PALM COAST
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 25
PETE HALD: BORN TO COACH 7B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025
Second censure for Mayor Norris Norris-Gambaro feud intensifies; Pontieri calls out Norris; Observer invites Norris to share vision. PAGE 5A
County’s tax rate to be lowered 5th straight year But no solution yet for beach funding. PAGE 6A INSIDE THE GOLF BUSINESS Flagler Beach agrees to negotiate with lessee for sale of Ocean Palm Golf Course. PAGE 4A
OLD BECOMES NEW
Flagler Schools cuts ribbon on its Engagement Center at Historic Courthouse. PAGE 2A
MAX TAX RATE SET
Palm Coast keeps millage rate the same for 2026 budget maximum. PAGE 5A
RESTAURANT LEASE
Flagler County to lease Bull Creek Fish Camp restaurant to a Bunnell family. PAGE 6A
SPIRIT OF INCLUSION Yes You’re Invited Inc hosts Summer Birthday Bash PAGE 1B
Welcome home Flagler Habitat for Humanity dedicates new home for Grace Manuel PAGE 1B Grace Manuel and her son, Josh, cut the ribbon on their new home. Photo by Brent Woronoff
$1,560 raised for food pantry through subscriptions Observer Fundraising is a new initiative in which we donate $20 for every $52 annual subscription. BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 4B Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner................PAGE 2A Crossword.................. PAGE 8C Letters........................ PAGE 8A Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Sports..........................PAGE 7B Tributes ...................... PAGE 2C Real Estate................. PAGE 6B
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Thanks to the 78 people who subscribed for weekly driveway delivery of the Palm Coast Observer in the past month or so, we were able to make a $1,560 donation to the Grace Community Food Pantry this week, which serves about 6,000 Flagler County families each month. It was a successful launch of Observer Fundraising, a new initiative in which we donate $20 to a charitable cause for every $52 annual subscription to the newspaper. This is one way we are trying to fulfill our mission to build community spirit. I was inspired by the many people who called our office, saying they wanted to support the food pantry. What’s next for Observer Fundraising? Whenever you buy a $52 subscription for driveway delivery of the Observer at www.observerlocalnews.com/subscribe for the next month or so, you can also select a school to support, and the Observer will then donate $20 to the parent-teacher organization, to help local students. As a reminder, the newspaper is still free to pick up in newsstands around town, and you can also see
an electronic version of the print newspaper by clicking “e-newspaper” at the top of www.observerlocalnews.com. I met Pastor Charles Silano to give him a check for the $1,560 at the food pantry on July 15, and what follows is an edited transcript of our conversation. WHAT’S YOUR MOTIVATION FOR MAKING THE FOOD PANTRY HAPPEN?
Silano: A relief of food insecurity. I don’t want to make it about me, but I have a past. I’ve been hungry. So I understand what food insecurity does and how it makes a person feel. HOW DOES IT MAKE A PERSON FEEL?
Silano: It makes him feel poor, and everything that comes with it. They feel as if they’re outside of the community, as opposed to being part of it. What I enjoy about this is that it makes them feel part of the community. We give them hope. And hopefully, it prevents people from taking drastic measures in life, making poor decisions. AND WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION OF WHAT YOU DO?
Silano: “The poor you always have with you.” And Matthew 25: Jesus says, Whenever you do anything unto any one of these least of my brethren, you’ve done it unto me. So basically, we’re just doing
Observer Publisher Brian McMillan, with Grace Community Food Pantry founder Charles Silano. Photo by Brian McMillan
what Jesus asked us to do. HOW CAN SOMEONE COME HERE TO GET FOOD?
Silano: They can actually call me direct — 386-931-4158 — and I will navigate them. As far as needing food, they can just get on the line and they’ll be processed on the line. It’s minimally invasive and quick, and they received food
that day. Our distribution hours on Saturday are 10 to 1, and on Sundays from 12 to 3. Visit https://www.gracecommunityfoodpantry.org/ or stop during the hours above, at 245 Education Way, Bunnell, FL 32110. Email Publisher Brian McMillan at brian@observerlocalnews.com.