TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION: Defend Habitat Protections Under The Endangered Species Act
Take immediate action: Tell the USFWS and NMFS to reject this rule and preserve the ESA’s habitat protections.
Clerk’s Office Welcomes Former State Senator Travis Hutson as Senior Advisor for Intergovernmental Affairs
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL — The St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller’s Office is thrilled to announce that former Florida State Senator Travis Hutson will be joining the team as Senior Advisor for Intergovernmental Affairs, effective Monday, May 19, 2025.
“It’s not often that someone with Travis’ dedication to public service and legislative accomplishments steps into a role like this at the county level,” said Clerk Brandon J. Patty. “We are honored to welcome him to the team, and I look forward to working alongside him as we continue to strengthen our relationships with local and state partners.”
Hutson brings over a decade of public service experience to the position, having served in the Florida Legislature since 2012, first as a Representative and later as a Senator. During his tenure, he played a key role in shaping economic, environmental, and infrastructure policy throughout the state. In 2023, he was named Senate Legislator of the Year by the Florida Clerks & Comptrollers Association after sponsoring Senate Bill 1130, which authorized clerks’ offices to retain a larger portion of fees, enhancing their ability to serve residents more effectively.
As Senior Advisor for Intergovernmental Affairs, Hutson will help guide strategic initiatives and strengthen collaboration between the Clerk’s Office and government entities at both the local and state levels.
“I’m honored to join Clerk Patty and the office,” said Hutson. “As a St. Johns County local, I’m excited to come back to my roots and serve the community that has always meant so much to me. I look forward to continuing my public service in this new capacity and supporting the Clerk’s office in its governmental needs.”
Women-Owned Commercial Cleaning Company Celebrates 15 Years
For Tammy Coomer, owner of Sea Breeze Cleaning Services, celebrating 15 years in business is a joyful milestone. After years of homeschooling her son, she found herself at a crossroads when he entered public school and thrived in his advanced placement classes. Coomer decided it was time to pursue her passions. She founded Sea Breeze Cleaning Services in 2010, offering residential cleaning services. Just six months later, she expanded into commercial services, and in five years, business has doubled. Fifteen years later, Coomer and Sea Breeze Cleaning Services are thriving.
“My journey to becoming a professional cleaner started with an innocent camp competition in my youth,” explains Coomer, owner of Sea Breeze Cleaning Services. “Whoever kept their dorm the cleanest won. So, while my roommates were out playing softball, I rolled up my sleeves and cleaned the room from top to bottom – and enjoyed every minute of it. It took four days to get it perfect, but I won! It definitely planted the seeds for my future ventures.”
With a team of nine employees, Sea Breeze Cleaning Services is a woman-owned business specializing in commercial cleaning, including office spaces, churches, and even fleets of vehicles. Coomer employs a customized approach, beginning with a deep understanding of the client’s needs. One client may request only environmentally friendly products, whereas another requires specialized products and techniques to sanitize public spaces safely. Coomer and her professional cleaners have a thorough understanding of industrial-strength materials and utilize commercial-grade equipment for efficiency. Many businesses require multiple daily cleanings and may need early morning or late-night support. These needs are accommodated through scheduling flexibility, allowing clients to enjoy clean spaces without interruptions. In its fifteen years of business, Sea Breeze Cleaning Services has built a reputation for being reliable and professional. It is responsible for spaces from 8,000 to 70,000 square feet throughout Northeast Florida.
“My journey has been about more than just business,” says Coomer. “It’s about building a connection with this beautiful city and supporting the community I love. Each day, I’m grateful for my clients. My work allows them to enjoy clean and welcoming spaces, and I find that incredibly fulfilling.”
POKERATLAS TOUR RETURNS TO BESTBET ST. AUGUSTINE JUNE 5-15
ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (May 11, 2025) – bestbet St. Augustine is once again hosting the renowned PokerAtlas Tour, a nationwide summer Poker tour that features the country’s hottest card rooms. The PokerAtlas Tour at bestbet St. Augustine kicks off on June 5 and runs through June 15 with six trophy events plus the Title Event and $300,000 in guarantees. bestbet St. Augustine is located at 800 Marketplace Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084.
