Mark Your Calendar! The Back2School Jam is Back
Heads Up!
The Flagler Schools Back2School Jam is Back! The Jam will be held at Flagler Palm Coast High School, Saturday, August 7th from 10a.m.- 1p.m.
The Back to School Jam brings together in one location, school and community resources and services to ensure new and returning students and parents have the information they need for a successful start to the school year. We are looking forward to a big, happy crowd of children and families.
If you have any questions or specific requests, please contact Administrative Coordinator of Communications and Special Projects Sabrina Crosby at crosbys@flaglerschools.com.
Vendors/Nonprofit Exhibitors ONLY: To register, complete the online registration which also provides further information. There is no cost for non-profit organizations. Hope to see you at the Jam!
Sing Out Loud: Gamble Rogers Festival Showcase Announced for September
The 5th Annual Sing Out Loud Festival returns to St. Augustine with more than 100 live performances at multiple venues each weekend from September 10 to September 26.
The Sing Out Loud Gamble Rogers Festival Showcase will take place on multiple dates on the outdoor stage at the beautiful Colonial Oak Music Music Park, located at 33 Saint George Street in downtown St. Augustine.
Admission to each concert is free, with Gamble Rogers Music Festival merchandise available at each performance, creating an awareness for our annual festival and our mission to support local youth music programs. In addition to the 25th Annual Gamble Rogers Music Festival T-shirt, GRMF team members will be offering hats and coozies, with new designs created by Board Member Taylor Fausset. Raffle tickets will be sold as well, with winners to be announced at the First Annual Gamble Rogers Gala on October 9.
Three concerts at the Colonial Oak have been announced so far, with more acts to be added to the schedule soon. See the full event schedule at singoutloudfestival.com.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Dylan LeBlanc with special guest This Frontier Needs Heroes
Colonial Oak Music Park
Free Event
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Dan Tyminski
Colonial Oak Music Park
Free Event
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Cedric Burnside
Colonial Oak Music Park
Free Event
Painting with REC-Creations: Flops on the Beach
St. Augustine Beach, FL – Come enjoy a casual evening painting a fun, beach-themed flip flop picture at the St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier, 350 Beach Blvd. From 5 to 7 p.m. on July 25.
Participants will have an opportunity to paint with step-by-step guidance and meet new friends with common interests.
This program costs $25 and registration is required. Supplies will be provided and participants are welcome to bring food and drinks.
For more information, email abrown@sjcfl.us. Register here.
Photo: May painting class, St. Johns County Parks & Rec.
The Big Five … with Nealon Joseph, FC Leadership Academy Valedictorian
Tell readers a bit about yourself and your professional background.
I’m a 1st generation American. My parents came to America from Trinidad & Tobago on work visas. I was born in Brooklyn and moved to Poinciana, Florida when I was about 2 years old. I attended K-12 in Poinciana and graduated High School at 17 years old. I was a varsity soccer player, cross country runner and multi-discipline state-qualifying athlete in Track & Field. I still enjoy running to this day as well as playing video games and musical instruments, especially the drums. Shortly after graduating High School, and after the 4 hurricanes of 2004, I joined the Air Force as a Security Forces Member for 10 years. During my time in the Air Force I held several positions to include supervising the law enforcement activities of the Air Force’s largest base in Europe and providing security for dignitaries ranging from Tom Cruise to the POTUS.
How did you get into emergency management?
It was a total accident actually. After I separated from the Air Force, I was perusing a BA in Psychology at American Military University in preparation to join the FBI. The last two classes of my degree program before my capstone were Psychology of Disaster and Psychology of Terrorism. These two classes opened me up to the world of Emergency Management and I never looked back. I completed my psychology degree and immediately enrolled in AMU’s Emergency and Disaster Management program. I completed my 2nd BA in a little over 11 months and started applying for jobs. I was able to take some of my experience in the military and apply it to this career field and was lucky enough to be offered a job with Flagler County as an Emergency Management Planner 3 years ago.
