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Thursday, November 6, 2025
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First Lady Melania Trump Releases Official Portrait

By
Danielle Anderson
-

The official portrait of First Lady Melania Trump
was captured on January 21, 2024, in the
Yellow Oval Room of the residence by
esteemed photographer Régine Mahaux.

Media Release: The White House, Office of The First Lady

AAEA To Host First iGniteBIZ Event of 2025 Tuesday, January 28

By
Danielle Anderson
-

Leadership Lessons with Dr. Saviak … A Culture of Innovation Can Ensure Exceptional Success

By
Dr. Joe Saviak
-

The 21st century is defined by the information revolution and the innovation economy which depends on knowledge workers.  The organizations across all three sectors – public, private, and non-profit – which foster a culture of innovation will survive and succeed with disruptive change and excel beyond the performance of their peers.  How do leaders encourage innovation?

Innovation must be central to the organization’s mission.  It should be found within the mission statement of the organization.  It must be a stated purpose of the organization.  Everyone on the team must know, understand, believe in, act accordingly, and work hard towards this mission.

Innovation starts and is sustained with recruiting, hiring, onboarding, evaluating, and promotions.  As Collins would say, it is getting the right people in the right seats on the bus (2001).  Consistently successful organizations attract and retain the talent who generate the winning ideas.

Innovation requires the right culture.  Innovation cannot be mandated.  “But we have always done it this way!” cannot govern.  Innovators have organizational cultures which stimulate new ways of thinking, involve continuous learning, foster multi-disciplinary collaboration, and promote creative problem-solving.  These cultures recognize and reward innovation while also removing any roadblocks to creative thinking and solutions.

Innovation takes leadership which always wants the best ideas to win (Jobs, 2010).  Leaders in these organizations model, message, incentivize, and celebrate innovation.  Leaders take responsibility for the mission of excellence in innovation.  They apply metrics to evaluate innovation and make the changes needed so it flourishes.   They encourage employees to take sound evidence-based risks to innovate.

These leaders align and structure the organization to optimize innovation.  They want objectives, organization, operations, and outcomes to match.  Form follows function and structure should facilitate performance.  The policies, procedures, systems, resources, facilities, technology, and processes of the organization must help and not hinder innovation.

With a mission, recruitment, retention, culture, leadership, and alignment centered on innovation, an organization can continually produce the ideas which result in progress and achievement and change history (Abrashoff, 2002; Blanchard, 2011; Collins, 2001; Drucker, 2001; Grant, 2017; Kotter, 2012; Lencioni, 2012; Maxwell, 1998; Welch, 2005).

#LeadershipLessonswithDrSaviak

The Sheltering Tree Open Additional Nights This Week

By
Julie Murphy, MPIO
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January 23, 2025 – The Sheltering Tree is adding to this week’s openings because of additional cold overnight temperatures hovering around the mid-30s on Saturday (January 25). The shelter operated at the Rock Transformation Center (formerly Church on the Rock) is not only for those experiencing homelessness, but for anyone who is without heat.

The National Weather Service is again predicting temperatures to fall below 40 degrees during the overnight hours on January 25 – the criteria for opening the cold-weather shelter.

The county will provide bus transportation along two routes, following the schedules below:

East side of the county

  • Dollar General at Publix Town Center on Market Avenue (leads to Dollar General), 3:30 p.m.
  • McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100 at the dirt road on the east side, 4 p.m.
  • Dollar Tree behind Carrabba’s in the Dollar Tree Parking lot, 4:30 p.m.
  • Palm Coast Main Branch Library, northwest corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway, 4:45 p.m.

 

West side of the county

  • Dollar General at County Road 305 and Canal Avenue in Daytona North, 4 p.m.
  • Bunnell Free Clinic, 703 Moody Boulevard, 4:30 p.m.
  • Bridges United Methodist Church in Bunnell, 205 N. Pine Street, 4:30 p.m. (listed as the same pick-up time because of the close proximity)

The Rock Transformation Center is located at 2200 N. State Street. The cold-weather shelter will open at 5 p.m. and will close at 8 a.m. the following day.

