for catastrophe. So we’ve always done our best to balance our focus on character development and self-protection.”

After 30 years, the legacy of his school is important. He hopes to be remembered as someone who led by example and inspired people to live safer, better lives.

“I want to make sure that this place doesn’t fade from existence without me,” Lee said. “So training our staff to continue to provide that fivestar service to Ormond Beach families, that would be probably the most important thing.” Visit ormondbeachmartial arts.com.

COTTON GROWS, SHADOWS LINGER

The Sound of the Whippoorwill is a moving memoir set in the postWWII deep south. It narrates the struggles of a fourth-generation white family on a cotton farm, wrestling with hard labor, mental illness, and child abuse. The narrative also explores the complex racial dynamics between the family and their black farm workers, delineating the stark inequities of a racially segregated society. A poignant exploration of resilience and the human spirit, it offers a profound reflection on cultural and social issues.

Stan Lee’s United Martial Arts instructor Peyton Raymond, founder Stan Lee and chief instructor Tyler Whitby. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Stan Lee (center) with some of his first students. Courtesy photo

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Spacious 5BR/3BA with 3 living areas & pond view! Features open layout, island kitchen with SS appliances, granite & pantry, flex room, upstairs primary w/his & her walk-ins, plus loft/playroom. Large fenced yard w/patio & irrigation. Community pool & family-friendly neighborhood. #1216589 $479,000. Pam Harvey 386-846-5051.

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REAL ESTATE

Hammock Dunes condo sells for almost $3.5M

Acondo in Le Jardin at Hammock Dunes at 28 Porto Mar, Unit 304, was the top real estate transaction for Sept. 13-19 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The condo sold on Sept. 15, for $3,495,000. Built in 2007, the condo is a 4/4.5 and has a fireplace and 4,983 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $2.71 million.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Condos

The condo at 20 Casa Bella Circle, Unit 902, sold on Sept. 15, for $630,000. Built in 2005, the condo is a 3/2.5 and has 2,463 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $509,000.

The condo at 41 Village Circle sold on Sept. 18, for $220,000. Built in 1982, the condo is a 3/2.5 and has a fireplace and1,665 square feet. It last sold in 2017 for $150,000.

The condo at 13 Hembury Lane sold on Sept. 16, for $185,000. Built in 1988, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,338 square feet. It last sold in April 2025 for $137,800.

The condo at 4600 E. Moody Blvd., Unit 8P, sold on Sept. 16, for $145,000. Built in 2005, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,035 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $154,000.

FLAGLER BEACH

Atlanta Beach

The house at 2740 S. Ocean Shore Blvd. sold on Sept. 15, for $1,375,000. Built in 2021, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a pool, an outdoor kitchen and 2,120 square feet.

BIZBUZZ

FUTURES Foundation gets $8,000 grant from Florida Power & Light

FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools has received a $7,981 Florida Power & Light Company EmPOWERing STEM Educators grant, a press release announced Thursday.

The grant will support the advancement of STEM-focused professional learning for Volusia teachers.

“The support from FPL allows us to invest directly in our educators’ professional growth

Fuquay

The house at 1708 S. Daytona Ave. sold on Sept. 18, for $697,000. Built in 2021, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,706 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $764,900.

Morningside

The house at 2329 S. Central Ave. sold on Sept. 18, for $1.155 million. Built in 2023, the house is a 3/2.5 and has an elevator and 2,291 square feet.

Shelter Cove

The house at 80 Hidden Cove sold on Sept. 15, for $1,050,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 3/3.5 and has a pool, a spa, a boat dock and 3,609 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $725,000.

PALM COAST

Belle Terre

The house at 14 Patchogue Place sold on Sept. 15, for $307,990. Built in 2025, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,574 square feet.

The house at 14 Patton Place sold on Sept. 19, for $339,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,716 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $207,000.

Bernard Meadows

The house at 41 Blaine Drive sold on Sept. 19, for $219,443. Built in 1979, the house is a

and sends a strong message that their work matters,” said Shimene Shepard, FUTURES Foundation executive director.

“When teachers feel valued and are given meaningful opportunities to collaborate and innovate, it not only improves instruction — it helps us retain great teachers in our classrooms.”

The grant program is managed by the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, which the press release states helps local education foundations across Florida share resources, strategies and support. Since 2018, FPL has partnered with the Consortium to invest more than $600,000 in this initiative.

“For the last 100 years, FPL

2/2 and has 1,081 square feet. It last sold in 2017 for 2017 for $25,000.

Country Club Cove The house at 10 Cooper Lane sold on Sept. 19, for $315,000. Built in 1974, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,900 square feet. It last sold in 2015 for $136,000.

Lehigh Woods The house at 57 Rockefeller Drive sold on Sept. 19, for $369,000. Built in 2019, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,829 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $239,900.

