THE HAMMOCK
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 1, NO. 52
LOCAL RINGERS PAGE 7B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY JUNE 25, 2026
How big will the data center be? City of Palm Coast issues clarification on size after DC Blox official’s comments on radio show. PAGE 4A
More homes in Palm Coast Proposed Seminole Woods development could add a grocery store, too. PAGE 3A INSIDE CERTIFIED FOR VPK Flagler Schools to add qualification requirement. PAGE 6A
LED BY ZEPP
Hidden behind Palm Coast development, the original Kings Road still tells Florida’s story. A walk in the woods with City Historian Preston Zepp. PAGE 3A
NO PROBLEM!
Flagler teams and individuals earn awards at the Future Problem Solvers World Finals. PAGE 1B
Whitney Lab’s art fundraiser helps research efforts Showcasing UF grad students studying at Marineland campus. ABE MILLS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience hosted “Whitney Magnified — Art of Science” on June 11, an event to help raise funds for students’ graduate studies and research at the campus in Flagler County. “This is a fund for graduate students, by graduate students,” UF graduate student Emily Skinner said. “We use this to help support graduate students if they need new technology or programs and things that maybe they can’t get covered by grants.” Graduate students created works of art for sale, inspired by the research and work that they do at the UF Whitney Laboratory, located at 9505 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., in Marineland. Student-created works of art included sculptures, photographs of microscopic organisms, paint-
ings, cards and Gyotaku, or traditional Japanese fish prints. Graduate student and Palm Coast resident Zain Khalid sold a Gyotaku of a red drum fish that he caught. The winning bid on his piece was $300. “Human health and the health of the environment are linked, and that’s part of why I really love being here at Whitney Lab,” Khalid said.” We’ve got a great ecosystem, and we do some really amazing science.” The ecosystem at UF Whitney lab is a result of its location and proximity to the ocean. “The reason why Whitney Laboratory is here rather than in Gainesville with the rest of the University of Florida is that we have a seawater pipe that goes underneath A1A into the Atlantic Ocean,” UF Whitney Laboratory Outreach Specialist Ellie Padgett said. “We have this amazing seawater piped in through all of our laboratory buildings, so that our animals that come from the ocean live in the exact same conditions that they would be if they were out in the ocean.”
Graduate student Emily Skinner holds up her DNA sand creations. Photos by Rachel Mills
Making an impact
HOME BUOYS
Palm Coast Big Buoys win big in first home game of new wooden bat collegiate league. PAGE 6B
Those involved in the fundraiser at Whitney Laboratory were asked the following question: Is the work that you’re doing changing the world? Here is what they said.
INDEX
“I don’t know if I’d be that confident, but maybe — maybe a touch, maybe a droplet.” — Cody Miner
Business..................... PAGE 8A Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner................PAGE 2A Crossword.................. PAGE 4C Letters.......................PAGE 10A Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Schools....................... PAGE 3B Sports......................... PAGE 6B Tributes ...................... PAGE 4C Real Estate................. PAGE 4B
OBSERVER 50 LEANNI WAY, UNIT C3 PALM COAST, FL 32137 Graduate student Cody Miner displays his artwork.
*********ECRWSSEDDM**** POSTAL CUSTOMER PALM COAST, FL 32137
“Small projects together make a big picture.” — Dr. Ishani Mukherjee “I like the hope that the work I do with sea turtles can really help us understand our oceans.” — Emily Skinner “To understand how animals are affected by changes in their environment is really important.” — Zain Khalid
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PALM COAST, FL PERMIT 175