The Sheltering Tree, 386-437-3258, is under the umbrella of the Flagler County Family Assistance Center and is a non-denominational civic organization that was created to provide cold-weather sheltering during cold nights in Flagler County.

Weather and heat safety preparedness tips from Flagler County Fire Rescue include:

  • Never use the oven to heat the home
  • All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
  • Screen fireplaces to contain sparks
  • Portable space heaters should be kept 3-feet away from anything that can burn
  • Turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed

Follow Flagler County Government on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FlaglerCountyGovernment.

Franklin Street Tapped to Lead Leasing for The Promenade at Town Center in Palm Coast, Florida

By
Flagler News Weekly
-

JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Franklin Street announced that its Retail Services team has been selected to lead leasing for The Promenade at Town Center a 230,000 square foot mixed use development in Palm Coast, Florida, that includes 204 residential units and 57,000 square feet of commercial space targeting a complementary mix of retail, restaurant, and professional office users on its first floor.  Persimmon Capital Partners, LLC are the owners and developers of The Promenade.  The project broke ground this past July and is scheduled to deliver in early 2026.

Ricky Ostrofsky, Regional Managing Director of Franklin Street’s Jacksonville Office.

“This is an exciting project, and our team is ready to identify and secure tenants to ensure this development is a top-tier destination for this rapidly growing community for generations to come,” Ricky Ostrofsky, regional managing director of Franklin Street’s Jacksonville office, said. “Our team’s experience, ability to offer tailored solutions to our clients and the development’s irreplaceable location put us in a strong position to be successful. There will be something for everyone at The Promenade with opportunities for both large format and boutique retailers, restaurants, service providers and professional office users.”

The Promenade, located in the heart of the 2,050-acre Palm Coast Town Center neighborhood, will feature a curated mix of retailers, coffee shops, restaurants, service providers and working spaces on its ground floor, catering to the vibrant and growing Palm Coast community of professionals, entrepreneurs, families, and professional students. Tenants will capitalize on The Promenade’s high visibility, walkability, outdoor gathering spaces, multi-use trails and tranquil, natural setting. The project’s upper floors will offer modern studio, one and two-bedroom apartment residences with balconies. The building’s insulated concrete design will deliver tenants excellent resiliency to weather events, lower maintenance costs and superior energy efficiency and sound attenuation. The building will be Gig-certified with high-speed Internet service for its occupants and guests. The Promenade will also include outdoor amenity areas to create a place of convergence for the community and a rooftop venue and lounges for special events that will offer scenic views of the area’s greenbelt.

“The Promenade at Town Center represents a significant leap forward in urban development for the city of Palm Coast and fulfills the original vision for this area as a walkable and pedestrian friendly downtown hub for both visitors and residents,” Bill Angrick, founder of Persimmon Capital, said.  “With its close proximity to walking and biking trails and the Central Park and lake directly across the street, The Promenade will both enhance the local landscape and create a hub of activity and community engagement.”

Palm Coast is the largest city in Flagler County, the third fastest growing county in Florida, which is the fastest growing state in the country. The city grew by 10.3% from 2020-2022, nearly 10 times the national average and is projected to grow over 40% from 2025-2050, more than two times faster than the state of Florida. Since 2019, Palm Coast has experienced business growth of 11.2% with over $200 million in new medical development and thousands of high-income jobs being created.

“The Promenade at Town Center will uniquely provide an 18-hour lifestyle to the Palm Coast community,” said Kaelyn Cassidy, senior associate for Franklin Street. With its prime location just a short walk to a cinema, City Hall, MedTech campuses, local parks, multi-use trails and the area’s largest high school, this is an appealing opportunity for future tenants to be in the heart of a vibrant live-work-play neighborhood and in a booming area of future growth.”

Learn more about The Promenade at Town Center.