“We are thrilled to have the PokerAtlas Tour return to our bestbet St. Augustine location,” said Deborah Giardina, Vice President of Poker Operations for bestbet. “This event is an incredible opportunity for us to bring players from across the country to our newest bestbet location and showcase the best of what our community has to offer. St. Augustine is a vibrant city with rich history, beautiful beaches, and a lively atmosphere, making it the perfect backdrop for this exciting poker tour.”
Tour events begin June 5 with a high-stakes bang as Event #1 features a $300 No Limit Hold’em (NLH) with a $100,000 guarantee. Players can win their way into Event #1 through five $80 Satellites taking place each day from Monday, June 2, through Friday, June 6. The tour also features a $50 Progressive Knockout, Double Board Bomb Pot, and Super Stack poker tournaments. The tour finishes strong with the $600 NLH Title Event, featuring a $200,000 guarantee. The Title Event starts Thursday, June 12, with three standard flights taking place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at noon and an additional turbo, last chance flight on Saturday at 7pm that will finish in half the time as the other flights. There are also three Milestone $140 Satellites on Wednesday, June 11, through Friday, June 13, at 7pm that guarantee 10 seats into the Title Event. In the Milestone Satellites, as soon as a player accumulates 130,000 in tournament chips, they are awarded a seat in the Title event. For a full breakdown of tournament events and details, visit the tournament webpage here.
PokerAtlas, a premier website and mobile app connecting millions of poker players worldwide, launched the PokerAtlas Tour in 2024 to engage players of all skill levels in enjoyable yet competitive events while fostering the growth of the poker community. Each tour stop is meticulously selected based on specific criteria, showcasing the nation’s best poker rooms from Las Vegas to Florida.
ABOUT BESTBET: bestbet is Florida’s premier poker, simulcast, and gaming operator with cardrooms located in Jacksonville, Orange Park, and St. Augustine. bestbet offers world-class poker, exciting card games, and an unparalleled experience for enthusiasts of all levels. The company’s commitment to excellence extends beyond the gaming tables as they are committed to investing in the communities in which they operate and their 900-plus employees live and work.
BUNNELL POLICE DEPARTMENT MAKES MULTIPLE ARRESTS IN TWO SEPARATE ROBBERY CASES
BUNNELL, FL – The Bunnell Police Department recently investigated and made arrests in two unrelated robbery cases involving the use or threat of force to deprive victims of property. Swift action by officers and coordinated support from law enforcement partners led to the apprehension of all suspects and recovery of stolen property.
Robbery During Online Marketplace Meet-Up
Just after 5:30 PM on April 22, 2025, Bunnell officers responded to the Family Dollar on East Moody Boulevard after a robbery involving a Facebook Marketplace transaction for a Rolex watch valued at $1,750.
The victim told officers he met with “Marcus,” later identified as Marcus Walker, 21, of Fort Liberty, NC. During the meeting, Walker asked to show the watch to his girlfriend. As the victim displayed the watch near the passenger window, 14-year-old Evangelina Santiago of Palm Coast, allegedly snatched it from the victim’s hands before the pair fled in a white Alfa Romeo SUV.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Real Time Crime Center located the vehicle via license plate readers. A high-risk traffic stop in the R-section of Palm Coast led to the recovery of the stolen watch and the arrest of both suspects. During a post-arrest interview, Walker confessed, stating, “Yeah, I did something dumb,” and admitted to intentionally planning the theft, adding, “I really don’t know why.” He confirmed the watch was intended for his cousin, Evangelina.
Walker was charged with two felonies – Robbery by Sudden Snatching and Grand Theft, and booked into the Flagler County Inmate Facility on $7,000 bond. Also charged with two felonies – Robbery by Sudden Snatching and Grand Theft, Santiago was transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Volusia County on No Bond.
Crash Turns Criminal: Man Demands Cash, Threatens Driver
On May 5, 2025, at 12:05 PM, officers were dispatched to the 300 block of North Pine Street in Bunnell after a report of a disturbance involving two drivers following a minor vehicle collision at West Woodland and North State Street.
Jason Bass, 36, of Bunnell, reportedly exited his vehicle, demanded $1,500 from the other driver for cosmetic damage, and threatened, “I’m going to beat your ass,” if the victim didn’t comply. In fear, the victim handed over $463 in cash. Bass then ordered the victim to go to the bank for more money. Later, Bass followed the victim across town, attempted to force open the victim’s locked truck door, and banged on the window as the victim fled to safety.