Ocean Hammock

The house at 333 Ocean Crest Drive sold on Sept. 19, for $2.5 million. Built in 2018, the house is a 6/8.5 and has two fireplaces, a pool, a spa, an elevator and 5,902 square feet.

The house at 7 Spanish Moss Court sold on Sept. 18, for $1,132,000. Built in 2012, the house is a 3/3 and has a fireplace, a pool and 3,066 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $775,100.

The house at 17 Kingfisher Lane sold on Sept. 15, for $1.1 million. Built in 2023, the house is a 3/3 and has a fireplace and 2,438 square feet.

Pine Lakes

The house at 13 Lago Vista Place sold on Sept. 19, for $255,000. Built in 1994, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,586 square feet. It last sold in 2003 for $159,000.

Village at Palm Coast The house at 111 Longview Way N. sold on Sept. 19, for $1,664,000. Built tin 2017, the house is a 4/3.5 and has a fireplace, a pool, a spa, a boat house, a boat dock, a boat lift, an outdoor kitchen and 3,258 square feet.

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

has been committed to powering strong communities,” said Sarah Marmion, FPL senior manager of education outreach. “Our investment in STEM education is a way to spark innovation and opportunity for the next generation. By supporting our teachers through these grants, we’re empowering them with the resources they need to inspire students and cultivate the problem-solvers and innovators of tomorrow.”

FPL also supports teachers and students through its STEM Classroom Makeover Grants, which provides educators with $50,000 to bolster classrooms with new technology and hands-on materials. Applications open Sept. 30. Visit FPL. com/Education.

PALM COAST

House in Riverbend

Acres sells for $1.3M

Ahouse at 227 Treeline Lane in Riverbend Acres was the top real estate transaction in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea for the week of Sept. 6-12. The house sold on Sept. 11, for $1,299,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 4/3.5 and has a fireplace, a pool, an outdoor kitchen and 4,821 square feet. It last sold in 2010 for $470,000.

JARLEENE

BEACH

Carrollwood

The house at 1720 Hope Drive sold on Sept. 10, for $310,000. Built in 1979, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 1,326 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $210,000.

Castlegate The house at 19 Queen Anne Court sold on Sept. 8, for $483,000. Built in 1990, the house is a 4/3 and has a fireplace, a pool and 2,540 square feet. It last sold in 2004 for $320,000.

Cypress Trail

The house at 210 Cypress Trail Drive sold on Sept. 8, for $565,000. Built in 2021, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,735 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $384,500.

Northbrook

$317,900. Built in 1981, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,208 square feet. It last sold in 2018 for $154,000.

Southern Pines

The house at 82 Chrysanthemum Drive sold on Sept. 10, for $391,500. Built in 2008, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,869 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $270,000.

Tanglewood Forrest

The house at 349 Water Oak Lane sold on Sept. 8, for $200,000. Built in 1972, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,306 square feet. It last sold in 1981 for $69,000.

Tomoka Park

Ocean Village The house at 133 Cardinal Drive sold on Sept. 9, for $304,000. Built in 1947, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,350 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $345,000.

Ormond Green The house at 6 Greenvale Drive sold on Sept. 11, for $515,000. Built in 2000, the house is a 4/2 and has a pool, a spa and 2,427 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $440,000.

Plantation Bay The house at 438 Harbour Town Lane sold on Sept. 9, for $340,000. Built in 1996, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,172 square feet. It last sold in 2002 for $184,900.

The house at 952 Northbrook Drive sold on Sept. 12, for $319,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,784 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $360,000.

The house at 1254 Royal Pointe Lane sold on Sept. 10, for $640,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 4/2 and has a pool, a spa and 2,117 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $685,000.

Riviera Oaks

The house at 20 Laurel Oaks Circle sold on Sept. 8, for

The house at 60 Bramblewood Lane sold on Sept. 10, for $430,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,456 square feet. It last sold in 2011 for $180,000.

ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA

Not in subdivision

The house at 147 Longwood Drive sold on Sept. 10, for $235,000. Built in 1960, the house is a 3/1.5 and has 1,198 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $160,000.

Ormond Shores

The house at 40 Juniper Drive sold on Sept. 10, for $495,000. Built in 1964, the house is a 5/2.5 and has a pool, a spa and 1,737 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $450,000.

DAYTONA BEACH

Latitude Margaritaville

The house at 957 Coral Reef Way sold on Sept. 12, for $665,000. Built in 2022, the house is a 3/3 and has 2,158 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $385,900.

The house at 802 Margaritaville Ave. sold on Sept. 8, for $470,000. Built in 2024, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,768 square feet. It last sold in 2024 for $433,200.

The house at 585 Lost Shaker Way sold on Sept. 8, for $517,500. Built in 2019, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,862 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $327,500.