You were just the valedictorian for the Flagler County Leadership Academy’s second class of graduates. What did you do above and beyond to earn the honor, and were you surprised?
It remains my honest opinion that the only reason I was valedictorian is because no one else in my class wanted the responsibility of delivering a speech on behalf of the rest of the class. I was very surprised to be nominated by Jordan Butler, the person I myself was going to nominate for the honor. I was even more surprised when my other classmates echoed his sentiments of my nomination. It was a true honor to earn their respect in that capacity. Any one of my class members, especially the “famed” left side of the class consisting of Joe King, Jason Wheeler, Ashlee Ouellette and Jordan, could have been valedictorian. Every last one of my classmates are all-stars and I’m proud of the progress we all made personally and professionally.
How do you feel the leadership academy expanded your understanding of the role of a leader and what was the most meaningful thing you took away from the experience?
The academy helped open my eyes to the true extent of leadership. Leadership really is not just a position. It’s not something we earn from years of service. The true mark of a leader is someone who is truly willing to sacrifice for the sake of others. It’s lonely at the top and rightfully so because it takes a special person to be a true leader. You have to want to see others succeed, more than you want to see yourself succeed. As a result of learning this, I have refocused my life and career goals on helping others succeed.
How will you translate what you learned into real world experience?
My attendance in the leadership academy brings me full circle to my interview for my current position. During my interview my supervisor, Jonathan Lord, asked me a question that I felt I responded well to. However, in hindsight, I realize that I myself had not fully embraced that answer. Mr. Lord asked me, “You’ve spent a lot of your time being a ‘door kicker’, are you ready to take a step back from that and lead from behind the scenes?”. At the time I responded something akin to the fact that we all eventually have to move away from “grunt” work at the lowest level and I was ready to move on. However, in truth, I wasn’t ready to move away from being the person on the ground. Over the past 3 years I did struggle with delegating tasks and working with a team to accomplish the job. My role as a leader is to work behind the scenes, prepare my team and trust them to do their job. The academy helped me accept that role.
Grand Haven Croquet Sweeps Tournament In West Palm Beach
Palm Coast, FL – Nine of the nearly one hundred members of the Grand Haven Croquet Club competed in a weekend tournament held at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, FL July 16-18.
Club members swept first and second place in First, Second, and Third flights in which they competed with thirty-three nationally ranked players. Flights are assigned by handicap.
Bringing home first place awards were Robert Brightman (Flight 1A); Mijai Pagano (Flight 1B); Marsha Cargill (Flight 2A); Bill Todd (Flight 2B) and Jim Hester (Flight 3).
Second place was awarded to Nancy Crouch (Flight 1A); David Paukovich (Flight 2B); and Margaret Matuszak (Flight 3). Edmund Giancola also competed in the Third Flight.
The National Croquet Center is the largest croquet center in the world that houses the United States Croquet Association (USCA) whose mission is to promote the growth and enjoyment of croquet and to govern the sport in America.
Media Release; Nancy Crouch, Vice President Grand Haven Croquet Club
Photo: (Patti Paukovich) Back Row: Jim Hester, Marsha Cargill, Robert Brightman, Bill Todd, David Paukovich. Front Row: Mijai Pagano, Nancy Crouch, and Margaret Matuszak.
Fabulous Food Feature of the Week: Central Scoops
Bunnell, FL – There’s no place better to cool off on a hot summer day than the local ice cream shop. Flagler County is home to half a dozen mom and pop shops ready to serve up a frosty flavor.
On July 18th also known as ‘National Ice Cream Day’ it’s a chance to check out Central Scoops, one of Flagler’s newest ice cream spots.
Owned by Ormond Beach natives Joie Ritger and Danika Gimbel, the mother/daughter duo purchased the Bunnell ice cream shop in October 2020, excited about the chance to work together.