###

About Franklin Street
Franklin Street is a fully integrated, national commercial real estate services firm headquartered in Tampa, Florida. We combine thoughtful planning with decisive action to deliver winning results to clients nationwide. Franklin Street’s seven lines of business include Capital Advisory, Insurance, Investment Sales, Property Management, Project Management and Tenant and Landlord Representation. Founded in 2006, Franklin Street has a network of industry-leading brokers and capital partners across the country to ensure exceptional client service. Learn more about Franklin Street.

About Persimmon Capital Partners

Persimmon Capital is a diversified, private investment company with a leading real estate practice committed to creating innovative and sustainable spaces that enrich the communities it serves. It develops and invests in mid-sized, multi-family, and mixed-use projects in U.S. growth markets.

Palm Coast Celebrates Prestigious Award for Outstanding Private and Public Partnership

By
Brittany N. Kershaw
-

Palm Coast – The City of Palm Coast was awarded the “Outstanding Private and Public Partnership” award by the Florida Planning and Zoning Association (FPZA) Surfcoast Chapter. This award recognizes the City’s collaborative work with Mesa Capital Group to bring the Palm Coast Disc Golf Course to life.

As part of a development agreement, Mesa Capital Group donated the land for the park in exchange for park impact fee credits. This partnership allowed the project to move forward faster than traditional funding would have allowed. The park will include nine to 18 holes, restrooms, shade structures, and a parking lot. It will be free to play, making it accessible for everyone in the community to enjoy.

The disc golf park reflects the City’s goal of creating parks that blend naturally with the environment and need little upkeep. In the joint city-county Parks Master Plan approved in 2023, adding unique recreational options like disc golf was highlighted as a top priority. Residents showed strong interest in the sport through surveys and focus groups, making it a key part of the City’s efforts to provide new and creative recreation opportunities.

“The City of Palm Coast is dedicated to creative solutions that enhance our growing community,” said Deputy Chief Development Officer Ray Tyner. “This project fills a recreational gap, enriches the neighborhood, and exemplifies the collaborative spirit that defines our city. As Palm Coast grows, we remain committed to improving residents’ quality of life through innovation. The FPZA award reflects the success of this approach and the dedication of everyone involved.”

Established in 1950, the FPZA Surfcoast Chapter is part of a rich tradition in urban planning and development. The FPZA has been instrumental in shaping Florida’s planning landscape, championing key legislation such as the Growth Management Act of 1985. For more information, visit www.fpza.org.

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/government/city-manager/week-in-review

Flagler Beach Mayor Announces Centennial Schedule in Friday Footnotes

By
Flagler News Weekly
-
City of Flagler Beach represented with Commissioner Rick Belhumeur, Mayor Patti King, City Manager Dale Martin and Commissioner Jane Mealy.

Friday Footnotes

Mayor Patti King

The City of Flagler Beach was officially incorporated as the Town of Flagler Beach on April 16, 1925, thereby making this year Flagler Beach’s Centennial. We became the City of Flagler Beach in April of 1963. As with previous notable anniversaries (75th and 90th), City officials look forward to developing and hosting community events to celebrate this very special year.

As 2024 drew to a close, the City Commission adopted a logo to be part of centennial efforts. That logo, as does the City’s official seal, highlights the “A”-frame entrance to the City’s Pier- which is nearly one hundred years old, too. The centennial logo will emblazon official City documents throughout this year.

With the support of the City Commission and the assistance of former Mayor Linda Provencher, I have been joined by a small group of others to prepare and organize a series of events to promote and celebrate Flagler Beach.

An initial project has been spearheaded by Commissioner Rick Belhumeur. Commissioner Belhumeur has advocated for celebratory banners to be placed on the SR100 (Moody Boulevard) bridge to welcome visitors and remind residents of this special anniversary. After reviewing dozens of photos offered by the Historical Museum, eight photographs have been selected for those banners. Other smaller banners with a similar theme will be placed near the Pier and throughout downtown. The goal is to unveil the banners at the Centennial Kick-Off event planned at City Hall on April 16. The kick-off event will be co-hosted by the Flagler Beach Historical Museum.

