Cruis’n 4 Paws: Classic Cars and SMART Dogs Make the Perfect Pair
PALM COAST, Fla. – Animals are typically taught to steer clear of vehicles, but at the 3rd Annual Cruis’n 4 Paws event in Town Center, cars and canines came together like peanut butter and jelly.
Hosted in the heart of Flagler County, the event drew hundreds of attendees, all eager to admire a street lined with vintage automobiles and adorable rescue dogs. For many, it was hard to say which stole the show.
Organized by local car enthusiast Bill Heffern, the event combines his love for classic cars with a cause close to his heart — supporting the Saving Missing Animals Rescue Team (S.M.A.R.T.).
“We do car shows around town, here in Flagler County,” said Heffern. “I’ve been following Caroline Johnson online for years before she started this whole big thing now, and I support her. An amazing woman. We’ll do anything for children and pets. We’ll try to get out there, do an event, and raise money.”
Caroline Johnson, founder and director of S.M.A.R.T., is grateful for the growing support from the car community — and the public.
“It’s amazing seeing the street filled with animal lovers, the community, and businesses,” said Johnson. “It just shows you the power of love and people willing to help animals. Each year it’s grown. The first year we had about 10 cars — and now look, the street’s filled up.”
Beyond showcasing beautiful vehicles, the event offers a chance for attendees to meet some of the rescue dogs currently up for adoption — and maybe find their forever friend.
“We let people meet them here,” Johnson said. “I don’t adopt out on the spot, just to make sure it’s the right fit. If they have other animals, we’ll schedule a meet-and-greet. We had about eight dogs out for adoption today. If someone’s interested, they fill out an application, and we go from there.”
While the dogs drew plenty of attention, car lovers weren’t left out — many stayed to see who would take home awards in various categories.
Richard and Marilyn Steiner didn’t win, but still relished the chance to show off their vintage ride.
“It’s a 1937 Cadillac. I’m the second owner,” said Richard Steiner. “I found it in New Jersey, bought it, and drove it all the way to Georgia. I’ve always loved pre-war cars — since I was 16.”
In a more unusual twist, Best in Show for the 1950s category went not to a car, but a tractor — proudly owned by Robert Polidore of San Mateo.
“I think they’re beautiful,” Polidore said. “Unfortunately, it’s a dying interest with the younger crowd. Most of the tractors I have — I have eight — were going to scrap metal. This one too. I made a deal, gave it some work, and here it is.”
“This one is a ’53, the last year of production for this model. I bought it from an 85-year-old gentleman out in Live Oak. I wasn’t planning on winning, so I was really surprised they gave me Best in Show for the ’50s.”
With wagging tails and roaring engines, Cruis’n 4 Paws proved once again that when a community comes together — whether for horsepower or paw power — everyone wins.
Celebrating Time, Talent, and Treasure: United Way Honors Local Champions
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – In philanthropic circles, the phrase “time, talent, and treasure” is often echoed in keynote speeches — and that spirit was alive and well during the Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties’ Annual Impact Celebration on Friday, September 26. The Waterfront Room at the Palm Coast Community Center was filled to capacity with community leaders, supporters, and volunteers — all exemplifying those very words.
Nicole Miller, Publix Supermarket manager and United Way Volusia-Flagler Counties board member, co-emceed the event alongside Lauren Wilmont of Women United-Volusia. The pair shared personal stories of involvement and highlighted key milestones from the past year, including $243,810 deployed for hurricane relief and $1.7 million returned to local residents through the VITA tax refund program.
“It’s so awesome to see,” said Miller. “We’re investing into our customers, our associates, and so it’s just an extension of what Mr. George did to give back to the community. We see a lot more sustainability with nonprofits in the community. The goal is to make sure that we continue on, even in the absence of those who are here today.”
Miller and Wilmont spoke about their own journeys — from engaging with United Way to meet the needs of children in the Guardian ad Litem program, to stepping into leadership roles within the organization — and were well-positioned to honor the evening’s award recipients.
The celebration began with the Impact Circle Pinning of Robin King, a longtime community champion and the morning’s first honoree.
Volunteer of the Year honors were then presented to two exceptional individuals: Cindy Dalecki Morrissey of the Women United Flagler Chapter and Stephanie Renick of the Women United Volusia Chapter.