Danika moved back to Florida three years ago with her husband, settling in Palm Coast after many years in Virginia Beach, meanwhile nudging her mom to move down too. Still up north, Joie waited until her son graduated in May 2020 to sell her home and return to the Sunshine State in August 2020, where her own parents live still live in Ormond Beach. With three generations of family all in close proximity, it’s a match made in Heaven.
Ready to go into business together, Danika, a retail professional who counts the snuggly, fun Build-A-Bear Workshop among her favorite career experiences, and Joie, whose career was tailored around education, the pair say the ice cream shop opportunity fell into their laps.
“We just knew we wanted to go into business together,” said Joie. “Life’s short and we wanted to spend more time together.”
Formerly Krieger’s Ice Cream shop, the ladies gave customers a chance to get to know them before formally making the name change this summer with their grand reopening on July 4th. With a love of ‘Friends’ – yes, the TV show, the shop is aptly named “Central Scoops”, where people come to hang out and have ice cream.
“I really love customer service. I love talking and meeting new people,” said Danika. “She’s owned a business so she’s good with that side of it, and I’m good with customer service and that side of it.”
Keeping the great quality (they serve Hershey’s Ice Cream brand), and expanding the number of flavors, customers love it and they’ve been busy putting smiles on faces.
“It’s fun because people that come in here, we consider them all family,” shared Joie. “People are not in a bad mood when they come in here.”
Of course, they love meeting new people and getting to know their neighbors, but also want to ensure when someone has a late night ice cream craving they can get exactly what they need. Ice cream lovers can order up their favorite flavors via Door Dash or Grub Hub, and a pint, quart or sundae will be happily delivered to your door.
“We’re very popular on Door Dash and Grub Hub,” Danika said, while loading up five pints of ice cream for Grub Hubber Mike D. to deliver on Sunday afternoon. “You can sit at home and order from the couch. That’s the beauty of it, especially when it’s raining.”
Special dietary needs are also on their radar, and vegan-friendly, non-dairy (oat milk) vanilla and chocolate chunk are always available as is oat milk for making specialty shakes. Central Scoops also offers two reduced fat, no sugar added options, as well as a frozen yogurt flavor.
“We try to have something for everybody,” said Danika.
If you become a regular, you might even score a permanent place on the menu like Bob, whose sundae is now an official thing.
“He comes in a couple of times a week and so he made the sundae. So now we have ‘The Bob’ sundae,” Danika said with a giggle, sharing the not-so-secret recipe. “It’s vanilla ice cream with peanut butter sauce, hot fudge, Reese’s chunks, whipped cream and nuts. Bob knows what he’s doing for sure.”
Keeping their five year goal simple: to keep growing the customer loyalty by being ‘that ice cream shop everyone wants to go to’, they’re off to a good start by sharing their in-house favorites. Danika loves the Mint Chocolate Chip, and Joie’s favorite is the Honey Roasted Peanut Butter. One stop into Central Scoops and they’re pretty sure you’ll find your favorite too.
Central Scoops
602 S. State Street (US 1), Suite B
Bunnell, FL 32110
Tue – Fri: 2 pm to 8:00 pm
Sat/Sun: 1 pm to 8:00 pm
Mon: Closed
Christmas In July Trades Toys for Tickets in Flagler Beach
The Flagler Beach Police Department is proud to announce that the popularity of our annual “Toys for Tickets” program has inspired a “Christmas in July” version of the traffic safety initiative that will take place later this month. Citizens who receive a warning citation for a traffic infraction or a parking offense can volunteer to participate in a program that truly benefits the youth of our community. Citizen participation in this program is 100% voluntary.
Beginning Sunday, July 18, 2021 and continuing through Saturday, July 31, 2021, Flagler Beach Police Department Officers, at their discretion, will be issuing “toy waivers” along with warning citations for non-criminal State traffic and/or City parking offenses. The “toy waiver” provides motorists with information on how to donate a new, unwrapped toy to the Police Department. At the end of the campaign the Police Department will turn over all donated toys to our partner in this initiative; “Christmas Come True”.
