Flagler OARS & AdventHealth Palm Coast to Hold First of Two Palm Coast Narcan distribution Events this Friday 4-6pm
The first of two Flagler Open Arms Recovery Services and AdventHealth Palm Coast are co-sponsoring two free Narcan distribution and education events entitled INCREASE A LIFESPAN WITH NARCAN. The two events will be on Friday, April 29 and Friday, May 20 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Advent Hospital Emergency Room parking lot, 60 Memorial Parkway, in Palm Coast, FL. People can drive through or walk up to receive free Narcan and Narcan educational information. This event is open to the general public.Flagler OARS is a naloxone provider through a generous grant from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Overdose Prevention Program (OPP).The DCF Overdose Prevention Program (OPP) is designed to reduce opioid overdose deaths by providing access to FDA-approved emergency opioid antagonists, as defined in s. 381.887(1)(d), F.S., to organizations that serve individuals at risk of witnessing or experiencing an opioid overdose. NARCAN® Nasal Spray is the emergency opioid antagonist DCF currently purchases and makes available to eligible organizations.
“We were surprised to see a large number of older residents at our last Narcan event,” stated Pam Birtolo, Executive Director of Flagler OARS. “Many wanted the security of having Narcan on hand because some are on multiple medications and fear a potential reaction,” Pam added.“If there are prescription opioids in your home, NARCAN® Nasal Spray should be there, too,” cautioned Deborah Mcnabb, Advent Director of Community Benefit.
NARCAN® Nasal Spray is used to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid medicines. The medicine in NARCAN® Nasal Spray has no effect in people who are not taking opioid medicines. Always carry NARCAN® Nasal Spray with you in case of an opioid overdose.Use NARCAN® Nasal Spray right away if you or your caregiver think signs or symptoms of an opioid overdose are present, even if you are not sure, because an opioid overdose can cause severe injury or death.Signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose may include:• Unusual sleepiness and you are not able to awaken the person with a loud voice or by rubbing firmly on the middle of their chest (sternum);• Breathing problems including slow or shallow breathing in someone difficult to awaken or who looks like they are not breathing;• The black circle in the center of the colored part of the eye (pupil) is very small, sometimes called “pinpoint pupils,” in someone difficult to awaken.Family members, caregivers, or other people who may have to use NARCAN® Nasal Spray in an opioid overdose should know where NARCAN® Nasal Spray is stored and how to give NARCAN® Nasal Spray before an opioid overdose happens.Get emergency medical help right away after giving the first dose of NARCAN® Nasal Spray. Rescue breathing or CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) may be given while waiting for emergency medical help.The signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose can return after NARCAN® Nasal Spray is given. If this happens, give another dose after 2 to 3 minutes using a new NARCAN® Nasal Spray device and watch the person closely until emergency help is received.Flagler OARS can be reached at https://flagleroars.org/, or 386-233-3444. Save the date for Flagler OARS Casino Night fundraiser on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at the VFW building, 47 Old Kings Rd, Palm Coast!
Media Release: Marketing 2 Go
FCSO Commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
Sheriff Rick Staly and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) attended the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners Meeting where a proclamation was read acknowledging April 24-30 as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
Since his election in 2017, Sheriff Staly has made the protection of victims’ rights a major initiative for FCSO. Part of this initiative included the implementation of ankle monitoring GPS systems. These devices are designed to empower and improve the safety of domestic violence victims, when offenders are ordered by the judge to wear them. Sheriff Staly also supported and endorsed the passage of “Marsy’s Law” which gave victims additional rights.
In 2018, the FCSO received Agency of The Year for its Domestic Violence Initiatives during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and in 2020 the FCSO received the “Leadership in Victim Services Award” for midsize agency by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
More recently, FCSO showed tremendous care to a victim of domestic violence in Flagler County who had called for assistance when her long-time boyfriend made threats against her life. FCSO deputies intercepted the suspect after he drove through the night to confront her to make good on his threats.
