TOWN

Adventhealth To Offer Free Physicals To Students

AdventHealth physicians and care teams will provide physicals for select students in Volusia County public middle and high schools at Daytona International Speedway.

The four-day event, scheduled April 12-15, is open to Volusia County Schools student athletes and cheerleaders, plus as JROTC cadets, band members and firefighting academy students.

All groups, with the exception of band, require a physical for participation.

Band members are welcome, but not obligated to receive a physical.

For the last four years, AdventHealth has offered free sports physicals to all Volusia County student athletes as part of the company’s est children to the beach in my own family van. It was chilly enough that I wore a jacket, zipped all the way up. My 4-year-old son, Luke insisted on a T-shirt only. I tucked his jacket into the van just in case. My 8-year-old, Kennedy, wore her jacket.

When we got to the beach, near the pier, I told my children, sternly and with great enthusiasm, that this was not go-in-the-ocean weather. This was walk-along-theshore weather.

“You can get your toes wet,” I said. “That’s it. You may not get your shorts wet.”

My last line, repeated for emphasis was, “Whatever you do, don’t get your shorts wet.”

Luke’s eyes were wild with anticipation, looking past me at the waves. Raising his voice to my energy level, he shouted in response, “OK! I’ll try!”

“No, no, no, no,” I said, rolling my eyes. “You can’t just try, you have to do it. Please don’t get your shorts wet.”

“Why can’t we?” Kennedy asked.

“Because you’ll be wet and miserable, and it won’t be fun,” I said, partnership with the school district.

“We are incredibly grateful for the strong partnership we have with AdventHealth,” VCS Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin said. “AdventHealth continues to ensure that our students are healthy and whole by providing a variety of vital health services, such as these free physicals.”

Last year, more than 1,500 Volusia County students participated in the free sports physicals, which also include heart screenings. Heart screenings can be critical, as sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death among high school athletes.

Appointments are required and can be made online until April 5. To make an appointment, visit VCSSportsPhysicals.com.

Event hours are:

„

Wednesday, April 12 — 5-9 p.m.

„

Thursday, April 13 — 5-9 p.m.

„ Friday, April 14 — 5-9 p.m.

„ Saturday, April 15 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ONE DAYTONA ART FESTIVAL RETURNS TO TOWN

One Daytona hosted the fourth edition of the One Daytona Art Festival on April 1 and 2. More than 100 artists and vendors

participated in the first day of the award-winning festival, a free event welcoming residents and visitors to experience a weekend of art and adding, in full honesty, “for me.”

Probably with the same amount of optimism as my parents had in Washington years earlier, I released them.

Luke inched toward the water. For him, it was not enough to observe the magnificence of the waves from a safe distance. If the surf foam slid toward him and stopped more than 1 inch away from his toes, he believed it was imperative to move 2 inches closer. When the next wave crashed and meekly stopped 12 inches in front of him, he moved 13 inches closer.

Finally, on the next wave, his tiny feet disappeared in the foam. He turned and ran away, squealing with delight, seemingly surprised with every sensation he was feeling, playing tag with Mother Nature. Kennedy, too, was elated. “It’s so warm, Dad! It’s not cold at all!” she said.

“You still can’t go in besides your feet,” I said, making sure they didn’t let their joy get in the way of my convenience.

The truth is that I, unlike Kennedy and Luke, was perfectly content to watch the waves swell, to watch the infinite variety of their crashing, shaving, grinding action, the relentlessness of their self destruction and renewal. Like Luke, I was eager to be surprised by Mother Nature.

As they played, I reflected on the temperature and knew the air wasn’t nearly as cold here in Flagler Beach as it had been that day in Washington. I knew I was being too uptight; it’s one of my character failings that I impose on my children. I guess I’m predictable.

Then again, so is Luke.

A few minutes later, my little boy was caught by a wave that came faster than he had expected, and it leaped up and splashed his shorts. He immediately looked at me, dripping wet. I folded my arms and cocked my head to the side to show my disappointment, but, in reality, I must have known it would happen all along.

He grinned a guilty grin, and I turned my frown into a smile of forgiveness. After all, I had lived this moment myself, nearly four decades ago, unable to resist the charms and thrills of the water.

ORMOND BEACH

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Community

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, UNITED WAY CONSOLIDATE THEIR BOARDS

The Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties’ executive committees approved consolidating the two organizations’ boards on March 27.

Leading the charge were Dustin Smurdon, chair of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties board; Greg Sullivan, chair of the Community Foundation Board; and Courtney Edgcomb, president and CEO of Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties.

“Consolidating our volunteer

culture.

The U.S. National Art Battle Championship took place on Saturday, April 1. Representing Florida was Vig Mayol, an Argentinean mixed media artist from Sarasota.

A new mural at One Daytona, in partnership with Beth O’Connor from Ormond Beach, was also revealed on Saturday, April 1.

The awards ceremony for the juried portion of the festival took place on the Victory Circle stage. More than $6,000 was awarded in prizes this year.

“We’re pleased to see such a fantastic mix of artists who continue to impress us with their creativity,” said John Wilton, a judge from DeLand.

The festivities also included a Volusia County Schools student art exhibit.

All proceeds from this year’s event will again be donated to the Volusia County Schools Visual Arts Program and ArtHaus. Since the first One Daytona Art Festival, the program leadership structure allows our organization to better communicate the experience of working with the Community Foundation and United Way,” Edgcomb said. “Our number one goal is to increase the impact that we have in the community and thanks to the visionary leadership of our board, we are well-poised to deliver that impact.”

The consolidated board consists of 35 members focused on organizational governance, guiding strategic direction and ensuring adequate has donated $55,000 to visual arts programs in the community.

DAR ORMOND CHAPTER LEARNS ABOUT ABIGAIL ADAMS

The Capt. James Ormond Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution welcomed Marcea Oetting at its meeting on March 27. Oetting spoke based on the diaries and letters by former First Lady Abigail Adams, wife of second U.S. President John Adams and mother of sixth U.S. President John Quincy Adams. Abigail Adams was one of only two women who were both the wife and mother of a president, according to the DAR, and was a pioneer in the fight for liberty and equal rights for women.

The local DAR chapter was founded in 1966. To learn more, visit fssdar.com/CaptainJamesOrmondDAR.

resources for the organization.

The United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties (formerly known as Daytona Beach Community Chest) was established in 1941 to bring resources together to help those in need. Over 40 years later, in 1983, The Community Foundation of VolusiaFlagler Counties was established as an Endowment Fund by the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, Inc. Board of Directors.