Volusia holds first Transportation Subcommittee meeting

JARLEENE ALMENAS

SENIOR EDITOR

Roads can be state, county or local, with jurisdictions switching every few miles or so.

But as Volusia grows and road use climbs, local officials want to have a say on potential road projects — whatever their jurisdiction — and hope that a newly formed subcommittee will help.

The Transportation Subcommittee, part of the Roundtable of Volusia County Elected Officials, met for the first time on Monday, July 17, at the Volusia County Road and Bridge Northeast Services Facility in Daytona Beach.

Chaired by Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette, the subcommittee aims to address safety and capacity needs for Volusia County’s roads and infrastructure.

Members will discuss ways to coordinate services and roadways more collaboratively, according to a news release.

“We can talk all day about projects,” Burnette said. “We can come up with projects. We can talk about existing projects. ... But the bottom line is, how do we get things done?”

In addition to Burnette, the committee includes Daytona Beach City Commissioner Stacy Cantu, Del -

Letters

School Board’s unexcused absence during Pride Month

Dear Editor:

The Volusia County School Board’s failure to recognize LGBTQIA+ Pride Month 2023 implies a lack of support for students and families in the public school system. It is essential that our public schools create an inclu- tona Mayor Santiago Avila, DeLand Mayor Chris Cloudman, New Smyrna Beach Mayor Fred Cleveland, Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington and DeBary City Manager Carmen Rosamonda.

Partington and Rosamonda could not attend the first meeting, in which members heard a brief presentation about road capacity needs and projects and then drafted the group’s mission statement.

County Engineer Tadd Kasbeer gave the group an overview of the county’s road program and anticipated needs.

In the county’s Impact Fee Zone 1, which includes Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Holly Hill and Port Orange, Kasbeer highlighted four segments that need improvements:

„ Tymber Creek Road and Airport Road intersection

„ Tomoka Farms Road intersection at Bellevue Avenue and International Speedway Boulevard

„ Williamson Boulevard from Madeline Avenue to Town West Boulevard

„ Hand Avenue extension, to be explored in an alignment study.

Those priorities are based on capacity numbers, both current and anticipated, but the county understands that numbers don’t always tell the whole story, Kasbeer said.

“What we’re looking for, what sive environment for all students who invest their time in education and personal growth within these institutions, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Every student deserves equal treatment, recognition and support. Nevertheless, anti-studentinclusion extremists have imposed their own political, cultural and belief systems on the VCSB system by submitting numerous meritless book challenges. As a result, a vast majority of books that are censored are authored by LGBTQIA+ and

Volunteers helped put on the Bible camp, which was free for students.

ORMOND LEI-DEES 50+ GROUP DONATES TO FOOD DRIVE

The Ormond Beach Lei-dies for 50+ participated in a food drive for Halifax Urban Ministries as the social group’s community project on July 7.

Members brought in cans and boxes of nonperishable goods; a donation of $70 was also provided to Halifax Urban Ministries.

HUM provides emergency assistance to prevent homelessness among low-income families and helps reestablish permanent hous-

Tomoka United Methodist Holds Bible Camp

Tomoka United Methodist Church held a one-day Bible camp for rising kindergarteners through fifth grade students on Saturday, July 15.

Themed “Gone Fishing,” the camp also featured a special demonstration by Ormond Beach firefighters.

we’d love, is feedback ... on certain road segments that are county road segments that you’d like to see improved,” Kasbeer said.

County Manager George Recktenwald said the county is seeking road solutions that differ from previous ones, though some projects will require a regional approach, with help from the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization.

“We need to be right along with what developments are going on, because they’re coming along and they’re going to put those trips on there a lot faster than we’re going to be able to expand that road,” Recktenwald said.

People want to see road improvements happen in conjunction with development, he said.

The county receives proportionate fair share funding from new development, but Recktenwald said that money often comes in increments too small to cover road project costs. The exception, he said, has been in Daytona Beach.

