PALM COAST
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 17
SPRING FOOTBALL PAGE 9B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025
‘Extraordinary circumstances’ Palm Coast should double developer-paid impact fees to keep up with growth, studies recommend. PAGE 5A
City Council focuses on job growth Should the city invest in pad-ready sites to attract businesses?
Class of 2025
The next generation An Observer tradition: Your senior class, on display. PAGE 1B
PAGE 2A INSIDE IN HARM’S WAY FOR A JUST CAUSE Keynote speaker recollects Beirut bombing, as he addresses Flagler County Memorial Day Ceremony. PAGE 3A
‘MEANINGFUL SACRIFICES’
Gov. Ron DeSantis voices support for police during annual Volusia and Flagler memorial ceremony. PAGE 4A
HURRICANE SEASON STARTS JUNE 1 ...
What to expect and how to prepare for hurricane season in Flagler County. PAGE 7A
BACK ON TRACK, SERVING THE USA
After the Bresslers adopted him a year ago, FPC’s Harlem Slay pulled his grades up to graduate and enlist in the Marines. PAGE 7A
REPEAT WINNERS: BORGMANN, CRONK
Borgmann, Cronk repeat as Flagler Palm Coast Athletes of the Year. PAGE 10B
INDEX
Calendar....................PAGE 10A Cops Corner............... PAGE 6A Crossword.................. PAGE 2C Letters........................ PAGE 8A McMillan..................... PAGE 8A Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Sports......................... PAGE 9B Tributes ...................... PAGE 2C Real Estate................ PAGE 11A
Flagler Palm Coast High School graduate Jemon Verona Little II. Courtesy photo
‘Hetty’ replaces stolen turtle sculpture After three years, the turtle sculpture that was stolen from Waterfront Park has been replaced. On May 22, the Flagler County Cultural Council unveiled the newest addition to the public art Turtle Trail in Palm Coast, “Hetty” The new sculpture was painted by Palm Coast artist Bettie Eubanks and inspired by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer, a city press release said. “Hetty” replaces “Quilty,” which was stolen from the park in January 2022. Bill and Pat Verhagen
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“Hetty” is the new turtle sculpture in Palm Coast’s Turtle Trail. The sculpture is located in Waterfront Park. Courtesy photos
sponsored “Hetty” and named the sculpture after Bill Verhagen’s cousin in the Netherlands. Visit flaglerartsandculture.org to learn more about the Turtle Trail.
Education Foundation raises over $85,000 The Flagler County Education Foundation celebrated 35 years of “Making It Happen” at its annual dinner on May 19 at Hammock Beach Resort. The milestone dinner raised over $85,000. The event featured testimonials from students, mentors and educators whose lives have been transformed by Foundation programs. “We are absolutely overwhelmed by the incredible generosity and enthusiasm shown at our 35th annual dinner,” the Ed Foundation said in a press release. “The support from our community partners, donors and attendees truly exceeded our expectations. The funds raised (at the dinner) will directly fuel our mission, allowing us to expand vital programs, provide more scholarships and continue empowering our teachers and students for another 35 years of success.”
Flagler County Education Foundation supporters Diana and Ron Tortelli, Ed Foundation Executive Director Teresa Rizzo, Board Vice President Maria Lavin-Sanhudo and keynote speaker Makayla Buchanan, the director of Early Learning and Literacy at the Florida Chamber Foundation.
School Board member seeks clarification to avoid conflict of interst Flagler County School Board member Lauren Ramirez has asked the Florida Commission on Ethics whether talking to classes on health-related issues could be construed as a conflict of interest. Ramirez owns Salus Medical Training and is frequently invited by classroom-to-career instructors to talk about nutrition and other health topics. “I’ve always done it, but they invite me on behalf of my business.
Now that I’m a School Board member I want to see if it’s a conflict of interest,” she said. When she reached out to the commission, she was told, “We’ve never had this come up before.” So they scheduled a consideration June 6, in Tallahassee. Ramirez said she has turned down these classroom invitations since she became a School Board member in November of last year. “I don’t want there to be a gray area,” she said. “I want to make sure I’m doing things the right way. ... But I feel like the schools need this. If I can’t do it, I hope someone can fill the gap.”