The FCSO victim advocates were made available to the victim during this time. This case, and cases like it, are great examples of how the FCSO works to put offenders in jail and support crime victims in Flagler County.
“We take victims’ rights very seriously in Flagler County,” Sheriff Staly said. “Our Victim Advocates do an amazing job comforting and supporting victims of crime in our community. These are the real heroes. While we have made terrific strides to protect victims of crime and reduce crime in Flagler County, there is still more work to be done and we won’t stop.”
Since 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) is a time to renew our commitment to serving all victims of crime, to acknowledge the achievements in victim services and allied professions, to honor those who have gone above and beyond in their service to others, and to remember crime victims and survivors.
For more information on National Crime Victims’ Rights Week visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/
Date: April 26, 2022
Prepared by: Ashleigh Taylor
Release #: 2022-098
Recycling: It’s Big Blue to the Rescue
Flagler Beach, FL – Pressing the buttons, one by one, Flagler Beach Mayor Suzie Johnston officially flipped the switch to activate ‘Big Blue’ for the community last Thursday, just one day before the 52nd anniversary or Earth Day.
As Flagler Beach continues it’s trek to become a more sustainable and environmentally friendly community, elected officials and business leaders are implementing best practices that will get them one step closer to becoming a green community.
“When the recycling project stopped last year, there was a huge outcry from the residents as well as from our own hearts. We all wanted to recycle. We’ve grown up recycling here in Flagler Beach for many years,” said Johnston, active in environmental issues through organizations like the Flagler Beach All-Stars and the Flagler Beach Business Bureau.
“We knew that we needed to find a solution so this was a creative, innovative solution. That’s why we’ve already had, the City of St. Augustine has reached out to us, the City of St. Augustine Beach has reached out to us, other municipalities looking at us to set the example. Every city is having a problem with recyclables,” she said.
The ribbon cutting drew not only curious residents from Flagler Beach, but other cities including St. Augustine Beach where the city’s manager Max Royale, joined by the city’s public works director and assistant director, came to find out more about the glass recycling machine and conservation efforts.
“It’s very exciting. Cities are doing it much more than the state is doing it, so it’s good that that the local level people are sort of driving the wagon, so to speak,” said Royale. “We have to look at the costs, the benefits, and maintenance and so forth. We definitely will explore it.”
The project was spearheaded by Rob Smith, the city’s sanitation department director.
On the job just over two years Smith, dove in head first learning the ins and outs of the sanitation industry, while working to maximize every dollar with cost saving measures as costs continued to rise.
“It’s about the town and doing the right thing, and actually seeing it done,” said Smith, said the 20-year resident.
He’s frank about the challenges of the recycling industry but he’s also encouraged by the innovative solutions he’s finding to solve the problems and the support for them.
“What I tell everybody is I took a lot of heat last year when we started over. We’ve never recycled a thing in our life. Daytona has never, Palm Coast has never, and I’ll tell you why I say that. We’ve only ever put to the curb what somebody said they would take for free that they could sell,” explained Smith, candidly.
“That’s what recycling is about. That’s the truth. Mother Earth is a byproduct of somebody reusing something that we don’t want anymore. That’s just the facts. So you take it a step beyond that and go, ok, I can do something with this, right here, instead of taking a truck that gets two miles a gallon, three miles a gallon, 14 or 15 miles away to dump it, and hope that that person can utilize it,” he said.
“They’re a business person, they have to do that. There’s no government involved in recycling. It’s all private entities and a lot of people don’t know that. It was a third trash day for us. Nobody’s buying anything. Glass has value but it’s so heavy that at $5 a gallon for diesel fuel you can’t move it. There’s no money to be made on it.”
Smith credits industry experts for educating him on best practices, and runs the sanitation department with a frugal eye.
“I didn’t know anything about this when I started. The company I take my stuff to for the city, in Bunnell, he’s been overly helpful. I didn’t know anything about trash when I started, nothing. I trucked for 27 years, I was an independent trucker. I know trucks, I know logistics. I’ve learned so much in the last two years from him and he’s went out of his way for me to save money, to help me understand how to do things. It’s great, it’s a great community,” shared Smith.