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

The house at 227 Treeline Lane sold on Sept. 11, for $1,299,000.

Photo courtesy of Realty Pros Assured

SPORTS

‘This kid is special’

Simmons sharp as Mainland overcomes halftime deficit to top Matanzas, 34-17.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Braylyn “Juice” Simmons seems to enjoy playing against Matanzas High School. Simmons accumulated 196 offensive yards and a touchdown in Mainland’s 34-17 victory over the Pirates on Thursday, Sept. 25, at Daytona Stadium. But another dazzling game by the Buccaneers’ junior running back would have been for naught if not for his team’s comeback from a 17-14 halftime deficit.

“We came out thinking, ‘Oh, it’s Matanzas, we’re going to run all over them.’ But they

came out throwing a punch,” said Bucs receiver Kadin Flores, who caught six passes for 94 yards and a touchdown to help put Mainland in the driver’s seat for the District 4-5A championship.

Simmons rushed for 114 yards on 20 carries and caught four passes for 82 yards. It was his third 100-yard rushing game this season.

“The kid is special,” Mainland coach Jerrime Bell said.

“Braylyn Simons is special. We know when we get the ball in his hands, he’s going to make plays. He’s been making plays week after week. Even when things aren’t there, he still makes plays. He’s one of those backs, just with his vision and his patience, he’s going to find a hole.”

Last year, when Simmons played at Flagler Palm Coast, he amassed 276 all-

“At

first I definitely wasn’t prepared for all the hits, all the defensive linemen and linebackers screaming down.”

BRAYLYN SIMMONS, Mainland running back

team district. With a win over 1-5 Belleview on Oct. 24, the Bucs will clinch their 32nd consecutive playoff appearance.

“No disrespect to Belleview,” Bell said, “but we know the best two teams in the district played tonight, so I kept reiterating that to the kids, ‘Hey, this may be a de facto district championship, how are you going to respond?’ That was my message in the halftime. Are you going to lay down and let someone steal your Matanzas (3-3, 0-1) jumped out of the gate quickly.

37-yard Alex Procek field goal. With 9 seconds left in the second quarter, Flores caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Sebastian Johnson to narrow the Pirates’ lead to 17-14. In the second half, the Bucs shut the Pirates down while adding two touchdowns and two David Aponte field goals. Johnson finished with 284 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

game, each practice I feel way more comfortable.”

In the past two games, he’s carried the ball 20 or more times.

“I’m in love with catching the ball and running routes,” he said. “But I got to do what is needed for my team to win.”

DE FACTO TITLE GAME

Mainland improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the three-

Thomas Larywon caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Cole Walker midway through the first quarter to go up 7-0. After Simmons tied the score at the end of the quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run, Larywon scored again on a 7-yard catch from Walker to put the Pirates back on top, 14-7. That touchdown was set up by Cooper May’s interception and 32-yard return to the Mainland 47-yard line.

But the turning point may have come after Pirates defensive back Jez McCoy intercepted another Mainland pass and returned it 72 yards to the Mainland 1-yard line. A bad snap and a penalty pushed Matanzas back to the 19 and the Pirates settled for a

“We had no real adjustments, it was just wake upcall, gut-check time where you actually got some respect for your opponent and realize, ‘I have to play as hard as they’re playing,’” Bell said. Bell said the Bucs did made some lineup changes to inject more energy. One of the players who received extended playing time in the second half was defensive back Ivan Gaines, who intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter. Matanzas coach Matt Forrest said after falling to Seabreeze the week before, the Pirates had a good week of practice.

“This was a big game, and it had a big game feel all week,” Forrest said. “That’s one of the top programs in the state, and they showed it in the second half. I know the game got a little out of hand in the last two minutes, but it was a 10-point game all the way into the fourth quarter, so I’m proud of our guys and the way they fought. I think we just didn’t make enough plays offensively to keep our defense fresh in that second half. We got to do better at executing. It felt like we were an inch off. The ball was an inch off, or a route was an inch off. It’s just something we’ve got to get used to. Matanzas is going to be playing in a lot of big games from now on.”

Matanzas linebacker Rylee Roberts chases down Mainland quarterback Sebastian Johnson. Photo by Brian McMillan

Matanzas’ Cooper May celebrates his interception. Photo by Brian McMillan

Matanzas receiver Jordan Schendorf (4) catches a pass. Photo by Keishia McLendon

Nolan Caliendo helps Flagler Palm Coast in multiple ways in 38-7 win

Sophomore receiver had seven receptions and threw a touchdown pass in victory over University.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Nolan Caliendo seemed to have the magic touch in Flagler Palm Coast’s 38-7 victory against University on Friday, Sept. 26. When he touched the ball, good things seemed to happen.