Bass was intercepted near the Flagler County Courthouse by a Bunnell Police officer and a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Once officers sorted out the circumstances, Bass was arrested by Bunnell Police Officer Brian Houser. Located in Bass’ vehicle were two handguns, and an open, cold beer can in the passenger area. When questioned, Bass responded, “Sometimes you have to drink.” He also admitted to attempting to open the victim’s door but claimed the money was given willingly.
Bass was charged with Robbery, Burglary, Petit Theft, and cited for Possession of an Open Container in a Vehicle. He was transported to the Flagler County Inmate Facility on a $13,000 bond.
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Bunnell Police Chief David Brannon commended the efforts of his officers and partner agencies: “Both of these cases show how quickly greed and aggression can turn into a criminal act. Our officers and the sheriff’s deputies responded with speed and professionalism to protect our residents and hold offenders accountable.” Chief Brannon added, “The Bunnell Police Department reminds the public to remain cautious during online sales meetups and encourages the use of safe exchange zones located at law enforcement facilities. Also, when involved in a vehicle crash, you are never required to make a roadside deal. Instead, call the police to file a report and let your insurance companies work out proper, legal payment.”
Twenty-Four Residents Graduate from The 57th Palm Coast Citizens Academy
Palm Coast – Twenty-four residents of Palm Coast celebrated their graduation from the 57th session of the Palm Coast Citizens Academy during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 6th.
The academy session, which began on March 24th and concluded on May 5th, gave participants a behind-the-scenes look at how city government operates. Over the course of several weeks, participants engaged directly with City staff and leadership to gain a better understanding of the services, departments, and day-to-day operations that keep Palm Coast running.
Graduates of this session include Alan Barrett, Al Ritondo, Amy Dumas, Ann Zoutman, Anthony Vieira, Bridgett Thompkins, Christopher Milnes, David Praisler, Diann Swigart, Florycel Mancilla, Irene Vieira, Jeanette Myers, Joanne Graci-Campos, Kathy Ritondo, Laurel Jones, Leida Nieves, Lucie Lachance, Mark Webb, Mary Beth Swanson, Mary Vasilevsky, Rita Haman, Robert Ng, Stephen Zoutman, and Sylvia Morris.
The Palm Coast Citizens Academy is a free, comprehensive program designed to provide insights into various city departments such as Utilities, Stormwater & Engineering, Financial Services, Parks & Recreation, Community Development, Public Works, and the Fire Department. Organized by the City’s Communications & Marketing Department, the academy offers interactive sessions with city officials, including council members, the city manager, and department directors. The program is held twice a year, with an evening session in the spring and an afternoon session in the fall, accommodating up to 30 participants per session.
“Congratulations to all the graduates of our Citizens Academy,” said Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston. “This program is all about giving residents a behind-the-scenes look at how Palm Coast runs—and building real connections between our city and the people we serve. We’re so proud of this awesome group for stepping up and getting involved!”
Registration is now open for upcoming sessions of the Palm Coast Citizens Academy at palmcoastgov.com/palm-
For residents who are unable to attend the in-person Citizen’s Academy, the City also offers a Virtual Citizen’s Academy at palmcoastgov.com/palm-
Stay informed with the latest news and information from the City of Palm Coast by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. You can sign up for weekly updates by visiting www.palmcoastgov.com/
Leadership Lessons with Dr. Saviak … Why Their Career Is Your Responsibility
Employers and employees excel together when there is an alignment between organizational objectives and individual interests. Employees see they win when the company is winning. We win together. How does this happen?
First identify and recruit the talented individuals of integrity needed for your organization to succeed in its mission, goals, and objectives. When you are recruiting, hiring, and onboarding them, ask them why they want to join your organization and what they seek to experience during their careers (Abrashoff, 2002). Make sure your organization can offer those opportunities.
Employees will define a successful career differently. They may value security, promotions, pay, benefits, culture, teamwork, or the opportunity to learn, grow, and work in different areas of the company. They may like to tackle new challenges and enjoy innovation. It may be a single or multiple factors which motivate each employee. Identify the career path they seek and work with them to create and achieve it.
