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VOLUME 1, NO. 11
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
Work on bridge intersection likely to last till Christmas Camino del Mar intersection is getting three new turn lanes, and possibly a light. Work began in April. PAGE 7A
Beware of unlicenced contractors
New research building at Whitney Laboratory
Four have been arrested. FHBA urges caution for residents. PAGE 5A INSIDE SAVONA CONDO
Top recent sale in the county. PAGE 4B
THEATER REVIVAL
Flagler Playhouse reopens. PAGE 1B
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 3B Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner................PAGE 2A Crossword.................. PAGE 2C Letters.......................PAGE 10A McMillan....................PAGE 10A Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Sports......................... PAGE 5B Tributes ...................... PAGE 2C Real Estate................. PAGE 4B
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UF Whitney Laboratory in Marineland has almost finished its new research building. Photo courtesy of the UF Whitney lab Facebook
Whitney Lab has noticed a decrease in water pressure on campus. It’s not an issue yet, spokesperson said, but UF is looking at long-term solutions. SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
The University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience is growing, with its new twostory research building inching its way to completion. The project broke ground in May 2024 and the building will have 12 new laboratories. The current lab was built in the 1970s and has the problems that come with a 50-yearold building: Lab technicians and scientists often have trouble keeping spaces at a proper temperature, or the Wi-Fi breaks down, UF Whitney Lab Public Relations Specialist Ellie Padgett said. “It is not conducive to the high technology, advanced, amazing research that our faculty are doing
in those labs,” Padgett said. “They need a space that reflects the quality of work.” But the new construction is not without its issues. Padgett said that the Whitney Lab has noticed a decrease in water pressure on campus. It’s not an issue yet, she said, but with the new building coming, UF is trying to resolve the problem. As of now, there’s not enough water pressure in the new building to run all of the marine science equipment. Whitney Lab has invested thousands of dollars in a new water cistern for the building. “There’s enough [water] for safety,” Padgett said, “but for our additional operations, that’s what we need to bring in the cistern for.” Padgett said its engineers are looking into the problem, but they’re not sure exactly where the issue originates. UF Whitney Lab receives its potable water from Palm Coast, and UF has been in
communication with the city about the campus’ water pressure numbers. Palm Coast Utility Director Brian Roche said he reviewed the numbers, and the Whitney Lab is receiving, on average, 56-63 pounds per square inch of water pressure. That is “more than adequate water pressure,” he said. The cistern is not an ideal solution, Padgett said, but after the problem has been resolved, it will be retro-fitted for salt water at the lab, like with the sea turtle hospital. The sea turtle hospital will also be moving into the new building. UF Whitney Lab’s sea turtle hospital — which celebrates its 10-year anniversary in October — treats every turtle that enters its doors. When it first opened, she said, the hospital averaged 62-80 each year. “This year we are already over 200 [sea turtles],” Padgett said. “There’s a big need and we need to
“They need a space that reflects the quality of work.” ELLIE PADGETT, UF Whitney Lab public relations
expand our premises desperately.” While the lab’s new building barrels toward completion, Padgett said they are looking into more permanent solutions for the water pressure issue. That could mean replacing the campus’ pipes or moving to attach to St. Johns County’s utility system. Nothing is decided yet, she said, and those possible solutions could take years. “Neither are ideal, but we’ve got to do something,” she said.
When it first opened, the Sea Turtle Hospital averaged 62-80 turtle patients each year. “This year we are already over 200 [sea turtles],” Ellie Padgett said. “There’s a big need and we need to expand our premises desperately.”