The Bulldogs’ sophomore slot receiver caught seven passes for 115 yards in the home victory. He also tossed a 45-yard reverse pass to Logan Jacobelli for a first-quarter touchdown. And he got his hands on another pass that eventually fell into the hands of Brian Gunter for another touchdown.

“I’ve got to catch that pass,” he said of the latter. “But you know, we got lucky on that

one.”

Sophomore Bobby Starr had stepped in at quarterback on the previous play. With a fourth-and-5 from the FPC 29-yard-line, Starr threw a high hitch pass to Caliendo. Caliendo leaped, but the ball caromed off his hands and then bounced off University defensive back Victor Gadsen’s hands into the waiting arms of FPC’s Gunter, who ran to the end zone for a 71-yard touchdown reception.

“It was a lucky bounce,” Gunter said. “I looked up and caught it and took it to the crib. It was just laying in my hands.”

That wasn’t exactly how the Bulldogs drew the play up, but Caliendo’s touchdown pass to Jacobelli was nearly picture perfect. Quarterback La’Darius Simmons handed off to Ehimen Ajede who handed off to Caliendo who passed to his wide-open target.

“We ran it a couple of times in practice,” Caliendo said.

“Once I had it, I just saw him

wide open, and I didn’t give him a great ball, but it was there, and he got it, and we scored. So it was good.”

The pass was a little underthrown, but no one was catching track sprinter Jacobelli once he cradled it.

“I had to come back a little bit, but (Caliendo) put it out there for me,” Jacobelli said. “He just had to get it there, basically. I was wide open. They couldn’t catch me. There was nobody close.”

University (1-4) scored on the game’s opening possession with Christian Maheu’s 41-yard pass to Cassidy Maldonado setting up Maheu’s 2-yard touchdown run. But the game quickly became a runaway as FPC (2-3) scored 38 unanswered points to snap a three-game losing streak.

“They came out and stuck one on us on the first drive, but other than that, we were lights out on defense,” FPC coach Patrick Turner said.

“We played a little bit more aggressive (this game) because we needed it,” Turner added.

“Our reverse pass followed up by an onside kick was kind of the plan, and we didn’t get (the ball back), but the kids

played with a lot of passion, and when you do that, and play to win, good things usually happen.”

Simmons tied the score at 7-7 with a 14-yard quarterback keeper, diving over Uni-

“I had to come back a little bit, but (Caliendo) put it out there for me. He just had to get it there, basically. I was wide open.”

LOGAN JACOBELLI

versity defensive back Aden Andrews into the end zone. Kenneth Robinson’s interception on the second play of the second quarter set up Gunter’s touchdown. And Bulldogs defensive lineman Cal Zwirn intercepted a University reverse pass, returning it 7 yards for a touchdown to give FPC a 28-7 lead with 5:09 left in the first half.

FPC added two more scores in the third quarter with Garrett Tucker kicking a 34-yard field goal and Ajede scoring on a 16-yard run. Ajede rushed for 95 yards on eight carries. Simmons ran for 83 yards and passed for 135 yards. The Bulldogs’ defense forced four turnovers. Jacob Harnisch and Zaiden Green each had a sack.

The win put the Bulldogs into a tie for first place in District 2-7A with DeLand at 1-0. DeLand shut out Spruce Creek 14-0 in a battle featuring two teams ranked in the top five in the state in Class 7A.

FPC hosts Neptune Beach Fletcher (4-2) on Friday, Oct. 3. The Bulldogs travel to DeLand on Oct. 10 and to Spruce Creek on Oct 24 with a chance to repeat as district champs (the Bulldogs were co-district champs with University and Creek last year).

“This (win) gives us a lot of confidence going into next week,” Gunter said. “And we know we can get better.”

Ehimen Ajede sprints to the end zone on a 16-yard touchdown run.

FPC quarterback La’Darius Simmons dives over University’s Aden Andrews into the end zone to score the Bulldogs’ first touchdown in a 38-7 victory on Sept. 26. Photos by Brent Woronoff

FPC’s Nolan Caliendo (3) gains yards after making a catch.

FPC boys win fourth consecutive Five Star cross country championship

The Bulldogs’ Douglas Seth and Arianna Slaughter won individual titles.

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Flagler Palm Coast took home two individual championships and a team championship at the Five Star Conference cross country meet on Saturday, Sept. 27, at New Smyrna Beach High School.

FPC won the boys championship for the fourth year in a row, with freshman Douglas Seth leading the way with a first-place finish. Seth ran a time of 16:43.7, crossing the finish line 18.3 seconds ahead

of runner-up finisher Maddox Kokin, of New Smyrna Beach. FPC senior Arianna Slaughter won the girls race in 19:37.9. She was the only runner to finish the race in under 20 minutes.

