- April 24, 2024
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The following is a news release from the Flagler County communications office:
Flagler County has a program available to help keep seniors cool during the heat of the Summer.
Eligible households may receive a one-time benefit of up to $600 from April 1 through Sept. 30. These funds are available to assist with a home cooling crisis, to make payments to utility companies, to repair equipment such as air conditioners or to otherwise resolve a home cooling crisis.
“The Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program is designed to help low income households who have at least one member over the age of 60, and who is experiencing a cooling emergency,” said Joe Mayer, director of Community Services.
A home cooling crisis exists when one or more of the following conditions apply: the household’s home cooling energy source has been cut off; a household has been notified that its energy source will be cut off; a household has been given notice that their energy bills are past due; or, a household has other problems without cooling in the home.
The program is administered by contract through the Department of Economic Opportunity and the Department of Elder Affairs.
Proper documentation including gross income, family size and other factors determine program eligibility. For more information, contact Flagler County Senior Services at 386-586-2324, extension 321 or 304.
The following is a news release from the city of Palm Coast communications office:
Triple Crown Sports, a national company that puts on youth sports tournaments designed to combine with family vacations, is launching two youth baseball tournaments in Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches this spring – with hopes of establishing annual baseball championship tournaments here.
The Palm Coast Spring Championships for competitive, traveling baseball teams “8 and under” through “14 and under” will be held April 23 and 24 at Indian Trails Sports Complex, Holland Park, the Flagler County Recreational Area and possibly Flagler Palm Coast High School (depending on the number of teams that participate).
The Flagler County Challenge for competitive, traveling baseball teams “8 and under” through “18 and under” will be held May 21 and 22 at the same baseball fields in Palm Coast and Bunnell.
“We’re excited to start something new here!” said Tony VonDolteren, Southeast Triple Crown franchise owner. “These are brand-new events, and we see this as having huge potential as a must-attend event each and every year.”
“It’s definitely a destination. The beaches are close by the fields, and it’s real easy to get to off I-95,” VonDolteren said. “We want to host a premium event where teams, parents and coaches can enjoy themselves on and off the baseball field, and we feel Palm Coast can definitely provide that for everyone in attendance.”
Triple Crown started in 1982 and has grown to be a national presence in the sports tournament market, with some 300 youth events across the country each year, in baseball, basketball, drift car racing, fastpitch, slow-pitch softball, and volleyball. The company is family owned and employs nearly 60 full-time staff in its corporate headquarters in Fort Collins, Colorado. Its franchises employ about 400 additional employees to produce events such as the tournaments planned for Flagler County in April and May.
The Flagler County Tourist Development Council recruited Triple Crown to Flagler County, building on the community’s success in bringing in soccer, lacrosse and flag football tournaments.
“We are delighted to host the upcoming Triple Crown baseball tournaments,” said Tourism Product Development Manager Doreen Chase. “We have been excited about this opportunity for a while now and have worked hard on this initiative and it’s finally paid off, securing two tournaments in the first year.”
“Triple Crown has a great reputation, and we expect these tournaments mark the beginning of a great partnership,” Chase said. “We are confident our destination will exceed their expectations and that we can make these tournaments successful annual events.”
Attracting sports tournaments is a key goal of the city of Palm Coast’s Prosperity 2021 strategic economic development plan, and the community has enjoyed great success in recent years. Palm Coast prides itself on the high quality and condition of the fields at the Indian Trails Sports Complex. Although Holland Park construction won’t be complete by April, the baseball fields will be available for use for these tournaments.
“The city of Palm Coast is excited to welcome Triple Crown to Palm Coast,” said Luanne Santangelo, Director of Parks & Recreation for the city of Palm Coast. “We strive to offer an outstanding tournament experience to visiting teams, and we look forward to showcasing our community and all it has to offer to Triple Crown’s baseball players, their families and coaches.”
So far, 39 teams have registered for the Palm Coast Spring Championships, including two from the Palm Coast Crush and Flagler Crush leagues. For the Flagler County Challenge in May, 36 teams have already registered, including one local team.
“We’re expecting 50 to 60 teams from all over Florida and southern Georgia, said VonDolteren, whose franchise covers Florida and Georgia. “Each team has about 12 players, plus their families and coaches. We’ve secured hotels and condos, and some teams will stay one night and some two nights depending on how far they travel.”
Triple Crown Sports is working closely with the Tourist Development Council and the city of Palm Coast, and likes to get involved with the community through its tournaments, VonDolteren said. For example, through the Big Fall Nationals in St. Augustine, the tournament provides baseball equipment to the Hastings Little League.
The games in Palm Coast and Bunnell will be open to the public, with a schedule of games posted online the Monday before tournament weekend.
“We’d love to have the support of the local community to help it thrive,” VonDolteren said.
The following is a news release from the Flagler County communications office:
Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Don Petito has been re-designated “Chief Fire Officer” by the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
The Commission of Professional Credentialing met last month to bestow the designation upon Petito. He initially earned the designation in 2009 based on several measures: experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement and technical competencies.
“You have earned the professional designation as witnessed by a team of your peers and members of the Commission on Professional Credentialing,” said Debbie Sobotka, deputy director of the Center for Public Safety Excellence in a letter to Petito. “You have demonstrated through your education, leadership and management skills that you possess the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities required for the fire and emergency services profession.”
There are only 1,133 Chief Fire Officers worldwide.
To maintain the designation, which is valid for three years, Petito had to show that he has continued to develop as Chief Fire Officer in the areas of professional development, professional contributions and community involvement. Members of the fire and emergency services profession, academia and municipal agencies review applications and make recommendations for the designation to the Commission on Professional Credentialing.
Additionally, Petito has met the standards required to receive a Fire Officer IV – also referred to as Executive Fire Officer – designation with the Florida Fire Marshal’s Office.
The National Fire Protection Association, the National Fire Academy, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications use the standards they have established as the criteria for this designation.
“Fire rescue is an ever changing environment, and education is paramount,” Petito said. “The training courses and certifications that I receive on an annual basis ensure that I provide this community with updated, optimal fire services.”
