- June 22, 2025
The Flagler County Cultural Council (FC3) has announced that "Hetty" will be the next turtle to be unveiled on the public art Turtle Trail.
The public is invited to attend the unveiling in the private park at Waterfront Park Drive and Colbert Lane in Palm Coast, on May 22 at 10 a.m.
According to an FC3 press release, Hetty replaces Turtle No. 6, "Quilty," which was stolen from her perch in the park. Hetty was inspired by Dutch artist, Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), who is known for the paintings, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and “View of Delft,” which depicts that city in The Netherlands where he lived.
Bill and Pat Verhagen agreed to replace Quilty by sponsoring Hetty. Quilty has been missing since January, 2022 despite the rewards offered for her safe return. The Verhagens own a collection of Delft pieces and Dutch artwork passed on from Bill’s immediate family which traces their Dutch heritage to the early 1700s. This collection was the inspiration for the replacement turtle.
Bill named the turtle after his first cousin, Hetty, who continues to live just outside of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Artist Bettie Eubanks, a resident of Palm Coast for 20 years, was asked to create Hetty. Eubanks has contributed her artwork to the community through the Palm Coast Arts Foundation, the African American Cultural Society, Beth Judah, and for the second time, to the Turtle Trail.
“The Flagler County Cultural Council is touched at the dedication and commitment to public art that both Bettie Eubanks and Bill and Pat Verhagen have expressed by providing the community this extraordinary sculpture," FC3 Chair Nancy Crouch said in the press release. "Public art is just that, public. It is the intent of this program to provide our residents and guests this beautiful Turtle Trail to learn and share in the beauty of art.”