Modest to the core, Smith said it’s really about saving the tax payers money and ensuring the department is delivering the best services through the innovative technology.
“My shareholders are the resident of Flagler Beach, my neighbors,” he said. “I’ve lived here 20 years in this town. I have a problem knowing I’m letting a person on a fixed income who’s lived here for 50 or 60 years wash out a soup can with water to put at the curb for me to pick up in a truck and take it to a landfill.”
“With the glass, that’s 12 tons a week that I don’t have to dump in the landfill. That’s $6-700 in dump fees that I save right there. Let alone that, the fuel over there to dump it and the tire wear and tear. Those tires are $600 apiece and last 3-4,000 miles. I run it like it’s my trucking company. Like my wife’s going to say ‘why did you spend this on this’. You have to,” he said.
Recycling has gone by the wayside in many communities across America, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of environmental advocates like Adam Morley. On hand to see the demonstration, he was encouraged by the results.
“Having owned a private recycling company in the past, I’m excited to see the City of Flagler Beach moving towards an in-house recycling system because it makes sense for the residents/taxpayers,” said Morley, offering his own opinion.
“I’d encourage the city to continue to expand the program and prioritize food waste composting over plastics for the largest environmental benefit and weight reduction to the waste stream.”
As for now for Flagler Beach, it’s one step at a time, and Smith is determined to see it through.
“We’ll get this down pat and working good and then we’ll move on to plastics,” he said. “Plastics are a mess and it’s a disaster.”
Leadership Lessons with Dr. Saviak: Leaders Accept Responsibility First
Leaders Accept Responsibility First
I once knew a senior executive who loved to project his failures on to others. Blaming others not supporting them and never solving problems was always his focus. As long as he had a victim, he was happy. And he always told everyone in the organization who he blamed. He ruined good careers of great people.
The reality was every single major business decision he made for over a decade was a disaster. It was his fault for demanding others do stupid stuff like sell products no one wants to buy and kill profitable product lines. He should never have been allowed into leadership.
Incompetence and arrogance are a deadly combination.
Leaders first fully examine themselves when something goes wrong. Where could I have done better? What should I have given the team that they needed? Did I remove obstacles and provide the right resources? Let me learn the lessons and supply solutions. Many times the mistake is at our level.
Lastly, leadership means the team gets the credit and we take the blame. Coaching in private and praise in public. Accountability for everyone but first it starts at the leadership level.
#LeadershipLessonsWithDrSaviak
From the Teacher: Leadership Lessons with Dr. Saviak is a weekly column with the esteemed Joseph C. Saviak, Ph.D., J.D., M.A., M.S., Management Consulting & Leadership Training.
Featured Image: Truman Library
Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Bill to Strengthen Florida’s Election Integrity
SPRING HILL, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill (SB) 524, Election Administration, to ensure that Florida continues to have secure and accurate elections. This legislation will strengthen election security measures by requiring voter rolls to be annually reviewed and updated, strengthening ID requirements, establishing the Office of Election Crimes and Security to investigate election law violations, and increasing penalties for violations of election laws. To read more about the bill, click here.
“Twenty years ago, nobody thought Florida was a prime example of how to conduct elections, but we have become a national leader by running the most secure elections in the country,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We need to do more to ensure our elections remain secure. We have ended ballot harvesting, stopped drop boxes and the mass mailing of ballots, and banned Zuckerbucks, and this bill will give us more resources to make sure bad actors are held accountable.”
“Governor DeSantis has made elections integrity a top priority from the very beginning of his administration, taking steps to ensure we invested in our elections systems, strengthened our cyber defenses, modernized equipment, updated voter rolls, and improved transparency, and we’ve seen results,” said Florida Secretary of State, Laurel M. Lee. “As Florida’s Chief Elections Official, I share Governor DeSantis’ strong commitment to elections integrity. We want to ensure that every Floridian can have confidence that in Florida, we do elections right.”