Dalecki Morrissey, a founding member of the Flagler chapter nearly two decades ago, remains as committed as ever. “This is just such a wonderful event honoring so many incredible people and volunteers,” she said. “It really is the glue for the community – it’s Volusia and Flagler.”
She also expressed appreciation for the event’s location and her fellow volunteers: “I’m so excited we had the event in Flagler County showcasing the wonderful community center. I just want to thank everybody on the Women United Flagler board and volunteers that put so much time, energy and effort and love into the Power of the Purse and all the families in need.”
The event also featured a presentation of the prestigious President’s Award, delivered by United Way CEO Courtney Edgcomb to the team from Intracoastal Bank. Led by Ryan Page, the team accepted the award with humility and used the moment to encourage others to support United Way’s mission-driven work throughout the region.
2025 Impact Award Recipients
Impact Circle Honoree: Robin King
Women United-Flagler, Volunteer of the Year: Cindy Dalecki Morrissey
Women United-Volusia, Volunteer of the Year: Stephanie Renick
Community Impact Cabinet, Volunteer of the Year: Stephanie Parks
Generation Impact, Volunteer of the Year: Teresa Wiggins
VITA, Volunteer of the Year: Michelle Bennett
Board Member of the Year: Karen Jacobs
President’s Award: Intracoastal Bank
Team Member of the Year: Emmanuel Kamel
Leadership Lessons with Dr. Saviak … How To Transform A Culture At Work
At some point during your career, you may be asked to lead an organization or a department which needs culture change to improve performance. Generating greater performance is the only reason we lead change. Culture explains how people think, talk, and act in an organization. It influences what is viewed as acceptable and unacceptable in terms of thinking, language, attitudes, and behavior. It is the most powerful influence in any organization.
The first step is the organizational assessment. Culture can be measured. Study both formal and informal metrics of culture. Interview employees, customers, and organizational partners. Be sure you truly understand the current culture or cultures, what factors and forces are creating and sustaining the culture, and how best to realign it with the new culture. Diagnose to treat.
Culture can be measured. In terms of metrics, there is a large and diverse set of indicators which enable leaders to diagnose organizational health. For example, leaders look at recruitment and retention rates, promotions (who gets promoted and why), data from onboarding and exit interviews, customer satisfaction surveys and types and frequency of client complaints, absenteeism, workers compensation claims, use of sick leave, regulatory issues and litigation, employee surveys, and evaluations of supervisors.
With the organizational assessment, leaders can utilize the tools of culture change to realign the company or agency to the new culture. This may involve the entire organization or specific subunits within it. The key is to protect and leverage positive elements of the culture and change those aspects of the organization which do not represent the new culture. The right culture must permeate the entire organization. Culture must be clear, consistent, comprehensive, and omnipresent.
As a general rule, 85-90% of employees will embrace the new culture once they see it produces the right results and as leaders work with them to succeed with it. There will be a small percentage of employees who refuse to change even when the new culture is clearly superior to the old one. They are deeply invested in the old culture. These employees will need to join an organization which matches and fits their attitudes and behavior.
The most potent tools of culture change are recruitment, hiring, training, supervision, evaluations, and promotions. Culture is about people. When you hire and promote the right people, you will get the correct culture.
Successful leaders employ all the tools affecting organizational behavior to ensure a positive and productive culture. These also include training, policies, procedures, technology, facilities, compensation and benefits, and budgeting. Formal and informal and social and economic incentives and disincentives are key.
It is important to build capacity and enable employees to succeed with a new culture. This means training, coaching, and supervision.
Culture must be continuously and effectively communicated throughout the organization. Whether it is a meeting, an email, the website and social media, a news release, an employee newsletter, the company intranet, and murals and posters, every single tool of employee and customer communication must be effectively leveraged. Culture should be recognized and celebrated at events. For example, a promotional ceremony is an excellent time to showcase culture leaving no doubt as to what creates career success. Every opportunity to convey the culture must be employed.
Cultures can be changed. It does require decisions, discipline, patience, and most importantly, leadership. When done successfully, it is a marvelous engine of organizational transformation capable of producing exceptional outcomes.
Sources: Abrashoff, 2002; Blanchard, 2011; Collins, 2001; Drucker, 2001; Grant, 2017; Kotter, 2012; Lencioni, 2012; Maxwell, 1998; Welch, 2005.