If employers ignore the professional goals of gifted contributors, they will lose them to a company who will help them attain their career objectives. Be pro-active in conducting the conversation, producing a specific career plan with them, and effectively implementing it with each employee. If employers capitalize on listening and learning from those they want to hire and retain providing a win-win scenario for employees, morale, productivity, retention, and performance will be optimal.
Supervisors need to regularly discuss with members of the team their progress on their individual career paths. Supervisors need to remove obstacles, provide resources and tools, create opportunities, and supply support so those they lead have the careers they want. In return, the employee needs to consistently deliver top performance worthy of continued investment.
There is a complete consensus across all available research that this talent model works best (Welch, Collins, Maxwell, Lencioni, Abrashoff). They will care most about the company when you care a lot about their careers. In addition, care for them as people too. They will have major life events such as the death of a parent and your empathy and support will not be forgotten.
Talent rules the knowledge economy of the 21st century. Recruitment and retention are serious challenges in all three sectors. Pay no attention to their careers and they will be gone. Make them want to stay by growing their career with them. If you want to attract and keep top talent, leaders have to show they truly care about the careers of each and every member of their team.
Sources: Abrashoff, 2002; Blanchard, 2011; Collins, 2001; Drucker, 2001; Grant, 2017; Kotter, 2012; Lencioni, 2012; Maxwell, 1998; Welch, 2005.
FLAGLER COUNTY CULTURAL COUNCIL ANNOUNCES PUBLIC ART TURTLE UNVEILING: MAY 22
The Flagler County Cultural Council (FC3) is excited to announce “HETTY” as the next turtle to be unveiled on the public art TURTLE TRAIL.
HETTY, was inspired by Dutch artist, Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), and well known for his paintings “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and “View of Delft”, the famous painting that depicts the city of The Netherlands where he lived.
HETTY replaces the beautiful turtle QUILTY (turtle #6) that was stolen from her perch at this private park on Waterfront Drive. Bill and Pat Verhagen very generously agreed to replace Quilty by sponsoring HETTY. Quilty has been missing since January 2022 and despite the rewards offered for her safe return, her whereabouts are unknown.
Bill and Pat share how they have enjoyed owning a collection of Delft pieces and Dutch artwork passed on from Bill’s immediate family which traces their Dutch heritage to the early 1700’s and the inspiration this brought them for the replacement turtle. Bill is very proud to name the turtle after his first cousin, Hetty, who continues to live just outside of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Artist Bettie Eubanks has been a resident of Palm Coast for twenty years. She has contributed her artwork and talent in support of our community through the Palm Coast Arts Foundation, the African American Cultural Society, Beth Judah, and for the second time, to our Turtle Trail. Bettie expressed pleasure at being asked to create “Hetty” for the beautification of Palm Coast.
“The Flagler County Cultural Council (FC3) is touched at the dedication and commitment to public art that both Bettie Eubanks and Bill and Pat Verhagen have expressed by providing the community this extraordinary sculpture. Public art is just that, public. It is the intent of this program to provide our residents and guests this beautiful Turtle Trail to learn and share in the beauty of art”, stated Nancy Crouch, Chair of the Flagler County Cultural Council.
The public is invited to attend the unveiling of HETTY in the park at Waterfront Drive and Colbert Lane, Palm Coast, on Thursday, May 22 at 10:00 am.
The mission of the Flagler County Cultural Council is to advocate, support, and foster collaboration for the arts and humanities.
First Lady Melania Trump’s Statement on the Presidential Proclamation Honoring National Foster Care Month
First Lady Melania Trump issued a statement supporting President Donald J. Trump’s official Proclamation designating May 2025, as National Foster Care Month. The date of the Proclamation is notable because May 7, 2025, also marks the anniversary of the First Lady’s Be Best initiative, which was launched in 2018.
“I am proud of the work I have done to support the foster care community during the past several years, and I am pleased to join my husband in honoring the families, caregivers, and advocates who provide shelter, stability, and inspiration to our children. I acknowledge the tireless dedication of our American foster families who play a critical role in helping children realize their full potential.”
First Lady Melania Trump’s Be Best initiative supports children’s well-being, including individuals within the foster care community, through her Fostering the Future platform.
The full text of the Presidential Proclamation on National Foster Care Month is available on WhiteHouse.gov here.
Media Release: The White House, Office of the First Lady