“Florida leads the nation in free and fair elections because Governor DeSantis and the Legislature have taken a proactive approach to address any issues,” said Senate President Wilton Simpson. “Voter confidence in the integrity of our elections is essential to maintaining a democratic form of government, and I am grateful to Governor DeSantis for making election integrity in this state a focus of his administration. When people and organizations interfere with Florida elections, there are consequences.”
“I am proud to have worked with Governor DeSantis and his team to deliver a transformational elections reform bill,” said Senator Travis Hutson. “This law puts Florida at the forefront of election security and transparency.”
“In 2020, Florida set the example of a well-run election for the rest of the nation to see,” said Representative Daniel Perez. “SB 524 is an example of our commitment to always do better and continue to be the best state in the nation for secure and accurate election results.”
SB 524 increases the penalty for ballot harvesting from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, and up to five years of probation.
The bill also establishes the Office of Election Crimes and Security within the Department of State. Before now, there was not a dedicated office to investigate all election crimes in Florida. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement received positions and resources in this year’s budget to support the criminal investigation of election crimes in partnership with the Office of Election Crimes and Security.
The bill requires voter list maintenance to be conducted annually by supervisors of elections in order to combat the possibility of fraudulent voting.
Finally, the bill requires the Department of State to recommend a plan on how to strengthen ID requirements for mail-in ballots. The Department of State must submit a report on the plan and draft legislation for any statutory changes needed to implement the plan by February 1, 2023. The plan will include how to prescribe the use of a Florida driver license number, Florida identification card number, social security number, or any part thereof to confirm the identity of each elector returning a vote-by-mail-ballot.
Media Release: Office of the Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
Image: Florida Weekly
Rebuild Florida Grant Provides New Home for Western Flagler Resident Devastated by Hurricane Irma
April 25, 2022 – Good things come to those who wait, and William Wilkinson – now 89 – waited. And waited. And waited. In fact, it was 1,626 days from the time Hurricane Irma brought her wrath on September 10, 2017 that devastated his west side home and February 22, 2022 when he moved into his new residence.
The new manufactured home was provided through a September 2018 “Rebuild Florida” grant for Irma victims and the indomitable perseverance of Senior Services Case Manager Winnie Costello and Community Paramedic Caryn Prather, who retires on April 29, both of whom helped Wilkinson every step of the way – from filing the initial 30-page application and every addendum to follow, to ensuring his new home was properly connected to utilities and furnished.
“To be fair, this process was happening in the midst of the pandemic,” Prather said. “So even though we had William file right away and stayed on top of things on his behalf, there were legitimate supply chain issues and worker issues.”
Wilkinson had been Costello’s client through the Meals on Wheels program for many years before Irma, and she asked Prather to stop by to provide him with a health check. The dynamic duo pooled their external resources to ensure the man they care for didn’t fall through the cracks.
“It’s the partnerships other entities and companies, like Home Docs (which helps Wilkinson bi-weekly with his medications), that work together for the benefit of our residents,” Prather said. “You do what you have to do, but you can do much more with the help of others.”
Prather and Costello became increasingly concerned about Wilkinson’s living conditions following Irma. They were encouraged to learn about the program – funded through a partnership of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – that would potentially provide sound housing for him.
“He never married and has no children. He has one sister who is two years older and lives out of state, which means he really is on his own,” Costello said. “He’s very comfortable on his street where he knows everyone and has his cats. Moving away really wasn’t an option that would have suited him.”
Even a few months’ stay at the Best Western Plus in Palm Coast during the transition proved to be a hardship.
“For the first three weeks, he drove back every day and would try to stay on the property,” Prather said. “We’d have to convince him to go back.”
A promise by Costello and Prather to feed the cats daily – and the universe aligning to render Wilkinson temporarily carless – won out in the end.
“With all the setbacks, it ended up taking a much longer time than we ever imagined,” Prather said.