“Christmas Come True” is a local non-profit organization, whose mission is “to provide a complete Christmas experience for area resident parents who are unable to financially afford a traditional Christmas for their families.” Motorists who voluntarily choose to participate in the program will be instructed to drop off a new, unwrapped toy, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at:
Flagler Beach Police Department
204 South Flagler Avenue
Flagler Beach, FL 32136
“Our winter program has been well embraced by our community and we wanted to expand it to the summertime” stated Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney. “Having this program in the summertime will assist our partners is this program, “Christmas Come True”, which in turn will ultimately benefit the children of our community.” Doughney continued. “Keeping our roadways safe is our goal. The expansion of this initiative was a natural progression designed to create additional traffic safety awareness to motorists in the summer. Our secondary goal with this year’s inaugural effort is to jumpstart the spirit of the winter holidays during the heat of the summer!’.
The inaugural programs partnership was summed up by Executive Director of Christmas Come True, Ms. Nadine King who stated ” I love the strong positive connection and devotion given to the Flagler County families by Chief Doughney and the Flagler Beach Police Department’s Team! Their continued support of Christmas Come True means so much to us! We make a good team”.
For additional information regarding this year’s inaugural program, please contact Chief Doughney at (386) 517-2024.
Media Release:
Matthew P. Doughney, Chief of Police
City of Flagler Beach
Input Needed for Florida’s 2022-26 Statewide Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan
Tallahassee, FL – The Florida Division of Historical Resources is soliciting public input for Florida’s 2022-2026 Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan at flheritage.com/comp-plan. The survey will be live until 12:00 p.m. EST on August 16, 2021.
Every five years, the Division of Historical Resources revises the Florida Statewide Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan, as required for Florida to remain a participant in the federal historic preservation program and to receive federal historic preservation funds. To be effective, the new plan must represent a broad base of public and professional input. Survey results will provide guidance and serve as the foundation for revising the plan. The U.S. National Park Service requires each state that participates in the federal historic preservation program to periodically update its comprehensive plan for historic preservation with input from citizens throughout the state. Florida’s current plan (2017-2021) discusses the state’s history, historical and cultural resources, and goals, objectives and strategies for all Floridians to participate in preserving the state’s heritage.
Preserving Florida’s Heritage, 2017-2021 can be viewed here. The 23-page full-color plan is available upon request from the Division of Historical Resources at flheritage@dos.myflorida.com.
DeSantis Scores Home Run with Florida Little League Players and Families
Palm Coast, FL – Hitting a home run with families across Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis made a trip to Palm Coast on Friday to throw the first pitch for the Little League Baseball State Tournament taking place from July 16-18 at the Indian Trails Sports Complex.
Adding a lunch stop at Knuckle Sandwich Sub Shop and an impromptu visit to the Community Cats of Palm Coast’s new thrift store location on US 1, families waited with great anticipation at the ball fields for the arrival of DeSantis to kick off the opening ceremonies at 3 pm.
The Vision Yields Returns on Investment
Arriving early, the governor spent time talking with the players taking part in the tournament as local dignitaries observed from the periphery.
Acting Palm Coast Mayor Ed Branquinho and former Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland relaxed in the dugout watching the excitement with a sense of pride.
“This is the future and I want to be part of the future of these kids if I can,” said Branquinho, committed to the success of Palm Coast’s future generations.
“They’re the reason I’m here. If I can do anything to make sure these kids make it to the big leagues, I will help in any way, shape or form I can,” he said, giving a nod to the city employees behind the scenes who helped prepare for the big weekend.
“I think we have right now, probably one of the best parks and recreation departments in the entire state,” said Brahquinho.
Holland was pleased to see the results of collaborative partnerships over the past decade paying off in such a significant way.
“It’s an incredible day. We fought for the expansion of these fields in order to gain this competitive advantage to bring a state tournament here,” she said.
“We love that fact that Palm Coast Little League has invested so much in our community over the years. They’re incredible and provide such an incredible amount of volunteerism, giving back to the next generation, structure, positivity – everything you love about our community is reflected here today,” said Holland.