“It’s taken almost explosive growth to do that over in Daytona,” he said. “In all the other places, it’s just a little piece here, a little piece there, and then hopefully we can tie enough of them together and throw in some ... impact fees or gas taxes or a grant from the DOT or something people of color. Extremists have previously influenced VCSB decisions on LGBTQIA+ inclusion. In March 2021, they asked the School Board not to approve a resolution for LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week on March 23-26. The motion died without a second; the majority of the School Board failed to acknowledge that LGBTQIA+ are placed at higher risk of harm because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society. This event signaled the ongoing tendency of LGBTQIA+ ing for those that have become homeless.

It has two food pantry locations in Ormond Beach and provides more than 500 tons of food each year to help families living below the poverty line. To learn more, visit halifaxurbanministries.org.

MEET OMAM’S FEATURED ART NIGHT FAMILY FOR JULY

Harry and Sandra Gersh — along with their daughter, Sarah Nellans, and granddaughter, Soshi Nellans — are Ormond Memorial Art Museum’s featured family from the museum’s July 7 Free Family Art Night event.

Harry Gersh has been a Volusia County resident since 1976, when he opened the Daytona Magic Shop at 136 S. Beach St.

His granddaughter Soshi, who is 3, is “already becoming a magician.” according to a statement to the Observer by OMAM.

For Family Art Night, the family made miniature books depicting a fun summer experience.

“The family came to the Ormond Free Family Art Night to get Soshi more involved in art and to be a part to fill in that gap and do the project.”

Burnette said the committee should discuss funding opportunities for road infrastructure.

He noted that Volusia considered implementing a half-cent sales tax to fund infrastructure and water quality projects in 2019, but 55% of voters rejected it in a special election. Burnette said he was hesitant to consider a sales tax as a future funding source, given that history.

“If that’s where everybody wants to go and we want to float it, then that’s fine and great,” he said. “But I want to make sure that we do this right and that we have citizen committee involvement.”

The committee will meet again on Aug. 28.

ORMOND BEACH Observer

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Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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The Palm Coast & Ormond Beach individuals to be absent from public recognition. VCSB should openly support LGBTQIA+ diversity throughout the year to make all students feel safe and valued beyond the School Board’s website. Acknowledge them. Recognize their Pride Month.

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SHEILA ZINKERMAN Ormond Beach

Editor’s note: Sheila Zinkerman is the co-founder of Citizens for Truth and Justice in Education.

of Ormond Memorial Art Museum,” the museum’s statement continues.

The museum’s Family Art Night takes place from 5:30-7 p.m. on most first Fridays of the month. All art supplies are provided, and the program is sponsored in part by the Women United Volusia Chapter.

The next program is scheduled for Aug. 4.

Locally Owned / Publishers of The Palm Coast Observer Palm Coast Observer, LLC P.O. Box 353850 Palm Coast, 32135

ADVENTHEALTH, NASCAR TEAM UP TO HONOR CANCER HEROES

The names of cancer heroes will ride with drivers in all three of NASCAR’s national series during September in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and The NASCAR Foundation Honor a Cancer Hero online auction, presented by AdventHealth, is returning for a fourth year.

Fans can bid to have their cancer hero’s name placed on the signature panel of their favorite driver’s race vehicle, according to a press release.

Bidding is live at NASCARfoundation.org/cancerhero. The auction runs through July 24, with heroes honored during the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Kansas Speedway.

“It’s been incredibly humbling to see the teams, drivers and fans get behind this program to make it a success every year,” said NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr. “ We’re looking forward to seeing how much we can raise this year and seeing all the names of the cancer heroes riding along with the drivers.”

Proceeds from the online auction will benefit MTJF and The NASCAR Foundation.

Since 2020, the auction has raised more than $300,000.

For more information, including a complete list of participating drivers, visit NASCARfoundation.org/cancerhero.