Prather and Costello organized a clean-up day for Wilkinson’s property in 2020 on the assumption the new manufactured home would be delivered in short order. More than a dozen Fire Rescue staff spent a day readying the property for naught.
“A lot of them had just come off call,” Prather said. “(Former firefighter) Aaron Price, who had just started his own business called Flagler Dump Service, donated his time, a dumpster, and the dump fee. This really helped.”
All progress stalled from May 2021, nearly a year after the clean-up, to Thanksgiving that same year.
“Winnie did it all,” Prather said. “At least 50 emails back and forth. Anytime they said something else was needed, she was on it. She was willing to give everything she had to get this done.”
The home was delivered, but it sat for months before it was moved to its permanent position, hooked up to utilities and skirted. Costello and Prather couldn’t let Wilkinson move in without furnishings and continued with their angelic efforts.
Costello secured a new mattress and box springs. Families of local firefighters donated sheets, towels, blankets, and cookware. Larger, gently used furniture made its way into the house. The firefighters’ union donated money to buy Wilkinson a television. An accessibility ramp was added.
“He cried, ‘This is mine, this is mine,’ when he saw it,” Prather said. “It’s great because it allows him to enjoy the outdoors, his neighbors, and his cats.”
Wilkinson now has his home decorated with knickknacks that he bought from the thrift shop near the hotel where he stayed – mostly cats and a couple of horses. A picture of his sister is on his dresser.
“It was an interesting ride,” Costello said, “but I would do it all over again.”
Media Release: Flagler County. Julie Murphy, MPIO
FCSO Responds to 846 Calls in Busy Weekend – Multiple Violent Offenders and Illegal Drugs Off the Streets
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) had a busy weekend of community policing and responding to 846 calls into the Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Dispatch Center. Deputies took part in successfully seizing illegal drugs off the streets, putting multiple violent offenders behind bars while tending to various encounters with intoxicated and dangerous subjects.
In the early morning hours Friday, a teen felon was arrested after a traffic stop led to the recovery of illegal narcotics. The driver of the vehicle, identified as 19-year-old Josiah Feimster, is facing multiple charges for Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription, Possession of Marijuana Over 20g and Driving with a Suspended License with Knowledge. A frequent visitor to the Green Roof Inn, Feimster is back residing behind bars and is being held on no bond.
Next, deputies were called to a residence on Bird of Paradise Drive around 1 AM when a teenager called 9-1-1 to report an adult in the home had a firearm and discharged it. The juvenile escaped and upon deputies’ arrival, the armed subject, identified as 46-year-old Patrick Conti, was heavily intoxicated and uncooperative. Conti resisted and was ultimately apprehended with a less-than-lethal deployment and arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Battery on Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting Officer without Violence. He was released from the Green Roof Inn Saturday on an $11,000 bond.
Saturday afternoon continued with keeping deputies busy proactively patrolling the roadways, resulting in 12 traffic stops including a criminal citation and one arrest. Around 2 PM, a traffic stop was conducted on Palm Coast Parkway and the driver informed deputies that there were narcotics in the vehicle. Inside the vehicle, deputies locate Methamphetamine, Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia, resulting in 27-year-old Nicholas Myers being arrested for several drug charges. He was released from the Green Roof Inn Saturday on a $3,500 bond.
A few hours later, deputies responded to a call about a male threatening a female with a firearm at a Sunset Boulevard residence. A verbal argument turned violent when Smith pointed a gun at the victim, making multiple threats to “blow her brains out” and taking off from the residence. The armed subject, identified as 58-year-old Dana Smith, was ultimately apprehended by deputies and arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. He’s now residing at the Green Roof Inn on a $16,000 bond.
Going into the evening hours, deputies responded to an intoxicated driver heading southbound on I-95. An occupant demanded the driver pull over which led to a verbal argument that turned physical, resulting in the intoxicated subject, 29-year-old Troy Roberts, attacking another occupant and choking him. Roberts was arrested for Domestic Violence by Strangulation and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility where he was released on a $2,500 bond.
