- March 6, 2025
Cassie Mock hula hoops to the Macarena. She finished third in her category in the 5K run/walk earlier in the day on Saturday. Photo by Jacque Estes
Adriana McCoppin patiently waits for a butterfly to land on her arm in the butterfly tent on Saturday. Photo by Jacque Estes
Joni Tickton said she had a "bunch of food" to donate and decided to enjoy the day in Town Center with son, Everett close behind. Photo by Jacque Estes
Ping Zheng holds her son Ethan, 15-months, and a packaged butterfly, waiting for the release time at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Photo by Jacque Estes
It was also a good day to get some sleep in the sun, as Chandler Schultz discovered. Photo by Jacque Estes
Jordan, 5, and Kellan, 2 1/2, Schultz paint bird houses at one of the hands-on craft tents on Saturday. Photo by Jacque Estes
Armed and ready, Grayson Blanchard dunked Max Maxwell, president of the Flagler County Rotary Club, with his first pitch -- and no he doesn't play baseball. Photo by Jacque Estes
Matt Maxwell on his way underwater after being dunked by Grayson Blanchard. The Rotary and FPC Rotary Interact dunking booth was raisings money for polio eradication. Photo by Jacque Estes
All that could be seen of Flagler County Rotary Club President Matt Maxwell were his hands and a big splash after Grayson Blanchard dunked him with his first throw. Photo by Jacque Estes
McKenzie Wagner hula hooped with ease at Town Center during the annual Arbor Day event on Saturday. Photo by Jacque Estes
DJ Mike Grabner from Pyramid DJs provided the music, and let a group in the Macarena. Cassie Mock (righ) started doing the dance with her hula hoop, but decided to focus entirely on the dance. Photo by Jacque Estes
Joshua Silverman pets Tag, a Flagler County Sheriff's Canine, as Dep. Rob Tarczewski supervises. Photo by Jacque Estes
Flagler County Sheriff Deputy Rob Tarczewski explains the job the canine members do in the department. Photo by Jacque Estes
Marko and Flagler County Sheriff Deputy Fred Gimbel helped with canine demonstrations at the Arbor Day event on Saturday. Photo by Jacque Estes
Wearing his fireman's uniform, just like his uncle in Palm Beach County, Steven Rubin decides with his mom, Brittny Rubin, what to do next at Arbor Day. Photo by Jacque Estes
Ciara and her mom, Janet Mack, selected a red bud tree to take home from Arbor Day. Photo by Jacque Estes
Ethan and Logan Johnson released butterflies with their dad, Roy Johnson, at Arbor Day on Saturday. Photo by Jacque Estes
Weston Bembry, 2, checks out the butterfly in the small packet held by her mom Karsyn Bembry at Arbor Day. A few minutes later the package was opened and the butterfly flew away. Photo by Jacque Estes
Kiley Rogan of Palm Coast smiles as a butterfly sits on her finger in the butterfly tent on Saturday. Photo by Jacque Estes
Brayden Smith had obvioulsy been busy at the Arbor Day event on Saturday, having a blue and black snake painted on his face and interacting with butterflies in the butterfly tent. Photo by Jacque Estes
A colorful train provided a fun ride around the back side of the pond at Town Center during the city of Palm Coast's Arbor day event. Photo by Jacque Estes
Eight members of the Mock family were at the starting line for the Arbor Day 5K Root Run/Walk at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 7. Four hours later one member – 7-year-old Cassie – was still going strong, doing the Macarena while twirling a hula hoop, her race number 872 still pinned to her shirt, and wearing a big smile.
Sitting on bleachers in Town Center were her grandparents Danette and Ken Mock, watching their granddaughter's ponytail whip in tandem with her hips, as she kept the plastic hula hoop up – the energy of youth.
“She came in third in the race today,” Danette Mock said. “Eight of us ran this morning, grandparents, our son, and all of the grandchildren.”
The Mocks weren't the only ones enjoying the made-to-order day. The annual Palm Coast Arbor Day attracted all ages.
Even the butterflies cooperated during the mass release at 11 a.m., with most flitting on fingers and then soaring skyward.
The free family event included vendors, nonprofit groups, a train ride around the pond, demonstrations by the Flagler County Sheriff's Canines, hands-on craft projects, and colorful kites.
Keeping with the theme, “Feed a mouth, get a tree, grow a community,” 3-gallon native trees were given away in exchange for a canned food or pet item.
“The UF Master Gardeners are helping us,” Tom Polcek, from the city public works department, said. “We had 400 trees to give away this year.”