The FPC boys smoked the field with 44 points with New Smyrna Beach placing second with 74 points. Seabreeze was fifth with 91 points, and Mainland was seventh with 186 points. Five Bulldogs finished among the top 15. Following Seth were Mateo Almeida (eighth, 17:45.1), Owen Stackpole (ninth, 17:53.8), Brayden Murray (14th, 18:25.9) and Evan Johnson (15th, 18:33.0). Seabreeze senior Hunter

Shuler placed seventh in 17:44.0, while teammate Kai Shirley was 16th in 18:39.1.

FPC’s girls also came into the meet aiming to win a fourth consecutive conference title.

But despite having three of the top four runners, the Bulldogs (59 points) placed third behind

first-place Spruce Creek (38) and runner-up New Smyrna Beach (55). Seabreeze was fifth with 128, and Mainland was seventh with 188.

FPC’s Anna Grigoruk placed

third with a personal-record 20:10.2. Audrey Bowman also ran a personal-record time with a 20:35.3 to place fourth. Mainland’s Azauriah Smith also ran a PR with a 24:06.5 to

finish 13th. Seabreeze freshman Karly Rybicki was 15th with a PR time of 24:14.9. Send sports stories and results to brent@observerlocalnews.com.

FPC golfer wins low medalist honors

The Bulldogs won a playoff for the runnerup spot behind firstplace Spruce Creek.

OBSERVER STAFF

Flagler Palm Coast senior Sophia Stiwich won low medalist honors with a 2-underpar 70 and the Bulldogs won a playoff with New Smyrna Beach to place second at the Volusia-Flagler Girls Golf Championship on Monday, Sept. 29, at Daytona Beach Golf Club’s North Course. Spruce Creek won the title with a 339. New Smyrna Beach and FPC tied for second with a 365. The top two players on NSB and FPC played the par-4 No. 1 to decide the team runner-up. the Bulldogs’ Sti-

wich and Ivey Tsouklaris shot a total of 8 to defeat the Barracudas’ two players who totaled 9.

Seabreeze finished fourth with a 384.

Spruce Creek’s Vanessa Perry and DeLand’s Madison Dusenbury tied for second with a 75, five strokes behind Stiwich. FPC’s top player shot an uncharacteristic 39 on the front nine.

“Sophia had a bad two-hole

stretch but bounced back on the back nine with a (5-under) 31,” FPC coach Patrick Kleinfelder said.

Tsouklaris placed fifth with a 78, two strokes behind New Smyrna’s Elayna Harvey.

“Ivey was solid like always, just a par machine, and had a couple of birdies,” Kleinfelder said.

Seabreeze’s Jillian Heller was ninth with a 90.

Flagler Palm Coast won the Five Star Conference boys championship for the fourth

FPC’s girls golf team: Ivey Tsouklaris, Sydney Adams, Lilah Cool, Sophia Stiwich and Kat Becker. Courtesy photo

Matanzas pulls out five-set volleyball victory against Flagler Palm Coast

Each of the first four sets was decided by four or fewer points.

OBSERVER STAFF

In a match that went down to the wire, Matanzas High won the battle of Flagler County volleyball teams with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Flagler Palm Coast on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Each set was decided by four or fewer points until the fifth and final set, with the Pirates winning 15-6. The Bulldogs’ two winning sets went to extra points. They won the first set 26-24 and the fourth set 27-25.

Matanzas won the second and third sets 25-21 and 25-22 but could not close out the match until pulling away

in the fifth set. The Pirates are 6-4 after falling to Tocoi Creek 3-0 on Sept. 30 The Bulldogs, who defeated winless Mainland 3-0 on Sept. 24, improved to 8-9 with a 3-0 win against First Coast Christian on Sept. 30. Six of their nine losses came in the Nike Tournament of Champions in Gainesville on Aug. 29-30.

Pirates outside hitter Sanigh Areneaud led all players with 27 kills in the match. Arneaud also had 15 digs and 19 serve receptions. FPC seniors Marina Carlisi (22) and Haley Sobin (19) combined for 41 kills.

Matanzas’ Audriana Rosales had a match-high eight serving aces. Cameron Graham had five blocks for the Bulldogs. FPC’s Kaitlyn Ebding had 31 digs and 34 serve receptions, both match highs. Aliya Lugo-Navas led

Matanzas with 22 digs, while Rosales had 18.

FPC senior Faith Dailey led all setters with 51 of the Bulldogs’ 54 assists. Analise Smith had 25 assists for the Pirates with Haley Stewart providing 22 assists for the Matanzas attackers.

Matanzas’ Ari Allen hits over the net Photos by Keishia McLendon

Matanzas’ Olivia Chochev serves.

FPC’s Cameron Graham (1) and Haley Sobin (6) go up for a block.

