ORMOND BEACH
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
ALL-STAR SOCCER PAGE 9
FREE • THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
VOLUME 7, NO. 29
Future of your downtown
New committee begins to study possible improvements. Some say lack of downtown parking is severe. PAGE 3
Ormond buys property but wants it cleaned up
Trail of opportunity Volunteers rally to build Ormond Beach’s first mountain bike trail PAGE 2
Land could help with flood management PAGE 3 INSIDE OUT WITH THE OLD PUBLIX
Existing Publix in the Trails Shopping Center to be demolished and rebuilt. PAGE 4
STARRING IN MAN OF LA MANCHA
Tim Cone and Mike Manis pose in the middle of the trail they are building at Riverbend Nature Park.
Can the Volusia County Council get along? Ormond residents star in ‘Man of La Mancha’ at Daytona Playhouse. PAGE 14
WARY OF OBTS REZONING
Residents ask why county seeks rezoning of 1,900 homes in Ormond-by-theSea. PAGE 7
ALDI BEING BUILT ON W GRANADA
Plus other business news. PAGE 5
‘We have to have our chance to talk, but not an open argument,’ Councilman Johnson said. JARLEENE ALMENAS NEWS EDITOR
Tensions ran high at the short Volusia County Council meeting on Tuesday, April 2, causing council members to issue reminders about respect and protocol — or lack thereof — regarding items on the agenda. It began with council’s discussion on a $5,000 sponsorship for the “Dreams Do Come True”
weekend celebration April 25-26, which included a groundbreaking ceremony for the new DeLand Community Spring Hill Center that will be named after former County Councilwoman Joyce Cusack. The event is hosted by the Minority Elected Officials of Volusia County, a nonprofit organization made up of past and incumbent minority government representatives. The motion failed 5-2. Councilwoman Billie Wheeler called the organization a political action committee, and stated that the organization has a candidate running against her in the next election. She said she wasn’t comfortable agreeing to sponsor
the event without knowing how much of that sponsorship money would go directly to the community center. County Council Chair Ed Kelley also referred to the nonprofit as a PAC, and thought it was too close to a political endorsement. Councilwoman Deb Denys agreed and added that the council will always support Cusack, and if Denys is invited to the event, she will write her own check of support. Councilman Ben Johnson also voted against. Only Councilwomen Heather Post and Barbara Girtman were in favor of the sponsorship. GirtSEE COUNCIL PAGE 4
Photo by Jarleene Almenas
INSIDE
Fighting hunger Provision Packs helps feed students at six schools, and is working to add a seventh.
PAGE 13