Other community centennial events will be scheduled monthly through the remainder of this year. Some local organizations, such as the Women’s Club, the Rotary Club, and Flagler Beach Creates have expressed interest in organizing and sponsoring monthly events. Other events will be coordinated with City staff. The monthly centennial events will be family-oriented, with the exception of a Flagler Beach “black-tie-equivalent” gala dinner event. The Centennial celebration will conclude with the City’s New Year’s Eve Surfboard Drop and Fireworks. A list of the special events will be presented on April 16. Other events throughout the year, such as First Friday gatherings, will also highlight the City’s centennial.

Each of the special events has a preliminary Chairperson, but all of these events will require volunteer support: logistics, promotions, and on-site support. I invite anyone interested in assisting with these nearly year-long community festivities to contact me (pking@cityofflaglerbeach.com) or the City (comments@cityofflaglerbeach.com). I look forward to joining residents, businesses, and others in this extraordinary celebration of our City’s incorporation.

Let’s welcome everyone to Flagler Beach and prepare for the next one hundred years!

Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly Adds Lee Greenwood to the Ranks

By
Danielle Anderson
-

PALM COAST, Fla. – It’s not every day your Sheriff gets to deputize national performing artist Lee Greenwood, but on Thursday night, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly did just that.

Taking the oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution and the State of Florida Greenwood vowed that Flagler County residents could count on him.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly and singer Lee Greenwood, January 23, 2025 at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center. Photo: Danielle Anderson/Flagler News Weekly

While the title is purely honorary, Staly shared that the honor had only been bestowed a dozen times in his 8 years as Sheriff.

“Tonight, I had the honor of making him an honorary deputy,” shared Staly. “He has been such a staunch supporter of law enforcement, really throughout my career, and he allowed us to use my favorite song, “God Bless the U.S.A.” during the 150th anniversary of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and then also he allowed us to play the song as we remember fallen heroes both in Flagler County since I’ve been Sheriff here, and in Orange County when I was Under Sheriff.”

Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center Director Amelia Fulmer welcomes Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly and local vocalist Vincent Cautero to the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center on January 23, 2025 to see national recording artist Lee Greenwood. Photo: Danielle Anderson/Flagler News Weekly

Attending the show with Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Chief Mark Strobridge and his wife Bedy, Staly was grateful to Greenwood for his heartfelt patriotism.

“Not only did I want to hear him, but I thought this would be a great opportunity to recognize him and thank him for standing up for America.”

Greenwood, whose performances over past week have included the presidential inauguration in Washington D.C., was in Palm Coast for a one night only show at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, according to Director Amelia Fulmer.

Near capacity with enthusiastic concert goers, attendee Vincent Cautero has a special place in his heart for Greenwood and was excited to see him in person.

“It’s just great. I always have the honor and opportunity to sing “God Bless the U.S.A.” for the veterans,” he said proudly. “It’s just great to be here to see Lee himself, Mr. Greenwood.”

The Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center welcomes ABBACADABRA, The Ultimate ABBA Tribute on February 7, 2025 at 7 PM. For more information visit. www.FlaglerEntertainment.com.

Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center Director Amelia Fulmer, Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly, Lee Greenwood, Bedy Strobridge, Chief Mark Strobridge. Photo: Danielle Anderson/Flagler News Weekly

City of Palm Coast Partners with University of North Florida and Flagler Schools to Announce the 2025 MedNexus Innovation Challenge

By
Brittany N. Kershaw
-

Palm Coast –The University of North Florida (UNF), in partnership with the City of Palm Coast and Flagler Schools and sponsored by AdventHealth, has announced the 2025 MedNexus Innovation Challenge. This exciting competition offers regional high school students the opportunity to pitch innovative solutions to Florida’s evolving healthcare needs while competing for scholarship prizes.