#LeadershipLessonswithDrSaviak
MAGIC OF LIGHTS® RETURNS TO DAZZLE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON BIGGER AND BRIGHTER THAN EVER BEFORE
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 25, 2025) The most wonderful time of the year gets even brighter with the triumphant return of Magic of Lights. Daytona International Speedway will once again be transformed into a breathtaking winter wonderland featuring a spectacular drive-through light display and enchanting Reindeer Rest Stop. This beloved holiday tradition opens November 21 and continues through January 3.
Presented by Family Entertainment Live, Magic of Lights makes its highly anticipated return to Daytona International Speedway for the 6th consecutive year. This year Magic of Lights features the brand-new Reindeer Rest Stop, The Longest Light Tunnel in Florida, mesmerizing light displays, holiday favorites, and brand new uplighting!
“Magic of Lights has quickly become one of our favorite holiday traditions at the World Center of Racing,” said Frank Kelleher, Daytona International Speedway President. “Each year, families from across Central Florida come together at Daytona International Speedway to share the joy of the season and create lifetime memories. We take great pride in opening our gates to the community for an experience that blends holiday magic with the history and excitement of this iconic venue.”
“It’s an honor to host Magic of Lights at Daytona International Speedway and this truly has become one of the best traditions for our local community,” said Frank Kelleher, Daytona International Speedway President. “There’s an incredible sense of pride knowing that we help families each year create memories that last a lifetime as they experience this unbelievable display of lights at The World Center of Racing.”
Experience the wonder of Magic of Lights’ most treasured holiday scenes from the warmth and comfort of your vehicle, including the whimsical Prehistoric Christmas, enchanting Winter Wonderland, the classic 12 Days of Christmas, delightful Toyland, playful festive Elves, and the magnificent Reindeer Road. Journey through the awe-inspiring 400-foot Enchanting Tunnel of Lights alongside additional captivating illuminated tunnels that will transport you into a world of holiday splendor.
The spectacular showcase features show-stopping attractions including the towering 32-foot animated Mattel’s Waving Christmas Barbie®, an extraordinary Prehistoric Christmas scene complete with life-sized dinosaurs celebrating the holidays, and the legendary BIGFOOT® Monster Truck display. With more than two million twinkling lights illuminating the night, Magic of Lights delivers a heartwarming and festive experience that creates cherished family memories.
Don’t miss the magical Reindeer Rest Stop, where families can step out of their vehicles and explore a wonderland of walk-through attractions featuring festive foods & photo opportunities for the whole family, and an array of delightful holiday activities.
QUICK FACTS – MAGIC OF LIGHTS
• 2+ million lights illuminate each Magic of Lights experience
• 12.6 miles of light cord power every Magic of Lights event
• 3,750 dedicated staff hours required to construct each magical display
• Steel frameworks are precision-designed, cut, bent and welded into approximately 800 individual frames, combined in various configurations to create massive holiday scenes. Every frame is engineered using cutting-edge CAD technology and handcrafted in-house following detailed 15-page design specifications.
• Each Magic of Lights installation utilizes roughly 10 miles of steel framework and 10 miles of LED lighting woven throughout the displays, incorporating 10 distinct colors of LED bulbs.
• Magnificent scenes, including the animated Mattel’s Waving Christmas Barbie, soar up to 32 feet tall and stretch several hundred feet in length.
Magic of Lights illuminates the night from 6-10 PM nightly running from November 21 through January 3. Times change to 7-10 PM on November 27-30, and December 4. Tickets for this extraordinary holiday celebration are available for purchase starting September 25 with convenient per-vehicle pricing.
For complete schedules and ticket purchases, visit MagicOfLights.com/Daytona.
FLAGLER TECHNICAL COLLEGE RECEIVES HEALTH LITERACY GRANT THANKS TO FLORIDA BLUE FOUNDATION
Palm Coast, FL – Flagler Technical College (FTC) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $5000 grant for the 2025-2026 school year for the continued implementation of a health literacy program to benefit its Adult Education students. This grant was one of 14 awarded in May 2025 by the Florida Blue Foundation and the Florida Literacy Coalition. It will integrate health and nutrition information into the college’s curriculum. The program’s focus is to help students acquire the knowledge and literacy skills necessary to navigate the medical system and make informed health decisions.
Health illiteracy is a significant issue, especially among adults who haven’t completed high school and foreign-born adults who speak English as a second language and may not understand the US healthcare system. Individuals who lack these skills are more likely to use medications incorrectly, have a chronic disease, and spend more time in the hospital. The Florida Health Literacy Initiative helps to address this by providing training, resources, and funding to assist adult education and family literacy programs in integrating health education into their instruction.