Matanzas JV volleyball players.

FPC’s Peyton Smith serves.

Matanzas fans cheer for their team at the Pirates’ gym.

FPC libero Kaitlyn Ebding (5) had a match-high 31 digs.

Sanigh Arneaud (4) hits over the net. Arneaud had a match-high 27 kills.

FPC’s Sophie Campbell (3) tries to get the ball past Matanzas blockers.

Matanzas’ Audriana Rosales passes.

CLASSIFIEDS

ASSIGNEES, CREDITORS, LIENORS, TRUSTEES OF KENNETH V. MANNING A/K/A KENNETH VINCENT MANNING, DECEASED; MCKENZI MANNING ENGLISH; KENNETH RYAN MANNING;, UNKNOWN TENANT(S) IN POSSESSION #1 and #2, et.al. Defendant(s). TO: UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, CREDITORS, LIENORS, TRUSTEES OF KENNETH V. MANNING A/K/A KENNETH VINCENT MANNING, DECEASED (Current Residence Unknown) (Last Known Address)

66 WESTHAMPTON DRIVE PALM COAST, FL 32164 ALL OTHER UNKNOWN PARTIES, INCLUDING, IF A NAMED DEFENDANT IS DECEASED, THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, THE SURVIVING SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, CREDITORS, AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THAT DEFENDANT, AND ALL CLAIMANTS, PERSONS OR PARTIES, NATURAL OR CORPORATE, OR WHOSE EXACT LEGAL STATUS IS UNKNOWN, CLAIMING UNDER ANY OF THE ABOVE NAMED OR DESCRIBED DEFENDANTS (Last Known Address)

66 WESTHAMPTON DRIVE PALM COAST, FL 32164 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Foreclosure of Mortgage on the following described property: LOT 33, OF BLOCK 33, OF PALM COAST, MAP OF WYNNFIELD, SECTION 22, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 8, PAGES 3 THROUGH 20, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA.

A/K/A: 66 WESTHAMPTON DRIVE, PALM COAST, FL 32164.

has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it, on Brian L. Rosaler, Esquire, POPKIN & ROSALER, P.A., 1701 West Hillsboro Boulevard, Suite 400, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442., Attorney for Plaintiff, whose on or before 30 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST PUBLICATION a date which is within thirty (30) days after the first publication of this Notice in the (Please publish in The Palm Coast/Ormond Beach Observer) and file the original with the Clerk of this Court either before service on Plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.

REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste. D-305, DeLand, FL 32724, (386) 2576096, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. THESE ARE NOT COURT INFORMATION NUMBERS SOLICITUD DE ADAPTACIONES PARA PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDADES Si usted es una persona con discapacidad que necesita una adaptación para poder participar en este procedimiento, usted tiene el derecho a que se le proporcione cierta asistencia, sin incurrir en gastos. Comuníquese con la Oficina de Administración Judicial (Court Administración), 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste. D-305, DeLand, FL 32724, (386) 257-6096, con no menos de 7 días de antelación de su cita de comparecencia ante el juez, o de inmediato al recibir esta notificación si la cita de comparecencia está dentro de un plazo menos de 7 días; si usted tiene una discapacidad del habla o del oído, llame al 711. ESTOS NUMEROS TELEFONICOS NO SON PARA OBTENER INFORMACION JUDICIAL WITNESS my hand and the seal of this Court this day of 9/24/2025. TOM BEXLEY As Clerk of the Court and/or Comptroller (SEAL) Margarita Ruiz Deputy Clerk Brian L. Rosaler, Esquire POPKIN & ROSALER, P.A. 1701 West Hillsboro Boulevard, Suite 400 Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 25-52211 October 2, 9, 2025 25-00237G

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2023 CA 000540 LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. MELISSA C. ROCKWOOD AND JOHN PARAGIOS, et al. Defendant(s).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated August 02, 2023, and entered in 2023 CA 000540 of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH Judicial Circuit in and for Flagler County, Florida, wherein LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC is the Plaintiff and MELISSA C. ROCKWOOD; JOHN PARAGIOS; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; ENERBANK USA; GULF STATES CONTRACTOR SERVICES, INC. are the Defendant(s). TOM W. BEXLEY as the Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at https://flagler. realforeclose.com, at 11:00 AM, on October 24, 2025, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 9, BLOCK 89, SUBDIVISION PLAT ROYAL PALMS - SECTION 32 PALM COAST, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 10, PAGE 54 THROUGH 66, INCLUSIVE, OF THE PUBLIC RE-

NOTICE OF ACTIONCONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION

CASE NO. 2025 CA 000529

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR LEHMAN XS TRUST MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-8, Plaintiff, vs. THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF MARK MAJEWSKI, DECEASED, et. al. Defendant(s), TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF MARK MAJEWSKI, DECEASED, whose residence is unknown if he/she/they be living; and if he/she/they be dead, the unknown defendants who may be spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees, and all parties claiming an interest by, through, under or against the Defendants, who are not known to be dead or alive, and all parties having or claiming to have any right, title or interest

CORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA. Property Address: 6 ROBIN HOOD LN, PALM COAST, FL 32164

Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 45.031. IMPORTANT AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to access court facilities or participate in a court proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. To request such an accommodation, please contact Court Administration in advance of the date the service is needed: Court Administration, 101 N. Alabama Ave., Ste D-305, Deland, FL 32724, (386) 257-6096. Hearing or voice impaired, please call 711.

