- April 24, 2024
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We made it! 2020 is in the rearview. Here is what I’ll remember most from the pages of the Palm Coast Observer this year:
Like every community, we have been hit hard by the pandemic. Unemployment, after being in the 4% range, skyrocketed to more than 13% temporarily, as businesses had to shut down. Despite strong warnings from the local health department, many residents and some elected officials considered mask mandates too much of a violation of individual liberties, and Flagler County had no mandate, while Palm Coast passed one without enforcement.
Still, Flagler County has done very well, relatively speaking, with a low number of cases. As of Dec. 22, Flagler had 3,062 cases per 100,000 residents, which was the lowest of any county in the state. (Florida’s average was 5,789 per 100,000 residents.) How did that happen? According to Medical Director Stephen Bickel, it’s because we’re testing so many people.
Ultimately the testing and subsequent contact tracing has likely saved many lives in our community. Thanks to Health Officer Bob Snyder, Flagler County Emergency Chief Jonathan Lord and other collaborative leaders from AdventHealth, Daytona State College and Flagler Volunteer Services, testing has been easily available here, and that helps to catch other cases before they can spread.
That didn’t stop a superspreader at the Social Club of Palm Coast, unfortunately. And, we still have had 46 people die from the virus overall — including beloved Flagler Palm Coast High School Principal James “Tom” Russell. But overall, you just have to look at the state’s heat map to know that we are very blessed in Flagler County.
Town Center, which already filled its hundreds of new apartments this year, is getting another electric jolt: two higher-education institutions.
The University of North Florida’s MedNexus got state funding and will help turn Town Center into a regional hub of health care training. Then, Jacksonville University, thanks to $2.5 million from the city of Palm Coast, announced plans to add a regional campus in Town Center, the first of its kind for JU. The impacts of these arrivals could be the biggest impact since Palm Coast was founded by ITT.
In a presidential election year rife with division and rancor, local politics also got nasty at times. Mayor Milissa Holland was already heavily criticized by former staff members who said her private employment interests were inappropriately guiding the direction of city staff, culminating in a provocative press conference from one of her political challengers. After the primary, the last challenger standing was Alan Lowe, who, as it turned out, once denounced his U.S. citizenship and had never voted until he was on the ballot this year. Holland, meanwhile, got the Observer’s endorsement from Publisher John Walsh because of her extraordinary ability to coordinate many partnerships, public and private, into a win for the city: MexNexus. Holland won the election and will be the mayor for four more years.
Also this year saw Andy Dance elected to the Flagler County Commission after serving many years on the School Board. He is joined by newcomers Cheryl Massaro and Jill Woolbright. The City Council also has two newcomers: Ed Danko and Victor Barbosa.
I typically don’t go to high school graduations each year, but I couldn’t resist this one. Thousands of cars lined up at the Daytona International Speedway for both Matanzas and FPC ceremonies, which otherwise would have been canceled due to the pandemic. What a day! What could have been a void for the Class of 2020 and their families became a highlight.
James “Tom” Russell was only the principal at FPC for a year, but he left a legacy. One student told me, “He made you feel important.” I have thought a lot about that since, and he has inspired me to try to help others feel important also. I’m grateful for his example and hope that his legacy will live on through others.
About 15 people refused to give Flagler County access to their properties on the beach so that the Army Corps of Engineers to restore the dunes that protect all of us. I don’t get it. But fortunately, Carla Cline and many others took action and raised money to pay those holdouts and keep the project alive. It’s one of the greatest examples of a community coming together that I can recall.
Along the same lines as No. 6, the city of Palm Coast started a fundraising effort that exceeded everyone’s expectations, finally reaching $100,000. Think of that impact!
The United States suffered throughout the summer, as many minorities felt powerless. We are blessed to have a conscientious Sheriff’s Office, and it was heartening to see our deputies march alongside demonstrators in our community. The chant was “No justice, no peace.” Hopefully we can continue to work together for both.
Two more state titles for Micayla Cronk! The FPC senior is one of the greatest athletes ever to represent our community, as she was the fastest female swimmer in the state yet again.
To some, it was just words. To others, it was an existential victory. The School Board, after a year of resisting, added “gender identity” to the list of protected classes in the nondiscrimination policy. No matter how you feel about gender identity, I hope we can all agree that no one should be bullied.