The fourth annual UNF MedNexus Innovation Challenge will take place on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center. This year’s theme, “Becoming a Health Influencer,” challenges teams of four high school students to develop strategies leveraging social media to positively influence adolescent health. With social media often linked to negative impacts on teen mental health, this competition seeks to explore its potential as a force for good.

The first and second-place teams will win scholarship funds. First Place will win $1,000 per team member, and Second Place team members will take home $750 each. Throughout the process, the teams will be assigned UNF faculty members to help guide them, providing expert feedback on their proposed interventions. Teams will then present their innovative ideas to a panel of judges, receiving real-time feedback from industry experts, corporate leaders, investors, and university faculty.

High school students are invited to form teams of four and submit their initial ideas on how to influence teen health positively through social media. From these submissions, four teams will be selected to advance to the final competition. During February and March, the chosen teams will:

  • Develop community-based interventions aimed at improving adolescent health through social media.
  • Work closely with UNF faculty mentors to refine their ideas and presentations.

The 2025 AdventHealth MedNexus Innovation Challenge culminates in the highly anticipated Pitch Competition, where teams will present their solutions in front of an esteemed judging panel and an engaged audience. This unique event offers students direct exposure to healthcare professionals and thought leaders, inspiring the next generation of innovators.

“This challenge empowers students to think creatively and address real-world healthcare issues, all while building invaluable skills,” said UNF MedNexus Coordinator Hannah Boudreaux. “We look forward to seeing the innovative ideas these students bring to the table.”

Save the date for the 2025 AdventHealth MedNexus Innovation Challenge, which will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy NE, Palm Coast, FL 32137.

For more information on the challenge, including application details, visit https://www.unf.edu/UNFmednexus/innovation-challenge-25.html

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/government/city-manager/week-in-review

People, Passion, Purpose: Vincent’s Clubhouse Is Helping Families

By
Danielle Anderson
-

PALM COAST, Fla. – Watching as she beamed throughout the night, Hector Flores stood by proudly as Erica Flores directed the event while soaking in the success. As the founder and executive director of Vincent’s Clubhouse, Erica is a mom on a mission. And Flagler County’s community is buying in.

Holding the official ribbon cutting for the enrichment center that is providing a safe space and loving care for individuals with different abilities, Erica and Hector have taken an idea that started with their son Vincent and a summer camp, and turned it into a community hub.

Hector and Erica Flores

A once in a generation winter storm couldn’t keep supporters away, and their cozy location in the European Village was warm and welcoming in spite of the arctic blast.

“From six years ago and a summer camp to all these other events we can provide, especially a place where we can do them, my wife’s dreams came true,” Hector said with pride.

Support on Every Level

Leaving her job as a healthcare administrator to open the enrichment center, the Flores family took a leap of faith. Building blocks of support along the way made the brick and mortar location possible.

Working with Erica as a member of the board of directors, realtor Eddie Lang believed in the vision from the start, and as the team’s chief fundraiser, committed his personal business’s support, while rallying the Flagler County Realtor’s Association.

Eddie Lang (center) helped drive donations from the real estate industry.

“Vincent’s Clubhouse was Erica’s dream. When me and my wife met Erica, our son is autistic so we need to find things he can do, she had an Easter egg hunt. It turned out great, Max enjoyed himself immensely, and I just started getting involved. Being a realtor with the connections that I have I just started raising money,” he said, helping raise more than $30,000 for the organization.

“We’ve got some really great realtors in this community. They really support Vincent’s Clubhouse and we’re making amazing things happen.”

The payoff is a place for his 9-year-old son to grow and thrive.

“You can’t find these things anywhere. We’re making it better because kids like my son will have something to try through. I won’t have to worry about what happens after school. When they get 22 they’re out, and I won’t have to worry about what’s next. I have a next here and we’re only going to get bigger and better.”

LaShakia Moore and Mitzi Martinez

Volunteering her time when able, ESE paraprofessional Mitzi Martinez says the enrichment center is a valuable resource for families with special needs loved ones.