Dated this 25 day of September, 2025. ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC

Attorney for Plaintiff 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33487

Telephone: 561-241-6901

Facsimile: 561-997-6909

Service Email: flmail@raslg.com By: \S\Danielle Salem

Danielle Salem, Esquire

Florida Bar No. 0058248

Communication Email: dsalem@raslg.com 23-107206 - RaO October 2, 9, 2025 25-00239G

in the property described in the mortgage being foreclosed herein.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following property: LOT 100, SUBDIVISION PLAT OF SEA COLONY, ACCORDING TO MAP OR PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 27, PAGES 30 THROUGH 39, INCLUSIVE, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on counsel for Plaintiff, whose address is 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100, Boca Raton, Florida 33487 on or before (30 days from Date of First Publication of this Notice) and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition filed herein. THIS NOTICE SHALL BE PUBLISHED ONCE A WEEK FOR TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. WITNESS my hand and the seal of this Court at Flagler County, Florida, this day of 9/30/2025. TOM BEXLEY

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT (SEAL) BY: AMY PEREZ DEPUTY CLERK ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, AND SCHNEID, PL ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33487

and

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2025 CA 000173 FIFTH THIRD BANK N.A, Plaintiff, vs. MICHAEL DAVID GEORGE, JR. A/K/A MICHAEL GEORGE, JR., et al., Defendant. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Summary Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered September 15, 2025 in Civil Case No. 2025 CA 000173 of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT in and for Flagler County, Bunnell, Florida, wherein FIFTH THIRD BANK N.A is Plaintiff and Michael David George, Jr. a/k/a Michael George, Jr., et al., are Defendants, the Flagler County Clerk of Court, TOM W. BEXLEY, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash online via https://flagler.realforeclose.com/index. cfm in accordance with Chapter 45, Florida Statutes on the 24th day of October, 2025 at 11:00 AM on the following described property as set forth in said Summary Final Judgment, to-wit: Lot 22, Block 24, Subdivision Plat Kankakee Run - Section 65 Seminole Woods at Palm Coast, according to the map or plat thereof, as recorded in Map Book 17, Page 56 through 67, inclusive, of the Public Records of Flagler County, Florida. Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens, must

SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is September 25, 2025.

Personal Representative Cris A. Brown a/k/a Cris Brown 11 Robbins Street Brick, New Jersey 08724 FAMILY FIRST FIRM Counsel for Personal Representative /s/ Ryan Saboff Ryan J. Saboff, Esquire Florida Bar Number: 1010852 Joseph K. Fabbi, Esquire Florida Bar Number: 1022503 Christopher F. Torchia, Esquire Florida Bar Number: 270120 1030 W. Canton Ave., Suite 102 Winter Park, FL 32789 Telephone: (407) 574-8125 Fax: (407) 476-1101 E-Mail: ryan.saboff@familyfirstfirm.com E-Mail: joe.fabbi@familyfirstfirm.com E-Mail: chris.torchia@familyfirstfirm.com

Secondary E-Mail: probate@familyfirstfirm.com Sept. 25; Oct. 2, 2025 25-00230G

of

and

all of Lot 8, all of Lot 9, all of Lot 10, all of Lot 11, all of

of Lot 15, all of Lot 16, part of Lot 17, and part of Lot 18, Block

3, part of Lot 4, all of Lot 5, all

of

NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL ACTION CASE NO.: 2025 CA 000043 NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff, vs. VITA KRAMARENKO, et al, Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated August 27, 2025, and entered in Case No. 2025 CA 000043 of the Circuit Court of the

Judicial Circuit in and for Flagler County, Florida in which Nationstar Mortgage LLC, is the Plaintiff and Vita Kramarenko, BCM Sun Enterprises LLC, A Florida Limited Liability Company, are defendants, the Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash in/on online at www. flagler.realforeclose.com, Flagler County, Florida at 11:00AM on the October 24, 2025 the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment of Foreclosure: LOT 3, BLOCK 19, ROYAL PALMS SECTION 33, PALM COAST, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 10, PAGES 67 THROUGH 77, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA. A/K/A 48 REGENCY DR UNIT A & B PALM COAST FL 32164 Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim before the Clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed. ATTENTION: PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

