PALM COAST
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 51
A new Rainbow Bridge PAGE 1B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2026
$330M in bonds for utility infrastructure The bonds will allow Palm Coast to start capital projects, such as upgrading water, wastewater plants. PAGE 4A
Two house fires in two days
Taking the dream to the streets Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy celebrated with parade. PAGE 3A
Palm Coast Fire responds to structure fires in B, F sections. PAGE 2A INSIDE ELECTIONS 2026
Jill Woolbright and Cathy Moon file to run for Flagler County School Board District 1 seat PAGE 6A
CHANGE NEEDED?
Motion to fire Flagler Administrator Petito fails, but majority of County Commissioners are unhappy. PAGE 4A
NIGHT OF EMOTIONS
Free throws propel Flagler Palm Coast to Senior Night win over Neptune Beach Fletcher. PAGE 7B
PIRATES SWEEP
Matanzas girls weightlifting celebrates Senior Night with double win over Seabreeze. PAGE 8B
ITALIAN ICE
Mike and Jeannie Gibbs open Uncle Louie G in Flagler Beach. PAGE 3B
IN STRIDE Flagler Rotary President Michelle Bartlome runs every street in Ormond Beach. PAGE 1B
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 3B Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner................PAGE 2A Crossword.................. PAGE 2C Letters........................ PAGE 8A McMillan..................... PAGE 8A Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Sports..........................PAGE 7B Tributes ...................... PAGE 4C Real Estate................. PAGE 6B
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Volunteers with the African American Mentoring Program for Girls walk in the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Bunnell. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Palm Coast favors food trucks with new ordinance The ordinance will allow food truck owners to work with existing property owners and set up shop in front of their businesses. SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Palm Coast’s food truck operations will no longer be limited to special events, thanks to a new city ordinance. Current city regulations prohibit the operation of food trucks within Palm Coast except by a special event permit. The new ordinance would allow the city’s food trucks, and subsequently small business owners, to work in commercial plazas and other private property. The council approved the ordinance in a 5-0 vote at its Jan. 20 business meeting. A second and final vote will be held at the Feb. 3 meeting.
Marineland seeks to become ‘stewards of the ocean’ Dolphin expert Jack Kassewitz has a vision for Marineland Dolphin Adventure: to become a leader in inspiring stewards of the ocean. “We truly want to become one of the leaders in bringing the stewardship of the oceans to the public, so that people walk away, they feel that their participation here is one of those steps to stewardship,” he said. Kassewitz now runs Marineland
“I feel like these ordinances are fair and not overreaching,” said Sheila Hines, owner of Sweet Sheila’s Funnel Cakes. “As this stands, I believe it will serve all of us.” The city’s first draft of the ordinance, presented in October, was geared more toward allowing developers to create a “food truck park,” where multiple food trucks could park or rent space to sell food, than allowing food trucks to operate in existing commercial spaces. Critics said the first draft “missed the mark” and did not take into consideration the daily operational needs. The revised version addresses both, after city staff reached out to local food truck vendors. “We’ve definitely made significant effort to address the request that the engaged stakeholders with the food truck industry have requested,” Palm Coast senior planner Michael Hanson said. The “principal” use portion of the ordinance is directed at those who wish to take land and build a
slab specifically for the use of food trucks. This use requires site plan approval and must include permanent restrooms, parking and shared seating. Lots for the principal usage also could not be operational between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., though the food trucks could stay overnight. The “accessory” use of the ordinance would allow food trucks to operate on previously developed commercial sites — like the Walmart or Home Depot parking lots — with the property owner’s permission. Essentially it would form a kind of lease with the commercial property owner and the food truck, and the food truck would need to be removed each night. Hours of operation for accessory uses was originally planned to be tied to the primary business’ hours. Meaning, if the food truck is parked outside Walmart, then when Walmart closes, so must the food truck. But Vice Mayor Theresa Carli
Pontieri pointed out that might be overstepping on the government’s behalf, especially if the primary business did not care. “That’s a private issue between private businesses,” she said. Ultimately, the rest of the council agreed, and decided to remove the operating hours requirement for the accessory. “When this lease is signed, the landowner will dictate the hours of operation,” Councilman Ty Miller said. “I don’t think it’s our business, really.” For both uses, the lot size will need to be a minimum of 20,000 square feet. The city’s existing sound ordinances would also apply, as will fire safety, noise, lighting and discharge regulations. Food truck vendors still need to have a state license to receive a city business tax receipt, which gives them the ability to operate within city limits. Email Sierra Williams at sierra@ observerlocalnews.com.
after a grassroots effort successfully bought the oceanarium for $7.1 million. The company was bankrupt and in danger of being sold to a development company, but now lies in the hands of Kassewitz and Marineland’s staff as a nonprofit organization. The Dolphin Adventure is still open to the public and they are already introducing new interactive programs. The goal of the new programs, Kassewitz said, is to change how people are interacting with the dolphins. “We’re trying to move dolphin
interaction programs away from entertainment,” he said. “Away from entertainment to responsible relationships, human-dolphin relationships.” This will be a step away from Marineland’s history, as the oceanarium has primarily been a form of entertainment for the public. Kassewitz said the programs will remain interactive with the dolphins, but focus on education. Kassewitz is also searching for ways to build up a potential funding base though corporate alliances and sponsorships.
Marineland is more than just the dolphin experience, even if that is the primary draw for most people. There are tortoises, sting rays, sharks and aquariums. After 65 years of working with and advocating for animals, Kassewitz said he certainly feels like a steward of the oceans and a voice for the animals. He hopes more people who come to Marineland will feel that call to action, too. “I really want Marineland to be one of the leaders in a movement towards stewardship of the oceans,” Kassewitz said.