The calls continued with a busy start to Sunday as deputies tended to five vehicle burglaries. All vehicles burglarized were left unlocked overnight and subjects who broke in rummaged through each vehicle stealing various items. At this time, deputies are still working this investigation and ask the community to remember to lock their vehicles at all times, removing valuables and key fobs from being left inside.
While deputies were actively investigating the multiple vehicle burglaries, a traffic stop was conducted on Palm Coast Parkway at Pine Cone Drive for a traffic offense, leading deputies to discover a loaded and concealed firearm in the car. The firearm was confirmed to be stolen from Holly Hill and the 43-year-old driver, Abednego Wilson, was arrested without incident. Wilson is facing charges for Grand Theft of a Firearm and Possession of a Concealed Firearm and was released from the county jail on a $5,000 bond.
Sunday evening, the Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a weapons complaint after a resident heard gunshots near State Road 11. Deputies responded and observed a Ford F250 leaving the area and stopped the truck to seek information from the occupants. When deputies made contact with the occupants, they observed a shot gun next to the passenger’s left side and the truck cab was filled with gun smoke, along with spent shell casings scattered throughout the truck. The two occupants, identified as 19-year-old Timothy Bennett and 18-year-old Charles Nelson both admitted to discharging a firearm at the county jail sign and were arrested. They were released from the Green Roof Inn on $5,500 bonds each and are facing charges for Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle within 1,000ft of a Person. Bennett is additionally facing a charge of Use of a Firearm Under the Influence.
“This is a great example of all the hard work our deputies and communication specialists face daily,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “The deputies dealt with many violent offenders, some who resisted arrest and dealt with multiple investigations. Resisting a Deputy Sheriff or shooting at the County Jail sign will get you in the Green Roof Inn. Like my deputies who work so hard arresting offenders, I’m disappointed that bonds are so low and they get out before the ink is dry on the report. The bonds are set by the Judge’s and it’s time for a new bond schedule in Flagler County so we don’t become like other counties and cities across the nation with ‘catch and release’ policies.”
Melissa Morreale, Public Affairs Officer
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez Announces Prizes for Winners of the Spring 2022 Florida Space Art Contest for K-5 Students, Contest Extended to May 2nd
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez announced prizes for the 2022 Florida Space Art Contest.
Ten total winners will be selected, five from the K-2 and 3-5 categories. Each winner selected, and his or her teacher, will win two tickets to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. One grand prize winner from each category (total of two) will have their unique work of art flown to space on a SpaceX mission targeted for the summer of 2022!
“I want to thank our sponsors for providing students with memorable prizes,” Lieutenant Governor Nuñez said. “And, additionally, a very special thank you to SpaceX for providing two grand prize winners with a priceless opportunity to not only have their unique work of art recognized, but also to have it fly in space! This is an exciting opportunity, and we are thankful to SpaceX for their support of the contest.”
Due to this exciting news, Lieutenant Governor Nuñez is also extending the Space Art Contest. “With hundreds of submissions, I am happy to announce we are extending our Space Art Competition to May 2nd,” Lieutenant Governor Nuñez said. “This will give more students the chance to learn and celebrate Florida’s Space Coast. I look forward to seeing all of the submissions that will capture the beauty of spaceflight and exploration.”
Students are encouraged to create an art piece inspired by the theme Florida Is the Place for Space: Celebrating Florida’s Contributions to Space Travel and Exploration. Students in grades K-5 are invited to participate in the art contest. Once the submission window is closed, the Department of State’s Division of Arts and Culture will review all artwork to ensure guidelines have been met, with the Lieutenant Governor selecting winners and grand prize winners. Student contest rules and guidelines can be found online at www.FloridaSpaceArt.com.
A special thank you to Space Florida and SpaceX for their contributions to this contest.
Media Release: Office of Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez
Ladies of Flagler County Dazzle for National Picnic Day
Flagler County, FL – Pulling out all the stops for the final bonfire of the spring season, organizer Donna Davis issued a challenge to the Ladies of Flagler County. Showing up on Saturday evening to Old Salt Park on National Picnic Day, those competing in the picnic potluck brought their A-game.