“I love the enrichment center, seeing some of my former students. I love volunteering here,” she said. “This is very important because we need an opportunity for the parents to get together. Everybody just gets to be themselves and just have a great time.”

Attending the ribbon cutting celebration, Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore is a cheerleader for all things positive when comes to education, and is especially excited about the opportunities Vincent’s Clubhouse is providing.

“This enrichment center is great for our adults with disabilities as well as our school age children with disabilities. For a number of years Vincent’s Clubhouse has been doing a summer camp over the summer and this just provides another opportunity for that to be sustained within our community. I truly believe as we take care of our must vulnerable, it will do better things for our neurotypical community members, as well,” shared Moore.

Full Circle Moment

Vincent’s Clubhouse began when Erica and Hector’s son Vincent wanted to have a summer camp like his cousins growing up. Creating the weeklong summer camp by renting out a classroom from their own money and hosting it for Vincent and others, over the years, Vincent’s Clubhouse became a community staple.

Cutting the ribbon on his very own clubhouse on Tuesday, Vincent’s joy was boundless as he leaped into the air in celebration. Hugging those closest to his heart, Vincent was surrounded by his very own tribe of friends and family he has come to know and love.

Retired Flagler County Commissioner George Hanns joins current Flagler County Commissioners Pam Richardson, Greg Hansen and Chairman Andy Dance for the Vincent’s Clubhouse ribbon cutting on January 21, 2025.

For Erica, the work has just begun.

Vincent’s Clubhouse serves community members of all ages.

“It’s probably, besides my kid being born, the best day of my life,” she said. “To have this community come together to really support Vincent’s Clubhouse, and an organization that’s been around for almost 10 years, it’s better than I ever could have imagined.”

“I want our center to provide our community with the space and a place that they know they can come and get valuable resources and support when they’re facing (challenges) at any point in their journey, whether it’s a newly diagnosed 3-year-old or, one of our members, she’s 56-years-old, was in a group home for 26 years and is part of our adult program. She said to me, of all the programs I’ve been in during my life, this is the best one,” shared Erica.

Raising a toast with apple juice, executive director Erica Flores.

Finding Purpose

Over the years, Flagler County businesses have opened their doors to offer employment opportunities to the special needs community. It’s a challenge to find these coveted positions outside of culinary or environmental services according to Erica.

“Employment is a huge issue in Flagler County for people with disabilities. The approach that Vincent’s Clubhouse takes is very different than most programs. We take our members, find out their strengths, likes, dislikes, comforts, their talents and we find job opportunities and work opportunities that fit them, just like a neurotypical individual,” said Erica.

Erica Flores, Vanessa Cole.

Partnering with Vanessa Cole, co-owner of Coffee News Northeast Florida, Erica says they are on track to have more opportunities to offer members of Vincent’s Clubhouse.

“Vanessa approached us about delivering the Palm Coast edition of the paper, and we actually started this week. We started today. The members were arranging all of the papers, sorting and organizing. To see that in motion was incredible. They got so excited. They were learning and counting, and they felt valuable,” she said.

“It’s going to transform, in our community, how people see individuals with disabilities.”

Vanessa calls it a win-win for both her business and the participants.

“When I was a publisher in the north Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee area, we actually partnered with an agency up there similar to Vincent’s Clubhouse, and they did all our deliveries up there,” said Vanessa.

“It’s been very challenging here to find an agency that does that, so I spoke to Erica a few months ago. I’m super excited. It’s a win-win.”

For more information or to find out how you can support Vincent’s Clubhouse, visit www.vincentsclubhouse.org.

Flagler County School Board member Lauren Ramirez and Palm Coast City Council
member Teresa Pontiere attend the ribbon cutting.

 

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Flagler News Weekly Editor: Danielle Anderson Published by Sunrise Media Group, LLC ©Flagler News Weekly, All Rights Reserved.
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