“We are excited to be able to continue our mission of delivering health literacy content to our student population, and we are grateful to the Florida Literacy Coalition and Florida Blue Foundation for their continued funding,” said Travis Thomas, Adult Education Program Supervisor of Flagler Technical College.
During the 2025/2026 academic year, FTC will deliver health literacy content on topics such as medication safety and nutrition, and promote improved personal and family health. The initiative will also include age-appropriate health activities for children and digitally accessible content for all of FTC’s Adult General Education (AGE), Career and Technical Education (CTE), and New Beginnings Daycare Center programs.
FCSO Awarded $90K Motorcycle Safety Grant from FDOT
BUNNELL, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $90,000 grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to promote motorcycle safety. This is the third year in a row that FCSO has been awarded grant funding by FDOT for this enforcement and education area.
The grant will primarily be used to provide funding for overtime for the FCSO Traffic Enforcement Unit to conduct enforcement and driver education focusing on motorcycle safety. These measures aim to strategically target unsafe driving behaviors from both motorcyclists and vehicle drivers who show a lack of awareness to motorcycles.
“Motorcycle crashes are a serious issue affecting the safety of our community. Just in the last few weeks, we’ve unfortunately seen multiple fatal motorcycle crashes,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “And sadly, the blame can go all around. Sometimes the crashes are the motorcyclist’s fault, and sometimes it is another driver who didn’t see the motorcycle. That’s why it is important for everyone on the road to follow traffic laws and pay attention by not driving distracted.”
The grant will also fund the purchase of additional speed measurement equipment and public awareness materials.
According to FDOT, Florida continually ranks in the top three states in the nation for motorcycle related fatalities, which can be attributed to the state’s growing population and popularity with motorcycle enthusiasts. Flagler County in particular experiences heavy motorcycle traffic during the Daytona Beach Bike Week and Biketoberfest events, due to its close proximity to Daytona Beach.
“Many motorcyclists live in and travel to our county, especially during popular events,” Sheriff Staly added. “I believe in bringing as much grant money to Flagler County to make our community safer. This grant is key to assisting our mission to keep all drivers and motorcyclists on our roadways safe.”
Since 2020, 413 motorcycle crashes have occurred on Flagler County roadways. Of these crashes, 37 have resulted in fatalities.
Flagler Tiger Bay Club Announces UF Astraeus Space Institute Assistant Director as October Speaker
Flagler County, Fla. (September 20, 2025) – The Flagler Tiger Bay Club is pleased to announce Dr. Jamie S. Foster as the featured speaker at its October 16 meeting. Dr. Foster serves as Assistant Director of the Astraeus Space Institute and is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida.
Her presentation will focus on how Florida is positioned to lead the next era of human spaceflight through interdisciplinary research, academic-industry partnerships, and the expanding space economy. Dr. Foster will also share new findings on how space travel impacts human biology and behavior, and how space biomanufacturing is emerging as a critical tool for future missions.
A veteran spaceflight researcher with experiments flown aboard the space shuttle and the International Space Station, Dr. Foster brings a unique perspective on the science and strategy shaping the space frontier. She also leads the Space Edge Accelerator UF Hub and is the UF site lead for the Center for Science, Technology, and Research in Space (C-STARS), an NSF-funded program driving innovation across Florida’s space sector.
This event reflects the Flagler Tiger Bay Club’s ongoing mission to engage thought leaders in conversations that shape Florida’s future.
Members and guests are encouraged to register early. Pre-registration is required.
Details:
Flagler Tiger Bay October 2025 Meeting with Dr. Jamie S. Foster
October 16, 2025 (Thursday*) from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Hammock Dunes Club, 30 Avenue Royale, Palm Coast, FL 32137
Tickets: Members: $35, Guests – $40
Pre-Registration required at www.flaglertigerbayclub.com
Scholarships Awarded to Local Students During Daytona NASCAR Race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Sept. 25, 2025 – Victory Lane is usually reserved for celebrating drivers, but during the recent Coke Zero Sugar 400 race weekend at Daytona International Speedway, the spotlight turned to local students.
AdventHealth awarded 10 high school graduates from Volusia, Flagler, and Lake counties full scholarships to pursue nursing degrees at AdventHealth University.
