- December 5, 2025
The Able Trust presented a check for $22,000 to the Flagler Education Foundation to go toward a new tech program for Flagler High Schools. Photo courtesy of Jason Wheeler
St. Mark By the Sea Piece Corps quilters made 176 quilts for local and global disaster relief efforts. Photo courtesy of Lee Herkamp
Indian Trails Middle School seventh-graders Kadance Nickmeyer and Alexandria (Lexi) Murray won the “Rising Star” award at the regional robotics competition with their Girl Scout team. Photo courtesy of Tania R. Schmidt-Alpers
FCSO Cpl. Phil Reynolds, Sgt. Jon Welker, PAL Coordinator Kerri Henderson and Deputy Sam Cooper present safety tips to Belle Terre Elementary School students. Photo courtesy of Shannon Martin
Rev. Cheryl Daniels and Rev. Gillard Glover of First A.M.E. Church; Rev. Alberto Esposito, of Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church; Rev. Bill Duke, of Hammock Community Church; and Rev. Reed Freeman, of St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
Volunteers Frances and Andrew Kozer, Evonne Ligeiro, John and Jill Bangert, Brenda Hagedorn, David Brunk and Rose Joyce hold up their trivia game award. Photo courtesy Anthony Dolce
Matanzas High School students Susie Rodriguez and Caleb Krassner read to a class at Belle Terre Elementary. Photo courtesy of Catherine Brandner
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland and Local AKA President Theresa Waters at the 110th anniversary of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Photo courtesy of Myra Middleton Valentine
The Portuguese American Cultural Center in Palm Coast new Board of Directors for 2018. Photo courtesy of M. Elizabeth Pereira
Flagler Technical Institute student Namiah Simpson takes the vitals of a client at The Sheltering Tree. Photo courtesy of Kathryn Weed
Jack Gillen, Van Baker and Manny Alvarez lead the Great Florida Cattle Drive Reunion Ride ’18, which took place at the Florida Agricultural Museum and Princess Place trails. Courtesy photo by Gail Carson Photography
Buddy - 37347399, 7-year-old male lab/shepard mix. Photo courtesy of Katie Share
Lucky - 37542119, 2-year-old male greyhound/hound mix. Photo courtesy of Katie Share
Emma - 36010033, 4-year-old female terrier mix. Photo courtesy of Katie Share
Alfred - 37224870, 8-year-old male lab mix. Photo courtesy of Katie Share
On Feb. 1, Dr. Susanne Homant, president and CEO of The Able Trust, presented the Flagler Education Foundation a check for $22,000 to go toward establishing a High School High Tech program at both Flagler Palm Coast High School and Matanzas High School. At least 15 students will take part in the program.
“This is a great opportunity for our high school students with disabilities to enhance their preparedness for a technical workforce,” said Dr. Kim Halliday, Flagler Schools’ transition coordinator.
Quilts made by the “Piece Corps” quilters of St. Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church in Palm Coast were blessed on Sunday, Jan. 28. The group boxed up 159 quilts to be sent the Lutheran World Relief. They will be used as bed coverings, tents and warm wraps to wear. In addition, 15 quilts were sent to Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, and two were given locally. In total, 176 quilts have been donated, which is a record output for this group.
Quilters: Barbara Yekel, Cathie Preston, Elaine Becker, Barb Kaufman, Karen Clark, Dorothy Carroll, Viane Major, Shirley Velzka, Sherri Lewis, Shirley Thieser, Louise McGuire, Jackie Carlson, Elaine Torma, Pam Eichen, Cheryl Payne, Lee Herkamp and Shirley Dunkelberger.
Kadance Nickmeyer and Alexandria (Lexi) Murray are the two Flagler County teammates in a seven-member Girl Scout Robotics team called the Aquabots. The pair are seventh-graders at Indian Trails Middle School and are Girl Scout Cadettes.
At the Northeast Florida Regional Robotics Championship on Feb. 3, the Aquabots won the “Rising Star” award, and were one of nine teams (out of 48) to win a bid to the Florida State Competition, which will be held in April.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and Police Athletic League visited Belle Terre Elementary School on Jan. 24 to talk to the students about safety tips when approached by strangers. The speakers were Cpl. Phil Reynolds, Sgt. Jon Welker, PAL Coordinator Kerri Henderson and Deputy Sam Cooper.
The ninth-annual Ecumenical Celebration was held on Saturday, Jan. 20, at Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach. The event encourages total Christian unity throughout denominations.
Participants were: First AME Church of Palm Coast, Flagler Beach United Methodist Church, Hammock Community Church, Mount Calvary Baptist Church of Palm Coast, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Saint Thomas Episcopal Church, keyboard soloist Isis Praderes and host church Santa Maria Del Mar Catholic Church.
Linda Kuepper, president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Santa Maria del Mar Conference, thanked over 70 volunteers and guests on Tuesday, Jan. 23, for their efforts last year. In 2017, the Nearly New Thrift Store raised money to help 637 families with utility bills and other living needs and 614 families struggling with emergency food needs.
On Tuesday, Jan. 23, members of the Matanzas High School book club visited Belle Terre Elementary School to read to the younger students.
During a luncheon to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland presented a proclamation declaring Jan. 28, 2018, as AKA Day in Palm Coast.
The local chapter, Chi Delta Omega, awards at least $5,000 each year to graduating high school seniors, donates backpacks and school supplies each year, assists with homeless and domestic abuse programs, mentors at the Boys and Girls Club and provides support to the Alzheimer’s Association.
In a general assembly with almost 200 members present, the new Board of Directors for the Portuguese American Cultural Center in Palm Coast was presented on Jan. 10.
General Assembly: President-Adelino Marçal, Vice President-Jack Ataíde, Secretary-Ana Rua Miranda
Executive Board of Directors: President-Orlando Dias, Vice Presidents-Ana Carlos & Manuel Costa, Jr., Secretáries-Rosa Ataíde & Maria (Bia) Melo, Treasurer-Preciosa Dos Santos,
Auxiliary Directors: Alcides Parracho, Claudio Morais, João Couceiro, João Melo, Jose Eduardo Chaves & Paulo Fernandes.
Fiscal Committee: President-João Mariano, Vice President-Mário Carmo, Secretary-Isabel Mariano
Disciplinary Committee: Kenny Gonçalves, Paulo Amaral e José Rosa
FTI students from the Patient Care Assistant program handed out bags with items they have collected to the clients at The Sheltering Tree in Bunnell on Jan. 17. The students also administered blood glucose check and checked blood pressure.
On Jan. 26-29, the Great Florida Cattle Drive Reunion Ride ’18 took place at the Florida Agricultural Museum and Princess Place trails to celebrate the previous Great Florida Cattle Drives that happen about once a decade. The next cattle drive will be in 2021.
Buddy - 37347399, 7-year-old male lab/shepard mix
Lucky - 37542119, 2-year-old male greyhound/hound mix
Emma - 36010033, 4-year-old female terrier mix
Alfred - 37224870, 8-year-old male lab mix