Staging two displays that were Instagram-worthy, Brianna Fisher, Rosie Turnage-Davis and Sofie Costa helped ensure the evening went smoothly as teams set up their displays and dishes.
Ranging from the All-American-themed traditional fried chicken, cherry pie and lemonade shared by duo Evelyn Moore and Michelle Hult to the Italian dinner prepared by Donna Principato, Martha Stewart would have been proud to see the creativity and full-flavored dishes offered up by ladies across Flagler County.
Serving an authentic Italian Wedding Soup with handmade meatballs, fresh antipasto, mini pizzas with caramelized onions, topped with fig, pear, gorgonzola and arugula, alongside a homemade meat lasagna with sweet sausage, hot sausage and meatballs followed by a tiramisu, Principato was deemed the evening’s winner for her savory creations.
“I used to be a personal chef, so when I cook my meals at night, I’ll post them,” shared Principato, who says she has made new friends through the Ladies of Flagler County group.
“Food is like friendship. It’s good camaraderie, all different age groups, ethnicities. Everyone’s just super nice,” she said before accepting the grand prize gift of dancing lessons at Elite Dance and Travel in Palm Coast.
Other favorites of the night included a turtle cheesecake offered up by Janice Randolph and Sandy Nicolette at their Romantic Table for 2 set up where dainty mini croissants were packed with layers of turkey, brie, green apple slices and raspberry jam, and a fresh spinach salad with strawberry vinaigrette dressing complemented the peach and raspberry sangria as the main course.
A member of the Ladies of Flagler County since it’s inception in October 2020, Randolph was excited about the addition of the picnic theme to the evening’s bonfire gathering.
“The turtle cheesecake seems to be the best of the table,” she noted with humor, showcasing their display.
“It actually was Sandy who thought of it and people have said it could be like a bridal shower set up. We just thought it was kind of an elegant beach theme.”
“By the number of tables here, everybody really got into this,” said Randolph. “Everything is unique and beautiful and the different themes are just gorgeous. It’s nice finish for the season for bonfires.”
Created as a way to connect women across the community socially, Deana Cedar said the group grew exponentially from the start.
“It was only supposed to be ‘let’s go meet for lunch once in a while’, and it evolved. There were 500 people in that first week,” she said.
Collaborating with Donna Davis and several others to maintain the social media group’s activity while welcoming new members, it’s bringing together women with common interests that run the gamut from ladies’ lunches to glass blowing and escape rooms.
“We all have different interests. It’s people from different backgrounds, people that you wouldn’t normally connect with on some other level, and now you’re here. Everybody wants to meet people and have fun,” said Cedar.
Davis, who chooses to create the bonfire socials as her way of meeting up with others wants everyone to feel included. She has seen people who many not cross paths professionally or personally grow friendships through the Ladies of Flagler County events.
“The ultimate purpose it to make new friends and do fun things together,” she said.
“Nobody is left out. It’s not professional, it’s not about business, it’s about meeting new friends and doing fun things. Meeting your new tribe, your new best friends. Half of these women, maybe even 90 percent of them didn’t know each other before LOFC. It’s amazing. I love connecting people and putting people together. This is a very kind, friendly, inclusive way to bring women together.”
Adding the picnic competition to the event to close out the spring season brought even more excitement to the party.
“It’s getting women involved and engaged,” said Davis. “I usually do string lights and tikis and this time, everybody’s involved, and it makes it so much more fun and enjoyable.”
Winners:
Intimate Picnic for 2: Michelle Hult
Small 3-5: Theresa Cecil
Medium 6-9: Rosie Turnage-Davis and Brianna Fisher
Large 10+: Rachelle Paulk
Best Charcuterie: Lisa Hogan
Best Dessert: Sandy Nicolette
Best Salad: Elizabeth Willis
Best Side Dish: Rina Chowdhury
Best Entrée: Jodee Soltes
