PALM COAST
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 3
Nya Williams: 2nd in state 6B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
City gets assurances before annexation Developer commits to go full commercial (no new housing) on SR 100, between BJ’s, Planet Fitness PAGE 2A
What’s to blame for rate hike?
Class act(s): FPC one-act plays performed at The Fitz PAGE 1B
City staff discusses roles of growth, aging infrastructure and delays. PAGE 8A INSIDE PLANE CRASH
Pilot killed as private plane crashes in densely wooded area in Flagler County PAGE 3A
BLACK HISTORY
African American Cultural Society’s 22nd annual Youth Black History Celebration PAGE 3A
The student directors: DeErra Jones, Rebecca Lodato, Lorelei Killmer and Marley Beams. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
NINE WINS
Bumpy Belle Terre Parkway will cost $1.5 million to fix 17 stormwater pipes need to be repaired, staff says. Alexa Calidonio contributed to an FPC sweep of the girls district wrestling championships on Senior Night PAGE 6B
SUMMER MEALS
Church and community summer programs can sign up to participate in Flagler Schools’ free summer meals PAGE 4A
BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER
You know those big dips around the manhole covers on Belle Terre Parkway North? It’s going to cost about $1.5 million to fix them. At the Feb. 18 City Council meeting, staff explained the problem and the solution. A total of 17 stormwater pipes — including some that are 60 inches
in diameter — have been failing at their joints, over about 1 mile. That’s causing dirt to be “sucked in,” Stormwater and Engineering Director Carl Cote said. As a result, there are many dips in the road, especially in the southbound lanes, between Palm Coast and Matanzas Woods parkways. “We’ve tried to put a couple of Band-aids on it,” Acting City Manager Lauren Johnson said, “but this is to repair.” To fix the failures, expanding foam will be injected under the pavement. To prevent further
issues, the pipes will be hardened through a process called spin casting, said Carmelo Morales, stormwater engineer. In the process, a layer of mortar coats the inside of the pipe. “It’s a lot stronger than concrete,” Morales said, “almost like granite. It creates a pipe within the existing pipe.” The solution should fix the problem for 40-50 years, he said. “What are our residents going to feel?” City Councilwoman Theresa Pontieri asked. “What are the real life effects of this?”
The work will require closing one lane at a time, Morales said, but not both lanes. The project will take place primarily during the summer, with priority to get the work done nearest the schools first, but some work during the school year is likely unavoidable. There were seven bids for the project, and the lowest won: Atlantic Pipe Services, for $1,488,674.30 along with a 10% project contingency. Funds are already in the budget for this year. The City Council approved the project 4-0.
GROWING PAINS
Young Matanzas baseball team suffering growth pains early on PAGE 7B
RIP COMICS
To make room for more local content, our comics page has been discontinued. Send jokes to brian@observerlocalnews.
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 4B Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Letters........................ PAGE 8A Public Notices............ PAGE 8B Sports......................... PAGE 6B Real Estate..................PAGE 7A
YOUR TOWN Blue Jeans and Bling raises $6,000 for Flagler 4-H and FFA How much would you pay for a dozen of Melissa Terrell’s famous peanut-butter-cup cupcakes? The auction started at $25, and went up to $30 and then $35 — all the way to $105 — at the annual Blue Jeans and Bling fundraiser for 4-H and Future Farmers of America youth. Another half a dozen also was sold for $100, among dozens of other items and raffle baskets. The event was held Feb. 16 at
Cattleman’s Hall. Thanks in part to $2,500 donated by friends and family of the late John Dance, who accepted donations for 4-H and FFA in lieu of flowers, the event raised about $6,000, according to Penny Buckles, president of the Flagler County Fair and Youth Show’s 4-H and FFA Youth Livestock Show and Sale. To support the fair, visit http://www. flaglercountyfair.com/.
Palm Coast Woodcaver of the Year recognized
The Palm Coast Woodcavers program recognized Dennis Xander,
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Fair Board Vice President Dowlin Cody, FFA graduating senior Lacie Westbrook and Fair Board President Penny Buckles. Photo by Brian McMillan
Howard Hawrey, Dennis Xander and Jeff Kingdon. Courtesy photo
of Palm Coast, as its 2025 Woodcarver of the Year on Feb. 11. The award was presented during a luncheon hosted by the program at the Palm Coast Community Center. The Palm Coast Woodcavers program is a free program open to anyone over 18 years old, from beginners to whittlers to experienced woodcarvers. The public is invited to join the program every Tuesday from 1-4 p.m. in Room 116 at the Palm Coast Community Center. “It is a fantastic way to meet new people, build friendships, and enhance creativity while transforming ‘Wood into Art,’” the club stated.
Waterfront Park wins Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award The City of Palm Coast’s Waterfront Park was awarded the 2024 Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award by the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association at a City Council meeting on Feb. 18. The park was one of three finalists for the award, which also included Lake Shore Drive in Lake Park, and Ringling Trail in the City of Sarasota.