SECOND INSERTION

LLC, Plaintiff, vs. SHARON HELEN ESCHER A/K/A SHARON H. ESCHER A/K/A SHARON H. THOMANN, et al., Defendant. To the following Defendant(s): ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY,

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Court Administration, 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, 386-257-6096, within 2 days of your receipt of this notice. If you are hearing impaired, call 1-800955-8771; if you are voice impaired, call 1-800-955-8770. THIS IS NOT A COURT INFORMATION LINE. To file response please contact Flagler County Clerk of Court, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Building 1, Bunnell, FL 32110, Tel: (386) 313-465; Fax: (386) 4371928. Dated this 17 day of September, 2025. ALBERTELLI LAW P. O. Box 23028 Tampa, FL 33623 Tel: (813) 221-4743 Fax: (813) 221-9171 eService: servealaw@albertellilaw.com By: /s/ Nathan Gryglewicz Florida Bar #76121 Nathan Gryglewicz, Esq. IN/24-034418 Sept. 25; Oct. 2, 2025 25-00231G

SECOND INSERTION

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2025-CP-000569 Division 48 IN RE: ESTATE OF PETER WORSFOLD Deceased. The administration of the estate of Peter Worsfold, deceased, whose date of death was August 6, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Flagler County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 1769 E. Moody Blvd., 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 NOTICE.

The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is September 25, 2025. Personal Representative: Samantha Doane 11 East Street Georgetown, MA 01833

Attorney for Personal Representative: Thomas J. Upchurch, Esquire

Florida Bar No. 0015821 Upchurch Law 1616 Concierge Blvd. Suite 101 Daytona Beach, Florida 32117

Telephone: (386) 492-3871

Primary Email: service@upchurchlaw.com

Secondary Email: clutes@upchurchlaw.com Sept. 25; Oct. 2, 2025 25-00234G

wishing to express their opinion may attend,

386-313-4009, or write to: Flagler County Planning and Zoning Department, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg. 2, Bunnell, FL 32110, or email to planningdept@flaglercounty.gov. Copies of the petition, supporting documents, staff reports and other pertinent information are available for review at the Flagler County Planning and Zoning Department, 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 2, Bunnell, Florida 32110, Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE 286.0105, IF A PERSON DECIDES TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AT A MEETING OR HEARING, HE OR SHE WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS, AND THAT, FOR SUCH PURPOSE, HE OR SHE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, PERSONS NEEDING ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING SHOULD CONTACT (386) 313-4001 AT LEAST 48 HOURS

SECOND INSERTION

Notice of Sale

THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO.: 2025 CA 000155 GULF STATES CAPITAL, a Texas general partnership, Plaintiff, v. JOANNA REELEY; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JOANNA REELEY; UNKNOWN TENANT #1; and UNKNOWN TENANT #2; the names being fictitious to account for parties in possession, Defendants.

NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45

NOTICE IS GIVEN that, pursuant to the Uniform Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated the 11th of September, 2025, in Case No. 2025-CA-000155, of the Circuit Court of Flagler County, Florida, in which JOANNA REELEY; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JOANNA REELEY; UNKNOWN TENANT #1; and UNKNOWN TENANT #2 are the Defendants, the Clerk of this Court will sell to the highest and best bidder in an online sale at www.flagler.realforeclose. com at 11:00 a.m. on October 24, 2025 the following described property set forth in the Order of Final Judgment: Legal Description: Lot 84, Block 7, SUBDIVISION MAP FLORIDA PARK – SECTION – 10 PALM COAST, according to the plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 6, at Page(s) 43-53, as amended in instrument recorded in Official Book 35, Page 528, of the Public Records of Flagler County, Florida. C/K/A: 55 Flemingwood Lane, Palm Coast, FL 31237 Parcel ID #: 07-11-31-7010-000700840 Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim before the clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, PERSONS NEEDING A SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SALE SHOULD CONTACT A.D.A. CO -

ORDINATOR NOT LATER THAN ONE (1) DAY PRIOR TO THE PROCEEDING AT (386-313-4400) OR VIA FLORIDA RELAY SERVICE BY CALLING 711. Dated this 15th day of September 2025.

Attorney for Plaintiff: Colton L. Chrimes, Esquire Barbara M. Brown, Esquire BROWN & KIMPTON, P.A.

29750 U.S. Hwy 19 N Suite 207 Clearwater, FL 33761

EService@BrownKimptonLaw.com (727) 325-2001 FBN: 641863 /s/ Colton L. Chrimes

Colton L. Chrimes, Esq. Sept. 25; Oct. 2, 2025 25-00233G