Stated Significance: Palm Coast Is On the Map
Teams headed in from across the state from as far away as Merritt Island, Dr. Phillips, Northeast, Chaires, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa Bay, Martin County North, and Sarasota, to take part in the state tournament.
Taking photos with each team, the governor’s staff offered athletes and coaches a personally signed baseball, while reminiscing about his days playing Little League and making it to the Little League Baseball World Series in 1990.
“My Little League team won the state championship, the tournament was in Lantana. We won, went to the southern regional, won that, and then went to Willamsport, so that’s exactly what these kids are trying to do,” he said.
Sarasota Coach Matt Snelson saw it as a once in a lifetime opportunity to motivate and inspire his players by allowing them to hear firsthand about the governor’s own experience in Little League.
“It was great. The kids had heard rumors about it so I wanted him to tell them the story and what did he do. It’s a good story for them to have,” shared Snelson. “It makes them want to go to Williamsport.”
With a love of the game it was DeSantis’ third appearance on the Indian Trails ball fields for Little League. Joining players twice while serving as the U.S. Congressman representing Palm Coast before becoming governor, DeSantis was happy to be back the in the grassroots community to help the with opening ceremonies.
“It’s great. They have great community spirit, and so many of the folks volunteering to put this on honestly that’s what I would expect from this area because I know there’s a lot of good folks here. I think that the tournament’s going to be really great,” said DeSantis.
It’s a Home Run
The community was thrilled to spotlight the sports complex while having one of the nation’s most popular governors in the area for opening day, including baseball mom and Little League board member Jennifer Katz.
“We had a lot of people put in a lot of work to make this tournament happen,” she said.
“The governor being here was the cherry on top. These kids and families will forever remember our little town as the town they met the governor in. He was a treat for everyone involved. We’re so grateful that he was able to make it. His people are fantastic and so easy to work with. We could not be happier with the way everything worked out,” said Katz.
Peter Schoembs, President of Palm Coast Little League agreed, and was grateful for the governor’s accessibility for the families and players, who eagerly posed for photos with DeSantis.
“This is the biggest thrill to have him here right now,” said Schoembs. “He’s just walking around shaking hands, this is fantastic. It’s just a dream come true for everybody here.”
Snapping a photo with the governor before taking the field, softball mom and radio personality Laura Z was on hand to help emcee the opening ceremonies. Traveling with her own daughters for softball, it was a chance to showcase the quality facilities and fields in her own backyard.
“They are so well maintained. You can tell that the City of Palm Coast, they really put so much into the fields here. A lot of people, they look toward Palm Coast as being some of the best fields in the state. And from a mom perspective we’ve got it all – there’s a playground if you’ve got little ones to keep the kids busy, the bathrooms, the concessions, everything is right here, and it’s top of the line,” said Zublionis.
It was a special moment for longtime member of the city’s parks and recreation team, Lauren Johnston, Chief of Staff for Citizen Engagement.
“It gives me chills. These kids are going to remember this for a lifetime. To see these fields come together and see our council invest in recreation opportunities for the youth, this is economic impact and a lot of local families here to support,” said Johnston.
Since joining Little League in 1961 at the age of 18 in Stanton Island, New York, Fred Lewis has seen it all. He declared Friday as a banner day for the sport and more importantly, the kids.
“My old coach said we need you to take this team until we can get somebody else,” said Lewis of joining up decades ago. “Needless to say, I’m still with it. I love doing it, because of the kids. (Today is) very exciting, especially with the governor attending. That’s a big deal.”
Fast Facts:
Matanzas High School Class of 2021 graduate Lauren Januszkiewicz performed the National Anthem, while Sadie Schnell and Emily Warren, state representatives of Palm Coast Little League Softball for three consecutive years were on the receiving end of Governor DeSantis’ opening pitches.
Eight teams are playing in the Florida state finals this weekend in Palm Coast, with the winner advancing to regional competition in Georgia. The winner of the regional tournament advances to the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, August 19-29, 2021.
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