The hospital system’s Racing to Excellence Nursing Scholarship — a $350,000 investment — was created to expand the pipeline of nurses in a region where the demand for caregivers continues to grow.
AdventHealth University, headquartered in Orlando with additional sites in Denver and Tampa, enrolls about 1,900 students each year and offers health care degrees ranging from associate to doctoral levels. The 10 recipients will begin their studies there, training in local hospitals alongside experienced nurses.
“This goes far beyond covering tuition,” said Michele Goeb-Burkett, chief nursing officer for AdventHealth’s East Florida Division. “It’s about opening doors for students who feel called to care for others and, in turn, ensuring our neighbors have more skilled nurses right here in our community.”
The Speedway was a natural backdrop for the announcement. Since 2015, AdventHealth has been the Official Health Care Provider of Daytona International Speedway, staffing two care centers and nine first aid stations during major events. Each year, those teams provide free medical care to about 6,000 drivers, crew members, fans, and staff.
“Our drivers and crews rely on AdventHealth clinicians every race weekend. It’s only fitting that we celebrate the next generation of caregivers here, where teamwork and trust matter most,” said Frank Kelleher, president of Daytona International Speedway.
The event also brought NASCAR Cup Series driver Erik Jones to Victory Lane. Jones, who drives the No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota Camry, offered encouragement to the students about pursuing their dreams with determination, much like the grit it takes to compete at 200 miles per hour.
As part of the ceremony, the students received their first lab coats — a symbol of both the knowledge they will gain and the compassion they will carry forward into every patient encounter.
With the local population growing faster than the national average, the need for more nurses is pressing. By investing in students from the community, AdventHealth hopes many of them will remain in the region to care for their neighbors.
“This is just the beginning of their journey,” Goeb-Burkett said. “These students will become part of a legacy of care that touches not only patients, but families and entire communities.”
Media Release: Lindsay Cashio, AdventHealth East Florida Division
Connecting to Palm Coast Event Helps Residents Make Connections
PALM COAST, Fla. – A break in the weather offered a perfect window for Thursday evening’s Connecting to Palm Coast event, giving local organizations and volunteers a chance to warmly welcome attendees and introduce them to the many services available in the community.
Kicking off the evening’s event, 8-year-old Laurel Duffy belted out a show-stopping rendition of the national anthem.
At the Flagler Volunteer Services -table, new residents Victoria and her husband stopped by to learn how they could get involved. Having recently moved to Palm Coast in September, the couple was eager to connect. A flyer about an upcoming Alaska cruise fundraiser caught Victoria’s eye and sparked a conversation. She shared her extensive travel experience—especially to Alaska, where she’s been multiple times—and mused about the possibility of serving as a volunteer tour guide for her new neighbors.
Later in the evening, Krissi Rutledge visited the table and shared her story of living abroad for a decade as an English teacher in South Korea before returning to the U.S. Not long after, Rose Salgado stopped by, intrigued by the display, and began chatting. As it turned out, she too had traveled the world—first as a cruise line professional, and most memorably on a personal trip to Hong Kong. And, remarkably, she had also taught English in South Korea.
Though Krissi and Rose had never met, their parallel paths sparked an instant connection.
FVS staff pointed out Krissi across the room, finishing up her rounds of the booths, the two were introduced—and the conversation flowed naturally. They even posed for a photo together and discovered yet another shared interest: both had decided to join the Palm Coast Rowing Club, one of the many organizations featured at the event.
It was a reminder of how two strangers can walk into a room and discover they have much more in common than they ever expected.
All around the venue, residents—new and longtime—were engaging with essential agencies like the Flagler County Property Appraiser’s Office, the Elections Office, and the Sheriff’s Office, and the sense of community was unmistakable.
Entertainment was also in the spotlight, with Amelia Fulmer, Director of the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, and Diane Ellertsen, co-founder of City Repertory Theatre, on hand to discuss upcoming performances. They highlighted venues like the Black Box CRT in City Marketplace and the 1,000-seat Fitz—two gems of the local arts scene.
Other service organizations were represented – from the Palm Coast Yacht Club, Elks Lodge 2709, and the Lions Club, Seniors vs. Crime, Crime Stoppers, the Florida Inland Navigation District, and many more.
Connecting to Palm Coast is hosted by the City of Palm Coast in collaboration with alumni of the Palm Coast Citizens’ Academy, who volunteer their time to bring this meaningful event to life for the entire community.
